Programs in Occupational Therapy

MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE PROGRAM IN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY (MSOT) ENTRY-LEVEL
Professional Program
Accreditation
Admission Requirements
Application Deadline
Degree Requirements
Essential Skills
Curriculum
DOCTORAL PROGRAM IN REHABILITATION SCIENCES (SCD)
POST-PROFESSIONAL DEGREE PROGRAMS
Distance Education Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Master of Science (MS)
Distance Education Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)

Department of Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy is a health care profession that promotes the life-long health and well-being of individuals and populations through engagement in the activities that are personally meaningful within the environments in which they live and function. These might include self-care, work, other productive activities, and play or leisure activities. Occupational therapists work with individuals and groups to increase daily function, enhance and support health and development, and prevent disability through promotion of individual performance.

Occupational therapists may evaluate children with developmental disabilities and work with their families to create daily routines and activities that help them grow socially, cognitively, and physically. They may also help individuals who are physically challenged learn to carry out important daily tasks at home, on the job, and in the community; work with groups of clients experiencing psychiatric disability to help them identify effective strategies for managing daily activities in the community; and suggest changes in the layout, routines, and equipment of home, school, or workplace to support greater independence for those with disabilities.

Occupational therapists function as clinicians, educators, consultants, researchers, administrators, and private practitioners. They may work in community health programs, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, schools and early childhood programs, nursing homes, home care, private practice, college and university faculties, the military services, and government agencies.

Occupational therapy programs are offered at the entry-level professional and post-professional levels. The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) prepares students for entry into the profession. The post-professional master of science (MS) and doctoral (OTD) programs prepare certified occupational therapists for leadership in practice, and teaching. BU’s graduate occupational therapy programs were ranked #1 in 2009 by U.S. News & World Report.

The programs in occupational therapy enjoy excellent teaching, laboratory, and research space in the BU Sargent College facility. The majority of instruction takes place in small discussion and lab sessions, with an emphasis on collaborative learning and reflective analysis of theory and practice.

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MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE PROGRAM IN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY (MSOT) ENTRY-LEVEL

Students in the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) program study with outstanding faculty who have made significant contributions to occupational therapy practice, scholarship, and research. The BU faculty are known among occupational therapists and the health care community throughout the world and bring a broad and rich perspective to the education of students in our programs. They are passionate about the profession, enthusiastic about teaching, and committed to making a positive difference in occupational therapy and health care at the state, national, and international levels.

The MSOT program produces leaders who can apply occupational therapy knowledge and expertise to improve the health and well-being of others in a wide variety of settings. This goal requires students who can understand the experiences of others; assume responsibility for their own personal and professional development; appreciate the complex systems involved in human occupation and health; and who will be able to communicate, interact, and collaborate effectively with clients, families, professional colleagues, and the larger community.

In the past three years (January 2006–April 2009) our graduates have achieved an overall pass rate of 97 percent on the National Certification Exam in Occupational Therapy. (100 graduates; pass rate of 97/100 on first attempt.) Over 90 percent of our graduates seeking employment last year had jobs within three months of completing the program.

Professional Program

The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program prepares graduates with baccalaureate degrees in disciplines other than occupational therapy to join the profession.

The curriculum is designed to provide preparation for professional roles as an occupational therapy practitioner in traditional settings, as well as in areas of newly identified need. The program involves academic courses and integrated fieldwork.

The MSOT program includes two years of academic work, plus 24 weeks of internship (Level II Fieldwork), is full time, and consists of daytime, weekday classes with some evening labs. Our program begins in the fall semester, and courses are sequential. Therefore, we offer no options for spring entrance into the program. There are no summer courses.

Clinical courses make extensive use of case examples, which are followed across the life course—rather than the traditional divisions by diagnosis or age group—and guide the introduction of relevant assessment, intervention, and systems issues as
they would typically occur in relation to each part of the life course.

Each semester, students participate in an Integrative Seminar that links academic course material with concurrent extended Level I Fieldwork (LIFW) in the local Boston community. Students discuss and analyze their LIFW experiences in the seminar and apply lessons from other courses to these clinical situations.

Accreditation

Accreditation is 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; their website is www.aota.org. In November 2001, ACOTE awarded Boston University Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences professional entry programs in Occupational Therapy full re-accreditation for 10 years through academic year 2011/2012 for substantical compliance with the Standards for an Accredited Educational Program for the Occupational Therapist.

Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the National Certification Examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). Visit the NBCOT website at www.nbcot.org for more information. Upon successful completion of the exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). Most states require licensure to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination.

NBCOT Eligibility: The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) may disqualify students with felony convictions/charges from becoming certified. The Qualifications Review Committee (QRC) will review the qualifications of examination candidates who have been convicted of or charged with a felony to determine if the circumstances appear to relate directly to the safe, proficient, and/or competent practice of occupational therapy. For students entering an OT program, the QRC may give an early determination for approval to take the certification exam. For more information, please contact the NBCOT directly.

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Admission Requirements

Applications should be received by February 15 to be assured consideration. Applications received after that date will be considered on a space-available basis, and financial aid availability may be limited. Applicants should gather and submit all required material to:

Academic Services Center
Admissions Office, Room 207
Boston University Sargent College
635 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
617-353-2713
sargrad@bu.edu
www.bu.edu/sargent

1. Official transcript(s) showing evidence of completion of (or intention to complete) a baccalaureate degree. Degree should include a minimum of 12 credits in social sciences (no time limit on these credits) and may include history, government, economics, sociology, anthropology, geography, and psychology. The program does not require a particular undergraduate concentration, and we encourage applicants with a diversity of backgrounds. A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 in undergraduate coursework is required. Prerequisite courses taken after completion of a baccalaureate degree are not counted toward the GPA.
2. Scores on the aptitude portion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test. We recommend the following minimum GRE scores: verbal 500+, quantitative 500+, and analytical writing 4.5+. Official scores should arrive by February 15 to BU Sargent College (institutional code 3028, dept. code 0618). Because our program requires strong critical thinking and writing skills, we use the GREs as one indicator of an applicant’s competency in these areas.
   If GRE scores are below the minimum in any area (especially the verbal), we recommend retaking the exam. There are some excellent study guides available to help students prepare for these exams, and sample test questions are posted on the GRE’s website at www.gre.org. There is no limit on the number of times a student is allowed to retake the GREs. We will use the highest score from each section.
3. A completed application form and essay addressing the following three special essay questions (typed, double-spaced, three pages total, one page maximum per question). The purpose of the essay is to evaluate the applicant’s understanding of and commitment to the profession, as well as the applicant’s thought process and writing ability.
1. Discuss your perception of how occupational therapy contributes to health and well-being.
2. Discuss how your past education and life experiences led you to choose the profession of occupational therapy.
3. Describe a personally meaningful occupation and how your participation in that
   occupation has influenced you.
4. Three letters of reference. One must be academic (from course instructor or academic advisor). One should be from a supervisor in professional or other work capacity who can address work, service, or other areas of the applicant’s background that may be pertinent. One should be health care related, if possible.
5. Official transcripts indicating completion of the following five (5) prerequisite courses at the college level. A minimum grade of B– is required, except for Gross Human Anatomy where the minimum required grade is C.
• At the time of application, prerequisites may be in progress or pending (e.g., planning to take in the summer), but must be completed before starting the MSOT program in September. In these cases, applicants would be accepted conditionally to Boston University.
• All courses must be completed within seven years of matriculation into the MSOT program (otherwise, include a letter explaining how you have kept up to date on course materials).
• Courses taken to fulfill prerequisites may be taken at any accredited university or college (including community colleges) and must have a minimum of 3 credit hours.

If you have questions regarding any of the prerequisites or admission requirements, we encourage you to contact the Boston University OT Office. If your question concerns whether a course fulfills a particular requirement, it is most helpful if you submit a photocopy/attachment of the course description from the appropriate college catalog (please allow at least two business weeks for decision). Send this information to:

MSOT Admissions Committee
Boston University Sargent College
635 Commonwealth Avenue Boston, MA 02215
E-mail: ot@bu.edu or fax: 617-353-2926

If a preapproval or waiver is granted by the MSOT Admissions Committee, you will receive a written confirmation and should include a copy with your MSOT application.

1. Human Physiology: one course (lab section optional).
2. Statistics: one course to include descriptive and inferential statistics, correlation, hypothesis testing, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and introduction to regression analysis. A course in research design is also acceptable if it covers the relevant statistics.
3. Abnormal Psychology: one course (courses titled Psychopathology or Psychology of Deviance may be acceptable).
4. Developmental Psychology: one course (courses titled Lifespan Development, Child Development, or Child Psychology may be acceptable; content on child development must be included in the course).
5. Gross Human Anatomy: Three options for fulfilling the Gross Human Anatomy prerequisite are itemized below. (Students may apply to the Boston University MSOT program prior to completing Gross Human Anatomy with the understanding that this prerequisite must be completed successfully before beginning the Fall MSOT courses.)
   

Option 1: We strongly recommend enrolling in Gross Human Anatomy (SAR HS 581) at Boston University. Course description is as follows: Regional approach to the musculoskeletal, peripheral nervous, and circulatory systems of the human body. Lecture content is reinforced by a study of osteology, prosected cadaver laboratories, and live anatomy palpations. Boston University offers Gross Human Anatomy during Fall, Spring, and Summer Term I (May/June). You need to receive a C or better in this course.


1. Visit the Boston University Class Schedule at www.bu.edu/reg to find out when SAR HS 581 will be held.
2. Download a Registration Form at www.bu.edu/reg, include a note stating that you are registering as a nondegree student (namely, MSOT applicant taking SAR HS 581 as a prerequisite), and submit to Boston University Sargent College’s Academic Services Center (635 Commonwealth Avenue, Room SAR 207, Boston, MA 02215, sargrad@bu.edu, or 617-353-2713) for registration.

Option 2: Enroll in a Gross Human Anatomy course at another college. You must submit the course syllabus (including course description, objectives, and schedule) for prior approval for this course. The course should include the following five items:


1. Cadaver lab (this can be petitioned to be waived if the course uses one of the current cadaver computer programs or other alternatives for learning).
2. Thoroughly covers anatomy of the head, neck, trunk, back, and limbs.
3. Arthrology (study of joints).
4. General knowledge of muscle origin, insertion, action, nerve supply, and blood supply.
5. Surface anatomy.

If your Gross Human Anatomy course is approved by the Boston University MSOT Admissions Committee, you will receive a written confirmation (please include a copy of the approval with your MSOT application). You will need to receive a C or better in the approved course. Please submit your Gross Human Anatomy syllabus for review to:

Jennifer Kras (MSOT Admissions)
Boston University Sargent College
635 Commonwealth Avenue, Room 553
Boston, MA 02215
E-mail: ot@bu.edu, phone: 617-353-2729, or fax: 617-353-2926

Please note: Most Human Anatomy courses with an animal dissection lab are too basic and will NOT fulfill the Gross Human Anatomy requirement (Human Anatomy usually serves as a prerequisite to Gross Human Anatomy). Gross Human Anatomy may have a variety of course titles, but it is a more thorough course with a cadaver lab and often taught in premed or nursing programs. In Gross Human Anatomy, students learn more specific details about each system, with a strong focus on the musculoskeletal system. Students should learn muscle attachments, innervations, and actions, as well as muscle palpation. The level of detail in the Gross Human Anatomy course is reflective of what a practitioner in the clinic would need to know in order to effectively evaluate and treat patients.

Option 3 (available only to students who have been accepted conditionally to the Boston University MSOT program): Complete a Gross Human Anatomy self-study and pass an online competency exam developed by the Boston University Occupational Therapy Department. To complete the self-study, students must:


1. Complete a basic Human Anatomy course (Anatomy and Physiology I & II would fulfill this and the Human Physiology requirement) with a minimum B– grade.
   
2. Receive written confirmation from the OT Office to fulfill the Gross Human Anatomy requirement via the self-study option.
   
3. Purchase specific texts and CD-ROM (details will be provided in June 2009).
   
4. Pass an online multiple-choice competency exam in August 2009 before matriculation.

Please note: Gross Human Anatomy is a challenging course, and even more challenging online as a self-study. Therefore, if at all possible, we strongly encourage you to complete either option 1 or 2 above. However, we understand there may be circumstances where this is not feasible. Therefore, we are offering option 3. Please know that if you choose option 3, you are accepting additional responsibilities for independent learning that will require extra time and effort.
6. A list, on a separate sheet of paper, describing health care-related experience, including both paid and volunteer work. This information should show evidence of how you explored occupational therapy and determined it to be an appropriate career choice for you. The list should include:
   


• date of experience,
• name and type of facility,
• population, and
• a brief description of your involvement.

We highly recommend experiences in at least two different service delivery settings (e.g., school, early intervention program, skilled nursing facility, community health center). One experience should be extended (more than several weeks) and one short-term. Although health care experiences are not part of the official admissions criteria, they provide additional information about a prospective student’s experience in the field and basis for choosing to pursue occupational therapy. Such experiences will weigh favorably when making admissions decisions.

7. Any student for whom English is not the first language must demonstrate competence in English through the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and Test of Written English (TWE) or the online version of these tests.

Application Deadline

All materials should be submitted by the application deadline of February 15. Applications received after the deadline will be reviewed on a space-available basis, and financial aid availability may be limited.

Degree Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 64 graduate credits and 24 weeks of internship in order to fulfill degree requirements. All requirements must be completed within five years of initial matriculation. The program is designed for full-time study. In the unusual event that a student is approved by faculty for a part-time or extended program due to extenuating circumstances, the student must complete at least one semester of coursework on a full-time basis (minimum of 12 credits).

Degree candidates must achieve a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0. No grade below C is acceptable for credit. Students may not repeat more than two required courses in the professional program. Students must complete Level II Fieldwork within 24 months after completing academic preparation. Please refer to the MSOT Student Manual for
further details.

Essential Skills

Full participation in the academic and clinical portions of the occupational therapy programs requires the ability to perform a set of essential skills (please visit www.bu.edu/sargent). Applicants who anticipate difficulty performing one or more of these functions because of a disability are encouraged to consult with the Boston University Disability Services office.

Curriculum

Students register for 16–18 credits each semester. Each course carries 4 credits unless otherwise noted. All courses follow a life-course, case-based structure for assessing and intervening with problems in occupational performance associated with clinical disorders or risk conditions.

First Year (MSOT-1)

Fall Semester

SAR OT 526 Functional Movement: Analysis and Assessment
SAR OT 500 Integrative Seminar I and LIFW (2)
SAR OT 513 Analysis and Adaptation of Occupation
SAR OT 520 Evidence-Based Occupational Therapy Practice I (2)
SAR OT 529 Occupation Across the Life Course

Spring Semester

SAR HS 582 Neuroanatomy
SAR OT 501 Integrative Seminar II and LIFW (2)
SAR OT 524 Introduction to the Occupational Therapy Process
SAR OT 562 Learning and Behavior Change
SAR OT 620 Evidence-Based Occupational
Therapy Practice II (2)

Second Year (MSOT-2)

Fall Semester

SAR OT 502 Integrative Seminar III and LIFW
SAR OT 538 Assistive Technology (2)
SAR OT 563 Context and Occupational Performance
SAR OT 564 Skills for Occupation-Based Practice 1
SAR OT 621 Evidence-Based Occupational
Therapy Practice III (2)
SAR OT 904 Thesis Proposal (2) optional

Spring Semester

SAR HP 650 Health Care Management
SAR OT 530 Occupation-Based Practice with Groups
SAR OT 565 Skills for Occupation-Based Practice 2
SAR OT 566 Client Factors and Occupational Performance
SAR OT 590 Level II Field Experience Fee (0)
SAR XX 500 Practice Elective (2) or SAR HP 905 Thesis: Directed Research*

*A thesis is an option for students who are in good academic standing and accepted by a faculty reader/advisor (thesis project must be in an area of current faculty research). If approved, the student registers for SAR OT 904 Thesis Proposal for 2 credits Semester I and for SAR HP 905 Directed Research for 4 credits Semester II. Students cannot begin OT 593/594 LIFW until the thesis is completed. No more than 6 credits of thesis will apply to the MSOT degree.

Within 24 months after completion of didactic portion of program:

SAR OT 593 Level II Field Experience 1 (0)
SAR OT 594 Level II Field Experience 2 (0)
SAR OT 595 Level II Elective Field
Experience (0) (optional via petition)
Master of Science in OT awarded.

Level II Fieldwork (LIIFW): No student may start LIIFW until all academic coursework (including optional thesis) has been completed, an acceptable grade (C) is earned in all required professional courses, and the minimum cumulative GPA (3.0+) is achieved. All students must complete LIIFW within 24 months of finishing their didactic work.

DOCTORAL PROGRAM IN REHABILITATION SCIENCES (SCD)

Occupational therapy faculty participate actively in the Health, Adaptation & Disability specialization of the interdisciplinary Doctor of Science Program in Rehabilitation Sciences. Occupational therapists interested in pursuing doctoral study to prepare for a career in research and teaching can find a detailed description of the ScD program in Doctoral Program in Rehabilitation Sciences section of this website.

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POST-PROFESSIONAL DEGREE PROGRAMS IN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

Master of Science (MS) or Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)

Two post-professional degree programs for practitioners with a professional degree in occupational therapy are offered in a distance education format. These programs offer unsurpassed flexibility that helps the student balance work/life responsibilities. Earn a Master of Science (MS) or Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) without disrupting your career or relocating your family.

Program Director:
Clinical Professor Karen Jacobs
(kjacobs@bu.edu or 617-353-7516)

Distance Education Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Master if Science (MS)

The MS program is for practicing occupational therapists with a bachelor’s degree. It is designed to facilitate application of current theory, research, and knowledge of health and social service systems in clinical practice.

The program prepares graduates to:

• Examine and reshape their current practice in relation to the guidelines of the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework.
• Make effective use of current scientific
  evidence to guide clinical reasoning.
• Apply management skills in order to
  design, market, and evaluate the quality of clinical services.
• Plan and conduct educational programming for clients and their caregivers, peers, policy-related bodies, and the general public.

This innovative program is offered exclusively online with a short on-campus capstone component. Assignments are designed to allow immediate application of learning into the student’s current practice context. Students take one 7-week course at a time and typically need 22 months to complete the required 32 credits.

Distance Education Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)

The OTD program prepares occupational therapists to assume leadership roles in developing and evaluating innovative responses to health-care needs related to occupational performance

A central feature of the program is completion of the doctoral project. The project includes critically analyzing the theoretical and evidence base for current approaches, analyzing the social and cultural factors affecting the practice context, developing a scientifically grounded innovation to improve service outcomes, and designing methods for evaluating individual and program-level outcomes.

This innovative program is offered online with two short on-campus components at the beginning and end. Students will take one 7-week course and one doctoral project course at a time. The OTD requires 51 credits; up to 6 foundation courses may be waived based on previous graduate study.

For more on the post-professional MS and OTD programs (including program and course descriptions, admission requirements, and procedures), please visit www.otdegree.com; e-mail info@otdegree.com; or phone 866-232-0232, ext. 3367.

Occupational Therapy Programs

617-353-2727

Website:
www.bu.edu/sargent

Chair, Professor Wendy J. Coster

Clinical Professor Jacobs

Associate Professor Orsmond

Clinical Associate Professors Cohn, Evenson, Lowenstein

Assistant Professors Gill, Helfrich, Kramer

Clinical Assistant Professor Berger

Clinical Instructor Moran

Professors Emeritae Henderson, Scott, Talbot, Trombly

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Published by Trustees of Boston University
One Silber Way
Boston, MA 02215

19 November 2009
Boston University
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