Division of Graduate Studies

Program Highlights In Brief
Alvernia’s Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Completion Program is designed for the
currently practicing occupational therapy professional holding either a Bachelors degree in
Occupational Therapy or a Bachelors degree with a certificate in occupational therapy desiring a
Masters degree. This program will increase your broad-based knowledge of occupational therapy and provide you with the tools necessary for success in contemporary occupational therapy practice. Alvernia College’s MSOT completion program is designed to provide graduates with the contemporary skills and knowledge necessary to excel in today’s professional environment. Graduates will be able to lead the provision of occupational therapy services to various clients across the lifespan as practitioners, managers, entrepreneurs, and community leaders in a manner consistent with the values and ethics of the profession and Alvernia College. The curriculum provides students with a broad-based perspective for problem solving issues at the
client, departmental, organizational, community and professional levels. Furthermore, it examines
the role of occupational therapy in the promotion of occupational and social justice.

Academic Quality
Students are admitted to the College and are fully accepted when the following criteria have been met:
• Completion of graduate entrance application with supporting documentation
• Minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher
• Completion of a Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy or certificate in Occupational
Therapy with an accompanying Bachelor’s degree.
• Currently practicing as an Occupational Therapist and proof of either current NBCOT
certification or active state license as an OTR.
• Completion of prerequisite undergraduate statistics course. If student hasn’t had undergraduate
statistics or completed the course five years or more ago, students can fulfill prerequisite
requirement by taking either MBA 600 or MED 518. Either of these courses will count towards
9 credits in student’s area of concentration.

Track Descriptions
To provide practicing occupational therapists with the skills necessary to advance within their current or
future positions, it offers the opportunity for individualized study in one of four tracks:
- Special Education
- Business Administration
- Community Counseling
- Occupational Therapy

CURICULUM OVERVIEW
Required Interdisciplinary Courses (6 credits):
COR 510 Moral Leadership 3 credits
COR 600 Organizational and Professional Ethics (taken within the final 12 credits) 3 credits

Prerequisite Statistics Course (see above under Academic Quality for specific details):
Undergraduate Statistics or MBA 600 or MED 518

Required Graduate Occupational Therapy Courses (23 credits):
OT 500 Current Best Practice in Occupational Therapy 3 credits
OT 501 Analysis/Theoretical Concepts/OT Pract I 4 credits
OR
OT 505 Analysis/Theoretical Concepts/OT Pract II 4 credits
OT 503 Research Design 3 credits
OT 601 Occupational Therapy Outcomes 3 credits
OT 603 Advocacy and Leadership * 3 credits
OT 610 Research Report * 4 credits
OT --- Elective - as approved by Program Coordinator 3 credits

Select One Track (9 credits):
Occupational Therapy Track
OT --- Elective - Graduate Level Course 3 credits
OT --- Elective - Graduate Level Course 3 credits
OT --- Elective - Graduate Level Course 3 credits

Special Education Track
MED 505 Strategies for Special Education/Inclusive Classroom 3 credits
MED 518 Quantitative Research Methods 3 credits
MED 560 Human Resource Management for Leaders 3 credits
MED 610 School Law and Social Advocacy 3 credits

Business Administration Track- select any three
MBA 560 Human Resource Management for Leaders 3 credits
MBA 592 Management and Marketing 3 credits
MBA 591 Accounting for the Workplace 3 credits
OR
MBA 593 Economics and Finance 3 credits
MBA 600 Quantitative Research Methods 3 credits

Community Counseling Track - select any three
MCC 500 Introduction to Counseling 3 credits
MCC 510 Human Development Across the Life Span 3 credits
MCC 515 Counseling Theories 3 credits
MCC 530 Multicultural Issues in Counseling 3 credits
MCC 535 Counseling Children and Adolescents 3 credits
MCC 640 Psychopathology

RETENTION REQUIREMENTS FOR MSOT COMPLETION PROGRAM
Course Requirements
OT students must be taken in sequence. All majors must achieve a final grade of B or better in all graduate courses The repeat/delete option may be used for one course only (COR or OT) at the graduate level. Students who do not meet this requirement will be dismissed from the Program.

Students are expected to maintain continuous enrollment in the Program during the Fall and Spring semesters. A student who requires a leave of absence from studies must petition the Occupational Therapy Program Director. A leave of absence may be no longer than two semesters (Fall and Spring). Students who fail to return to studies following a leave of absence will be required to formally reapply for admission to the Program.

Certifications, Clearances and Insurance Requirements
Students within the MSOT Completion Program must provide proof of valid certification as an OTR with NBCOT and/or licensure as an occupational therapist. Certain courses that require a clinical element may require proof of criminal background checks, child abuse clearances, and/or CPR/first aid certification. Students will be notified ahead of time if these are required. Forms are available in the Occupational Therapy Office.

Health and Physical Challenges
Students with a health or physical challenge may be asked to obtain a physician’s statement that the condition will not be aggravated by or endanger clients/patients associated with the student in required coursework experiences. Reasonable accommodations will be made for students to meet ADA regulations.

Student Grievance Policies
Student grievance policies are included in the Graduate Studies Division Student Handbook.


An Education in the Franciscan Tradition


Alvernia Home Graduate Home Undergraduate Admissions Occupational Therapy Home Course Descriptions Five Year BSHS/MSOT Entry Level MSOT Master Completion Accreditation NBCOT Convictions/Clearances Faculty SOTA Contact Us Division Program Coordinators Office Hours	Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Masters Completion Program Program Highlights In Brief Alvernia’s Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Completion Program is designed for the currently practicing occupational therapy professional holding either a Bachelors degree in Occupational Therapy or a Bachelors degree with a certificate in occupational therapy desiring a Masters degree. This program will increase your broad-based knowledge of occupational therapy and provide you with the tools necessary for success in contemporary occupational therapy practice. Alvernia College’s MSOT completion program is designed to provide graduates with the contemporary skills and knowledge necessary to excel in today’s professional environment. Graduates will be able to lead the provision of occupational therapy services to various clients across the lifespan as practitioners, managers, entrepreneurs, and community leaders in a manner consistent with the values and ethics of the profession and Alvernia College. The curriculum provides students with a broad-based perspective for problem solving issues at the client, departmental, organizational, community and professional levels. Furthermore, it examines the role of occupational therapy in the promotion of occupational and social justice. Academic Quality Students are admitted to the College and are fully accepted when the following criteria have been met: • Completion of graduate entrance application with supporting documentation • Minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher • Completion of a Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy or certificate in Occupational Therapy with an accompanying Bachelor’s degree. • Currently practicing as an Occupational Therapist and proof of either current NBCOT certification or active state license as an OTR. • Completion of prerequisite undergraduate statistics course. If student hasn’t had undergraduate statistics or completed the course five years or more ago, students can fulfill prerequisite requirement by taking either MBA 600 or MED 518. Either of these courses will count towards 9 credits in student’s area of concentration. Track Descriptions To provide practicing occupational therapists with the skills necessary to advance within their current or future positions, it offers the opportunity for individualized study in one of four tracks: - Special Education - Business Administration - Community Counseling - Occupational Therapy CURICULUM OVERVIEW Required Interdisciplinary Courses (6 credits): COR 510 Moral Leadership 3 credits COR 600 Organizational and Professional Ethics (taken within the final 12 credits) 3 credits Prerequisite Statistics Course (see above under Academic Quality for specific details): Undergraduate Statistics or MBA 600 or MED 518 Required Graduate Occupational Therapy Courses (23 credits): OT 500 Current Best Practice in Occupational Therapy 3 credits OT 501 Analysis/Theoretical Concepts/OT Pract I 4 credits OR OT 505 Analysis/Theoretical Concepts/OT Pract II 4 credits OT 503 Research Design 3 credits OT 601 Occupational Therapy Outcomes 3 credits OT 603 Advocacy and Leadership * 3 credits OT 610 Research Report * 4 credits OT --- Elective - as approved by Program Coordinator 3 credits Select One Track (9 credits): Occupational Therapy Track OT --- Elective - Graduate Level Course 3 credits OT --- Elective - Graduate Level Course 3 credits OT --- Elective - Graduate Level Course 3 credits Special Education Track MED 505 Strategies for Special Education/Inclusive Classroom 3 credits MED 518 Quantitative Research Methods 3 credits MED 560 Human Resource Management for Leaders 3 credits MED 610 School Law and Social Advocacy 3 credits Business Administration Track- select any three MBA 560 Human Resource Management for Leaders 3 credits MBA 592 Management and Marketing 3 credits MBA 591 Accounting for the Workplace 3 credits OR MBA 593 Economics and Finance 3 credits MBA 600 Quantitative Research Methods 3 credits Community Counseling Track - select any three MCC 500 Introduction to Counseling 3 credits MCC 510 Human Development Across the Life Span 3 credits MCC 515 Counseling Theories 3 credits MCC 530 Multicultural Issues in Counseling 3 credits MCC 535 Counseling Children and Adolescents 3 credits MCC 640 Psychopathology RETENTION REQUIREMENTS FOR MSOT COMPLETION PROGRAM Course Requirements OT students must be taken in sequence. All majors must achieve a final grade of B or better in all graduate courses The repeat/delete option may be used for one course only (COR or OT) at the graduate level. Students who do not meet this requirement will be dismissed from the Program. Students are expected to maintain continuous enrollment in the Program during the Fall and Spring semesters. A student who requires a leave of absence from studies must petition the Occupational Therapy Program Director. A leave of absence may be no longer than two semesters (Fall and Spring). Students who fail to return to studies following a leave of absence will be required to formally reapply for admission to the Program. Certifications, Clearances and Insurance Requirements Students within the MSOT Completion Program must provide proof of valid certification as an OTR with NBCOT and/or licensure as an occupational therapist. Certain courses that require a clinical element may require proof of criminal background checks, child abuse clearances, and/or CPR/first aid certification. Students will be notified ahead of time if these are required. Forms are available in the Occupational Therapy Office. Health and Physical Challenges Students with a health or physical challenge may be asked to obtain a physician’s statement that the condition will not be aggravated by or endanger clients/patients associated with the student in required coursework experiences. Reasonable accommodations will be made for students to meet ADA regulations. Student Grievance Policies Student grievance policies are included in the Graduate Studies Division Student Handbook.
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