Professional Entry-Level | Post Professional | Courses
Post
Professional Master of Science Degree Program
Purpose:
The School of Occupational Therapy is committed to provide continuing professional education, not to just Belmont graduates, but to all occupational therapists who have an interest or need. This is in keeping with Belmont University's vision of being a premier teaching university. The School of Occupational Therapy offers a post-professional Master of Science degree program using alternative delivery formats (to include web-based instruction and teleconferencing). This is designed for occupational therapists who have an earned entry-level bachelor's degree in occupational therapy. The goals for this occupational therapy education program are:
- To provide a post-professional occupational therapy course of study.
- To build upon the student's professional preparation and provide an advanced knowledge base that will enhance their level of practice and understanding.
- To teach and promote skills of inquiry and critical reasoning.
- To instill and nurture those attitudes, values and behaviors that exemplify professional leadership, integrity and social consciousness.
- To embrace the vision and values of the university and integrate the concepts of excellence, caring, honesty and respect in all aspects of the education process.
Admission to Post Professional Master's Program
Admissions to the post-professional Master of Science degree program is competitive and is available to qualified applicants on a space available basis. Admission is awarded without regard to sex, race, color, age, religion, national origin, or handicap. Applications to the post-professional Master of Science degree program should be forwarded to the Associate Dean, School of Occupational Therapy.
Requirements for admission to the post professional Master of Science degree program are as follows:
- A completed application form.
- A $50 non-refundable application fee.
- A minimum of a baccalaureate degree in occupational therapy and certification as an Occupational Therapist, Registered, by the NBCOT.
- A minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for full admission.
- An acceptable score on either the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT) taken within the past five years. (This requirement is waived for international students who must take the TOEFL).
- Two letters of reference attesting to the applicant's capabilities to pursue a post-professional course of study.
Decisions regarding the acceptability of applicants for this program will be made by the Occupational Therapy Admissions Committee after evaluation of all pertinent application materials. Students who have not completed the GRE or MAT may be admitted into the program with a provisional admission status. In this case, acceptable scores must be provided to the school within 6 months of admission. Students admitted provisionally must petition for full admission status at the end of their third quarter.
Post Professional Degree Graduation Requirements
The School of Occupational Therapy is committed to provide professional graduate education to all occupational therapists who have an interest or need for further education. It offers programs in two areas of concentration: Early Childhood and School-Based Therapy, or Higher Education.
All students entering into the post-professional Occupational Therapy Master of Science degree program will be required to take the following courses: OCT 600, OCT 601, OCT 603, and OCT 605 (see course descriptions). These 12 credits of core courses are required of all students regardless of the area of concentration they choose to follow. Students must complete 12-15 credits in their area of specialization and 6 thesis credits. A minimum of thirty credit hours are required to qualify for graduation.
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| Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Master of Science Program | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Early Childhood and School-Based Therapy Concentration | 31-33 | |
| Term I | 6 | |
| OCT 600, Professional Issues in Occupational Therapy | 3 | |
| OCT 610, Critical Management Issues in Traditional and Non-Traditional Settings | 3 | |
| Term II | 6 | |
| OCT 601, Occupation and Mechanisms of Therapeutic Change | 3 | |
| OCT 612, Environmental Dimensions in Human Performance for Pediatric Populations | 3 | |
| Term III | 6 | |
| OCT 603, Scientific Inquiry in Occupational Therapy | 3 | |
| OCT 614, Clinical Neuroscience for Pediatric Populations | 3 | |
| Term IV | 6 | |
| OCT 605, Graduate Seminar | 3 | |
| OCT 616, Advanced Methods in Pediatric Assessments and Interventions | 3 | |
| Term V | 4-6 | |
| OCT 629, Independent Study in Occupational Therapy | 1-3 | |
| OCT 695, Thesis I | 3 | |
| Term VI | 3 | |
| OCT 696, Thesis II | 3 | |
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| Higher Education Concentration | 31-33 | |
| Term I | 6 | |
| OCT 600, Professional Issues in Occupational Therapy | 3 | |
| OCT 620, Professional Development | 3 | |
| Term II | 6 | |
| OCT 601, Occupation and Mechanisms of Therapeutic Change | 3 | |
| OCT 622, Curriculum and Program Planning in Occupational Therapy | 3 | |
| Term III | 6 | |
| OCT 603, Scientific Inquiry in Occupational Therapy | 3 | |
| OCT 624, Instructional Delivery of Occupational Therapy Education | 3 | |
| Term IV | 6 | |
| OCT 605, Graduate Seminar | 3 | |
| OCT 625, Adult Learning Methods in Occupational Therapy | 3 | |
| Term V | 4-6 | |
| OCT 629, Independent Study in Occupational Therapy | 1-3 | |
| OCT 695, Thesis I | 3 | |
| Term VI | 3 | |
| OCT 696, Thesis II | 3 | |
Admission Policies Applicable to all Occupational Therapy Graduate Students
Repeating Courses - If a student must repeat a course, it must be done the next term the course is offered. The last grade will be the permanent grade recorded, and the student's GPA will be recomputed accordingly. No course may be repeated more than once.
Limitation on Completion of Requirements - A graduate student in the master's program must complete all degree requirements within a six-year period. Time limits shall be computed from and will include the first semester of credit applied to the degree program.
Readmission - Students who fail to register for courses during a given semester are required to apply for readmission in the subsequent semester in which they are eligible to enroll for courses.
Thesis Committees
The adoption of the thesis committee system for graduate study assumes the personalization of the program of study for each individual student and may be adapted to the specifications in each specialty area. Each committee includes: one chair who will serve as the student's advisor and one additional faculty member. The Chair of the Thesis Committee must have a terminal degree and one member of the committee must be an occupational therapist.
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