Use Your Master's Degree to Provide Exceptional Care
Master of Occupational Therapy Degree
NOTE: The OT Department is no longer accepting applications to the MOT program, as of fall 2019. Please see admission policies for the OTD program if you are interested in studying occupational therapy. The OTD program has two pathways for admission the accelerated entry pathway for students with less than three years of college credit and the graduate admissions pathway for students with a bachelor's degree or more than three years of college credit and all pre-requisite coursework.
Board Pass Rates
College of Saint Mary pass rate for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certificate exam in 2019 overall was 100 percent. As of 2014, the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy only posts the overall pass rate of a program regardless of the number of attempts for a student to pass the exam. A felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. Program results from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) can be found online at https://secure.nbcot.org/data/schoolstats.aspx.
Accreditation
The occupational therapy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE'S telephone number, c/o AOTA, is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. In 2010, College of Saint Mary received a 10-year re-accreditation from ACOTE.
Meet the Occupational Therapy Faculty
Required Courses in Your Major
Graduate Level Courses:
OTH 540 Community Based Occupational Therapy (3)
This course gives students the opportunity to design and provide services to address unmet needs for individuals, groups, or populations in community settings. Students will explore occupation in the context of community in applying components of program development and grant writing.
Pre-Requisites: OTH 434, 444, 490, 452, and 476
OTH 552 Principles of Neuro-Rehabilitation II (2)
This course is the second in a two semester sequence where students learn traditional and contemporary models of practice and evidence-based interventions used in neuro-rehabilitation. An experiential learning component will be utilized so that students can implement the skills discussed in class.
Pre-Requisites: OTH 590, 540, 568, and 476
OTH 555 Occupational Therapy Management (2)
This course is offered in the graduate year of the occupational therapy curriculum. In this course students implement the skills necessary for an occupational therapist to provide competent managerial services as a health care practitioner in a changing healthcare environment.
Pre-Requisites: OTH 590, 540, 568, and 576
OTH 560 Clinical Reasoning III (3)
This course is the last in the three-part progression preparing students to be critical thinkers. The course is designed to integrate theory and the knowledge of pathologies and intervention strategies with an understanding of the OT process. The focus is on developing the student’s ability to evaluate and synthesize information from complex situations and practice setting involving individuals and populations.
Pre-Requisites: OTH 590, 540, 568 and 576
OTH 561 Occupational Therapy Leadership and Advocacy (2)
This course will explore various theories of leadership for enacting positive change and develop leadership skills for advocacy and client centered practice. Students will explore how sociopolitical factors impact health care policy and occupational therapy. Students will examine personal and professional values as well as positive characteristics of leaders in occupational therapy in articulating their own leadership style.
Pre-Requisites: OTH 590, 540, 568, and 576
OTH 568 Therapeutic Modalities (2)
This course is designed to allow students to apply practice course knowledge through the use of specialized therapeutic modalities in occupational therapy. Students will demonstrate safe and effective application of physical agent modalities as well as explain the evidence behind the use of such modalities in occupational therapy intervention. The second module of this course gives students the opportunity to explore and create recommendations for assistive technology to enhance the quality of life in individuals.
Pre-Requisites: OTH 434, 444, 490, 452, and 476
OTH 576 Level IC Fieldwork (1)
This course is designed to enrich student learning through participation in selective aspects of the occupational therapy process in an occupational therapy practice setting. The Level IC fieldwork experience will emphasize theory driven practice to guide the occupational therapy process.
Pre-Requisites: OTH 434, 444, 490, 452, and 476
OTH 590 Principles of Occupational Therapy Research II (2)
This is the second course in the three-part research progression. Students will develop a research question, search the literature, and compose scholarly works. The Institutional Review Board process will be discussed as part of this course.
Pre-Requisites: OTH 434, 444, 490, 452, and 476
OTH 593 Principles of Occupational Therapy Research III (3)
This final course in the research continuum focuses on scholarly dissemination of research. Students will complete the scholarly project initiated in Principles of Occupational Therapy Research II. The research series will conclude with a scholarly presentation based on occupational therapy research.
Pre-Requisites: OTH 590, 540, 568, and 576
OTH 674 Level IIA Fieldwork (6)
This course is designed to provide students the opportunity to engage in all aspects of the occupational therapy process during a twelve week fieldwork experience in an occupational therapy practice setting. This course promotes the student’s development of competent, entry level practice skills.
Pre-Requisite: Successful completion of all didactic coursework
OTH 675 Level IIB Fieldwork (6)
This course is designed to provide students the opportunity to engage in all aspects of the occupational therapy process during a twelve week fieldwork experience in an occupational therapy practice setting. This course promotes the student’s development of competent, entry level practice skills.
Pre-Requisite: OTH 674
Requirements for Graduation from College of Saint Mary
For information about graduate classes, see the college graduate catalog.
Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for occupational therapist, administered by the National Board of Certification of Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, you will be an occupational therapist, registered (OTR). Most states require licensure in order to practice. 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, attain state licensure or complete fieldwork.
The Assurance of Accreditation
The assurance of regional accreditation means that our degrees have been evaluated for their outcomes — including how well they prepare you to meet the needs of your employers, yourself and our global society. College of Saint Mary is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.
The occupational therapy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE'S telephone number, c/o AOTA, is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. In 2010, College of Saint Mary received a 10-year re-accreditation from ACOTE. This accreditation period is only awarded to programs that are in full compliance with all ACOTE standards, and provides national recognition of our program.
Requirements for Admission to College of Saint Mary
When applying to the occupational therapy program, you must first meet the entrance requirements set for College of Saint Mary. Admission to the occupational therapy program requires additional requirements to those of regular college admission.
Transfer or Current College of Saint Mary Student Admission
- Cumulative college GPA of 3.0 with a minimum grade of C required for successful transfer.
- Completion of at least 12 credits of general education courses. Developmental courses cannot be counted towards fulfillment of this 12 hour requirement.
- Math and English: Exemption by ACT scores (19 for Math and 21 for English), transfer of English Composition or Intermediate Algebra or successful completion of both the CSM mathematics and English competency examinations.
- Ability to comply with the CSM OT Program Functional Expectations (found in the OT Student Manual).
NOTE: The OT Department is no longer accepting applications to the MOT program, as of fall 2019. Please see admission policies for the OTD program if you are interested in studying occupational therapy. The OTD program has two pathways for admission the accelerated entry pathway for students with less than three years of college credit and the graduate admissions pathway for students with a bachelor's degree or more than three years of college credit and all pre-requisite coursework.
Academic Description
Use Your Master's Degree to Provide Exceptional Care
Master of Occupational Therapy Degree
NOTE: The OT Department is no longer accepting applications to the MOT program, as of fall 2019. Please see admission policies for the OTD program if you are interested in studying occupational therapy. The OTD program has two pathways for admission the accelerated entry pathway for students with less than three years of college credit and the graduate admissions pathway for students with a bachelor's degree or more than three years of college credit and all pre-requisite coursework.
Board Pass Rates
College of Saint Mary pass rate for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certificate exam in 2019 overall was 100 percent. As of 2014, the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy only posts the overall pass rate of a program regardless of the number of attempts for a student to pass the exam. A felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. Program results from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) can be found online at https://secure.nbcot.org/data/schoolstats.aspx.
Accreditation
The occupational therapy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE'S telephone number, c/o AOTA, is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. In 2010, College of Saint Mary received a 10-year re-accreditation from ACOTE.
Meet the Occupational Therapy Faculty
Accreditation
The Assurance of Accreditation
The assurance of regional accreditation means that our degrees have been evaluated for their outcomes — including how well they prepare you to meet the needs of your employers, yourself and our global society. College of Saint Mary is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.
The occupational therapy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE'S telephone number, c/o AOTA, is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. In 2010, College of Saint Mary received a 10-year re-accreditation from ACOTE. This accreditation period is only awarded to programs that are in full compliance with all ACOTE standards, and provides national recognition of our program.
Admissions Requirements
Requirements for Admission to College of Saint Mary
When applying to the occupational therapy program, you must first meet the entrance requirements set for College of Saint Mary. Admission to the occupational therapy program requires additional requirements to those of regular college admission.
Transfer or Current College of Saint Mary Student Admission
- Cumulative college GPA of 3.0 with a minimum grade of C required for successful transfer.
- Completion of at least 12 credits of general education courses. Developmental courses cannot be counted towards fulfillment of this 12 hour requirement.
- Math and English: Exemption by ACT scores (19 for Math and 21 for English), transfer of English Composition or Intermediate Algebra or successful completion of both the CSM mathematics and English competency examinations.
- Ability to comply with the CSM OT Program Functional Expectations (found in the OT Student Manual).
NOTE: The OT Department is no longer accepting applications to the MOT program, as of fall 2019. Please see admission policies for the OTD program if you are interested in studying occupational therapy. The OTD program has two pathways for admission the accelerated entry pathway for students with less than three years of college credit and the graduate admissions pathway for students with a bachelor's degree or more than three years of college credit and all pre-requisite coursework.
Curriculum
Required Courses in Your Major
Graduate Level Courses:
OTH 540 Community Based Occupational Therapy (3)
This course gives students the opportunity to design and provide services to address unmet needs for individuals, groups, or populations in community settings. Students will explore occupation in the context of community in applying components of program development and grant writing.
Pre-Requisites: OTH 434, 444, 490, 452, and 476
OTH 552 Principles of Neuro-Rehabilitation II (2)
This course is the second in a two semester sequence where students learn traditional and contemporary models of practice and evidence-based interventions used in neuro-rehabilitation. An experiential learning component will be utilized so that students can implement the skills discussed in class.
Pre-Requisites: OTH 590, 540, 568, and 476
OTH 555 Occupational Therapy Management (2)
This course is offered in the graduate year of the occupational therapy curriculum. In this course students implement the skills necessary for an occupational therapist to provide competent managerial services as a health care practitioner in a changing healthcare environment.
Pre-Requisites: OTH 590, 540, 568, and 576
OTH 560 Clinical Reasoning III (3)
This course is the last in the three-part progression preparing students to be critical thinkers. The course is designed to integrate theory and the knowledge of pathologies and intervention strategies with an understanding of the OT process. The focus is on developing the student’s ability to evaluate and synthesize information from complex situations and practice setting involving individuals and populations.
Pre-Requisites: OTH 590, 540, 568 and 576
OTH 561 Occupational Therapy Leadership and Advocacy (2)
This course will explore various theories of leadership for enacting positive change and develop leadership skills for advocacy and client centered practice. Students will explore how sociopolitical factors impact health care policy and occupational therapy. Students will examine personal and professional values as well as positive characteristics of leaders in occupational therapy in articulating their own leadership style.
Pre-Requisites: OTH 590, 540, 568, and 576
OTH 568 Therapeutic Modalities (2)
This course is designed to allow students to apply practice course knowledge through the use of specialized therapeutic modalities in occupational therapy. Students will demonstrate safe and effective application of physical agent modalities as well as explain the evidence behind the use of such modalities in occupational therapy intervention. The second module of this course gives students the opportunity to explore and create recommendations for assistive technology to enhance the quality of life in individuals.
Pre-Requisites: OTH 434, 444, 490, 452, and 476
OTH 576 Level IC Fieldwork (1)
This course is designed to enrich student learning through participation in selective aspects of the occupational therapy process in an occupational therapy practice setting. The Level IC fieldwork experience will emphasize theory driven practice to guide the occupational therapy process.
Pre-Requisites: OTH 434, 444, 490, 452, and 476
OTH 590 Principles of Occupational Therapy Research II (2)
This is the second course in the three-part research progression. Students will develop a research question, search the literature, and compose scholarly works. The Institutional Review Board process will be discussed as part of this course.
Pre-Requisites: OTH 434, 444, 490, 452, and 476
OTH 593 Principles of Occupational Therapy Research III (3)
This final course in the research continuum focuses on scholarly dissemination of research. Students will complete the scholarly project initiated in Principles of Occupational Therapy Research II. The research series will conclude with a scholarly presentation based on occupational therapy research.
Pre-Requisites: OTH 590, 540, 568, and 576
OTH 674 Level IIA Fieldwork (6)
This course is designed to provide students the opportunity to engage in all aspects of the occupational therapy process during a twelve week fieldwork experience in an occupational therapy practice setting. This course promotes the student’s development of competent, entry level practice skills.
Pre-Requisite: Successful completion of all didactic coursework
OTH 675 Level IIB Fieldwork (6)
This course is designed to provide students the opportunity to engage in all aspects of the occupational therapy process during a twelve week fieldwork experience in an occupational therapy practice setting. This course promotes the student’s development of competent, entry level practice skills.
Pre-Requisite: OTH 674
Degree Requirements
Requirements for Graduation from College of Saint Mary
For information about graduate classes, see the college graduate catalog.
Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for occupational therapist, administered by the National Board of Certification of Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, you will be an occupational therapist, registered (OTR). Most states require licensure in order to practice. 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, attain state licensure or complete fieldwork.
