Mar 28, 2024  
2019-2020 Graduate Catalog 
    
2019-2020 Graduate Catalog This is not the most recent catalog version; be sure you are viewing the appropriate catalog year.

Occupational Therapy Combined [B.S. + MOT]


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Established in 1941, Eastern Michigan University’s Occupational Therapy Program has a long-standing tradition of excellence. The EMU OT Program provides competent and caring professionals to the local community as well as throughout the State of Michigan and across the nation.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook predicts that employment of occupational therapists is projected to grow 29 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations. This is based on the general population growth and the increasing demand for services for those aged 75 years and older who are requiring occupational therapy services to improve their quality of life. In addition, emerging practice areas for occupational therapists, for example, in such areas as driver rehabilitation and fall prevention, continue to develop. Occupational therapists are employed in diverse settings including but not limited to: hospitals, schools, rehabilitation facilities, long-term care facilities, home health care, and in areas of prevention and wellness. Occupational Therapy was rated the 13th best job overall by US News and World Report (2019) 100 Best Jobs and Glassdoor’s 50 Best Jobs in America 2019 identified occupational therapy as #4.

There are two routes of entry to the occupational therapy degree. Student applicants are integrated into one cohort once admitted into the program. Please carefully review the tracks below to identify which option fits you.

Option 1 - Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT)

If you are applying to the occupational therapy program and have already received a bachelor’s degree or will have received a degree prior to the start of the program Applicants to this track must have a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college/university or appropriate international institution. Candidates may apply while their degree is in progress, but degree completion, demonstrated by transcript evaluation, is necessary prior to the start of the Occupational Therapy Program. This track culminates with a Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT degree).

Please see Occupational Therapy [M.O.T.]  for more information.

Option 2 - Combined Occupational Therapy (COT)

The Combined Occupational Therapy (COT) track is often referred to as the 3+2 program. The COT track is designed for undergraduate students who do not yet have a bachelor’s degree. This track culminates with a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) degree. To be eligible to apply as a COT student:

  • 90 Undergraduate credits must be completed by the January start of the OT program. A student cannot be admitted to the OT program if less than 90 credits are completed by the start of the program.
    • If you will be submitting your application to OTCAS with less than 90 credits you will need to include a plan for how you will complete the 90 credits by the start of the winter semester.  Applicants will not be accepted to the OT program if less than 90 credits are completed by the start of the program.
  • All general education courses must be fully complete by the January start of the OT program. General education courses can be completed in the fall semester as applications are being reviewed.
  • Undergraduate applicants from schools outside of Eastern Michigan University will need to complete an undergraduate application to EMU and meet with a general academic advisor to identify how previous coursework will transfer to EMU and determine remaining general education coursework that may be needed. Failure to complete this step will result in your application to the OT program to be denied.

Please see Program Admission below for more information regarding this program.

Learn

Our students will:

  • Be leaders and innovators, responsive to the changing health care needs of our diverse society.
  • Use occupation as the central focus of their practice.
  • Become competent and ethical professionals who use theory and research to guide their clinical practice.
  • Develop the skills to serve consumers through the roles of clinician, collaborator, coach, educator, and advocate.
  • Value promotion of social justice through service to the community

Opportunities

Many of our occupational therapy students take advantage of engaging in the community and classroom through organizations such as the Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA) and Pi Theta. Students develop clinical and critical thinking skills through part- and full-time fieldwork during five semesters in the program and they have opportunities for interprofessional education with programs within and outside of the University.

Information/Group Advising Sessions for Occupational Therapy Intent Students

On-campus information/group advising sessions and the online webinar are designed to provide an introduction to the application process to the EMU Occupational Therapy Program.

All interested applicants are strongly encouraged to view the webinar and/or attend a scheduled On-Campus Group Advising Session

Accreditation

The EMU Occupational Therapy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814-3449. ACOTE’s telephone number, c/o AOTA, is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.

Program Admission


The information below pertains to applicants applying for Winter 2021 admission, for previous criteria and process, please see Program Admission (Winter 2020) .


The Combined Occupational Therapy (COT) route of entry requires a two phase process and a student cannot apply to EMU as a combined occupational therapy student until the requirements have been completed, reviewed by the occupational therapy faculty, and a request to join the program has been extended. Carefully review the criteria below to identify how you could apply to EMU to complete pre-admission coursework prior to submitting your application.

Admission Criteria

Applicants are assessed on a comprehensive assessment and interview of selected applicants, including the following criteria:

  • A minimum GPA of 3.0 at the time of application. This GPA will be calculated from the last 60 semester/90 quarter units of coursework. It is the expectation that the average successful applicant has a GPA much higher than 3.0.
  • Completion of all pre-admission coursework with a grade of “B-” or better. (See Pre-admission Coursework)
  • Completion of the GRE revised General Test, or GRE General Test, within three years of application. No test is accepted as a substitute for the GRE. The test must be taken in enough time to ensure that scores are received, by the June 10th application deadline. EMU OT Program’s GRE Code is 4442. There is no minimum GRE score necessary to be considered for admission. However, average scores admitted to the program include a combined score of over 300 on the quantitative/verbal and 4.0 on the writing. For additional information regarding the GRE, including registration and accommodations, please visit www.ets.org.
  • Three references. The ideal candidate will submit at least one professional and one academic reference. Select references who can provide insight into an applicant’s abilities, interpersonal skills, and qualities in the classroom, workplace, and community that would make them a good fit for EMU’s occupational therapy program.
  • Observation/Volunteer Experience - A minimum of 20 total hours of volunteering or observation with occupational therapists in at least two different settings must be completed in the three years prior to the application deadline.
  • Submission of supplemental information. The supplemental information section on OTCAS provides information on an applicant’s previous and current life experiences, including experiences, achievements, licenses and certifications.
  • Interview. After a review of OTCAS applications, selected applicants will be contacted for an online interview. Additional information regarding the interview process can be found below.
 

Admission Process

The admission process has three components:

  

  (Due by 11:59 pm on June 10, 2020)

  

School Information


Health Sciences | Colleen Croxall, Ph.D., Director | 313 Marshall, 734.487.4096, ccroxall@emich.edu

Advisor Information


Sharon Holt, M.H.S., O.T.R.L., 260 Rackham, ot_intent_advising@emich.edu

Additional Program Information


Program of Study
 - Occupational therapy advising for occupational therapy-intent students is performed by the OT intent advisor or the College of Health and Human Services Advising Center. All applicants should attend a group advising session with the OT intent advisor to discuss admission requirements. Upon acceptance into the occupational therapy program, students are assigned a faculty advisor.

Scholarships - The Occupational Therapy program offers a number of scholarships to students who are admitted to the program. Information is annually distributed from the OT program to students who are currently enrolled in the occupational therapy program. There are also a number of University scholarships available to students. Contact the Office of Financial Aid for information.

Fieldwork - All occupational therapy students must complete two Level II Fieldwork experiences within 24 months following completion of the didactic portion of the program. Students have the right to request part-time or full-time fieldwork. Students who desire part-time fieldwork must make this request in writing to the fieldwork coordinator prior to placement arrangement.

National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) - The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT) administers the national certification examination for occupational therapists in the United States. Upon successful completion of the academic and fieldwork requirements, graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the National Certification Examination for the Occupational Therapist, administered by the NBCOT. After successful completion of this exam, the graduate will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). All students must pass the NBCOT certification examination to practice in the profession of occupational therapy. In addition to passing the NBCOT certification examination, most states require licensure to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT certification examination. A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. Character background information is reviewed by NBCOT to determine a person’s ability to sit for the examination. If you have any potential impediments, such as a felony charge or conviction, charges of malpractice or willful intentional misconduct, we strongly recommend that you contact NBCOT at www.nbcot.org to determine your eligibility to sit for the national examination. Contact Information: NBCOT | 12 South Summit Avenue, Suite 100 | Gaithersburg, MD 20877-4150 | 301.990.7979

General Education Requirements:


For specific requirements, please see the Undergraduate Catalog or print a General Education Worksheet .

Undergraduate Major Requirements: 58-60 hours


Minor Requirement:


This major does not require a minor.

Undergraduate Degree Total:


For the undergraduate portion of this program, students must earn a minimum total of 124 credits at the 100-level or above.

Graduate School Admission


If accepted to the program, students will process a Graduate School Application before enrolling in 600-level coursework (students are responsible for any deadlines related to financial aid).

  1. Meet the Graduate School Admission Requirements (see Graduate Admissions)
  2. Submit a Graduate School Application (emich.edu/graduate/apply). Transcripts submitted with OTCAS application are not shared with the Graduate School.
  3. Pay $45 application fee.

Combined Program Total: 164 hours


Critical Graduation Information


The following are minimum requirements for all bachelor’s degrees awarded by Eastern Michigan University. Some majors and minors require more than the minimum in one or more of the areas below; students are urged to consult the on-line catalog for the requirements of their particular programs.

  • Earn a minimum total of 124 credits at the 100-level and above. Courses with numbers below 100 will not be counted toward this degree requirement. At most 8 credit hours of physical education (PEGN) activity courses will be counted toward this requirement.
  • Meet the requirements of the General Education program (see information below).
  • Complete a Writing Intensive (WI) Course in your major.
  • Earn a minimum of 45 credits from a four-year college or university; courses taken at community colleges cannot be used to meet this requirement. (Some formal program-to-program articulation agreements modify this requirement. See specific agreements for details.)
  • Earn a minimum of 30 credits from courses taken at EMU.
  • Complete 10 of the last 30 hours for the degree from courses taken at EMU.
  • Have a minimum of 30 unique credit hours in their major and 20 unique credit hours in their minor for a total of at least 50 unique credit hours between them. Some majors that require 50 or more hours themselves do not require a minor; students should check requirements of the selected major in the undergraduate catalog to see if a minor is required.
  • Earn no more than 60 credit hours in one subject area (prefix). Credits in excess of the 60 maximum will not be counted toward the minimum of 124 credits required for a bachelor’s degree.
  • Earn the minimum number of credits in 300-level and above courses in each major and minor as specified below - these credits must be earned in distinct courses; that is, no course can be used to fulfill this requirement in more than one major or minor.
    • Earn a minimum of 6 credits in 300-level or higher courses at EMU in each minor
    • Earn a minimum of 9 credits in 300-level or higher courses at EMU in each major that requires a minor.
    • Earn a minimum of 15 credits in 300-level or higher courses at EMU in each major that does not require a minor
  • Transfer credit will be awarded for courses taken at colleges and universities that are accredited by one of the recognized regional accrediting bodies only if the courses are college-level (equated to 100-level or above at EMU) and the student earned a “C” (or 2.0 on a 4 point scale) or better. Transfer credit may be awarded on a case-by-case basis for college-level courses in which a “C” (2.0) or better was earned at institutions outside the U.S. or at non-accredited U.S. institutions; the internal review of such courses is conducted by individual departments/schools within EMU, and additional documentation may be required. Please note: EMU awards only credits for transferred courses; grades are not used in the calculation of an EMU GPA.
  • Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in courses taken at EMU in order to graduate. In addition, a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 must be reached in each major and minor. Only courses taken at EMU and those applied to a student’s major or minor, will be used in the calculation of their major and minor cumulative GPAs. (Note: some programs may require a higher GPA - check with your program advisor.)

General Education Requirements | EMU’s General Education Program requires students to choose from a menu of approved courses in several different areas; do not assume that other courses in the same department or with similar names will fulfill these requirements. A detailed description of General Education requirements is available on the General Education section of the undergraduate catalog.

Students who transferred to EMU may have modified general education requirements based on Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA) or articulation agreements; consult your academic advisor for additional information.

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