Worcester State College | Graduate Student Catalog 2003-2004

Master of Occupational Therapy

Program Coordinator: Dr. Andrea Bilics
508-929-8895
email: abilics@worcester.edu

Application for admission is made through the Graduate Admissions Office. Students admitted in the Fall 2003 Semester are governed by the Post Baccalaureate degree requirements listed in the 2002-2003 catalog.

The Occupational Therapy Department offers a Post Baccalaureate MOT (entry-level master’s degree), and a Five-Year MOT degree. Both programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). (Inquiries regarding accreditation may be made to the Council at 4720 Montgomery Lane, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, Maryland 20824-1220 or (301) 652-2682.) Upon successful completion of Level II Fieldwork (OT 920 and OT 921) graduates of both the programs 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 the examination, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). Most states require licensure in order to practice. State licenses are usually granted based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination.

Any individual who has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor, involving an act likely to affect professional practice, should meet with the Graduate Coordinator or Department Chair prior to applying to the program. Prior incidents may affect eligibility for certification and employment. A Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check may be conducted prior to Fieldwork Level I and Level II.

Eligibility for the National Certification Examination for the Occupational Therapist requires successful completion of six months of Level II Fieldwork (OT 920 and OT 921) within 24 months following completion of academic preparation. No student will be allowed to begin Level II Fieldwork until all other required coursework, including the thesis is completed with a grade of B or better. Students should be prepared to assume the responsibility for transportation to Level I and Level II Fieldwork placements in geographical areas outside the Worcester area.

Program of Study:
Semester Credits (undergraduate OT + grad OT)

1st Year Summer I
OT 101 Occupational Studies 1 3 credits
BI 171 Kinesiology 3 credits
OT 211 Kinesiology Lab 1 credit

1st Year Summer II
OT 102 Occupational Studies 2 3 credits
BI 315 Neuroscience 4 credits
Total 14 credits

1st Year Fall Semester
OT 203 Occupational Studies III 3 credits
OT 204 Occupational Studies IV 3 credits
OT 301 Occupational Performance & Context I 3 credits
OT 302 Therapeutic Approaches I 3 credits
OT 304 Therapeutic Approaches Lab I/L1FW 2 credits
Total 14 credits

1st Year Spring Semester
OT 312 Occupational Performance & Context II 3 credits
OT 313 Therapeutic Approaches II 3 credits
OT 318 Therapeutic Approaches Lab II/L1FW 2 credits
OT 316 Assistive Technology I 2 credits
OT 317 Research I 3 credits

Total 13 credits
2nd Year Fall Semester
OT 401 Occupational Performance & Context III 3 credits
OT 402 Therapeutic Approaches III 3 credits
OT 403 Therapeutic Approaches Lab III/L1FW 2 credits
OT 404 Assistive Technology II 2 credits
OT 407 Research II 3 credits
Total 13 credits

2nd Year Spring Semester
OT 421 Occupational Performance & Context IV 3 credits
OT 427 Therapeutic Approaches IV 3 credits
OT 423 Therapeutic Approaches Lab IV/L1FW 2 credits
OT 424 Assistive Technology III 2 credits
OT 426 Organizational & Professional Issues I 3 credits
OT 915 Community/Clinical Practicum I 1 credit
OT 928 Thesis Seminar I 3 credits
Total 17 credits
(67 undergraduate credits)

3rd Year Summer Semester
OT 920 Level II Fieldwork I 3 credits
Total 3 credits
3rd Year Fall Semester
OT 903 Clinical Reasoning I 3 credits
OT 906 Global Health Issues 3 credits
OT 916 Community/Clinical Practicum II 2 credits
OT 917 Advanced Group Theories 3 credits
OT 929 Thesis Seminar II 3 credits
OT 931 Organizational & Professional Issues II 3 credits
Total 17 credits

3rd Year Spring Semester
OT 905 Clinical Reasoning II 3 credits
OT 930 Thesis Seminar III 3 credits
OT 921 Level II Fieldwork II 3 credits
Total 9 credits
(33 graduate credits)

Five-Year Master of Occupational Therapy
(Combined Bachelor's and Master's Program of Study) Entry Level

Program Coordinator: Dr. Joanne Gallagher
508-929-8783
email: jgallagher@worcester.edu

Application for Admission is made through the Undergraduate Admissions Office.

Worcester State College offers a five-year program leading to a Master of Occupational Therapy Degree. This program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education. (Inquiries regarding accreditation may be made to the council at 4720 Montgomery Lane, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220 or 301-652-2682.) The program is open to freshman applicants and to qualified transfer students. This innovative, entry-level curriculum will enable students who maintain academic standards to transition to graduate status in the senior year. These students may then complete all academic and fieldwork components of the MOT Degree in five years, including one summer. The program of study includes 126 undergraduate and 33 graduate credits. Completion of a Master’s thesis is required for graduation. Successful graduates will be eligible to sit for the NBCOT Certification Examination for Occupational Therapists, which is required for practice in the field.

Program Requirements:
Note: 1) All OT prerequisites and major courses must be completed with a B or better (refer to OT Student Handbook for exception). 2) Courses must be taken in prescribed sequence or with Department Chair's approval. 3) All coursework must be completed prior to beginning Level II Fieldwork. No student will be allowed to begin OT 920 until all 400 level coursework (and OT 932 and 928) have been successfully completed. No student will be allowed to begin OT 921 until all coursework (including thesis) has been successfully completed. Eligibility for the national certification examination requires successful completion of six months of Level II Fieldwork (OT 920 and 921).
Note: OT 921 must be completed within 12 months of the academic preparation.

FIVE-YEAR MASTER OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY (MOT) CURRICULUM
Freshman Program of Study
Freshman Fall Semester Credits
OT 101 Occupational Studies I 3 credits
BI 161 Anatomy & Physiology I 4 credits
PS 110 General Psychology I 3 credits
Foundation English, Mathematics, or History 3 credits
Distribution 3 credits
Total 16 credits

Freshman Spring Semester
OT 102 Occupational Studies II 3 credits
BI 162 Anatomy & Physiology II 4 credits
PS 111 General Psychology II 3 credits
Distribution 3 credits
Foundation English, Mathematics, or History 3 credits
Total 16 credits

Sophomore Fall Semester
OT 203 Occupational Studies III 3 credits
PS 210 Child Growth and Development
(or PS 220) Psychology of Aging 3 credits
BI/NS 315 Neuroscience 4 credits
Distribution 3 credits
Foundation English, Mathematics, or History 3 credits
Total 16 credits

Sophomore Spring Semester
OT 204 Occupational Studies IV 3 credits
OT 211 Kinesiology Lab 1 credit
BI 171 Kinesiology 3 credits
PS 210 Child Growth and Development
(or PS 220) Psychology of Aging 3 credits
Distribution Sociology 3 credits
Distribution 3 credits
Total 16 credits

Junior Fall Semester
OT 301 Occupational Performance & Context I 3 credits
OT 302 Therapeutic Approaches I 3 credits
OT 304 Therapeutic Approaches Lab I/L1FW 2 credits
MA 150 Statistics I
(or PS 275) Social and Behavioral Statistics 3 credits
Distribution 3 credits
Distribution 3 credits
Total 17 credits

Junior Spring Semester
Petition for Graduate Status
OT 312 Occupational Performance & Context II 3 credits
OT 313 Therapeutic Approaches II 3 credits
OT 318 Therapeutic Approaches Lab II/L1FW 2 credits
OT 316 Assistive Technology I 2 credits
OT 317 Research I 3 credits
Distribution 3 credits
Total 16 credits

Senior Fall Semester
OT 401 Occupational Performance & Context III 3 credits
OT 402 Therapeutic Approaches III 3 credits
OT 403 Therapeutic Approaches Lab III/L1FW 2 credits
OT 404 Assistive Technology II 2 credits
OT 407 Research II 3 credits
Distribution 3 credits
Total 16 credits

Senior Spring Semester
Transition to Graduate Status
OT 421 Occupational Performance & Context IV 3 credits
OT 427 Therapeutic Approaches IV 3 credits
OT 423 Therapeutic Approaches Lab IV/L1FW 2 credits
OT 424 Assistive Technology III 2 credits
OT 426 Organizational & Professional Issues I 3 credits
OT 915 Community/Clinical Practicum I 1 credit
OT 928 Thesis Seminar I 3 credits
Total 17 credits
(126 undergraduate credits)

Senior Summer Semester
OT 920 Level II Fieldwork I 3 credits
Total 3 credits

Graduate Fall Semester
OT 903 Clinical Reasoning I 3 credits
OT 906 Global Health Issues 3 credits
OT 916 Community/Clinical Practicum II 2 credits
OT 917 Advanced Group Theories 3 credits
OT 929 Thesis Seminar II 3 credits
OT 931 Organizational & Professional Issues II 3 credits
Total 17 credits

Graduate Spring Semester
OT 905 Clinical Reasoning II 3 credits
OT 930 Thesis Seminar III 3 credits
OT 921 Level II Fieldwork II 3 credits
Total 9 credits
(33 graduate credits)

FIVE-YEAR MASTER OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY (MOT) CURRICULUM
Transfer Program of Study*
* Entry to OT 101 and OT 102 in the summer is contingent on other freshman course requirements having been met.

Entry Summer Semester Credits
OT 101 Occupational Studies I 3 credits
OT 102 Occupational Studies II 3 credits
BI 161 Anatomy & Physiology I (if needed) 3 credits
BI 162 Anatomy & Physiology II (if needed) 3 credits
Total 12 credits

Sophomore Fall Semester
OT 203 Occupational Studies III 3 credits
PS 210 Child Growth and Development
(or PS 220) Psychology of Aging 3 credits
BI/NS 315 Neuroscience 4 credits
Distribution 3 credits
Foundation English, Mathematics, or History 3 credits
Total 16 credits

Sophomore Spring Semester
OT 204 Occupational Studies IV 3 credits
OT 211 Kinesiology Lab 1 credit
BI 171 Kinesiology 3 credits
PS 210 Child Growth and Development
(or PS 220) Psychology of Aging 3 credits
Distribution Sociology 3 credits
Distribution 3 credits
Total 16 credits

Junior Fall Semester
OT 301 Occupational Performance & Context I 3 credits
OT 302 Therapeutic Approaches I 3 credits
OT 304 Therapeutic Approaches Lab I/L1FW 2 credits
MA 150 Statistics I 3 credits
(or PS 275) Behavioral Statistics
Distribution 3 credits
Distribution 3 credits
Total 17 credits

Junior Spring Semester
OT 312 Occupational Performance & Context II 3 credits
OT 313 Therapeutic Approaches II 3 credits
OT 318 Therapeutic Approaches Lab II/L1FW 2 credits
OT 316 Assistive Technology I 2 credits
OT 317 Research I 3 credits
Distribution 3 credits
Total 16 credits

Senior Fall Semester
OT 401 Occupational Performance & Context III 3 credits
OT 402 Therapeutic Approaches III 3 credits
OT 403 Therapeutic Approaches Lab III/L1FW 2 credits
OT 404 Assistive Technology II 2 credits
OT 407 Research II 3 credits
Distribution 3 credits
Total 16 credits

Senior Spring Semester
OT 421 Occupational Performance & Context IV 3 credits
OT 427 Therapeutic Approaches IV 3 credits
OT 423 Therapeutic Approaches Lab IV/L1FW 2 credits
OT 424 Assistive Technology III 2 credits
OT 426 Organizational & Professional Issues I 3 credits
OT 915 Community/Clinical Practicum I 1 credit
OT 928 Thesis Seminar I 3 credits
Total 17 credits
(126 undergraduate credits)

Senior Summer Semester
OT 920 Level II Fieldwork I 3 credits
Total 3 credits

Graduate Spring Semester
OT 905 Clinical Reasoning II 3 credits
OT 930 Thesis Seminar III 3 credits
OT 921 Level II Fieldwork II 3 credits
Total 9 credits
(33 graduate credits)

Occupational Therapy Courses (Graduate)
OT 101 Occupational Studies I
Introduction to the profession through six themes: Philosophy, wellness/illness/disability continuum with a focus on disability; occupational performance and activity; environments; professionalization; and clinical reasoning.
3 credits.
OT 102 Occupational Studies II
Continuing discussion of the profession through six themes: Philosophy, wellness/illness/disability continuum with a focus on wellness; normal range of occupational performance and activity; environments; professionalization; and
clinical reasoning.
3 credits.
OT 203 Occupational Studies III
Continuing discussion of the profession using the six themes. This course will focus on: standards of practice, interdisciplinary relationships, and certification; wellness/illness/disability continuum; occupational performance and activity; occupational performance environments; professionalization; and clinical reasoning, with a focus on models of practice.
3 credits.
OT 204 Occupational Studies IV
Continuing discussion of the profession through the six themes: History and philosophy; wellness/illness/disability continuum; occupational performance and activity; environments; professionalization; and clinical reasoning. The
focus will be systems and the larger contexts of political, economic, and health environments.
3 credits.
OT 211 Kinesiology Lab
Concurrent with BI 171
Opportunities to develop skills that apply kinesiology to occupational therapy practice.
1 credit.
OT 301 Occupational Performance & Context I
Concurrent with OT 302, OT 304
Themes of history of the profession, wellness/illness/disability continuum, occupational performance and context, professionalization, and clinical reasoning will be applied to psychosocial performance in life roles.
3 credits.
OT 302 Therapeutic Approaches
Themes of history of the profession, wellness/illness/disability continuum, occupational performance and context, professionalization, and clinical reasoning will be applied to practice models when addressing psychosocial health,
illness, and disability.
3 credits.
OT 304 Therapeutic Approaches Lab I/Level I Fieldwork
Directed observation and participation in the clinical application of theories and methods of occupational therapy intervention with psychosocial disorders. Includes observation in various sites off campus.
2 credits.
OT 312 Occupational Performance & Context II
Concurrent with OT 313, OT 318, OT 316
Themes of history of the profession, wellness/illness/disability continuum, occupational performance and context, professionalization, and clinical reasoning will be applied to physical performance in life roles.
3 credits.
OT 313 Therapeutic Approaches II
Themes of history of the profession, wellness/illness/disability continuum, occupational performance and context, professionalization, and clinical reasoning will be applied to practice models when addressing health, illness, and disability related to physical functioning.
3 credits.
OT 316 Assistive Technology I
Assistive technology related to physical dysfunction will be explored.
2 credits.
OT 317 Research I
Course will examine qualitative and quantitative research related to OT. The focus will be on reading and designing research.
3 credits.
OT 318 Therapeutic Approaches II
Directed observation and participation in the clinical application of theories and methods of occupational therapy intervention with physical dysfunction. Includes observation in various sites off campus.
2 credits.
OT 401 Occupational Performance and Context III
Concurrent with OT 402, OT 403, OT 404
Themes of history of the profession, wellness/illness/disability continuum, occupational performance and context, professionalization, and clinical reasoning will be applied to occupational performance in life roles in the geriatric population.
3 credits.
OT 402 Therapeutic Approaches III
Themes of history of the profession, wellness/illness/disability continuum, occupational performance and context, professionalization, and clinical reasoning will be applied to practice models when addressing health, illness, and disability related to the geriatric population.
3 credits.
OT 403 Therapeutic Approaches Lab III/Level I Fieldwork
Directed observation and participation in the clinical application of theories and methods of occupational therapy intervention with the geriatric population. Includes observation in various sites off campus.
2 credits.
OT 404 Assistive Technology II
Assistive technology related to the needs of the geriatric population will be explored.
2 credits.
OT 407 Research II
Course will continue to examine qualitative and quantitative research related to OT. The focus will be on analyzing data, and writing research reports. Standardized tests and program evaluation are also discussed.
3 credits.
OT 421 Occupational Performance & Context IV
Concurrent with OT 423, OT 424, OT 427
Themes of history of the profession, wellness/illness/disability continuum, occupational performance and context, professionalization, and clinical reasoning will be applied to performance in life roles related to the pediatric population
3 credits.
OT 423 Therapeutic Approaches Lab IV/Level I Fieldwork
Directed observation and participation in the clinical application of theories and methods of occupational therapy intervention with the pediatric population. Includes observation in various sites off campus.
2 credits.
OT 424 Assistive Technology
Assistive technology related to the occupational performance and treatment in pediatric practice.
2 credits.
OT 426 Organizational & Professional Issues I
Introduction to principles of organization, administration, and management applied to the delivery of occupational therapy services in various practice settings. Work relationships, ethical issues, and laws influencing practice will also be discussed.
3 credits.
OT 427 Therapeutic Approaches IV
Themes of history of the profession, wellness/illness/disability continuum, occupational performance and context, professionalization, and clinical reasoning will be applied to practice models when addressing health, illness, and
disability in the pediatric population.
3 credits.
OT 903 Clinical Reasoning I
Seminar to apply clinical reasoning skills to case studies integrating all aspects that influence therapeutic decisionmaking,
including, occupational performance areas, components, and contexts.
3 credits.
OT 905 Clinical Reasoning II
Continuing seminar to apply clinical reasoning skills to case studies integrating all aspects that influence therapeutic
decision-making, including occupational performance areas, components, and contexts.
3 credits.
OT 906 Global Health Issues
Understanding health issues from a global perspective of the economic, political, social, and cultural forces, which impact on health and health services.
3 credits.
OT 915 Community Clinical Practicum I
Students conduct needs assessments for OT services at community-based human service agencies and design innovative programs.
1 credit.
OT 916 Community Clinical Practicum II
Students implement the programs designed during OT 915 and evaluate outcomes.
2 credits.
OT 917 Advanced Group Theories
In depth study of theories related to group process and the therapeutic uses of groups.
3 credits.
OT 920 Level II Fieldwork I
Twelve weeks of full-time (or equivalent part-time) fieldwork in approved setting with supervision that meets ACOTE Standards.
3 credits.
OT 921 Level II Fieldwork II
Twelve weeks of full-time (or equivalent part-time) fieldwork in approved setting with supervision that meets ACOTE Standards.
3 credits.
OT 928 Thesis Seminar I
Seminar focusing on the development of thesis proposals.
3 credits.
OT 929 Thesis Seminar II
Seminar focusing on the collection and analysis of data.
3 credits.
OT 930 Thesis Seminar III
Seminar focusing on writing and disseminating a research report
3 credits.
OT 931 Organizational & Professional Issues II
An advanced seminar exploring issues relevant to the changing roles and responsibilities of practitioners and to the rapidly evolving practice contexts.
3 credits.