Occupational therapy is a health care profession that promotes life-long health and well-being of individuals through engagement in occupation. By “occupation” we mean the activities that are meaningful to the individual within the environments in which he/she lives and functions, including self-care, work and other productive activities, and play or leisure activities. Occupational therapists work with individuals to increase daily function, enhance and support development, and prevent disability both through promotion of individual performance and by adapting tasks and the environment.

The range of functions an occupational therapist may perform includes: evaluating children with developmental disabilities and collaborating with their families to create daily routines and activities that help them grow socially, cognitively, and physically; helping individuals who are physically challenged learn to carry out important daily tasks at home, on the job, and in the community; working with groups of clients experiencing psychiatric disability to help them identify effective strategies for managing daily activities in the community; and suggesting changes in the design layout, routines, and equipment of home, school, or workplace to support greater independence for persons with disabilities.

Occupational therapists work in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, schools and early childhood programs, nursing homes, home care, private practice, college and university faculties, the military services, Veterans Administration, community health programs, Public Health Service, and other government agencies. Work opportunities for registered occupational therapists include positions as clinicians, educators, consultants, researchers, administrators, and private practitioners.

The undergraduate program combines liberal arts and professional education. The Occupational Therapy program offers a combined BS/MSOT program leading to the Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Studies after the fourth year and the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy after five years of coursework and a minimum of 24 weeks of supervised fieldwork.

Accreditation: Boston University Sargent College’s Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), 4720 Montgomery Lane, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220; 301-652-2682; www.aota.org. In November 2001, ACOTE awarded Boston University Sargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences professional entry programs in Occupational Therapy full reaccreditation for 10 years through academic year 2011/2012 for substantial compliance with the Standards for an Accredited Educational Program for the Occupational Therapist.

Certification: 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.

NCBOT Success Rate: Over the past 3 years (January 2007–December 2009), our graduates have achieved an overall pass rate of 95.3% on the National Certification Exam in Occupational Therapy.

Because the calendar year of a student’s official graduation may differ from the year in which the exam was taken, these two categories (*) do not overlap 100%.

Year	Number of program graduates*	Number of first-time test takers*	Number of first-timetest takers who passed the exam	Percentage of first-time test takers who passed the exam
2007	40	39	39	100%
2008	42	42	40	95.2%
2009	47	47	43	91.5%
3-year total	129	128	122	95.3%

BS/MSOT Degree Requirements

A minimum of 128 semester credits are required for award of the Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Studies degree and a cumulative minimum total of 160 credits (64 credits must be from graduate-level courses numbered 500 or above) is required for the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy degree. Successful completion of 24 weeks of supervised fieldwork is also required prior to program completion.

The occupational therapy program requires a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.7 by the end of the spring semester sophomore year and by the end of the junior year (i.e., by the end of summer session before the start of the fall semester senior year). Students who do not meet the GPA requirement at the stipulated times may not continue matriculation in the occupational therapy program.

It is assumed that students receiving a BS in Therapeutic Studies will continue on to complete requirements for the MSOT degree. Students cannot use AP or transferred college credit to reduce the curriculum from five years to four years. BS degree recipients who do not complete MSOT requirements are not eligible to apply for fieldwork, national certification, or occupational therapy licensure. For more details, please refer to the MSOT Student Manual.

Pre-Professional Policies

During the first three pre-professional years of the BS/MSOT program (freshman, sophomore, and junior years), students must complete a minimum of 96 credits. Additional requirements include:

Grade Point Average (GPA): A cumulative GPA of 2.7 with a limitation of 12 credits of D grades. If a student repeats a course, both grades (non-passing and repeat) will be counted in calculating the overall GPA. The highest grade, however, will be considered as the final grade received in the course. No course may be repeated more than once. Cumulative GPA will include Boston University courses only.

Prerequisites: Seven prerequisite courses must be completed. Four courses must be completed with a grade of B– or better.

1. Statistics (CAS MA 113, MA 115, or PS 211)
2. Developmental Psychology (CAS PS 241)
3. Psychology of Personality (CAS PS 251)
4. Abnormal Psychology (CAS PS 371 or SAR HP 412)
   Three courses must be completed with a grade of C or better.
5. Human Anatomy (CAS BI 106)
6. Human Physiology (CAS BI 211)
7. Gross Human Anatomy (SAR HS 369 or HS 581)

Repeating Pre-Professional Courses: Students may not repeat more than two of the following courses or they will be terminated from the program: seven prerequisites and OT 317.

Sargent Core Curriculum and OT-Prefix Courses: Students must obtain a minimum grade of C in the Sargent Core Curriculum and OT-prefix courses:

• SAR HP 151 Introduction to Health Professions
• SAR HP 252 Health and Disability Across the Life Span
• SAR HP 353 Organization and Delivery of Health Care in the U.S.
• SAR OT 317 Professional Preparation Seminar for OT

The Occupational Therapy Program does not require, but does recommend, that students complete the Sargent ethics requirement (CAS PH 251 Medical Ethics, or CAS PH 272 Science, Technology, and Value, or CAS PH 452 Ethics of Health Care). The ethics course may be applied to meet the Human Occupation requirements in the area of Health, Illness, and Disability Studies.

Human Occupation Courses: Students must complete a minimum of 18 credits in courses related to human occupation. Because courses are subject to change across the several years that the student is completing BS requirements, an updated list of courses approved in each area is generated and posted each year. At least two courses should be taken in each of the three content areas (categories) described below.

Category I—Cultural and evolutionary influences on occupation: approved courses in this area are all of those courses offered by the College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) in Anthropology, Religion, Sociology, and Women’s Studies, unless otherwise listed in Category II or III below.

Category II—Processes contributing to human activity performance: approved courses in this area are all of those offered by the College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) in Psychology (other than those that are OT program prerequisites: PS 211, PS 241, PS 251, PS 371, or SAR HP 412) and selected courses from the School of Education (visit the OT Office website for complete list of approved courses).

Category III—Health, illness, and disability studies: approved courses in this area are posted on the OT Office website and offered in several different departments and programs including College of Arts & Sciences (CAS: Economics, Philosophy, and Sociology), School of Education (SED), Sargent College (SAR), and School of Public Health (SPH).

Some courses taken to fulfill human occupation requirements may also fulfill distribution requirements.

English Composition: Two courses in expository composition (CAS WR 100 and WR 150) are required.

Distribution Requirements: Students must complete a minimum of 20 credits in courses that expand their knowledge to areas other than their area of study. These courses must be distributed among at least 3 of the following divisions:

Humanities Division
Social Sciences Division
Mathematics Division and Computer Science Division
Modern Language Division other than Literature Courses
Natural Sciences Division

NOTE: CAS PS 101 (social sciences) and CAS BI 105 (natural sciences) count toward distribution requirements.

Minor Concentrations: Minors in a different discipline must be completed by the end of the junior year.

Electives: Students may select a variety of electives from across the University. A maximum of 3 credits of Physical Education (including CPR and First Aid) will be accepted toward the 96 credits required by the junior year.

Optional International Internship

During the second or third year of undergraduate study, students may participate in the Human & Health Services segment of the International Internship Programs in cities such as London, Paris, Dublin, and Sydney. Arrangements are coordinated by the International Programs office at Boston University, 143 Bay State Road, Boston, MA 02215; 617-353-9888. Interested students must meet with their advisor during their freshman year to ensure completion of the pre-professional requirements.

Sample Sequence of Courses

Below is a sample of how a student might meet degree requirements prior to entering the professional (MSOT) portion of the program. Some of the pre-professional required courses may be offered during a particular semester only or must be taken in sequence, and students should plan accordingly. Students may alter the following sample schedule with advisor approval, but they must complete all pre-professional requirements by the end of the junior year.

Each course carries 4 credits unless otherwise noted. Students should register for a total of 16–18 credits per semester.

Freshman Year

Note: Students who participate in the International Internship Program (study abroad) will need to work with their advisor to modify this schedule in order to meet prerequisites.

First Semester

• CAS BI 105 Introductory Biology for Health Sciences
• CAS WR 100 Writing Seminar
• CAS PS 101 General Psychology
• SAR HP 150 Freshman Year Experience (0)
• SAR HP 151 Introduction to Health Professions (2)

Plus

• Other prerequisite courses or
• Human occupation courses or
• Distribution requirements or
• Undergraduate electives

Second Semester

• SAR OT 151 Occupation and Health (2)
• CAS BI 106 Human Anatomy
• CAS WR 150 Writing and Research Seminar

Plus

• Other prerequisite courses or
• Human occupation courses or
• Distribution requirements or
• Undergraduate electives

Sophomore Year *

First Semester

• SAR HP 252 Health and Disability Across the Life Span
• CAS BI 211 Human Physiology
• CAS PS 241 Developmental Psychology

Plus

• Other prerequisite courses or
• Human occupation courses or
• Distribution requirements or
• Undergraduate electives

Second Semester

• CAS PS 251 Psychology of Personality: Theories and Application

Plus

• Other prerequisite courses or
• Human occupation courses or
• Distribution requirements or
• Undergraduate electives

Junior Year *

First Semester

• CAS PS 371 Abnormal Psychology (or SAR HP 412)
• SAR OT 317 Professional Preparation Seminar for OT (Fall only)
• SAR HP 353 Organization and Delivery of Health Care in the U.S.
• SAR HS 369 Gross Human Anatomy (Fall or Spring)

Plus

• Other prerequisite courses or
• Human occupation courses or
• Distribution requirements or
• Undergraduate electives

Second Semester

• CAS MA 113 Statistics (or CAS MA 115 or PS 211)
• SAR HS 369 Gross Human Anatomy (Fall or Spring)
• Ethics course (recommended)

Plus

• Human occupation courses or
• Distribution requirements or
• Undergraduate electives

BS/MSOT Transfer Students: The program welcomes transfer students through the beginning of the junior year. An individual plan for each transfer student will be developed in consultation with his/her advisor.

Sophomore Transfers: For students transferring into the occupational therapy program as sophomores, all of the Pre-Professional Requirements for students entering as freshmen must be met by the beginning of the senior year. An exception is the Sargent core course normally taken by freshmen:

• SAR HP 151 Introduction to Health Professions.

Junior Transfers: For students transferring into the occupational therapy program as juniors, all of the Pre-Professional Requirements for students entering as freshmen must be met by the beginning of the senior year. Exceptions are:

• Only two Sargent Core Curriculum courses will be required:
• SAR HP 252 Health and Disability Across the Life Span
• SAR HP 353 Organization and Delivery of Health Care in the U.S.
• A minimum of three Human Occupation courses will be required.

Professional Program Policies

To enter the senior year, minimum requirements are 96 credits and a 2.7 cumulative grade point average.

Once students begin the professional portion (senior year) of the program, they must meet all the academic standards and requirements of the MSOT program including:

1. a cumulative GPA of 3.0 during the professional years (MSOT-1 and MSOT-2). The MSOT professional GPA will be calculated separately from the pre-professional GPA. Students whose GPA falls below 3.0 have one semester to bring up their GPA. Thereafter if a GPA of 3.0 is still not achieved, students may be terminated from the professional program. If it would be statistically impossible for the student to achieve a 3.0 GPA the following semester, the program may terminate the student immediately. Students will not be scheduled for Level II Fieldwork while they remain on academic probation. If a student repeats a course, both grades (non-passing and repeat) will be counted in calculating the GPA. The highest grade, however, will be considered as the final grade received in the course. GPI and cumulative GPA will include courses taken at Boston University only;
2. a minimum grade of C in all required courses in the professional program. Students may not repeat more than two courses in the professional program or they will be terminated from the program. No course may be repeated more than once;
3. a cumulative minimum total of 160 credits is required for the MSOT degree (64 credits must be from graduate-level courses numbered 500 or above);
4. successful completion of 24 weeks of supervised Level II Fieldwork (SAR OT 593/594) within 24 months after finishing didactic work;
5. demonstration of appropriate professional behaviors as described in the Occupational Therapy Student Manual.

Essential Skills

Full participation in the academic and clinical portions of the occupational therapy programs requires ability to perform a set of essential skills (please visit www.bu.edu/sargent for a list of the Boston University Essential Functions for OT). 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 (www.bu.edu/disability).

Sample Sequence of Courses

The sequence of courses for the MSOT program is fixed. Professional courses are sequential and offered only once a year.

Senior Year (First Professional Year, MSOT-1)

First Semester

• SAR OT 500 Integrative Seminar I and LIFW (2)
• SAR OT 513 Analysis and Adaptation of Occupation
• SAR OT 520 Evidence-Based OT Practice I (2)
• SAR OT 526 Functional Movement: Analysis and Assessment
• SAR OT 529 Occupation Across the Life Course
• SAR OT 589 Orientation to Practice (0)

Second Semester

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

Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Studies awarded

MSOT Year (Second Professional Year, MSOT-2)

Where marked (*) 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 toward the MSOT degree.

First Semester

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

Second Semester

• SAR HP 650 Health Care Management
• SAR OT 530 Occupation-Based Practice with Groups
• SAR OT 565 Skills for Occupation-Based Practice II
• SAR OT 566 Client Factors and Occupational Performance
• SAR OT 590 Level II Field Experience Fee (0)
• Practice elective (2) or
• SAR HP 905 Thesis: Directed Research* (4)

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 academic coursework.

• SAR OT 593 Level II Field Experience I (0)
• SAR OT 594 Level II Field Experience II (0)
• SAR OT 595 Level II Elective Field Experience (0) optional via petition

Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Awarded

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 under Rehabilitation Sciences.

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.

NCBOT Success Rate: Over the past 3 years (January 2007-December 2009), our graduates have achieved an overall pass rate of 95.3% on the National Certification Exam in Occupational Therapy.

Because the calendar year of a student’s official graduation may differ from the year in which the exam was taken, these two categories (*) do not overlap 100%.

Year	Number of program graduates*	Number of first-time test takers*	Number of first-time test takers who passed the exam	Percentage of first-time test takers who passed the exam
2007	40	39	39	100%
2008	42	42	40	95.2%
2009	47	47	43	91.5%
Total 3-year	129	128	122	95.3%

Over 90% of our graduates seeking employment last year had jobs within 3 months after completing the program. Boston University graduates consistently rate themselves as very well prepared for practice, and many have taken on leadership roles in practice and education.

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.

We encourage applicants (especially those who are unsure if they want to study occupational therapy or what occupational therapy is) to observe or shadow an occupational therapist. Applicants can arrange an observation by contacting the occupational therapy department at a local facility. Observations in a population in which you are interested would be helpful (if you are interested in children, try a school setting). If possible, applicants should chat with the occupational therapist about what they do.

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 substantial compliance with the Standards for ?an Accredited Educational Program for the Occupational Therapist.

Certification

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, contact the NBCOT directly.

Admission Requirements

Effective for the Fall 2011 entering class, applications should be received by January 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.

We will begin using the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS) for Fall 2011 applications. When more information is available, we will post it on our website at www.bu.edu/sargent.

Required materials include:

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 January 15 to BU Sargent College (institutional code 3028, department 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.
   a. Discuss how your past education and life experiences led you to choose the profession of occupational therapy.
   b. What strengths do you bring that will contribute to the learning environment of our program and to your effectiveness as an occupational therapy practitioner?
   c. Describe a personally meaningful occupation and how your participation in that occupation has influenced your understanding of occupational therapy.
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 in writing (ot@bu.edu). 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
Email: 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.

A. Human Physiology: One course (lab section optional)

B. Gross Human Anatomy: Gross Human Anatomy (effective Fall 2007): Three options for fulfilling the Gross Human Anatomy prerequisite are itemized below. IMPORTANT: 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 pre-med 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.

(Students may apply to the Boston University MSOT program prior to completing Gross Human Anatomy with the understanding that this prerequisite be completed successfully before beginning the Fall MSOT courses.)

Gross option 1 (Boston University course):

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 session I (May/June). You need to receive a C or better in this course.

1a. Visit the Boston University Registrar’s Class Schedule at www.bu.edu/reg to see when SAR-HS 581 will be held.

1b. Download a Registration Form at www.bu.edu/reg, include a note stating that you are registering as a non-degree student (namely, a MSOT applicant taking SAR-HS 581 as a prerequisite), and submit to:

Academic Services Center
Boston University Sargent College
635 Commonwealth Ave, Room SR-207
Boston, MA 02215
Email: sargrad@bu.edu or fax: 617-353-2713.

Gross option 2 (course at another college):

Enroll in a Gross Human Anatomy course at another college. Please see IMPORTANT (Section B above) regarding Gross Human Anatomy. The course should include the following 5 items:

2a. Cadaver lab (This can be petitioned to be waived if the course used one of the current cadaver computer programs or other alternatives for learning.)

2b. Thorough coverage of anatomy of the head, neck, trunk, back, and limbs

2c. Arthrology (study of joints)

2d. General knowledge of muscle origin, insertion, action, nerve supply, and blood supply

2e. Surface anatomy

You must submit the course syllabus (including course description, objectives, and schedule) for prior approval for this course. 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 along with your contact information to:

MSOT Admissions
Boston University Sargent College
635 Commonwealth Ave., SAR-553
Boston, MA 02215
Email: OT@bu.edu (email preferred) or Fax: 617-353-2926

Gross option 3 (self-study):

This option is 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:

3a. complete a basic Human Anatomy course (Anatomy and Physiology I & II would fulfill this and the Human Physiology requirement) with a minimum B– grade.

3b. receive written confirmation from the OT office to fulfill the Gross Human Anatomy requirement via the self-study option.

3c. purchase specific texts and CD-ROM (details will be provided in June).

3d. pass an online multiple-choice competency exam in August before matriculation.

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.

C. 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.

D. Abnormal Psychology: One course (Courses titled Psychopathology or Psychology of Deviance may be acceptable.)

E. 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.)

6. We encourage applicants (especially those who are unsure if they want to study occupational therapy or what occupational therapy is) to observe or shadow an occupational therapist. Applicants can arrange an observation by contacting the occupational therapy department at a local facility. Observations in a population in which you are interested would be helpful (if you are interested in children, try a school setting). If possible, applicants should chat with the occupational therapist about what they do. In the application, include a list 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

For Fall 2011 applications, all materials should be submitted by the application deadline of January 15. Applications received after the deadline will be reviewed on a space-available basis, and financial aid availability may be limited.

Degree Requirements

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).

Summary of MSOT degree requirements:

• A minimum grade of C in all professional courses (Students may not repeat more than 2 courses, and no course may be repeated more than once.)
• A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0
• A minimum of 64 graduate-level credits from courses numbered 500 or above
• Successful completion of 24 weeks of supervised Level II Fieldwork (SAR-OT 593/594) within 24 months after finishing didactic work
• Completion of all requirements within 5 years of initial matriculation
• Demonstration of appropriate professional behaviors as described in the Occupational Therapy Student Manual.

Please refer to the MSOT Student Manual for further details.

Essential Skills

Full participation in the academic and clinical portions of the occupational therapy program 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 (www.bu.edu/disability/).

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
• SAR OT 589 Orientation to Practice (0)

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 (4)*

*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.

LEVEL II FIELDWORK (LIIFW)

No student may start LIIFW until all academic course work (including the optional thesis) has been completed, a minimum C grade is earned in all required professional courses, and the minimum 3.0 MSOT GPA is achieved. Students must complete LIIFW within 24 months of finishing the didactic portion of MSOT 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

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) degree without disrupting your career or relocating your family.

Distance Education Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Master of 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 and societal participation.

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 take one 7-week course while concurrently working on the doctoral project each semester. 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; email info@otdegree.com; or phone 866-232-0232, ext. 3367.