Occupational Therapy BS/MS Degree General Admission Requirements
The Occupational Therapy program has a Freshman admission policy. Candidates for freshman admission are required to complete a rigorous high school preparatory program of study. Students must demonstrate successful completion of high school math and science courses. Grades should be B level or better for consideration.
Occupational Therapy Program Requirements for Degree Completion
The entry-level degree for certification and licensure in occupational therapy is the Master’s Degree.
In the combined 5- year BS/MS Degree in Occupational Therapy, the BS in Occupational Science, offers students the opportunity to establish a foundation for understanding the influence of human occupation on development, and health, and wellness; and the impact of a disability on the individual within his/her society and culture. The Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Science however, does not provide eligibility for certification or licensure in Occupational Therapy. Students must complete the Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy to be eligible for certification and licensure as an Occupational Therapist. The MS coursework begins between the end of the 4th year and beginning of the 5th year of study. It requires the completion of 33 graduate credits in Nazareth College’s program for the student to be eligible for certification and licensure.
Occupational Therapy undergraduate students must obtain an overall GPA of 2.75 in science courses, and a 3.0 in OT courses to continue in the major.
Occupational Therapy Program Fieldwork Requirements
The fieldwork educational component of the BS/MS Occupational Therapy program at Nazareth College is designed to meet all of the standards required by ACOTE for Fieldwork Education. There are two levels of fieldwork for the occupational therapy student. These are described as Level I and Level II experiences.
Level I Fieldwork
The AOTA Standards describe the goal of Level I Fieldwork. It is “to introduce students to the fieldwork experience, and develop a basic comfort level with an understanding of the needs of clients.”
All of the practice courses in the senior year have Level I fieldwork experiences that will allow for learning about evaluation, intervention, and evidence associated with specific populations of clients.
Level II Fieldwork
According to the AOTA, the goal of Level II Fieldwork is “to develop competent, entry-level, generalist occupational therapists”. This fieldwork experience provides students with the opportunity to integrate academic knowledge with the application of skills in a practice setting. (AOTA, 1999a & b; AOTA, 1996)
The Level II fieldwork experiences begin the Graduate phase of study. Six months of Level II fieldwork are required by AOTA. The first fieldwork is scheduled for 12 weeks in the Summer semester following the Senior year. A second 12 week fieldwork experience is completed in the Spring of the 5th year of study.
Return to: