Occupational Therapy, M.S.

Program Director of PP-OTD: Dr. Melanie Austin
Program Director of MSOT: Dr. Ann Marie Potter

The Occupational Therapy Program at Moravian University offers a full-time educational program comprised of four terms on campus and 24 weeks of Level II Fieldwork placement, leading to the Entry-Level Master of Science in Occupational Therapy. The Moravian College Occupational Therapy Program seeks to set the stage for the emerging occupational therapy practitioner to learn and to develop competence in meeting the occupational needs of a variety of consumers through the power of occupation, reflective practice, advocacy, and occupational justice. Because active doing is central to occupational therapy, learning takes place in active classrooms where students engage with each other, their environment, and the tools around them to solve problems that are meaningful and relevant, critiquing and sharing their work with others as advanced knowledge is constructed in a community.

Occupational Therapy Program Vision

The vision of the Moravian University Occupational Therapy Program is to be recognized for its innovative occupation-based community programs and interprofessional collaborations while preparing professionals to change lives through the power of occupation.

Occupational Therapy Program Mission

Moravian University Occupational Therapy Program builds on a liberal arts foundation to lead occupational therapy students to a reflective professional practice, a fulfilling and invigorating career dedicated to engaging individuals in meaningful occupations, and transformative leadership opportunities that improve the quality of life, improve the health and well-being of others, and change lives through the power of occupation.

Occupational Therapy Program Goals

Graduates from the Moravian University Occupational Therapy Program, through the power of occupation, will strive to be reflective leaders in Occupational Therapy by:

• translating knowledge to meet the occupational needs of individuals, groups, and communities
• advocating and leading for occupational justice as a politically competent practitioner
• engaging in the occupational therapy process as a reflective practice scholar
• promoting quality of life, health, and wellness in a variety of contexts
• enjoying a fulfilling career in occupational therapy, consistent with the University mission
• effectively incorporating research into everyday evidenced based practice in collaboration with clients
• ethically solving challenges presented in practice

Program Accreditation

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 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. Graduates of the 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). In addition, all 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 attain state licensure.

Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Admission Requirements

1. Minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0
2. Minimum pre-requisite GPA of 3.0
3. Three letters of recommendation
4. Written personal statement
5. Resume
6. Interview
7. Grade of C or higher in the following pre-requisites:
   • Statistics (3 credits)
   • Introduction to Sociology or Anthropology (3 credits)
   • Developmental/Lifespan Psychology (3 credits)
   • Psychopathology or Abnormal Psychology (3 credits)
   • Human Anatomy & Physiology I & II with lab (6-8 credits)
8. Optional: Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Scores (school code: 2418 0618).

Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Clinical Placement

Occupational Therapy students will complete several Level I fieldwork visits in the immediate geographic area which will require the availability of reliable transportation during the first four terms. Additionally, students are required to complete two Level II Fieldwork placements, each for a duration of 12 weeks. These placements may not be in the immediate geographic area and will likely require the student to incur additional living expenses. The Level II Fieldwork placements must be completed within 24 months from the end of didactic coursework.

Additional Requirements

In addition to meeting University admission requirements, all occupational therapy students will be required to show ongoing proof of the following as prerequisites for Level I and Level II occupational therapy fieldwork courses. Failure to do so may be grounds for dismissal from the occupational therapy program:

• Negative finds on the Federal Criminal Record Check and Child Abuse History Clearance
• Current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification
• Negative urine drug screen
• Updated health information
• Ability to meet the essential functions of an occupational therapist to perform the safe practice of occupational therapy

A felony conviction could preclude the student from sitting for the NBCOT exam or from gaining state licensure, both of which are required to practice occupational therapy. Students wishing to receive early determination review from NBCOT can apply on the NBCOT website. Copies of student clearance and health records may be provided to fieldwork sites.

Additional Expenses in the Occupational Therapy Program

In addition to the tuition fees, students in the occupational therapy program incur additional expenses for such things as physical examinations, specialized immunizations, background checks, uniforms (as required by fieldwork sites), and malpractice insurance. Students are responsible for providing their own transportation for Level I Fieldwork as well as transportation and housing associated with Level II Fieldwork. Students are required to have and be proficient in the use of an Apple device capable of Apple Airplay (iMac, iPad, or iPhone) and computer resources with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Retention in the Occupational Therapy Program

1. Students must be continuously enrolled full time in the occupational therapy program.
2. Students must maintain a grade point average of 3.00 or better in the occupational therapy courses throughout the curriculum. Any student who falls below the 3.0 in any given term will be placed on program probation and be required to raise the GPA to a 3.0 by the end of the subsequent term, or be dismissed from the occupational therapy program.
3. Students must acquire a grade of C (at or above 75%) or better in all occupational therapy courses to advance in the program.
4. Students earning a grade below C (below 75%) in a course will be dismissed from the occupational therapy program.
5. Students who receive an F or NC in a Lvel II Fieldwork placement will be permitted to repeat the Fieldwork experience one additional time to achieve a pass grade.
6. Students will be expected to adhere to the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Code of Ethics. A student may be dismissed from the program for any serious violation of these principles by a vote of the full-time occupational therapy faculty.
7. Occupational therapy students are required to meet the prerequisites within the curriculum to progress.

Leaves of Absence and Withdrawal

Students may request a leave of absence through the occupational therapy Program Director. The Program Director will assist the student in completing the request through the University. A leave of absence may impact the student’s ability to complete the curriculum as no guarantees can be made that the same occupational therapy curriculum will be available upon the student’s return.

Students must follow the University policy for “Withdrawal from the University” found in the Moravian University Catalog. The effective date for any withdrawal will be the date that the student notified the Occupational Therapy Program Director.

Graduation Requirements

In addition to the requirements of the University, students enrolled in the occupational therapy program must complete the following:

• Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or better
• C or better in all graduate courses
• Satisfactory fieldwork evaluations in all occupational therapy fieldwork courses
• Completion of the prescribed occupational therapy program of study, including an NBCOT exam preparation course and end-of-program survey/exit interview within 36 months
• Completion of all Level II Fieldwork requirements within 24 months from completion of didactic coursework.