General Requirements
The MOT curriculum requires completion of 67 credit hours of graduate-level course work that includes Level I and Level II fieldwork. Full-time students can complete the program requirements in two calendar years. Part-time study may be completed in four years but does require full-time study during the last year.
Students in the MOT curriculum is required to maintain a 3.0 (B) average each semester and receive a passing grade in all Level I and Level II fieldwork. Please refer to the progression policies for details.
The fieldwork component of the MOT curriculum is an integral part of the student’s overall educational experience. Placements are made in a variety of traditional settings and emerging areas of practice. Students have two semesters of Level I fieldwork experience. Level II fieldwork experience is completed during the last year of the MOT program. Level II fieldwork involves two twelve-week full-time affiliations. Completion of the graduate research project is required before beginning Level II fieldwork. All Level II fieldwork experience must be completed within 24 months following the completion of 54 hours of professional course work.
All students must successfully complete cumulative end of year examinations to progress to the next level of courses. The comprehensive exit examination must be successfully completed prior to graduation.
All degree requirements must be completed within 6 years from the date of initial enrollment in the MOT program.
Upon completion of all academic and fieldwork requirements, students will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination given by the National Board of Certification for Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).
Progression and Dismissal Policies
Any interruptions or repetition of course work will result in an extension of the total length of the program. To ensure timely completion of the program, the course sequence must be followed. Students who drop a professional-level course for any reason resign their status as a professional-level student. Readmission will be by consent of the program chairperson and the admissions committee.
Students may receive only two C grades according to the graduate school policy. Students may be required to repeat a course in order to meet graduation requirements. Professional courses may be repeated only one time for a grade of B or higher.
A student can earn no more than 4 letter grades of “C” or less in the professional program.
More than 4 grades of “C” or below are grounds for dismissal. A student needing to repeat a course to improve the grade must repeat the course at the next scheduled offering. Students may be required to assume part-time status when repeating courses. A student’s cumulative GPA must be 3.0 or above to proceed to Level II Fieldwork.
Students with a semester GPA of less than 3.0 will be placed on probation*. Students with less than a 3.0 GPA after the third semester of three consecutive semesters will be dismissed from the MOT program.
A student who misses more than 20% of a scheduled course due to unexcused absences may receive a failing grade for the course.
Students must repeat any fieldwork in which they receive an unsatisfactory (failing) performance evaluation. Continued unsatisfactory performance on a repeated fieldwork will result in the student being dismissed from the MOT program.
All end-of-year examinations and the comprehensive exit examination must be successfully completed to progress to the next semester and prior to graduation. Only three opportunities will be given for any end-of-year examination, and the comprehensive exit examination is the final opportunity for successful completion.
Any course with a grade of “D” or “F” must be repeated. Students needing to repeat a course will be placed on probation. Repeated failure of the same course will result in dismissal from the program.
Failure of two or more professional courses in the same semester will result in dismissal from the program.Violation of the standards of ethical practice, including plagiarism, will result in the student being placed on probation. Repeated ethical violations or ethical/legal misconduct that endangers or creates potential harm to students, client, academic and clinical faculty are grounds for dismissal from the program. Standards of ethical behavior are outlined in the AOTA Code of Ethics and the University Policy on Student Conduct.
* Probation is defined as written notification of the student’s current status in the MOT program.
Student Assessment and Retention Program
The department has several programs to improve the retention and graduation of students. A departmental assessment plan is an integral part of the retention program. This plan includes explicit statements and measures about student learning outcomes, end-of-year examinations and curriculum effectiveness. Other retention activities include mentoring, tutoring, counseling, and advising.
- The Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA) offers a peer-mentorship program. Students at the professional level may be matched to community- based mentors who are occupational therapists.
- Student Success workshops are held for students in the program throughout the semester. These workshops address skills needed in a professional program and are considered a professional obligation.
- Peer tutors are available for professional-level students. The faculty has identified office hours to assist students.
- All students receive one-on-one advising from faculty throughout the year. Referrals to other resources both within and outside the university are made when indicated.