Master of Science in Occupational Therapy
Continuance Criteria
Individuals who want to begin the occupational therapy phase of the program are required to meet all of the following criteria to receive permission to enroll in those courses. Typically, this will apply to students who have previously been accepted in the Bachelor of Science degree in Health Studies program and have been identified as planning to continue studies to earn the Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy; however, anyone who meets all of following criteria may also be considered for acceptance into the program, pending available space. Preference will be given to students in the Health Studies Major at Utica College.
Please note that there are some differences in the sequencing of courses among the three available educational sequences (regular, transfer, and 2nd degree). The Program Director or an occupational therapy advisor can clarify these differences or answer questions you may have about this process.
For acceptance into the occupational therapy phase of the program, students must complete and submit evidence of the following:
- a total of 25 hours of volunteer/observation experience with an occupational therapy practitioner and in a minimum of two different occupational therapy practice settings. Documentation, signed by the applicable occupational therapy practitioner(s), of the time spent in each setting is required. Documentation is due by midterm prior to the occupational therapy phase. *
- a reflective summary of the volunteer/observation/work experiences, to include: the type(s) of practice setting(s), knowledge of occupational therapy as a profession, observations of occupational therapy services, interactions with clients, and interactions with occupational therapy personnel. The written summary is due by midterm prior to the occupational therapy phase.
- an overall cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
- successful completion of all prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of 'C.'
- a physical health examination within one year and completion of all other health requirements for occupational therapy students (please see Occupational Therapy Academic Fieldwork Coordinator or staff in College Health Center for details).
- CPR certification for adult/child/infant
- accident and health insurance.
*25 hours of employment or OTA fieldwork experience in two different settings served by occupational therapy may be substituted for the volunteer/observation requirement. Two settings from any combination of work or volunteer experience can be used to fulfill the volunteer/observation experience requirement. Documentation of work or volunteer/observation experiences is the same as that described in criteria above.
In addition, the following courses must be completed with a C or better in order to continue on to the Occupational Therapy Phase:
ANT 415 Cultures, Health, and Healing
BIO 101 Anatomy & Physiology I
BIO 102 Anatomy & Physiology II
BIO 201 Gross Anatomy
BIO 202 Neuroanatomy & Neurophysiology
GNT 214 Biology of Aging or GNT 101 Introduction to Aging
HLS 101 Introduction to Health Professions
HLS 245 Human Development Across the Lifespan
or PSY 223 Developmental Psychology
HLS 309 Medical Conditions and Implications
HLS 381 Kinesiology
HLS 401 Senior Seminar
HLS 445 Clinical Research
PHI 107 or 108 Ethics or Professional Ethics
PHY 151 General Physics I
PSY 101 Introduction to Psychology
PSY 211 Statistics for Behavioral Sciences
PSY 361 Abnormal Psychology
SOC 151 Human Society
