The master of science degree in occupational therapy (OT) is an entry-level degree specifically created for people who have a B.A. or B.S. degree in another area of study and who meet the admission criteria. The graduate degree program is designed to be completed within three academic years and includes courses in occupational therapy theory and delivery systems, foundational courses in sciences (functional anatomy and neuroscience), human development, interpersonal and group skills, medical/social conditions, evaluation, documentation and intervention, research, and fieldwork (Level I Fieldwork [3 experiences], Level II Fieldwork [2 internships], and a Community Practice practicum experience). Students are required to complete a Critically Appraised Topic (CAT) research project and publicly present the findings. Throughout the curriculum, emphasis is placed on critical thinking and theoretical analysis of various assessments and intervention techniques.

Clinical and community visits are arranged in several courses. In addition, three (3) Level I Fieldwork courses expose students to the diverse needs and/or diagnoses of people and populations. These experiences prepare students for Level II Fieldwork experiences. It is the responsibility of each student to arrange transportation to each clinical visit/fieldwork experience.

Students are required to complete 24-weeks of supervised Level II Fieldwork.  The Level II Fieldwork experiences typically include two (2) placements of 3-months duration each, but some clinics/site placements may vary. Students are assigned to sites located throughout the United States and are responsible for all travel and living arrangements to the site and while on clinical placements. Placements are based on availability among the various sites.

The occupational therapy program has been fully approved and registered by the New York State Education Department. The program is designed to meet or exceed the 2018 Standards for an Accredited Educational Program for the Occupational Therapist and to prepare graduates to succeed in diverse and emerging areas of practice.

The occupational therapy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) located at:

6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200
North Bethesda, MD
20852-4929 

ACOTE's telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.

Once all requirements are completed, graduates are eligible to sit for the National Certification Exam for Occupational Therapists, administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). A felony conviction may affect a student’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification exam. After successful completion of this exam, the individual is an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). All states require licensure to practice. State licenses are based on the results of the NBCOT certification exam as well as fulfillment of the six months of supervised fieldwork and graduation from an accredited program. The student is required to apply for licensure in the state(s) in which she/he/they will practice.

Courses for the Major Degree

Courses in the Research Core

Electives/As Needed

Subject to changes based on regulations by New York State of Education Departments and/or American Occupational Therapy Association requirements.

Academic Regulations

Academic regulations for OT students are in addition to general college policies for all students. Full-time (and part-time) students must meet all academic regulations listed below.

1. Occupational Therapy Department - Good Academic Standing
   1. To be in good standing while enrolled in graduate courses (500 & 600 level) a student must:
      1. Maintain a minimum semester and cumulative average of at least 3.0.
      2. Obtain a minimum grade of B in all graduate-level work
   2. To be in good standing in OT courses that are graded as Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory, students must achieve a grade of Satisfactory (Psychosocial Level I Fieldwork (OT-513), Fieldwork Seminar I (OT-521), Child & Adolescent Level I Fieldwork (OT-523), Adult & Geriatric Level I Fieldwork (OT-530), Fieldwork Seminar II (OT-632), OT Clinical Fieldwork I (OT-640), OT Clinical Fieldwork II (OT-641), Research Project II (OT-693)). An Unsatisfactory grade in any of these courses constitutes a failure to meet academic regulations and will require the student to repeat the course.
2. Occupational Therapy Department - Academic Probation
   1. Students, whether full-time or part-time, who are not in good standing in the department are placed on OT department academic probation where they will remain until they meet the conditions of academic good standing for two full-time semesters. The conditions of OT department academic probation must be met in each successive (full- or part-time) semester, but probationary status is not removed until conditions are fulfilled during two full-time semesters.
   2. Conditions of Occupational Therapy Department - Academic Probation. While on probation, failure to meet the following conditions will result in dismissal from the program. A student on probation must:
      1. For all 500- and 600-level courses over the next two full-time semesters:
         1. Receive no less than a "B" in all courses;
         2. Achieve a semester and cumulative average of at least 3.0.
      2. For the S/U graded OT courses (listed in 1.b. of the OT Department - Good Academic Standing section), over the next two full-time semesters, receive a grade of S.
3. Dismissal From the Occupational Therapy Department
   1. A student who is on OT department academic probation and does not meet the conditions of OT department academic probation will be dismissed from the OT department but not necessarily dismissed from the college. The dismissed student is encouraged to meet with the OT academic advisor/faculty mentor and an advisor/career coach in the Student Success Center.
   2. A student dismissed from the OT department has the option to appeal the dismissal. In order to appeal, the student must follow the School of Health Professions' Appeals process as indicated below under "Appeals."
4. Grades Below B Policy
   This policy applies to all 500- and 600-level OT courses. No more than a total of six credits or two courses (whichever better advances academic progress) with grades lower than B (B-, C+, C) are applicable to the occupational therapy degree. A grade of C- or lower is not applicable to the occupational therapy degree.
5. Requirements for Level II Fieldwork
   1. Students must have the permission of the instructor before registering for Level II Fieldwork courses: OT Clinical Fieldwork I (OT-640), OT Clinical Fieldwork II (OT-641). In order to obtain permission, students must demonstrate the ability to meet academic and professional standards of the program and participate in faculty-led professional development interviews in the first and second years of study.
   2. Receipt of a U grade in either Psychosocial Level I Fieldwork (OT-513), Fieldwork Seminar I (OT-521), Child & Adolescent Level I Fieldwork (OT-523), Adult & Geriatric Level I Fieldwork (OT-530), and/or Fieldwork Seminar II (OT-632) may alter the student's choices or plans for Level II Fieldwork.
   3. Students who receive a U in a Level II Fieldwork course or who voluntarily withdraw from the course must receive approval from the faculty in the OT major before repeating the course. Students will not be allowed to repeat more than one Level II Fieldwork course.
6. Policy for Completion of Occupational Therapy Program in Timely Manner:
   Full-time (and part-time students) in the OT program must complete all academic requirements within three (3) semesters or one 12- month calendar-year following successful completion of both OT Clinical Fieldwork I and II (OT-640 and OT-641). This includes the semester following completion of Level II Fieldwork when students return to campus to complete coursework (OT-689 Professional Issues, OT-690 Community Practice, and OT-693 Research Project II) and two (2) additional semesters. In addition to other academic requirements, Level II Fieldwork must be successfully completed within a 12-month period of completion of all other coursework or repetition of academic courses may be required.
   A student who does not complete Level II Fieldwork within the required 12-month period may need to repeat one or more of the following courses:

• OT Methods of Evaluation & Documentation I (OT-527)
• Child & Adolescent Intervention (OT-529)
• OT Methods of Evaluation & Documentation II (OT-633)
• Adult & Geriatric Intervention (OT-634)

Students who do not complete their program within the time frame specified in this policy must petition for an extension of the time limit by submitting a completed “Request for Extension of Time to Complete the Graduate Program” form. [Refer to “Extension to Complete Graduate Degree” in the academic policies and procedures section of catalog, for the required steps in the procedure.]

Appeals

To appeal a decision rendered by the School of Health Professions faculty/administration that has academic consequences, a student must follow the appeal procedures which can be found in Academic Policies.

Admission Requirements

The D'Youville occupational therapy program is a participant of the Occupational Therapist Centralized Application Service (OTCAS), a program of the American Occupational Therapy Association that allows prospective students to use one application to apply to multiple participating OT programs through a single application process. Interested applicants should refer to OTCAS to complete the application process and are required to follow OTCAS and D'Youville OT program-specific instructions.

In addition to the general admission requirements for graduate programs at D’Youville, applicants to the master’s in occupational therapy must meet the required minimum criteria and must present the following by November 30:

1. Two letters of recommendation: one academic and one professional (or two academic). References from OT observations will not be accepted.
2. Evidence of completion of a baccalaureate degree with an official transcript.
3. Evidence of capability to succeed in a graduate program as shown by a cumulative undergraduate G.P.A. of at least 3.0 (all grade point averages are based on a 4.0 system).
4. Completion of the following prerequisite courses with a grade of C or better. Courses must be at least three credits and pass/fail grades are not accepted:
   1. General or Developmental Psychology (must cover life span development)
   2. Abnormal Psychology
   3. Sociology or Social Anthropology
   4. Applied Statistics
   5. Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II with labs or six to eight credits of a combination of other biology courses that focus on anatomy and physiology such as Comparative Primate Anatomy, Comparative Mammalian Anatomy and Physiology, Human Anatomy and Human Physiology, Anatomy and Physiology I and II, or their equivalents, at least one of which is a lab course, as determined by the registrar and the department.

The faculty expects students to have basic computer skills in office productivity software (Microsoft Office), email, and online database/library searches. Students who lack any of these abilities should enroll in tutorials offered by the college or other institutions. Students are expected to participate in distance learning/online coursework throughout the OT curriculum. Students are expected to have a laptop or tablet for personal use in class for coursework and for quizzes/exams. The College provides several tutorials and an online orientation course to prepare students for distance/online learning. The online orientation can be found here.