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Graduate Catalog 2007-08 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Master of Science in Occupational Therapy
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 Return to: Departments and Programs
Advisor:
David Orchanian,
Room 3414, CHHS Building
The 4 + 1 Program
The occupational therapy department accepts applications to a 4 + 1 or five-year academic program leading to a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy. Students entering as freshmen or admitted as transfer students will complete 122 credit hours of undergraduate study in a dedicated occupational therapy curriculum in the Interdisciplinary Health Services Program through the College of Health and Human Services.
Completion of this curriculum will culminate in a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Health Services. Students will then enter the Graduate Program and complete a six-month internship followed by the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program. Students will obtain a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy at the end of five years, which is required by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education for the practice of occupational therapy. Please refer to the undergraduate catalog for more information.
The Graduate–Professional Program
This entry-level program for non-therapists is designed to prepare the student to treat clients with various disabilities, and to be eligible for certification as an occupational therapist after successful completion of the Master of Science. This twenty-eight month program of combined academic and clinical education is intended for the student who has a baccalaureate degree in an area of study other than occupational therapy. It consists of seventy semester credit hours with forty semester hours in professional undergraduate courses and thirty semester hours of graduate courses. The program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education. A.C.O.T.E., 4720 Montgomery Lane, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220, 301-652-2682. Graduates are eligible to take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy and are eligible to apply for licensure/registration in those states regulating the practice of occupational therapy.
The Professional Curriculum
The curriculum design of the occupational therapy program is based on a developmental progression intended to provide students with entry-level competencies in their chosen profession and to develop the personal and professional characteristics that will allow them to assume the role(s) of occupational therapy practitioners in a variety of settings. In recognition of the fact that clinical practice occurs in an increasingly technological, interdependent and rapidly changing world, the curriculum simultaneously focuses on the development of self-directed, adult–and hence potentially life-long–learning.
Admission Requirements
To be eligible for regular admission to this program, each applicant must present evidence of the following criteria:
- An earned bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
- A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better in the most recent 60 hours of undergraduate and graduate academic course work.
Because admission is considered competitive, the academic criteria listed above should be considered as minimum standards.
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Prerequisite Course Work
The following courses (with the WMU equivalent noted in parentheses) are required prerequisites for enrollment in the professional occupational therapy courses; some prerequisites may be elected as self-instructional courses (*). All prerequisite course work must be completed before the first semester of the occupational therapy program. All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of “C” (2.00) or better. Students are allowed to repeat only one course. For the course that is repeated, only one repeat is allowed. 1. Human Growth and Development through the Life Span
(OT 2250* or equivalent) 2. A course in orientation to occupational therapy
(OT 2020*) 3. A course in social/behavioral sciences
4. English composition (Proficiency 1 of General Education Requirements)
5. Eight credit hours of biological sciences, including human anatomy and physiology
(BIOS 1910, or BIOS 2110 and 2400) Admission Procedure
To apply, the applicant must complete both the university application for admission and the departmental application. The equal consideration date (deadline) for receiving all applications is February 1 of each year. Full-time study commences in the Fall semester.
- Cumulative grade point average
- Documentation of knowledge and experience as demonstrated by answers to narrative essays on the application form in the following areas:
- Work and/or volunteer experiences
- Statement of leadership roles
- Statement of cultural/ethnic diversity and competency
- Statement of research
- Space available in program
Program Requirements
The graduate professional program consists of seventy-three semester hours in the following areas: 1. Completion of 40 hours of professional occupational therapy education.
This 40-hour sequence of undergraduate professional education is designed to prepare the student to treat clients with various disabilities, and to be eligible for certification. 2. Completion of 30 hours of graduate courses
Including six months of full-time fieldwork, designed to enhance growth in professional leadership potential by developing skills in administration, program development, theories of practice, professional issue resolution and research. This 30-hour component includes the following:
- Elective Credits: 3 hours
3. The student must:
Manifest emotional and behavioral characteristics which, in the judgment of the department faculty, will not jeopardize his/her professional competence.
An overall grade point average of at least 3.0 (A=4.0) is required in the graduate program. No undergraduate credit is computed into the graduate grade point average. Honor point deficiencies acquired in credits earned at Western Michigan University cannot be made up by credits earned at another university. Course Sequence
Courses in the professional program are completed in a sequential pattern toward developing complex clinical problem solving skills. The courses are not designed to stand alone, but to build upon the knowledge base from previous semesters.
The prerequisite and pre-professional courses build a solid knowledge base in the biological and behavioral sciences. The first semester centers on human function, pathology, dysfunction and activity analysis. Students also learn the history of the profession and current practice roles of therapists. The second semester students learn theory and techniques for evaluation and treatment and research design principles. The third semester centers on additional treatment techniques used in therapy, a clinical treatment experience with clients, and a second course in research which focuses on data analysis. The fourth semester of the professional program centers on a clinical treatment experience with clients in clinical programs in the Kalamazoo area and assistive technology. The final Fall and Spring semesters are devoted fully to the graduate component designed to enhance growth in professional leadership. In Summer II and Fall, students enroll in OT 6900 and OT 6910 for the required six months, full-time fieldwork experience as a student therapist in two clinical practice sites (one being a medical model site and one being a community model site). Western Michigan University utilizes fieldwork sites primarily in Michigan and the midwest states with some sites throughout the United States. All fieldwork must be completed within 24 months following the completion of academic course work. Part-time enrollment is possible. Remediation and Continuance Policy
1. Students will complete all required OT courses with a grade of “C” or better.
Subsequent courses cannot be taken until prerequisites are completed successfully. 2. Students may repeat only one required pre-professional 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. 3. Students who fail to attain a grade of “C” or better in a professional course
Will be placed on departmental probation. 4. Students who do not successfully complete departmental probation
Will not be permitted to continue in the program. 5. A second unsuccessful enrollment will result in termination from the program.
6. The student must:
Manifest emotional and behavioral characteristics, which, in the judgment of the department faculty, will not jeopardize his/her professional competence. 7. The student must achieve:
A score of 70% or above on Kasar’s Professional Development Assessment (70%) of items scored) or complete an approved remediation plan for OT 2020, 3700, 3810/3820, 4750, and 4820. 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
The following courses are subject to the academic policy for remediation and continuance, and will repeat the experience in a similar setting. level I
(OT 4750, OT 4820)
OR level II
(OT 6900, OT 6910) are subject to the academic policy for remediation and continuance, and will repeat the experience in a similar setting. 3. Successful completion of all professional and prerequisite course work is required for:
OT 6900 4. Successful completion of all undergraduate course work required for graduation is required for:
OT 6900 and OT 6910. 5. Students who fail fieldwork, or who are asked to withdraw
Are subject to review in accordance with the departmental remediation and continuance policy. The Graduate Post Professional Program
This advanced level program for the certified occupational therapist leads to the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy and is designed to enhance growth in professional leadership potential by developing skills in administration, program development, theories and practice, professional issue identification and resolution, and research.
Admission Requirements
To be eligible for regular admission to this program, each applicant must present evidence of the following criteria:
- An earned bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
- A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better. (By policy of The Graduate College, students admitted with less than a 3.0 GPA are admitted on probation.)
- Certified as an occupational therapist by NBCOT.
Because admission is considered competitive, the academic criteria listed above should be considered minimum standards.
Admission Procedure
To apply, the applicant must complete both the university application for admission and the departmental application. Admission is on a rolling basis.
Program Requirements
Completion of thirty hours of graduate courses, designed to enhance growth in professional leadership potential by developing skills in administration, program development, theories of practice, professional issue resolution and research. This thirty-hour component includes the following: Grade Requirements
An overall grade point average of at least 3.0 (A=4.0) is required for graduation from the graduate program. Students will complete all required departmental courses with a grade of “C” or better. Subsequent courses cannot be taken until prerequisites are completed successfully. Honor point deficiencies acquired in credits earned at Western Michigan University cannot be made up by any credits earned at another university. Please read the WMU Graduate College Catalog for information on other requirements for the completion of a master’s degree. Course Sequence
The thirty-hour graduate program requires twenty hours of graduate course work which has been designed to build skills in advanced treatment theory, research, and professionalism
The nine hours of required cognate courses allow the student to develop advanced skills in occupational therapy, related fields, research, or areas of special interest. The program may be completed on either a full-time or part-time basis. advanced treatment theory
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