Occupational Therapy - Curriculum

Master of Science in Occupational Therapy

Curriculum

The graduate curriculum meets the requirements for an accredited program from the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy (AOTA, 2011).  The Occupational Therapy program is based on a five-semester sequence of courses, which includes twenty-eight weeks of Fieldwork experiences, for a total of 21 months. When accepted for freshman entry as a Health Studies Occupational Therapy student (HSOT), the student completes a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Studies with continuation to a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy degree within a total of six years.  A freshman entrant, in consultation with their academic advisor, may also choose an accelerated sequence completing three years of undergraduate coursework and two years of graduate coursework within a total of five years.  See program entry options >

Occupational Therapy Program Highlights

• Close relationships enjoyed between faculty and students
• Transformative philosophy applied within a supportive community
• Case-informed learning accomplished through self-directed learning
• Personal and professional skills developed through professional roles courses
• Occupational performance courses focused on human occupations
• Research sequence of courses designed to address community interests
• Community experiences developed to assist students gain access to community members and their occupations
• Community of scholars developed to assist students and faculty enhance professional growth

Curricular Goals

The curriculum has been designed to promote the development of professionals who have the knowledge, skills, and attitudes for:

1. a central focus on occupation as the means and end of occupational therapy
2. critical thinking as the basis for clinical reasoning, reflective practice, and synthesis of research
3. being an ethical, highly competent professional who makes decisions that are congruent with professional ethical principles and based on an accepted body of knowledge
4. respect for ourselves, others, and our environment, peaceful interaction, celebration of diversity, and service to others
5. competencies as a highly effective entry-level occupational therapy practitioner prepared to address emerging healthcare trends.

Curricular Threads

The Occupational Therapy Program has been designed around the following curricular threads which can be seen throughout the sequence of courses. They are as follows:

• Occupation as the central focus
• Clinical Reasoning
• Professional Development
• Community
• Practice Competencies

Sequence of Courses

Entry-Level Master's

Freshman Entry with continuation to Master's

Transfer Entry with continuation to Master's

The Occupational Therapy Program is fully accredited through the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education of the American Occupational Therapy Association, located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, PO Box 31220, Bethesda, MD, 20824-1220. The phone number for ACOTE is 1-800-729-2682.