Occupational Therapy Program

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
The new 2-year master’s program in occupational therapy is in the application phase for 2024-2025 academic year.

Admission Criteria

Occupational Therapy (OT) is a health/rehabilitation profession whose practitioners work in a wide variety of settings including acute care hospitals, rehabilitation centers, psychiatric hospitals, community mental health facilities, schools, and nursing homes, to name a few. This profession contributes to the physical and emotional independence; and the well-being of an individual or group of people through the selection of occupations or activities from everyday life that have meaning and purpose to the individual. This enables the individual to gain, regain, enhance, or prevent loss of habits, skills, tasks, routines or roles that the individual has performed in the past.

The Occupational Therapy Program considers applicants for admission who possess the academic and professional promise necessary for development as competent, caring members of the healthcare community. To select the most qualified candidates, a competitive admissions framework has been established for applicants who have received a bachelor's degree in any field of study.

The Occupational Therapy Program in conjunction with the mission of ¿ì»îÊÓƵ actively invites a diversity of talented students, staff, and faculty from all racial, religious, and ethnic backgrounds to participate in this educational enterprise.

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Individuals applying for admission to ¿ì»îÊÓƵ Occupational Therapy Program must submit documentation for the following minimum requirements before the start of the Fall semester of the incoming class. Interested individuals are advised to complete their application as early as possible to ensure timely consideration.

¿ì»îÊÓƵ Occupational Therapy Program uses the Centralized Application Service for Occupational Therapy Schools (OTCAS) for students applying to the program. Applications are due in OTCAS () by April of each year. Applications received after the deadline will be considered if seats are available. Please refer to the OTCAS website for instructions on submission of OTCAS application materials.

The following must be completed:

1. Applicants applying for admission will have earned a baccalaureate degree from an U.S. regionally accredited institution prior to matriculation. International baccalaureate degrees will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
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2. Applicants are required to pay a $35 application fee to ¿ì»îÊÓƵ's Graduate School.
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3. Applicants must have achieved a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale. Grades of "C" or better for prerequisite coursework is required.
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4. Applicants are required to submit all official college or academic transcripts to the Graduate Admissions Office of ¿ì»îÊÓƵ. Each transcript should bear the signature of the registrar, the seal of the granting institution, the years of attendance, courses taken, grades received, and the degree or diploma conferred.
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5. Applicants are required to obtain a minimum of 20 hours in volunteer and/or employment in the field of occupational therapy.
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6. Applicants must secure two (2) letters of recommendation from professionals that are submitted to OTCAS (). One of the letters must be written by an occupational therapist who has supervised or mentored the applicant. The second letter can be written by either a college professor who taught the student or a pre-health advisor who knows the applicant well. The applicant should refer to the OTCAS application instructions for specific guidelines and requirements for submitting letters of recommendation.
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7. Applicants must submit a personal statement that will include reasons the applicant desire to become an occupational therapist, your philosophy, life goals, knowledge of the field and why you are a good fit for our occupational therapy program.
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8. Applicants must include a resume.
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9. Applicants who are considered potential candidates will be invited to participate in an interview process by the occupational therapy faculty.
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10. The Graduate School of ¿ì»îÊÓƵ requires international applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English when applying to the ¿ì»îÊÓƵ. Therefore, international applicants will be required to take the TOEFL whose method of instruction at the undergraduate level was not in English. /graduate-school.
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11. Accepted applicants are required to have a laptop computer or tablet prior to the first day of class.
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12. Applicants are required to submit to a criminal background check at their own expense. Applicants must use CastleBranch: .
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13. Applicants must obtain and maintain Health Care Provider level of CPR certification from the American Heart Association (Basic Life Support, CPR and AED for Healthcare Professionals). Verification must be submitted to CastleBranch: .​

Prerequisite Courses:

• Applicants must complete all prerequisite courses from a regionally accredited institution prior to the start of school. Prerequisites over six years old will not be accepted. Applicants must show proof of enrollment in any pending prerequisite courses and the prerequisites must be completed by the end of July. ¿ì»îÊÓƵ fall semester starts mid-August.
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• For Occupational Therapy Program questions, please contact the Occupational Therapy Program Director at 334-727-8696 or email jlewisclark@tuskegee.edu.

¿ì»îÊÓƵ
Occupational Therapy Program Director
School of Nursing and Allied Health
John A. Kenney Hall, Rm. 71-266
Tuskegee, AL 36088

• For questions concerning the graduate school, please contact Graduate School Admissions at 334-724-4194 or email:Ìý graduateschool@tuskegee.edu.

¿ì»îÊÓƵ
Graduate School
John A. Kenney Hall
Tuskegee, AL 36088

• Science: one course for a minimum 3 semester hours/4 quarter hours from one of the following: General Biology I & II, Microbiology, Chemistry (Physical, Organic, Biochemistry) or Physics or if another course has been taken the Admissions Committee will review. Preference is for courses with lab.
• Human Anatomy: one course with lab, minimum of 4 semester hours/6 quarter hours. (Note: Human Anatomy/Physiology I and II may be substituted for the above courses).
• Human Physiology: one course with lab, minimum of 4 semester hours/6 quarter hours (Note: Human Anatomy/Physiology I and II may be substituted for the above courses).
• Statistics: one course for a minimum of 3 semester hours/4 quarter hours. Courses can be behavioral, educational, psychological or mathematical statistics.
• Human Development: This requirement can be met by having one course, for a minimum of 3 semester hours/4 quarter hours that covers human development from birth through gerontology. It can also be met by having a child development or child psychology course, for a minimum 3 semester hours/4 quarter hours, in addition to a gerontology or psychology of aging course, for a minimum 3 semester hours/4 quarter hours.
• Abnormal Psychology: one course for a minimum of 3 semester hours/4 quarter hours.
• General Psychology: one course for a minimum of 3 semester hours/4 quarter hours.
• Any Sociology OR Cultural Anthropology: One course either in Introduction to Sociology, Introduction to Anthropology or Cultural Anthropology for a minimum 3 semester hours/4 quarter hours.
• Medical Terminology: one course for a minimum 2 semester hour/3 quarter hour.
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Additional Admission PoliciesÌý Ìý ÌýÌý

1. Interview Process Policy:

The Applicants will be notified via email of an interview with specific date, time of the interview. The personal interview with the Occupational Therapy Admission Committee must result with a minimum composite score of 80% on the interview questions.

2. Acceptance Policy:

• After applying to the occupational therapy program, the applicant will be notified of their acceptance status. The Occupational Therapy Admissions Committee will consider several factors in making its decision for admission of an applicant. Criteria such as cumulative grade point average, prior volunteer or employment experiences, recommendations and performance on personal interview will be considered as part of the Committee's decision.
• The Occupational Therapy Committee will notify the graduate school of the applicants' acceptance into the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Program.
• Applicants who are not accepted into the program will be notified via email. These applicants are welcome to reapply for the following year admission cycle.

3. Transfer Credits from another OT Program:

• Our program does not accept transfer credits from another occupational therapy program.

4. Program Costs and Fees:

• At ¿ì»îÊÓƵ, full-time graduate school tuition is$ 10,189 per semester. The total estimated cost for tuition is $60,614 (cost of tuition is subject to change). Please see the Bursar's website for current tuition, fees, and room and board costs (https://www.tuskegce.edu/programs-courses/bursar).
• Fees for occupational therapy courses will vary and are charged per course at registration. The total lab fees for 5 semesters of didactic work are approximately $600. Other professional program fees in addition to tuition and living expenses include books ($900); clinical uniforms with patches and name tags ($115); transportation to off campus Fieldwork I sites ($200); and AOTA and other professional fees ($100). For 6 months full time fieldwork placement (Level II) and some Level I sites, students have costs for round trip transportation to sites ($200-$500); room and board at sites ($3,000); criminal background check ($110); and health and safety requirements at sites [CPR, medical exam, TB screening ($85-$100)]. Al/fees are estimated and are subject to change without notice due to market fluctuations in housing, transportation and health care.
• The Occupational Therapy graduate program curriculum contains 24Ìýcourses and 56 credits hours of didactic coursework including 24-weeks of Level II Fieldwork Experience.

5. Retention in the Program

A.Ìý The grading scale for all graduate level courses in occupational therapy graduate curriculum is as follows:

No grade below "C" will be accepted for graduate credit. However, grades on all courses carrying graduate credit will be used in determining the overall grade point average. A graduate student must maintain a "B" average (3.0) in all course work included in the program of study outlined for the degree, with no more than six semester hours of "C"Ìýgrades. * Graduate retention policies are regulated by ¿ì»îÊÓƵ. See theÌýcurrent Graduate School website for reference and further details. /graduate-school.

B.Ìý Grades of "D" are not acceptable. If a student makes a "D" in any course work in the program of study, then the student's graduate status is forfeited. When a student's record falls below 3.0, probation becomes automatic. Notification by the Registrar's office to the Dean of Graduate Programs will designate the student as probationary and the College Dean will be informed immediately. The College Dean will then inform the student, the department chairperson, and the student's advisor.

C.Ìý The probationary student will have until the end of the next session in which they are enrolled, to improve the cumulative grade point average to 3.0 or above. If the cumulative grade point average does not equal or exceed 3.0 at the end of this session, the student's graduate status will be forfeited, and the student will no longer be permitted to pursue a graduate degree at ¿ì»îÊÓƵ.

D.Ìý A student whose cumulative grade point average falls below 3.0 after a previous probationary period shall forfeit graduate status and will be dismissed from the program. The dismissed student will be allowed to withdraw from the current session in which he or she is enrolled. Students who have been dismissed from the Graduate program may enroll as a non-degree student. However, credits earned in this category may not be subsequently applied toward a degree at ¿ì»îÊÓƵ. In addition, the student will not be considered for readmission to any other Graduate Program at ¿ì»îÊÓƵ.

E.Ìý Ethical Standards for students are printed in the Occupational Therapy Graduate Handbook are binding in academic as well as clinical settings. Students must adhere to all of the standards. These standards are guidelines for professional and ethical behavior expected of all students enrolled in occupational therapy courses. Students in violation of any of the ethical standards may be dismissed from the program. A copy of these standards will be made available to all students enrolled in the occupational therapy program and will be found in the Occupational Therapy Graduate Handbook
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F.Ìý Level II Fieldwork (Clinical Internship): The occupational therapy student is required to complete six (6) months of full-time fieldwork in occupational therapy within 24 months after completing their coursework, to be eligible to sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) examination. The student is responsible for providing his/her traveling and living expenses for fieldwork. Graduates must receive a passing score on the "Fieldwork Performance Evaluation" for Level II fieldwork to receive approval from the Program Director to take the NBCOT certification examination. A felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the certification exam or attain state licensure.

G. This program offers a non-thesis master's degree. However, each candidate for the degree in occupational therapy must complete a detailed research project and pass a computerized, comprehensive exit examination with a minimum score of 75%. In addition, an oral examination will be required by the major professor or comprehensive examination committee.

H.Ìý Admission to the graduate program does not automatically qualify a student as a candidate for the master's degree. The request for admission to candidacy should be filed by the student with the assistance of the major professor after the completion of 36 semester hours of graduate credit and in accordance with the dates published in the University's Calendar. To achieve candidacy, the student must:

• Satisfy all requirements for matriculation as a graduate student
• Possess a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 grading scale
• Submit the Candidacy Application with the assistance of the major professor that includes a list of all graduate courses with grades completed and a copy of an unofficial transcript
• Satisfy any additional requirements that may be specified by the college, department or both.
• Obtain approval of admission to candidacy by the College Dean and Dean of Graduate Program.

Graduates of the Program will be able to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the:

National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)
One Bank Street, Suite 300, Gaithersburg, MD 20878
NBCOT's phone number is (301) 990-7979

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Helpful Links

OT Graduate Handbook

Policy and Procedures

Student Complaints:

¿ì»îÊÓƵ provides an open educational environment, rich in values and designed to protect the integrity of teaching and learning. In this spirit, and in light of its adequate procedures for addressing written complaints from students, the university encourages all students to first direct their complaints and concerns to the faculty, staff or administrator specifically involved. The university believes many complaints can be resolved through an open, honest dialogue between the persons involved.

In cases where that may not be possible, Tuskegee’s student complaint procedures can assist in facilitating a resolution. These procedures begin by the student completing and submitting the .Ìý --ÌýÌý(ALL COMPLAINTS MUST BE WRITTEN AND INITIATED USING THIS FORM IN ORDER TO BE ADDRESSED).

Once submitted, the Student Complaint Form is reviewed by the Office of Student Affairs and forwarded to the appropriate office based on the subject matter of the complaint. For example:

Example 1:Ìý If the complaint is against a student for violating the Code of Student Conduct, it is forwarded to the Office of Judicial Affairs.

Example 2:Ìý If the complaint alleges discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age or disability, it is forwarded to the Title IX Office.

Example 3:Ìý If the complaint relates to a residential hall matter, it is forwarded to the director of Housing and Residence Life.

Example 4:ÌýÌýIf the complaint relates to academic matters, it is forwarded to the Office of the Provost

Please note that complaints take time to investigate, especially when multiple parties are involved. Upon resolution, the Student Complaint Form is returned to the Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, which will communicate the decision to the student.

This policy applies to ALL students at ¿ì»îÊÓƵ.

FOR ADDITIONAL REFERENCE:

• Student Handbook and Code of Conduct
• Academic Regulations and Procedures

Faculty Grievances:

Ìý Ìý ÌýSee the TU Faculty Handbook

Student Withdrawal and Refunds

Please find information about Student withdrawals and refunds at the following links:

• /programs-courses/registrar/official-unofficial-withdrawal
• /Content/Uploads/Tuskegee/files/WithdrawRefundPolicy.pdf

Student Probation, Suspension, and Dismissal

Ìý Ìý ÌýInformation on Student probation, suspension, and dismissal can be found at the links below:

• Undergraduate Policies
• Graduate Policies

Health and Safety

Appropriate use of equipment and supplies:

Technology infrastructure and the operation of physical facilities are intertwined at ¿ì»îÊÓƵ. ÌýThe University provides all students, faculty, staff, administrators, and visitors with wireless access to most locations and classrooms on campus. ÌýThe University provides open computer labs for students and individual computers for faculty and staff, online services, tablets, and an array of computer software for instructional and student support. Ìý

Computers are located throughout the University in classrooms, labs, kiosks, and staff and faculty desks. ÌýOver seventy percent of computers are accessible to students and thirty percent are accessible to staff and faculty. Ìý¿ì»îÊÓƵ computer labs serve different purposes such as instructional labs for architecture, nursing, math, and online/distance education.Ìý

TheÌýOffice of Information TechnologyÌýand TheÌýÌýprovide the infrastructure and technological support for faculty, staff, and students for the development, implementation, and dissemination of instructional courses and resources that enhance student learning. ÌýTechnology resources available to faculty, students, and distance education students are as follows:

Computer Labs--The Office of Information Technology oversees Computer Labs and provides students with twenty-four hour access to software. ÌýThe University's libraries are available to students and provide online library resources for students.

--¿ì»îÊÓƵ Learning Management System, which provides an online secure environment for student learning and faculty instruction. ÌýBlackboard offers secure webmail for faculty and students with secure applications. ÌýAllÌý

Distance Education students have access to Blackboard which provides them with the same student learning services as traditional students. ÌýBlackboard is the primary delivery of distance education programs at ¿ì»îÊÓƵ.

Help Desk--The Technology Support Center’s Helpdesk is committed to providing hardware, software, network, telephone, video cable, media, event, and lab support for Tuskegee students, staff and faculty.

The Office of Information Technology provides all students (traditional and online) at ¿ì»îÊÓƵ with an email address, which requires the use of a secure login and pass code to verify identity when logging into online or blended courses viaÌý. A unique login and password are created and assigned to each student when the student enrolls for courses at ¿ì»îÊÓƵ. Using a secure login and pass code to verify student identity ensures that the student who registers in a ¿ì»îÊÓƵ online or blended course is the same student who participates in and completes the course. Ìý

More information can be found at the following links:

• Help Resources
• Campus Health and Safety
• Campus Police
• Office of Information Technology
• Student Health Center

Tuition and Fees

OT Program Costs for 2022-2024

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All fees are estimated and are subject to change without notice due to market fluctuations and ¿ì»îÊÓƵ increases in tuition and fees.ÌýAccording to FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), cost of attendance is defined as total amount of attending the program, which includes tuition and fees, books, supplies, transportation.

Please see the Bursar's website for current tuition, fees, and room and board costs (/programs-courses/bursar).

Fees for occupational therapy courses will vary and are charged per course at registration. The total lab fees for 4 semesters of didactic work are approximately $600. Other professional program fees in addition to tuition and living expenses include books ($900); clinical uniforms with patches and name tags ($115); transportation to off campus Fieldwork I sites ($200); and AOTA and other professional fees ($100). For 6 months full time fieldwork placement (Level II) and some Level I sites, students have costs for round trip transportation to sites ($200-$500); room and board at sites ($3,000); crominal background check ($110); and health and safety requirements at sites [CPR, medical exam, TB sreening ($85-$100)].Ìý All fees are estimated and are subject to change without notice due to market fluctuations in housing, transportation and health care.Ìý Ìý