Graduate Studies in Occupational Therapy
Debra B. Wollaber, Dean, College of Health Sciences
Ruth S. Ford, Associate Dean and Chair, School of Occupational Therapy

Ruth Ford, Yvette C. Hachtel, Lorry Liotta-Kleinfeld, Scott D. McPhee, Teresa Plummer, Jeanne Sowers, Susan Young, Mary Dietrich*, Amy East Ramey*, Chris Golden*, Patricia Harvey*, Gayle Hoesel*, Kathy Pire-Benton*, Beth Sikes*, Randy Spergin*, and Pauline Kimbro*.
*Part-time

School of Occupational Therapy Vision
The School of Occupational Therapy’s vision is to offer a comprehensive education to graduate students in a Christian environment, preparing them to become and continue to be occupational therapy practitioners who are committed to life-long learning, service and advocacy.

School of Occupational Therapy Mission

The school of Occupational Therapy provides comprehensive graduate education within a Christian, learning environment to enable students from diverse backgrounds to positively impact the community at large and enhance the human condition through appreciation of diversity, problem-solving, and utility of meaningful and purposeful occupations.

In achieving its mission, and that of the university, the School of Occupational Therapy provides:

1. Comprehensive, student-centered programs that encompass the scope of practice of occupational therapy and build upon the students’ liberal arts and science foundational knowledge, their understanding of issues related to globalism and diversity as preparation for practice.

2. A Christian learning environment that promotes and assists in developing professional behaviors that incorporate the values and attitudes of excellence, caring, honesty, and respect that are consistent with the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice for the American Occupational Therapy Association.

3. Didactic, laboratory, and clinical experiences that provide exposure to a broad range of traditional and emerging healthcare and human service delivery models

4. Exposure to basic skills associated with the potential varied roles of an occupation therapist as a practitioner, consultant, educator, manager, researcher and advocate.

5. Opportunities to prepare the student to be a self-directed life long learner by encouraging independent inquiry, critical thinking, clinical reasoning, self reflection, and self- assessment.

6. To provide a foundation in occupational therapy research allowing the student to be an effective consumer of the latest research and knowledge bases that undergrid practice and contribute to the growth and dissemination of research and knowledge.

Professional Entry-Level Graduate Studies in Occupational Therapy

The occupational therapy curriculum is designed in such a way as to reflect the values and intent of the profession. Based upon the profession's philosophy, the university's vision and the program's mission, the curriculum, which includes both didactic and clinical fieldwork components, provides a learning experience that will prepare Belmont University graduates to enter various service delivery arenas. Students follow a structured, integrated sequence of learning experiences that prepares them for entry-level practice as occupational therapists. Building upon a student's liberal arts education, the School of Occupational Therapy's main objective is to provide a professional entry-level graduate program that will prepare graduates to:

1. Implement the occupational therapy process model to include the ability to:
a) establish a therapeutic relationship with clients
b) evaluate clients using interview, observation, and assessment tools
c) identify problems appropriate for occupational therapy intervention and document an intervention plan.
d) effectively and efficiently implement client intervention
e) supervise the implementation of client intervention
f) consult and participate in health care planning
g) critique research

2. Plan for future professional development

3. Provide community and professional service and leadership

4. Express themselves clearly and persuasively in both written and verbal communication

5. Ascribe to a standard of ethical conduct in their personal and professional lives

Accreditation

The Occupational Therapy 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. AOTA's phone number is (301) 652-AOTA.

Graduates are able 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). Most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination.

Phi Theta Epsilon

Pi Theta Epsilon is the national academic honor society for occupational therapy students and alumni. This society recognizes and encourages superior scholarship among students enrolled in professional entry-level occupational therapy programs at accredited schools across the United States. The honor society chapter on Belmont University's campus is Beta Upsilon.

Student Organization

The Belmont Student Occupational Therapy Association promotes increased awareness of the profession and assists occupational therapy students in their development as young professionals by encouraging participation in research projects and working with advocates to impact health care at the local and national levels. Membership is open to all students enrolled in the occupational therapy program.

Requirement for Admission to Occupational Therapy Graduate Programs

Admission to the Occupational Therapy entry-level Doctorate and Master of Occupational Therapy degree or the post-professional Master of Science degree programs is based on qualifications and space availability. Admission is awarded without regard to sex, race, color, age, religion, national origin, or handicap.

Admission to the Entry-Level Doctor of Occupational Therapy Degree Program

Applicants to the professional entry level Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree program must have completed or shown evidence of substantial work toward the following in order to be considered for admission:

1. Applicants who already have an undergraduate degree must have:
1. A baccalaureate degree in a field or major other than occupational therapy, from an accredited college or university. The recommended minimum grade point average is 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
2. An acceptable score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) taken within the past five years. A combined score of 1000 on the verbal and quantitative portions of the GRE is recommended. GRE score reports should be forwarded to Belmont University from the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Please specify Institution Code 1058 and School Code 0618 to the ETS.


2. Applicants who do not have an undergraduate degree must:
1. Apply for admission during their junior year while pursuing a baccalaureate degree in a field of study other than occupational therapy from an accredited college or university. Applicants must have a minimum of 90 semester credits when they start the occupational therapy classes to qualify for this program. The recommended minimum grade point average is 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
2. Note: applicants to the 3+3 program are not required to take the GRE.


3. Two letters of reference; at least one must be from an occupational therapist or health care provider. The person making the recommendation should mail these letters, using the forms provided.
   
   
4. Demonstration of familiarity with occupational therapy in the form of 50 hours of observational, volunteer experiences or prior work experience in occupational therapy. These hours do not have to be completed prior to the application process but must be completed before the start of occupational therapy classes.
   
   
5. A one page, handwritten essay explaining what becoming an occupational therapist means to you, based on your experience with occupational therapy.
   
   
6. Prerequisite course content areas are as follows:
1. a. Applicants are required to complete a minimum number of required courses before their admissions to the occupational therapy program. These are human anatomy, human physiology, and statistics. Note that grades less than "B" are unacceptable for required prerequisite courses.
2. Applicants are strongly recommended to have taken a class in human growth and development, and a class in abnormal psychology.
3. Other classes that have been found helpful to occupational therapy students include physics, sociology, effective writing, public speaking, and computer literacy.


7. After an initial review of applications, individuals meeting the requirements of the program will be invited to participate in the interview portion of the admission process.
   
8. The Admissions Committee can make a recommendation of : full, conditional, or denial of admission. Applicants who do not meet GPA requirements or GRE recommendations for full admission status, but who meet all other requirements may be offered conditional admission. The conditions of acceptance will be rendered to the applicant in writing.

A non-refundable $50.00 application fee must accompany all application materials. Checks should be made out to Belmont University. Admission to the Program is based on qualifications and space availability. Applications are not acted upon until all required materials have been received. The MSOT Weekend Program has a rolling admissions process and will accept applications up until April 1 prior to the fall semester for which a student is applying. A maximum of 24 students are admitted into the MSOT Weekend Program each year. It is in the best interest of prospective students to complete their application early because of the limited number of positions in the class. Completed applications will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee and a written determination of their status will be mailed to the student. Competitive applicants who are still in the process of completing their admission requirements (pre-requisites, observation hours, etc) may be eligible for conditional acceptance however the conditional acceptance will be rescinded if all requirements are not completed by August 1 prior to the fall semester for which the student is applying.

Admissions to the Entry Level Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Degree Weekend Program (OTW)

School of Occupational Therapy Goals for the OT Weekend Program:

The occupational therapy curriculum is designed in such a way as to reflect the values and intent of the profession. Based upon the profession's philosophy, the university's vision and the program's mission, the curriculum, which includes both didactic and clinical fieldwork components, provides a learning experience that will prepare Belmont University graduates to enter various service delivery arenas. Students follow a structured, integrated sequence of learning experiences that prepares them for entry-level practice as occupational therapists. Building upon a student's liberal arts education, the School of Occupational Therapy's main objective is to provide a professional entry-level graduate program that will prepare graduates to:

1. Demonstrate understanding of and implement the occupational therapy process model to include the ability to:
a. Establish a therapeutic relationship with clients
b. Evaluate clients using interview, observation, and assessment tools
c. Identify problems appropriate for occupational therapy intervention and document an intervention plan.
d. Effectively and efficiently implement client intervention
e. Supervise the implementation of client intervention
f. Consult and participate in health care planning

2. Plan for future professional development

3. Provide community and professional service and leadership

4. Express themselves clearly and persuasively in both written and verbal communication

5. Ascribe to a standard of ethical conduct in their personal and professional lives

6. Be a consumer of research

The master of science in occupational therapy degree weekend program is specifically designed for occupational therapy assistants (OTA) who want to transition to the master level occupational therapist. Preference will be given to occupational therapy assistants and physical therapy assistants and other health care professions. Other candidates should consider the OTD program that allows for additional clinical fieldwork and added curriculum to educate the student about occupational therapy. The weekend format is designed for those with work experience in occupational therapy.

Applicants who do not already have a bachelor's degree must:

1. Have a minimum of one year's experience in their profession (preference given to OTA although others are invited to apply and will be considered on an individual basis).

2. Non-health care professional must complete OTW 5040 prior to the start of the second semester of enrollment in the MSOT program.

3. Submit a completed application form along with a $50.00 non-refundable application fee.

4. Have completed a minimum of 90 semester credits from a regionally accredited college or university with a recommended cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

5. Complete the following prerequisite courses with a grade of "B" or better. All pre-requisite coursework must have been completed within six years prior to the semester for which you are applying. If courses were completed with less than a 'B' or more than six years ago, please consult the Associate Dean to determine an alternate method of demonstrating competency in a particular area.

a. Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, and Statistics
b. 9 credits of social science courses to include Human Growth and Development
c. 6 credits of communication courses. Recommended courses include English, Writing, or Public Speaking
d. Be computer literate

6. Submit two letters of reference with one of the letters being from an occupational therapist. The person making the recommendation should use the forms provided.

7. Non-OTAs who are admitted to the program must demonstrate familiarity with occupational therapy through completion of a minimum of 50 hours of observational, volunteer or work experiences. These hours do not have to be completed prior to the application process but must be completed by the start of the Program.

8. Submit a one page, hand written statement explaining what becoming an occupational therapist means to you. Applicants should discuss how their experience as a health care practitioner has prepared them for this transition.
Applicants who already have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in another discipline, must:

1) Have a minimum of one year's experience in their profession (preference given to OTA although others are invited to apply and will be considered on an individual basis).
2) Non-health care professional must complete OTW 5040 prior to the start of the second semester of enrollment in the MSOT program.
3) Submit a completed application form along with a $50.00 non-refundable application fee.
4) Have a recommended cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
5). Have an acceptable score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) taken within the past five years. A combined score of 1000 on the verbal and quantitative portions of the GRE is recommended. GRE score reports should be sent to Belmont University from the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Please specify Institution Code 1058 and School Code 0618 to the ETS.
6) Complete the following prerequisite courses with a grade of "B" or better. All pre-requisite coursework must have been completed within six years prior to the semester for which you are applying. If courses were completed with less than a 'B' or more than six years ago, please consult the Coordinator of the Weekend Program to determine an alternate method of demonstrating competency in a particular area.
a. 6 credits of Human Anatomyand Human Physiology
b. Option #1: 3 credits of human anatomy and 3 credits of human physiology or
c. Option #2: 3 credits of Human anatomy and physiology I and
d. 3 credits of human anatomy and physiology II
e. 3 credits of Statistics
f. 9 credits of social science courses. To include Human Growth and Development
g. 6 credits of communication courses. Recommended courses include English, Writing, or Public Speaking
h. Be computer literate
7) Submit two letters of reference with one of the letters being from an occupational therapist. The person making the recommendation should use the forms provided.
8) Non-OTAs who are admitted to the program must demonstrate familiarity with occupational therapy through completion of a minimum of 50 hours of observational, volunteer or work experiences. These hours do not have to be completed prior to the application process but must be completed by the start of the Program.
9). Submit a one page, hand written statement explaining what becoming an occupational therapist means to you. Applicants should discuss how their experience as a health care practitioner has prepared them for this transition.

A non-refundable $50.00 application fee must accompany all application materials. Checks should be made out to Belmont University. Applications are not acted upon until all required materials have been received.

The MSOT Weekend Program has a rolling admissions process and will accept applications up until class is filled. A maximum of 32 students are admitted into the MSOT Weekend Program each year. It is in the best interest of prospective students to complete their application early because of the limited number of positions in the class. Completed applications will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee and a written determination of their status will be mailed to the student. Competitive applicants who are still in the process of completing their admission requirements (pre-requisites, observation hours, etc) may be eligible for conditional acceptance however the conditional acceptance will be rescinded if all requirements are not completed by August 1 prior to the fall semester for which the student is applying.