Occupational Therapy

Department Chairperson: Luther King

Phone: (773) 995-2366

Location: DH 3008

Department Overview

The Department is comprised of two undergraduate programs: Pre-Occupational Therapy and Pre-Physical Therapy.

Occupational therapy is the art and science of directing an individual’s participation in everyday activities to restore, reinforce, and enhance occupational participation; facilitate learning of skills and functions essential for adaptation and performance ; diminish or correct pathology; and promote and maintain health and well-being. Its fundamental concern is the capacity, throughout the life span, to perform with satisfaction to self and others those tasks and roles essential to holistic living and to the mastery of self and the environment.

Physical therapy is profession which develops and utilizes selected knowledge and skills in planning, organizing, and directing programs for the care of individuals whose ability to function is impaired or threatened by disease or injury. Physical Therapy deals primarily with those individuals whose potential or actual impairment is related to the neuro-musculoskeletal, pulmonary, and cardiovascular systems. It focuses on methods of evaluating the functions of those systems and on the selection of appropriate therapeutic procedures to maintain, improve, or restore these functions. Physical Therapy serves a wide population in a variety of settings such as hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, home health agencies, public health agencies, school districts, private practice, and the armed forces.

Vision Statement

The Bachelor in Health Sciences for Pre-Occupational Therapy and Pre-Physical Therapy are degrees preparing students to enter professional programs within each discipline. Students work with advisors to meet the qualifications of the school in which they are applying.

Student Outcomes:

The graduates of the BHS Pre-Occupational Therapy program 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 health disparities and the role of occupational therapy within communities.
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.
Demonstrate the value of OT through interdisciplinary collaboration, service, and commitment to lifelong learning.

Upon successful completion of the Bachelor of Science degree in pre-physical therapy, the graduates will:

Apply the language of health professions in documenting patient history and progress of treatment
Apply psychological and sociological theories in explaining human behaviors in different clinical scenarios
Apply knowledge of physical and medical sciences in explaining disease pathology, physical therapy diagnosis, and intervention.
Demonstrate knowledge of pre-physical therapy as a health profession.
Differentiate the roles and responsibilities of the members of the health care team.
Comprehend published research in allied health.

Chicago State University does offer a professional program in Occupational Therapy which allows students in the combined BS/MOT sequence to complete both degrees within 5 years.

Chicago State University does not offer a professional program in Physical Therapy but works closely with schools in the area to assist students applying for their programs.

Accreditation :

The combined BS in Health Sciences / Master of Occupational Therapy program is is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number, c/o AOTA, is (301) 652-6611, and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.

Pre-OT and Pre-PT Admission Requirements

Meet the general admission requirements of the university.
Apply as an Undergraduate student and declare Health Sciences: Pre-Occupational Therapy or Pre-Physical Therapy as a major.

Admission to the Professional Phase of the Occupational Therapy Program:

Students in the combined BS/MOT program are eligible to apply to the professional phase of the program after completing 60 hours of undergraduate credits, including general education and specific program requirements. It is strongly encouraged that undergraduates attend a department information system to determine eligibility by the end of their first year. The application process includes the following:

A completed Occupational Therapy Department application submitted through the Occupational Therapist Centralized Application Service (OTCAS):
1. For combined BHS/MOT program - Declare Health Sciences: Pre-Occupational Therapy as a major.
2. For MOT and combined BHS/MOT students - Submit Application for admission through - OTCAS
3. All students are strongly encouraged to review admission eligibility with an advisor before applying.
If-necessary - Successful completion of required university placement examinations and courses in English, mathematics.
Students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 when applying.
Completion of prerequisite courses (anthropology or sociology, statistics, developmental psychology, abnormal psychology, medical terminology, human anatomy, human physiology, and introduction to occupational therapy) with a grade of C or better before beginning professional course work. The anatomy and physiology courses must be taken within 10 years of admission to the program. The minimal GPA of the specific prerequisites is 3.0 for consideration of the application
Prerequisite courses required for admission may be repeated only once to improve a grade.
Proof of a minimum of 40 hours of human service experience that demonstrates human service skills. Experience should be documented in OTCAS under Observation Hours. . This experience is not limited to the field of occupational therapy. This experience can include but is not limited to work, personal, and/or community service experience.
A typed essay addressing why you selected occupational therapy as a career and how this degree relates to your immediate and long-term professional goals. This essay should be submitted through OTCAS.
Three professional and/or academic recommendations through the OTCAS portal. A typed essay addressing why you selected occupational therapy as a career and how this degree relates to your immediate and long-term professional goals.
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 academic profile and prepare for re-application.

Application Deadline: March 31 (Deadline may be extended to May 1 if slots are available)

Students enter the professional program in the fall semester either full-time or part-time. Students in the combined BS/MOT program transition to the graduate program in the summer semester. Class size is limited, and admission is competitive. 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 obtain early acceptance.

Advanced Standing

Students with a BHS Pre-Occupational Therapy degree from CSU are eligible for advanced standing in the MOT program. Advanced-standing students may be given up to 32 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 35 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.

Transfer Credit

No transfer credit will be given for professional coursework in the MOT curriculum.

Programs

Bachelor of Science