Occupational Therapy Entry-Level, M.S.

The Entry-level Master’s of Science (M.S.) Occupational Therapy (OTH) Program gives students a solid foundation for implementing the occupational therapy process in a variety of practice settings. The scope of the occupational therapy curriculum is intentionally broad to address diverse client populations across the lifespan in a range of environments. The courses offer depth of content that progresses from understanding of fundamental facts and concepts to application in dynamic clinic scenarios and fieldwork experiences. The curriculum is designed to prepare students by providing knowledge and skill to be competent entry-level practitioners. Upon completion of all the academic and fieldwork requirements of the Entry-level M.S. OTH Program, students are awarded a Master's of Science degree.

Certification and Credentialing

Graduates of the M.S. OTH Program must complete the following to practice as an occupational therapist. 

• Graduates are eligible to sit for the National Certification Examination for Occupational Therapists administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).
  • Information about NBCOT and the certification examination can be found at www.nbcot.org.
  • A felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. 
  • Successful completion of this examination results in the credential as a registered occupational therapist (OTR). 
• After obtaining the registered occupational therapist credential from NBCOT, a practitioner must obtain state licensure. Practitioners must work with licensing boards within states they plan to work in order to obtain initial licensure and maintain their license to practice.

Contact Information

cssoth@css.edu

The College of St. Scholastica Occupational Therapy graduates will: 

1. Utilize occupation-based practice to enhance client performance and participation throughout the occupational therapy process.
   1. Design evaluation and intervention strategies for clients that are occupation-based to maximize meaningful occupational outcomes.
   2. Develop intentional relationships with clients.
   3. Appraise physical, personal, temporal, virtual, situational, cultural and social contexts and environments that affect occupational performance.
   4. Support and implement client-centered strategies that promote collaboration with clients, caregivers, and other professionals in the delivery of occupational therapy services.
2. Value the contribution of scholarly inquiry to the profession of occupational therapy
   1. Synthesize information from best research evidence, clinical experience, client choices, and expert consensus to make clinical decisions in collaboration with the client.
   2. Interpret, synthesize and apply information from a wide range of sources to contribute to and inform professional practice.
3. Demonstrate professionalism during interactions with clients, communities, and professionals.
   1. Advocate for the profession, community, and client by demonstrating inclusive excellence and leadership skills throughout clinical experiences and inter-professional interactions.
   2. Utilize ethical principles as a guide during clinical situations and inter-professional interactions.
   3. Develop and sustain professional and therapeutic relationships through effective verbal, non-verbal and written communication skills.
   4. Justify the concepts and opinions of the profession of occupational therapy while seeking to understand the perspectives of others.
4. Use various forms of clinical reasoning (such as diagnostic, narrative, procedural, pragmatic, interactive and conditional, and ethical) throughout the occupational therapy process.
   1. Integrate learned knowledge with active problem solving to reflect subjective and contextualized knowledge when making decisions.
   2. Explain how a practitioner's skills and personal life situations can influence decision making.
   3. Apply an ethical decision making framework to practice situations.
   4. Understand the meaning of role interruption and change from a client's perspective. 

Requirements

Students must achieve the following program requirements for all courses listed under Program Requirements and Program Required Courses for the Entry-level M.S. Occupational Therapy Program.  

Program Requirements

Major Credits: 73
Minimum GPA: 3.0
Minimum Grade: C
Other Requirements: 

1. Take all courses in sequence; if a student fails a course, the student must retake that course when it is next available which may require the student to stop out of the OTH Program resulting in a delay of graduation;

2. Successfully complete Level I and Level II Fieldwork experiences. Complete the final Level II Fieldwork requirement within 18  months of completion of didactic coursework;

3. Complete all OTH Program requirements within 5 years.

Program Required Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
OTH 6001	Occupational Performance I: Fundamentals of Occupation	4
OTH 6010	Occupational Performance II: Engagement in Occupation	4
OTH 6102	Occupational Performance III: Dynamics of Occupation	4
OTH 6110	Optimizing Occupational Performance I: Occupation-Based Interventions	4
OTH 6112	Optimizing Occupational Performance II: Supporting Occupations	4
OTH 6210	Basic Tenets of Occupational Therapy	4
OTH 6220	Assessment of Occupational Performance I	4
OTH 6233	Evidence Based Occupational Therapy I	3
OTH 6250	Experiential I: Level I Fieldwork - Reflection and Integration	3
OTH 6334	Evidence-based Occupational Therapy II	3
OTH 6340	Assessment of Occupational Performance II	4
OTH 6350	Experiential II: Level I Fieldwork - Basic Clinical Experiences	4
OTH 6510	Occupational Performance IV: Home and Environment Management	4
OTH 6534	Transformative Engagement in Occupational Therapy	4
OTH 6550	Occupational Therapy Experiential IV: Intermediate Clinical Experiences	3
OTH 6722	Level II Fieldwork A	6
OTH 6735	Occupational Performance V: Skill Advancement	4
OTH 6750	Advanced Clinical Reasoning	1
OTH 6822	Level II Fieldwork B	6
Total Credits		73

Students accepted into the Entry-level M.S. Occupational Therapy Program must be able to comply with the following:

• Able to perform the listed Technical Standards and Essential Requirements (http://resources.css.edu/academics/ot/docs/technical_standards_essential_requirements_ot.pdf).
• Provide verification of vaccinations/immunizations including: Hepatitis B series or verified immunity; 2 MMR vaccinations or verified immunity; 2 varicella vaccinations or verified immunity; current Tdap; COVID-19 vaccination and boosters; flu vaccination annually.
  • Any exemptions or waivers granted by The College of St. Scholastica (CSS) are unique to CSS and do not apply to fieldwork sites. Students must meet Program and fieldwork site specific requirements related to vaccinations; exemptions or waivers may impact progression in the Program.
• Participate in required healthcare worker screens (e.g. tuberculosis screening, drug tests/screens).
• A criminal background check (CBC) is not a component of the application, interview, or the admission decision-making process. However, it is a mandatory component for participation in clinical fieldwork. All admitted students will undergo a CBC involving federal, state, and local records that extend back a minimum of five years. Progression in the program is contingent upon review and acceptance of the student’s CBC report. A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to take the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. An individual who has a felony background can have their background reviewed prior to actually applying for the exam by requesting an Early Determination Review with NBCOT. There is a fee for this service.
• Carry a health insurance policy while enrolled, including while on fieldwork.
• Retain current certification in CPR (basic life support including defibrillation and ambu bag.
• Tuition and fees (https://resources.css.edu/academics/ot/docs/ist_ot_cost-attendance_23-25.pdf) by year and total program costs, for the estimated cost of attendance in the M.S. OTH Program.

Degree Requirements

To graduate from The College of St. Scholastica, graduate students must meet the following minimum degree requirements.

Minimum GPA: 3.0