Occupational Therapy, Master of Science

91 Credit Hours

Mission

The mission of the Occupational Therapy Program at Alabama State University is to serve the city of Montgomery, the state, the nation and global community. The program is also designed for those students whose interests and aptitude carry them beyond routine classroom experiences. The curriculum, through a logical and developmental sequence of learning and service, creates an environment that will prepare and graduate proficient entry-level therapists who demonstrate competency in evidenced-based clinical practice in the profession of occupational therapy. Additionally, the curriculum:

1. Prepares students to work with diverse populations in varied settings;
2. Promotes critical thinking, ethical decision- making skills, and clinical reasoning to further knowledge of occupation and efficacy of practice and research;
3. Develops professionals who are able to communicate, understand and apply the science of occupation and who are dedicated to a lifelong learning process;
4. Involves faculty and students in public service programs by providing them with research- based guidance on policy and program approaches and initiatives for addressing community problems.
5. Strives to improve the underrepresented minorities in the field of occupational therapy;
6. Fosters an environment that supports experiential and self-directed learning and promotes personal and professional development for eligible students, regardless of socioeconomic status; and
7. Emphasizes the role of purposeful activity and occupation and adaptation in development throughout the lifespan.

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, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814-3449, (www.acoteonlineorg). AOTA’s phone number is (301) 652-AOTA. Program graduates 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). Most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination.

Early Determination Reviews for Students with a Criminal History

Early determination reviews are offered to individuals who are considering entering an occupational therapy educational program or who have already entered an occupational therapy educational program and wish to have his or her criminal background reviewed prior to applying for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. For further information, please contact the Occupational Therapy Chair at (334) 229-5056 and the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. at 12 S. Summit Avenue, Suite 100, Gaithersburg, MD., 20877-4150. (301) 990-7979 (voice); (301) 869-8492 (fax); www.nbcot.org. (web address)

Program Goals

Graduates of Alabama State University Occupational Therapy Program will:

1. Expand scholastic skills for personal, occupational, and professional growth.
2. Develop a dedication to life-long learning and commitment to public/community service.
3. Demonstrate professional behaviors that are congruent with the core values and code of ethics and standards of the occupational therapy profession.
4. Utilize the occupational therapy practice framework as a guide for decision making regarding patient care and outcomes.
5. Use evidence based practice as a means to identify and guide best occupational therapy practice.
6. Examine the impact of physical, social, temporal, cognitive, psychological, spiritual, environmental, and cultural contexts that impact occupational performance.
7. Evaluate and develop goals and intervention plans in conjunction with the client, their support system, and other healthcare team members to provide a comprehensive, holistic and client-centered approach to care.
8. Understand the importance of advocacy and promotion of the occupational therapy profession, as well as the role of other health professionals and the importance of the inter-professional team.
9. Participate as consumers and producers of research.
10. Be competent as an entry level therapist with the ability to work in a diverse healthcare delivery system and appreciate the different roles of occupational therapists working in varying healthcare systems.
11. Be competent in communication skills, leadership, and critical thinking.
12. In some instances, represent the pool of underrepresented minorities in the field of occupational therapy.

These educational goals are dynamic and interdependent of each other. Throughout the educational process, the program strives to provide a firm support system, nourish students as a whole person and draw upon and strengthen their cultural and academic roots so that they may be transplanted to any environment and adapt to varied applications of occupational therapy practice.

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor's degree (minimum 3.0 undergraduate grade point average [GPA] with official transcripts)
• MAT or GRE score transcripts
• ASU OT Program prerequisite courses - grade of "B" or better recommended in each
• Three letters of recommendation, one from an occupational therapist
• Early Determination (a felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure) document. This will be completed at the time of the Onsite Interview.
• Observation/Volunteer Hours (minimum of 40 hours in 2 facilities/settings, dated/completed within 12 months of submission). These hours must be complete at the time of application.

Onsite Interview: Candidates selected for the required Onsite Interview will be notified in Early Spring Semester. The required Onsite Interviews will be scheduled for Early to Mid-Spring Semester. In accordance with the admissions dates/deadlines provided online at www.alasu.edu in the “Occupational Therapy Application Instructions” section.

The Alabama State University Department of Occupational Therapy subscribes to the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS). To get started, visit the OTCAS portal at https://portal.otcas.org/. Directions for document submission appear on the OTCAS website. The required application materials are available on the ASU OT homepage.

*Recommended behavioral science elective courses include sociology, psychology of learning, theories of personality, psychology of gender, etc.

**Recommended biology elective courses include cell biology, histology, molecular biology, microbiology, or immunology

***Human Anatomy and Physiology (A&P) I and II may be substituted for separate courses in human anatomy and physiology. Courses must be taken in sequence. If you take A&P I, you must take A&P II. If you take Anatomy, you must take Physiology.

Prerequisites and program courses are subject to change without notice.

PROGRAM TECHNOLOGY: The learning formats will include traditional face-to-face classroom learning with faculty and other students, WEB-enhanced learning (such as Blackboard), face-to-face interaction via audio and video technologies (distance education technology), and combinations of these formats. The classrooms, labs, technology, and resources in the ASU OT Program support distance learning.

NOTE: Any student taking PHY 206 and/or MAT 225 at ASU must complete Math 165 prerequisites.

Fall 1 Year 1 (14 Credit Hours)

Spring 1 Year1 (15 Credit Hours)

Summer 1 Year 1 (10 Credit Hours)

Fall 2 Year 2 (17 Credit Hours)

Spring 2 Year 2 (17 Credit Hours)

Summer 2 Year 2 (9 Credit Hours)

Fall 3 Year 3 (9 Credit hours)

Total Credit Hours: 91