Occupational Therapy

Department Chairperson: Leslie Roundtree

The Department of Occupational Therapy offers a Bachelor of Health Science (BHS) Pre-Occupational Therapy degree, which is a pre-professional degree designed to prepare students to enter the Masters of Occupational Therapy (MOT) program at Chicago State University. The combined BHS/MOT curriculum allows students advanced placement to begin professional study in occupational therapy as an undergraduate student (in their senior year) and supports the transition to a post baccalaureate degree in occupational therapy.

The Occupational Therapy Program at Chicago State University is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education of the American Occupational Therapy Association ACOTE c/o Accreditation Department American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929 - (301) 652-6611). ACOTE’s Web address is www.acoteonline.org. Graduates of the MOT program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for occupational therapists administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR®) and will be eligible to apply for licensure to practice in Illinois and other states that require licensure. A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT examination or attain a state license. A process for early determination of eligibility is available from NBCOT (One Bank Street, Suite 300, Gaithersburg, MD 20878; telephone 301-990-7979; website www.nbcot.org).

Vision Statement

The vision of the Department of Occupational Therapy is to be widely recognized as a dynamic, community-oriented program that trains competent, diverse occupational therapists and enhances the health of underserved communities through research and service. The vision of the Department of Occupational Therapy is to provide a dynamic community-oriented program that produces occupational therapists who are change agents for underserved communities and the occupational therapy profession.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Chicago State University Occupational Therapy Program is to prepare a diverse student body to become competent occupational therapists who are skilled in and effective at meeting the needs of clients within rapidly changing service delivery systems. The program is designed to provide a transformative educational experience that develops entry-level therapists who possess foundational skills in the principles of the occupational therapy profession. We strive to produce graduates who exhibit the ability to integrate knowledge into practice while using evidence, critical thinking, and reflective abilities necessary to take on a variety of roles (i.e., practitioner, consultant, educator, manager, researcher and advocate) within traditional and emerging service delivery systems.

The Department of Occupational Therapy mission is consistent with the University and College of Health Sciences mission and upholds the commitment to the recruitment and education of candidates from diverse backgrounds underrepresented in the practice of occupational therapy. The program’s purpose is to develop graduates that are compassionate and dedicated to implementing contextually relevant occupation centered services that promote and enhance the health, participation and quality of life for individuals and populations.

Student Learning Outcomes

The graduates of the BHS Pre-Occupational Therapy will:

Use theory to support reasoning and ethical decision making in determining the health needs of individuals, organizations, and communities.
Summarize published research related to health care.
Describe the diverse health care needs of individuals and communities and the variety of systems available to address these needs.
Compare the influence of social, cultural, political, and occupational factors on participation and health.
Analyze the psychological and biological factors that influence health and wellness.
Value interdisciplinary collaboration, service, and lifelong learning.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the University

Meet the general admission requirements of the university.
Declare Health Sciences: Pre-Occupational Therapy as a major.

Admission to the Professional Phase of the Program

Admission to the professional program is on a competitive basis and is based on completion of the following requirements and acceptance by the admissions committee:

Successful completion of the required university placement examinations and courses in English, mathematics, and reading, if necessary, upon admission.
Completion of all prerequisite course work with a grade of C or higher before beginning professional course work. Prerequisite courses required for admission may be repeated only once to improve the grade. The anatomy and physiology courses must be taken within five years of admission to the professional program.
A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. The grade point average for the eight required prerequisites (anthropology or sociology, statistics, developmental psychology, abnormal psychology, medical terminology, human anatomy, human physiology, and introduction to occupational therapy) for all undergraduate and graduate students must be above 3.0 for consideration.

Submission of an admission packet must include the following:

A completed Occupational Therapy Department application and a current detailed degree evaluation (CAPP). All applicants are strongly encouraged to review admission eligibility with an advisor before applying.
Proof of a minimum of 40 hours of work experience or community service that demonstrates human service skills. Experience is to be described on the prescribed form and signed by an appropriate supervising individual. This experience is not limited to the field of occupational therapy.
Two recommendations on the prescribed form. One of the recommendations must be from an upper-division teacher. The other recommendation may be from another upper-division teacher or an employer or community service supervisor. Relatives cannot submit recommendations.
A typed essay of approximately 1,000 words on the applicant’s reasons for pursuing a career in occupational therapy and how the applicant’s human service experience has enhanced or developed his or her interpersonal skills.
Interview with the members of the Occupational Therapy admission committee. Applicants who are not accepted into the program can meet with an advisor to discuss options to strengthen their re-application.

Students are enrolled into the professional program full time only once a year in the fall semester. Class size is limited, and admission is competitive. Full-time and part-time options for study are available. Depending on the number of qualified applicants, a waiting list may be created. Applicants placed on the waiting list will be notified of their status and of their rank on this list. If slots become available, applicants on the waiting list will be offered admission in rank order. Applications are accepted and reviewed throughout the year, and students can receive an early acceptance.

The deadline for submission of application materials is February 1st each year. Application materials are submitted to the Department of Occupational Therapy. The application deadline may be extended to May 1st only if admission slots are available. Graduates of the BHS Pre-Occupational Therapy program who meet the entrance requirements for the Masters of Occupational Therapy will be given preference in admission to this program. Students with a BHS Pre-Occupational Therapy from CSU are eligible for advanced standing in the MOT program. Advanced-standing students may be given up to 28 hours of credit for foundational occupational therapy courses. In all professional courses, students must earn a grade of C or better. Students can only have two grades of C within the professional graduate program and courses may be repeated once to remove a grade of “C”. Students must meet the GPA requirement of 3.0 or better for the last 60 hours of credit for admission into the graduate program in order to receive advanced standing.

Students with advanced standing will need to complete 69 credit hours of graduate occupational therapy courses in order to complete the MOT program. Details on the MOT program are found in the graduate catalog and occupational therapy student handbook. No transfer credit will be given for professional coursework in the MOT curriculum. No academic credit is given for work or life experiences in occupational therapy.