Occupational Therapy

Faculty

John P. Sanko, Ed.D., Chair
Marlene J. Morgan, Ed.D., OTR/L, Program Director
Karen L. Brady, D.Ed., OTR/L
Carol Coté, Ph.D., OTR/L
Verna Eschenfelder, Ph.D., OTR/L
Rita P. Fleming-Castaldy, Ph.D., OTL, FAOTA
William Lambert, M.S., OTR/L
Julie Nastasi, OTD, OTR/L, SCLV
Carol Reinson, Ph.D., OTR/L

Overview

The University offers a five-year, entry-level Master of Science degree program in Occupational Therapy (OT). Students usually enter this program as freshmen, proceed through four years of undergraduate study, receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Sciences, and are awarded the M.S. in OT degree upon completion of graduate requirements. The course work is sequenced in a planned progression in order to build upon and develop knowledge and skills at increasing levels of complexity, competence and integration. Therefore, all required courses are to be completed in sequence. A minimum grade of C (2.00) must be attained in every undergraduate cognate and OT course.

A minimum, overall, undergraduate GPA of 2.75 is required in order to advance into graduate study; a minimum, overall GPA of 3.00 must be achieved and maintained for all graduate courses. Required OT Level II Internships are graded on a Credit/No Credit basis. The normal length of time for completion of the program is five and one-quarter years. All OT students must complete Level II Fieldwork within 24 months following completion of the academic portion of the program. Students will receive the M.S. in OT degree following completion of all academic and clinical requirements.

Admission to the program is normally open to first-time incoming freshmen; transfer students are considered for admission on an individual basis. Applicants are selected on a competitive basis, with emphasis placed on high school record, standardized test scores, extracurricular activities, and letters of recommendation. It is suggested that prospective students observe and/or volunteer in an occupational therapy setting. The Admissions Office will request this information prior to registration. Since the majority of course work is at the undergraduate level, the OT program is described in detail in the University’s undergraduate catalog rather than in the graduate catalog. Inquiries about admission to the B.S. to M.S. in OT program should be directed to the Graduate Office at (570) 941-7600.

Capstone Experience

Each student is required to complete a faculty mentored research internship. This process begins in the junior year with OT 393, Research Methods in Occupational Therapy, builds during the senior year with OT 494, Evidence Based Research in OT, and culminates during the graduate year with OT 597, Faculty Research Internship I and OT 598, Faculty Research Internship II. The internship involves active group participation in a faculty mentored research project. Students are required to present the outcome of their research internship in a public forum during the graduate year.

Accreditation

The Occupational Therapy Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220. AOTA’s phone number is (301) 652-AOTA. Graduates of the program who have completed all academic and fieldwork requirements are able to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this examination, the individual is an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). Candidates will need to provide documentation of all graduation and credentialing requirements, including certification/licensure. A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the certification examination or attain state licensure. Most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination.

Course Information

Courses for Occupational Therapy are listed under the prefixes OT and PCPS. For more information on these courses, visit the Occupational Therapy Department Courses page. For more information on all courses, visit our Course Descriptions page.

For more information about the Occupational Therapy department, visit its website.