 |
||
|
||
|
DEPARTMENT OF
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
Chair: Marjorie E. Scaffa (434-3939) Occupational Therapy is a health care profession devoted to providing service to persons with acute and chronic physical, emotional, mental and developmental disabilities. The occupational therapist helps individuals achieve independence in their daily lives and activities. An occupational therapist may aid in the growth and development of premature babies; create a learning environment for physically and mentally challenged children; adapt home environments for persons with stroke, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury and other disabilities; and create activities which are designed to restore mental health for persons with emotional, mental, and substance abuse problems. The Master of Science degree program in Occupational Therapy is an entry-level professional program designed to enable the student to develop advanced critical reasoning skills and to prepare the graduate for professional practice in a variety of settings. Graduates will also have the capability of assuming responsibilities in the areas of administration, program development, consultation and research in occupational therapy. The program consists of 98 semester hours and is eight consecutive semesters in length. This includes two semesters of full-time Level II Fieldwork as required by accreditation standards. Level II Fieldwork is available in a variety of medical and community sites representing a diverse range of learning opportunities for students. The program is designed to
accommodate applicants who have either a baccalaureate degree in another
field or advanced undergraduates who have completed three years (96
semester hours) of prescribed and elective undergraduate course work. CRITERIA FOR ADMISSION A new class of Master’s students begins each year in June. To be considered for admission to the program, students must submit a special application to the Occupational Therapy Department by November 1 of the year prior to beginning the program. The following are the minimum criteria to be considered for admission:
Admission will be offered to
students after both academic
and interview scores are considered. Core Performance Standards, which are
fundamental tasks that must be performed to successfully complete the
program, have been outlined and are available upon request from the
program. (one of the following: Public Speaking, Ethics, Logic, Small Group Discussion, Group Dynamics) Computer
Competency* 3 First Aid and CPR
Competency* 1 TOTAL SEMESTER HOURS: 41 *Must be taken no more than five years prior to application. Extra points will be given to applicants who have completed any of the following additional courses with a grade of “B” or higher: anatomy (300 level or higher), physiology (300 level or higher), chemistry, pathophysiology, physics, infectious disease or microbiology, medical terminology, and any additional anthropology or sociology courses (300 level or higher). Additional Information for Advanced Undergraduate Applicants: Students not holding a baccalaureate degree must complete additional prescribed and elective courses including 21 semester hours in a major of their choice. This will ensure that students who fail to gain admission to the Occupational Therapy program or who elect not to apply will be able to complete an undergraduate degree within the normal time frame. A list of these courses is available from the Academic Advising Office (UCOM 1550, Mobile, AL 36688, (251)380-2772). Advanced undergraduates who are admitted to the graduate program will officially be classified as undergraduates for the first 12 months of the program but will be taking graduate courses in the program and will be held to the same standards of performance as the graduate students with bachelor’s degrees. Upon satisfactory completion (minimum GPA of 3.0) of all course work during the first 12 months of the program, the student will be awarded a Bachelor of Pre-Professional Health Science Degree. The student will complete all necessary paperwork for reclassification as a graduate student and will continue through the remainder of the program. The academic program for students with bachelor’s degrees and advanced undergraduates is identical in its entirety. Tuition will be assessed at the graduate level for the entire eight semesters of the Master’s degree program. In the first 12 months of the program while classified as an undergraduate student, any financial aid awarded is restricted to the types and amounts for which an undergraduate student in eligible. REQUIREMENTS FOR A MAJOR IN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY The Master of Science degree program consists of the following courses: OT 500 Applied Human
Anatomy 3 During the Spring and Summer semesters of the last year students participate in fieldwork education at special fieldwork sites affiliated with the program. Students should plan on relocation to two different out-of-town fieldwork centers during these two semesters. Expenses Students should be prepared for extra expenses associated with professional studies including books, local travel to and from fieldwork sites and out-of-town travel and living expenses during Level II Fieldwork assignments. Special lab fees are assessed for the following courses: OT 500 Applied Human
Anatomy
$100.00 Descriptions of all Occupational Therapy (OT) courses College of Allied Health Professions
|
