OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY MSOT MASTER OF SCIENCE IN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
WHY EARN AN MSOT? Occupational therapists practice in an environment that encourages innovation and creativity. The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy provides graduates with opportunities to pursue advanced specialties in clinical care, administration, education and research. Clinical care areas in rehabilitation include: Mental health Spinal cord injury Hand therapy Geriatrics Traumatic brain injury Substance abuse Oncology Neurology Post-traumatic stress Rheumatology Dysphasia Home health care Graduates of the MSOT program will be eligible 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 exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). MSOT students will experience state of the art, high-tech laboratories, educational rooms, computer facilities and an ADL (Activities of Daily Living) suite in the newly constructed Health and Human Services building. Don t take our word for it read what Moira Maus has to say about her experience in the MSOT program at SVSU. MEET Moira Maus Moira Maus graduated from the MSOT program in December 2012. Moira, like many other students, researched various professions using the criteria of finding one that could be mobile and in an industry that forecasts strong employment growth. Ultimately Moira ended up choosing occupational therapy because the work is creative, innovative and allows me to do many different things. She says that OT is an awesome profession and the industry is exploding. There is more work than OTs to do it. Moira also admires SVSU s extensive and varied partnership and connections to the community that provide the capability for students to complete the required 1,000 hours of fieldwork. The connections SVSU s OT program has to the community are impressive. Beyond internships, OT students work extensively in the community, most notably with community centers. Here, students own the content and delivery of the content they create, while they are also interacting with the client. Moira found this experience to be truly hands-on learning at its best. Upon graduation Moira immediately had several job offers, as did most of her fellow classmates.
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN O The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) program is designed to prepare professionally qualified occupational therapists for a variety of roles including staff, management, research, and other leadership positions in occupational therapy to support intervention models for clients who are limited in their ability to perform developmentally appropriate tasks and roles. Occupational therapy is a health and rehabilitation profession that provides services to individuals of all ages, whose abilities to cope with the tasks of living are impaired by physical injury or illness, psychological and social disability, or developmental disabilities. The occupational therapist collaboratively designs the intervention process to meet the unique needs of each client, and through evaluation and treatment, seeks to achieve habilitation restoration or improvement of impaired functions. The goal of occupational therapy is to assist clients in achieving a maximum level of independent living by developing and enhancing the capacities that remain after disease, accident, deformity or disability. The MSOT program has two program options: an Entry Level Program and an Advanced Practice Program. The Entry Level Program provides students with the knowledge, techniques, and clinical reasoning skills necessary to assume entry-level positions as registered occupational therapists. Those interested in the MSOT Entry Level Program who have not completed all general education or prerequisite undergraduate courses, or who hold a bachelor s degree in a field other than occupational therapy, should contact the Office of Admissions for the undergraduate application and credit evaluations. The Advanced Practice Program option is intended for therapists who hold a baccalaureate degree in occupational therapy and wish to advance their knowledge in program development, research, and a variety of leadership opportunities. ACCREDITATIONS Saginaw Valley State University's Occupational Therapy program is accredited by the: Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy (ACOTE) c/o Accreditation Department American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) 4720 Montgomery Lane, Suite 200 Bethesda, MD 20814-3449 www.acoteonline.org (301) 652-2682 Saginaw Valley State University maintains the highest level of accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The commission sets a standard of integrity for universities, taking into consideration the academic mission, strategy, resources, assessment process, teaching effectiveness, student learning, usefulness of curricula, and community involvement. DATES & DEADLINES Applications for the MSOT program are accepted once a year with a spring entry term. The application deadline is January 16. (If January 16 falls on a weekend, the application deadline will be moved to the first business day after January 16.) CONTACT College of Health & Human Services Program Chair: Don Earley, OTD, MA, OTRL Phone: (989) 964-4689 Email: dwe@svsu.edu Occupational Therapy faculty are available for advising and to discuss career options for those in the entry-level occupational therapy program leading to the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy degree. Please see the advisor corresponding to first letters of your last name. Last Name MSOT Advisor Phone Email A-E Lisa Brewer 989-964-4559 lsbrewer@svsu.edu Dr. Donald Earley 989-964-4689 dwe@svsu.edu F-J & M Dr. Debra Farrell 989-964-2617 djfarrel@svsu.edu Dr. Donald Earley 989-964-4689 dwe@svsu.edu K-l & N-P Liat Gafni-Lachter 989-964-7353 lrgafnil@svsu.edu Q-S & U Dr. Ellen Herlache-Pretzer 989-964-2187 echerlac@svsu.edu T & V-Z Dr. Jean Prast 989-964-4153 jekruege@svsu.edu
CCUPATIONAL THERAPY ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS Entry-Level Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Program The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) program is a competitive admissions program that will accept students to begin MSOT coursework each Spring term. In order to apply to the MSOT program, students must meet the following minimal standards: 1. Completion of a minimum of 8edits prior to admission to the program. 2. Achievement of a minimum cumulative 3.00 GPA (based on a 4.00 scale) for all pre-professional course work (based on all college-level work computed both at SVSU and at other schools and colleges). 3. Completion of all prerequisite pre-occupational therapy undergraduate courses with a grade minimum of 2.0 for each course. 4. Completion of 60 hours of verifiable work and/or volunteer experience with ill, handicapped or disadvantaged people. 5. Completion of an approved background check. Results to be submitted with the application packet. 6. Submission of a completed application packet. All MSOT program prerequisites and general education undergraduate courses must be completed prior to starting the MSOT program (Spring term). Admission to the program is based on overall GPA in all college coursework, GPA in MSOT prerequisite courses (minimum 3.0 GPA), and a writing sample completed on-campus and evaluated on the basis of content, use of conventions of standard written English (grammar and mechanics), organization of ideas, and overall style. At the discretion of the Admissions Committee, applicants may undergo an evaluation of professional behavior and/or be asked to complete an on-campus interview. Students apply to the MSOT program during the Winter semester. GPAs will be calculated based upon the grades in coursework that has already been completed. Students admitted to the program will be admitted on a provisional basis; students who demonstrate a drop in overall GPA to below 3.0 (based upon their final Winter semester grades) will be subject to review of Winter semester course grades, and may have their admission status revoked. MSOT Advanced Practice Program A completed Application for Graduate Admission including the non-refundable $30 application fee and the following: An earned undergraduate degree in occupational therapy from an accredited college or university Current registration, licensure, or eligibility for initial certification by the NBCOT as an occupational therapist in the United States, or eligible for Michigan registration A minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.00 (based upon a 4.00 scale). A student with 2.75 to 2.99 cumulative GPA may be admitted on a probationary status by the Admission Committee of the Occupational Therapy Department. Successful completion, with a grade of "C" (2.00) or better, of a course in statistical or research methods, its equivalent or a validation examination A current résumé One page personal statement of accomplishments and academic goals Official copies of undergraduate and graduate transcripts INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS must complete the International Student Application for Graduate Admission, including the non-refundable $80 application fee, and all items listed above as well as: Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate competence in English. The College accepts a score of 525 or higher on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOFEL), or a passing score on an alternative test determined by the College. SVSU's English Language Program is available for students without a TOEFL score or those with a TOEFL score below the required minimum. Successful completion of the English Language program does not guarantee acceptance to a graduate program at SVSU. Submit evidence of financial support Transfer Students Master level transfer students needs are considered on an individual basis by the Department of Occupational Therapy. Admission to SVSU is required for, but does not guarantee, acceptance into the MSOT program.
DEGREE REQUIREMENTS Entry-Level Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Program (68 credits) Spring II: OT 500 Critical Inquiry I OT 610 Community Integration Fall II: OT 510 Occupational Assess Neurological OT 515 Occupational Adaptation for Neurologic OT 530 Occupational Assessment Across the Lifespan OT 535 Occupational Adaptation Across the Lifespan OT 550 Research Project Development 1 cr Winter II: OT 520 Occupational Assessment for Orthopedic OT 525 Occupational Adaptation for Orthopedic OT 528 Level 1 Fieldwork for Physical OT 620 Therapeutic Technologies Spring III: OT 615 Educational Process in OT Fall III: OT 540 Occupational Assessment for Psychosocial OT 545 Occupational Adaptation Psychosocial OT 548 Level 1 Fieldwork Psychosocial OT 600 Critical Inquiry II Winter III: OT 630 Occupational Therapy Leadership OT 635 Professional Issues in OT OT 650 Graduate Research Project OT 660 Professional Role Transitions Spring/Summer IV: OT 670 Level II Fieldwork Physical 5 cr Fall IV: OT 675 Level II Fieldwork Psychosocial 5 cr MSOT Advanced Practice Program (34 credits) OT 500 Critical Inquiry I OT 550 Research Project Development 1 cr OT 600 Critical Inquiry II OT 610 Community Integration OT 615 Educational Process in OT OT 620 Therapeutic Technologies OT 630 Occupational Therapy Leadership OT 635 Professional Issues in OT OT 650 Graduate Research Project Select 3 cognate courses for a minimum of 9 credit hours 9 cr
GRADUATE PROGRAMS Administrative Science (MAS) Business Administration (MBA) Communication & Digital Media (CDM) Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) Education - Non-Degree & Endorsement Programs (TC) Energy & Materials (MEM) Education Specialist (EdS) Health Administration & Leadership (MSHAL) Instructional Technology and E-Learning (MAITEL) Occupational Therapy (MSOT) Post Baccalaureate Initial Teacher Certification (TC) Principalship (MEd) Nursing (MSN) Teaching (MAT) Office of Graduate Admissions 160 Wickes Hall 7400 Bay Road University Center, MI 48710-0001 Phone: 989.964.6096 Fax: 989.964.2788 Email: gradadm@svsu.edu 7400 Bay Road University Center, MI 48710 svsu.edu Rev. 0913