IUPUI Bulletins » Schools » health-rehab-science » Academic Programs » Degree Programs » Master's Programs » M.S. in Occupational Therapy Home » Schools » Academic Programs » Degree Programs » Master's Programs » M.S. in Occupational Therapy


  • Department Chair: Professor Thomas Fisher
  • Associate Professors: Jeffrey Crabtree, Michael Justiss, Chiung-ju Liu, and Patricia Scott
  • Associate Professors: Emeriti Cel Hamant, Nancy Lamport, T. Kay Carl, Carol Nathan, Erna Simek
  • Assistant Professors: Crystal Massie
  • Clinical Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy: Martina Allen
  • Senior Lecturers: Sharon Pape
  • Adjunct Faculty: Candance Beitman, Elaine Ewing Fess, Robin Janson, Susan Meyers, and Lindsey Weaver
Educational Program

This program is designed for students who do not have a degree or certificate in occupational therapy, but who have a baccalaureate degree in any major and are ready to apply for the entry-level graduate program in occupational therapy. The best undergraduate major is one in an area in which the student would enjoy working after receiving the undergraduate degree and should be selected based on the student's interests. The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Program does not have a preference as to the major for the bachelor's degree as long as the prerequisite courses are completed.

Length of the Program

Two years, including summers.

Structure of the Professional Program

The academic and fieldwork level II portions of the curriculum are designed as full-time experiences.

Design of the Professional Curriculum

Students entering the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Program will attend seven academic semesters. The curriculum content includes basic knowledge of occupational performance, disruption in occupational performance, technical skills, occupational therapy theory and practice, interpersonal communication, creative problem solving, research, understanding human occupation as it relates to health and wellness, and beginning professional practice (Fieldwork Level I). There are also Fieldwork II requirements and must be completed within 24 months of completing all academic course work. The curriculum content contains all of the subject matter required in an accredited occupational therapy program.

Additional Cost

In addition to regular university fees, students should expect to spend approximately $1,400 on textbooks while in the program. Students should be prepared to assume living and travel expenses associated with fieldwork experiences. Fieldwork II assignments may be out of state. The department will work closely with students with regard to fieldwork placements.

Opportunity for Students to Work

The class schedule for full-time occupational therapy students is rigorous, although part-time employment during the evening or weekend hours is possible for some students.

Program Facilities

The Occupational Therapy Program offices are located on the third floor of Coleman Hall. Classrooms are located on the second and ground floors of Coleman Hall and in other buildings on the IUPUI campus.

Location of Fieldwork Sites

Fieldwork Level I occurs in a variety of settings, including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, school systems, community sites, and other health and wellness facilities in Indiana. Fieldwork Level II is directed toward age ranges (children, young adults, or older adults) and may be located throughout the United States, depending on the student's individual assignment. Before starting fieldwork experience, students may be required to undergo drug testing, and/or a criminal background check.

Accreditation

The Occupational Therapy Program is fully accredited 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
(301) 652-AOTA.

Applicants should be advised that as of January 1, 2007, occupational therapy educational programs will be accredited only at the post-baccalaureate degree level.

Admission

Students accepted into the program must complete the program admission requirements listed below before the first day of classes. Admission to the professional program is competitive; therefore, completion of the prerequisites does not guarantee admission to the program.

Criteria Used for Selection of Class

Cumulative GPA, prerequisite GPA, baccalaureate degree, completion of required observation hours, and an admission interview.

Class Size

Up to 36 students are admitted for each summer II semester.

Application Deadline

October 1 of the year before desired entry into the program.

Prerequisite Course Requirements

In order to be eligible to enter the program, the candidate must have a baccalaureate degree and must have completed all prerequisite courses while maintaining at least a 3.2 cumulative GPA.

Prerequisite Courses: Minimum Credits

Behavioral Science Courses
Abnormal Psychology/Psychopathology 3 cr.
Human Growth (birth through death)
and Development/Lifespan Development		 3 cr.
Intro to Sociology or Anthropology 3 cr.
Intro to Psychology 3 cr.

Biological Science Courses (with a lab)
Human Anatomy
(course description required)		 3-5 cr. *
Human Physiology
(course description required)		 3-5 cr.*

Other Courses
Medical Terminology 1-2 cr.
Statistics (including descriptive & inferential statistics; 300 level minimum or equivalent) 3 cr. *

*Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, and Statistics must be completed no more than seven years before application deadline.


Minimum Cumulative GPA Requirement

A 3.2 on a 4.0 scale is required at the time of program application and must be maintained throughout the admissions process. For purposes of admission only, the grades for all courses from any university (whether transferred into the IU system or not) will be used in the calculation of the admission GPA.

The OTCAS grading system will be used to figure admission GPA (e.g., A = 4.0, A- = 3.7, etc.). Credits from a university using the quarter system will be converted to count as semester credits.

Minimum Grade Requirement in a Stated Prerequisite Course

C (2.0 on a 4.0 scale)

Minimum Grade Requirement in Repeated Courses

Applicants whose cumulative GPA is at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale and who have repeated courses may petition to have their admission grade point average recalculated. The recalculation will use the most recent grade of the repeated course. This repeat option includes the use of the Indiana University FX option and is applied with the following restrictions: it can be used for a total of no more than 15 credits; the grade will be deleted not more than twice for a given course; and each attempt will count toward the 15 credit hours. If more than 15 credit hours are repeated, the applicant will determine which of the repeated courses are to be deleted. The petition must be attached to the application.

Forgiveness Policy

Applicants whose GPA is at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale may petition the program for up to one year (fall, spring, and summer) of academic bankruptcy based on compelling nonacademic reasons. The bankrupted semesters must be consecutive.

Academic bankruptcy is for admission purposes only and in no way affects the university's official GPA. Course work completed in a semester that has been bankrupted for admission purposes cannot be used for the fulfillment of program prerequisites or counted as credit hours toward the degree. The petition must be attached to the application.

Clinical Observation Hours

All applicants must complete a minimum of 12 observation hours in clinical occupational therapy. Three different facilities (e.g., nursing home, hospital, school system, long-term care facility) need to be visited. Forms for clinical observation experiences can be found at the Department of Occupational Therapy.

International Student Applicants

There are special application procedures for those who are not citizens of the United States or who have had their previous schooling outside of the United States. International student applicants interested in the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Program should obtain an international application packet from the IUPUI Office of International Affairs or from the Web at www.international.iupui.edu. Because of the extra procedures required to evaluate foreign credentials, there is an additional application fee for international students.

International student applicants (except those whose native language is English) are expected to submit results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The TOEFL is given worldwide throughout the year. IUPUI's school code for the TOEFL application is 1325. The Occupational Therapy Program faculty has established a minimum TOEFL test score of 550 (paper-based) or 200 (computer-based) for program eligibility.

All newly admitted international students are also required to take the IUPUI English (EAP) examination administered by the IUPUI EAP Program and Office of International Affairs before registration for classes. Students are required to take any EAP courses that are determined necessary as a result of this testing until they have fulfilled university and program requirements for English proficiency.

Curriculum

Semester 1, Year 1, Summer Session
T560 Introduction to Occupational Science
and Occupational Therapy		 3 cr.
T571 Kinesiology for the Occupational Therapist 3 cr.
6 cr.

Semester 2, Year 1, Fall Semester
T542 Occupations of Infants and Children 5 cr.
T557 Group Process in Occupational Therapy 2 cr.
T561 Theoretical Foundations
of Occupational Therapy		 3 cr.
T567 Research and Occupational Therapy 3 cr.
T575 Applied Neuroscience
for the Occupational Therapist		 4 cr.
17 cr.

Semester 3, Year 1, Spring Semester
T525 Reflective Seminar I 1 cr.
T552 Occupations of Adolescents and
Young Adults		 5 cr.
T558 OT Management in Today's Health and
Community Systems		 3 cr.
T568 Evidence-Based Research in
Occupational Therapy		 3 cr.
T572 Pathophysiology: Impact of Conditions
on Occupations		 3 cr.
15 cr.

Semester 4, Year 2, Summer
Session I (May and June)
Fieldwork Level II A (8 weeks)
T695 OR T696 Infants and Children OR Adolescents and Young Adults 5 cr. each

Session II (July and August)
Fieldwork Level II B (8 weeks)
T696 OR T695 Adolescents and Young Adults OR Infants and Children 5 cr. each
5 cr.

Semester 5, Year 2, Fall Semester
T625 Reflective Seminar II 1 cr
T662 Occupations of Adults and Older Adults 5 cr.
T657 Psychosocial Dimensions of Therapeutic
Relationships and Occupations		 2 cr.
T580 OT Elective AND 3 cr.
T667 Non-thesis OT Project 3 cr.
T701 OR OT Thesis 6 cr.

16 cr.

Semester 6, Year 2, Spring Semester
T655 Technologies in OT 3 cr.
(4 weeks-January)

T695

T696

T697

Fieldwork Level II A, B, OR C

Infants and Children OR

Adolescents and Young Adults OR

Adults and Older Adults

 5 cr. each
(8 weeks—February and March)
T658 Professional Trends and Issues in OT 2 cr.
T535 OT Elective 3 cr. (optional)
T 668 Non-Thesis OT Project Completion OR 2 cr.
T 702 OT Thesis Completion 2 cr.
12 cr.

Semester 7, Year 2, Summer I Semester

T695

T697

Fieldwork Level II A, B, OR C

Adolescents and Young Adults

Adults and Older Adults

 5 cr. each
5 cr.

*Expected graduation: June or August, depending on when the student completes the thesis, project, or fieldwork.

Additional Information
  • For each additional semester necessary for completion of thesis or project, the student will enroll in 1 credit
  • Non-thesis option requires the student to take one 3 credit elective and participate in a scholarly project
  • Thesis option does not require an elective
  • Fieldwork I and Orthotics are integrated into the occupations courses
  • Areas of occupations (ADL, IADL, Education, Work, Leisure, Play, Sleep/Rest, and Social Participation) are addressed in all three occupations courses
  • Students may elect to take a specialty Fieldwork Level II a fourth rotation (8 weeks)

Prior to entering the Occupational Therapy Program, admitted students are required to have:

  • Current immunizations
  • TB test
  • Criminal background check
  • Personal health insurance

If a documented physical problem makes a person incapable of performing CPR, the person must be able to pass the required writted examinations.

Fellowships

In addition to financial assistance obtained through the IUPUI Office of Student Financial Aid, fellowship opportunities are available through the Department of Occupational Therapy. Following admission into the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Program, students may seek information from the chair of the Department Fellowship/Scholarship Committee regarding fellowship opportunities specific to occupational therapy.

For further information, contact:
Professor Thomas Fisher, Chair
IUPUI Department of Occupational Therapy
Coleman Hall 311
1140 W. Michigan Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202-5119
Phone: (317) 274-8006

For questions/concerns regarding this bulletin, please contact the Office of the Registrar | 317-274-1519 | Contact Us
Copyright © 2002-2009 The Trustees of Indiana University | Copyright Complaints | Privacy Notice