Mar 28, 2024  
Undergraduate Catalog 2011-12 
    
Undergraduate Catalog 2011-12 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Occupational Therapy


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The WMU Occupational Therapy Department offers undergraduate students an academic program leading to the completion of a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Health Services with a dedicated track in occupational therapy which is then followed by a one-year Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program.

The entry-level occupational therapy master’s degree program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA. Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for occupational therapists 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). In addition, most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or obtain state licensure.

The department provides undergraduate admission opportunities to freshman, current WMU undergraduate students, and to transfer undergraduate students. Students interested in admission to the undergraduate occupational therapy concentration should contact the College of Health and Human Services advisor - (269) 387-2656 - well in advance of applying to the program.

 

Admission Requirements for Occupational Therapy Concentration in the Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Health Services

 

Incoming Freshmen

  • Completion of the department application, which is available through the department office or online at the WMU Occupational Therapy website. 
  • Minimum high school GPA of 2.8.
  • ACT/SAT scores as required by WMU.
  • In addition to academic performance, students will be evaluated on the following topics: work and/or volunteer experiences; leadership roles; and cultural/ethnic diversity and competence. 
  • Application deadline for entering freshmen: February 15.

 

Current WMU And Transfer Students

  • Completion of the department application, which is available through the department office or online at the WMU Occupational Therapy website.
  • Minimum GPA of 2.8 from WMU and/or transfer institution (if the student has attended two or more institutions, the grades from all institutions will be averaged together).
  • Prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or better. Current WMU and transfer students must have completed all prerequisite courses prior to beginning the professional occupational therapy concentration.
  • In addition to academic performance, students will be evaluated on the following topics: work and/or volunteer experiences; leadership roles; and cultural/ethnic diversity and competence.
  • Application deadline for current WMU students: January 31 of each year for fall semester admission; September 1 of each year for spring semester admission.

Please note the following: 

  1. In the admission process, a formula is employed that assigns points for grades and for other admission topics. Admission to the program is based on the compilation of all points.
  2. Admission to the University does not guarantee admission to the professional occupational therapy curriculum. Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended must be sent to the University Admissions Office in time to be processed prior to the department deadline. 
  3. Occupational therapy is a profession that is regulated on national and state levels, and everyone who wishes to practice as an occupational therapist is required to pass the NBCOT Certification Exam after graduating from an accredited program.
  4. Individuals who have been convicted of a felony or who have been charged with a felony and convicted of a misdemeanor, while not prohibited from taking the NBCOT certification examination, may not be able to practice based on state laws.

Prerequisites


Prerequisites required prior to beginning the Occupational Therapy Profession Concentration course work are:

The Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Health Services Professional Core


All students admitted to the Occupational Therapy Program must also complete the professional core of the Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Health Services.

One of the following:


One of the following:


Baccalaureate-Level Writing Requirement


Students who are admitted to the Occupational Therapy Concentration in the Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Health Services will satisfy the Baccalaureate-Level Writing requirement by successfully completing:

Benchmarks for all students admitted to the Occupational Therapy Concentration:


  • Students will complete all required OT courses with a grade of “C” or better.
  • Minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.8 for lower level courses.
  • Minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 for upper level courses. 
  • Students may repeat only one required pre-professional course or departmental course, and that course only once, to attain a grade of “C” or better. Note that a withdrawal from a course is considered an enrollment.
  • Students who fail to attain a grade of “C” or better in a professional course will be placed on departmental probation.
  • Students who do not successfully complete departmental probation will be dismissed from the program.
  • A second unsuccessful enrollment will result in dismissal from the program.
  • The student must manifest emotional and professional behaviors as described in the Occupational Therapy Department’s, Professional Behavior Policy.
  • The student must comply with the Occupational Therapy Department Policy on Criminal Background Check.
  • The student must comply with the Occupational Therapy Department Policy on Drug Screening.
  • Assessment of emotional and behavioral characteristics will occur in the following courses:

Fieldwork Remediation and Continuance Policy


  1. Successful completion of OT 4750 is a prerequisite for OT 4820.
  2. Students who receive a failing grade in fieldwork are subject to the academic policy for remediation and continuance, and will repeat the experience in a similar setting.
  3. Students who fail fieldwork, or who are asked to withdraw are subject to review in accordance with the departmental remediation and continuance policy.

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