Master of Science in Occupational Therapy

CIP Code

51.2306

Program Description

The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) is for candidates with an earned bachelor’s degree in a field other than occupational therapy. The program prepares graduates for entry-level practice and to serve as dynamic leaders, responsive to the needs of the human and professional communities. Graduates will draw from diverse perspectives to collaboratively solve ethical and clinical problems and engage in occupation-based, client and family-centered practice and scholarship that is guided by the principles of occupation, compassionate service, occupational and social justice, and the profession’s core values and ethics. The full time, two-year program consists of four academic trimesters plus two trimesters (24 FTE weeks) of supervised clinical fieldwork post the baccalaureate degree. Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible to sit for the national certification exam for occupational therapy administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) and are prepared for entry-level clinical practice.

Program Accreditation

Sacred Heart University’s Graduate Occupational Therapy Program leading to the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) is fully accredited through 2026/2027 under “The Standards for an Accredited Educational Therapy Program for the Occupational Therapist - 2018” by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethseda, MD 20852-4929. Telephone: 301-625-AOTA.

The program is responsible for complying with all ACOTE accreditation standards and policies and interacting with ACOTE with integrity and honesty. The program will inform ACOTE of all major changes in curriculum, site locations, online/onsite formats, and the program director in a timely manner. The program will honestly and accurately represent the program and its ACOTE accreditation status in all its publications and web page available to the public.

More Information about Accreditation:
Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy (ACOTE)
6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200,
North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929.
Tel: (301) 652-AOTA
Web address: www.acoteonline.org

Note about ACOTE's New Mandate
On April 4, 2019, AOTA’s Representative Assembly determined that occupational therapists may enter the profession at the master’s OR doctoral level. Sacred Heart University’s Graduate Occupational Therapy students will be eligible to sit for the NBCOT certification exam and obtain state licensure and will not be required to obtain a doctoral degree to practice.

NBCOT Exam

Students must complete all fieldwork requirements within 24 months of completion of the didactic portion of the program. Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist 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). All 50 states and three jurisdictions of Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, and Guam, require licensure in order to practice; however, most initial state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT certification examination.

Please note that a felony conviction might affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT exam and/or attain state licensure.

Disclosure, Certification, Licensure

State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements

Sacred Heart University has been approved by Connecticut to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of post-secondary distance education.

For information regarding professional licensure by state, visit Disclosures and Student Complaints in this catalog

Program Mission

The Occupational Therapy Program at Sacred Heart University is rooted in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition. We fulfill the University’s Mission by preparing compassionate, authentic occupational therapy professionals, who are leaders making a difference in local and global communities and promoting a just society through service and practice. We educate students to demonstrate integrity, maximize their own and others’ health, well-being, and quality of life, be intellectually open-minded, and search for truth through inquiry and scholarship.

Program Goals & Objectives

The program aims to develop occupational therapy practitioners who use critical and contextual thinking to meet the occupational needs of individuals, groups, and populations, across a variety of practice settings, systems, and contexts.

Graduates will be able to:

Demonstrate the knowledge and skills required of an entry level occupational therapist, including critical thinking and clinical reasoning
Engage in continual learning and evidence-based practice with intellectual open-mindedness
Apply ethical reasoning aligned with the AOTA and the program’s values to make decisions and practice professionally
Exhibit team collaboration skills, inter-professional practices, and culturally competent communication
Promote justice through compassionate service to the local and global communities
Demonstrate leadership through scholarship and professional service

What Makes Our Program Unique?

With a growing need for occupational therapists nationwide, and increasing public interest in the profession, our program has made a commitment to personal attention and forging learning partnerships between faculty and students. This allows our faculty and students to get to know each other, create a learning community to engage in collaborative scholarship, and support continual learning for members of our occupational therapy community.

Our program is recognized for the following:

Strong and compassionate relationships between faculty and students, forged through collaborative engagement in scholarship, professional activities and events, and advising
Ongoing connections with our graduates who contribute to the education of our current students
Mission-driven curriculum, with passion for social and occupational justice
Modern, high–tech facilities, and abundant state-of-the-art space and equipment
Relationships with local and global community partners
Expert faculty in every practice area
Innovative pedagogies, and high impact practices
Curricular flexibility and continuous improvement based on student feedback
Focus on the personal and profession development and growth, and mental health of our students and our clients
Multiple opportunities for onsite interprofessional education

Admission Requirements

Students apply to the dual degree program as an incoming freshmen, or as an external candidate with an earned bachelor's degree in a field other than occupational therapy.

Internal students applying for the Bachelor's-MSOT dual degree program progress on a defined pathway of study to move seamlessly from their undergraduate degree to a graduate degree. Dual degree students are guaranteed a place in the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy provided they successfully progress as undergraduate students and meet the program-specific criteria to enroll in the graduate program. Dual degree students, therefore, have a space reserved for them in the graduate program beginning in their first year, with clear criteria and achievements required to progress into the graduate program.

All students entering the program must have completed their undergraduate degree in a discipline of their choice. Sacred Heart University undergraduates interested in completing their undergraduate study in three years may consider the 3 + 2 plan of study, if they major in Health Science, Sociology, Psychology, or Exercise Science, providing that they complete all required prerequisites and meet all enrollment criteria by the end of the summer prior to enrollment. Refer to the respective Sacred Heart University program websites for the 3 + 2 plan of study. Students must have earned a bachelor’s degree and completed all prerequisite courses from a university accredited by a United States Department of Education recognized regional accrediting authority. All prerequisites must be successfully completed by the summer semester prior to fall enrollment. Students educated outside the U.S. will need to have their transcripts evaluated by World Education Services (www.wes.org) for equivalency and must meet University established scores for the TOEFL exam. Provisional acceptance may be offered to students requiring the spring and/or summer prior to enrollment to complete the baccalaureate degree or prerequisite requirements.

All applicants applying for fall 2024 entry are required to successfully complete the bachelor’s degree and prerequisite requirements, maintain a 3.0 cumulative and 3.0 prerequisite GPA with no individual prerequisite grade below a C. There is a 3.0 prerequisite science GPA (Biology with lab; Human Anatomy & Physiology I with lab; and, Human Anatomy & Physiology II with lab). Students may retake a maximum of two prerequisite courses for grade replacement. The baccalaureate degree and all prerequisite courses must be successfully completed prior to enrollment. Eligible early and regular decision applicants must complete an interview with a problem-based learning experience upon invitation as an admission requirement. Students admitted directly into the program as freshmen are not required to interview.

Only official transcript grades submitted by the application deadline can be considered in determining whether or not a student maintains his or her admission status, seat in the program, and eligibility for enrollment. The program cannot hold seats beyond the application deadline to allow for students to take or re-take any of the above listed prerequisite courses. Students who have additional outstanding prerequisites may be considered provisional pending successful completion of all prerequisite courses.

All of the following prerequisite courses must be completed, with grades entered with the University Registrar, by the application deadline published by the Office of Graduate Admissions to determine admission status and eligibility for enrollment in the program: 2 out of the 3 prerequisite sciences (Biology with lab, Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab, Human Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab), Psychology and Statistics.

Prerequisite Courses

Biology I with Lab (4 credits)
Human Anatomy & Physiology I with Lab (4 credits)**
Human Anatomy & Physiology II with Lab (4 credits)**
Statistics– 3 credits (analysis of quantitative data including descriptive, inferential probability, confidence intervals, correlation and hypothesis testing)**
Psychology (3 credits)
Abnormal Psychology or Psychopathology (3 credits)
Life Span Development (content must cover birth to death) (3 to 9 credits)
Sociology, or, Anthropology, or Social Psychology (3 credits)

**Must have been completed within the past 5 years.

Degree Requirements

The program is full time consisting of four academic trimesters followed by two trimesters of two different, 12-week experiences of full-time supervised clinical fieldwork. Coursework during the academic trimesters is completed with classes scheduled during the day and evening. The supervised level II clinical fieldwork is completed as two separate, 12-week, full time experiences with hours determined by the clinical site. Level I fieldwork is integrated into the course schedule during the second, third, and fourth academic trimesters. The curriculum sequence is completed in two calendar years including summers. Successful completion of all coursework, level I and II fieldwork, a completed portfolio, and the capstone project with professional poster presentation and defense are required for graduation. Level II fieldwork experiences must be successfully completed within 24 months of completion of coursework.

Note: A criminal background or felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination and/or attain state licensure. All graduate programs in occupational therapy require the successful completion of level I and level II supervised clinical fieldwork. The majority of clinical fieldwork sites require students to complete a criminal background check, fingerprinting, and/or drug testing prior to clinical education placements. Additionally, states may restrict or prohibit those with criminal backgrounds from obtaining a professional license, and NBCOT may deem persons with criminal backgrounds as ineligible to sit for the NBCOT certification examination. Therefore, students with criminal backgrounds may not be able to obtain the required clinical education experience(s), thus failing to meet the Occupational Therapy program’s academic requirements. It is therefore the program’s policy that all admitted students planning to enroll must consent, submit to, and satisfactorily complete a criminal background check (CBC) within six (6) weeks of registration for courses as a condition of matriculation. Matriculation will not be final until the completion of the criminal background check with results deemed acceptable to the program director or academic fieldwork coordinator. All expenses associated with the CBC, fingerprinting, and/or drug screening are the responsibility of the applicant. Applicants who do not consent to the required background check, refuse to provide information necessary to conduct the background check, or provide false or misleading information in regard to the background check may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including refusal of matriculation or dismissal from the program.

Some fieldwork placements may require an additional background check, fingerprinting, and/or drug screening prior to beginning the fieldwork experience, which must be completed at the student’s expense. The University and or the Occupational Therapy program will have no obligation to refund tuition or otherwise accommodate students in the event that a criminal background check or drug screening renders the student ineligible to complete required courses or fieldwork. Please see the Occupational Therapy program’s Student Manual for complete information on criminal background checks and policy regarding adverse information in a CBC report. Students who are twice denied a fieldwork placement based on the results of a background check, fingerprinting, and/or drug screenings will be considered ineligible for placement and unable to complete the program and, therefore, will be dismissed from the program.

Additional admission criteria include:

A baccalaureate degree with a 3.0 or better cumulative GPA and official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
A 3.0 or better prerequisite course GPA with no individual prerequisite course grade below a C. Only two prerequisites may be re-taken for grade replacement. Required prerequisite courses are: biology with laboratory*, human anatomy and physiology I with laboratory*, human anatomy and physiology II*, a lifespan development course with content covering the entire lifespan, psychology, abnormal psychology, sociology or anthropology, and statistics* (*must be taken within past five years)
3.0 prerequisite science GPA: Biology with lab; Human Anatomy & Physiology I with lab; and, Human Anatomy & Physiology II with lab.
Writing samples completed online with the application.

Two letters of recommendation.
Relevant volunteer, observation, and/or work experience in the healthcare field with specific knowledge of occupational therapy is recommended.
All applicants, except students admitted directly into the program as freshman, must successfully complete an interview experience, which may include a group problem-based learning experience with the Occupational Therapy Admissions Committee upon invitation.

All applicants including those admitted as freshman must maintain all GPA and admission requirements as a condition for enrollment.

Students are required to have a laptop computer inclusive of professional-level Microsoft Office Suite, high-speed Internet access, a printer, and proficiency in word processing and e-mail at the time of enrollment and throughout the program.

Required Application Materials

Sacred Heart University students apply online at www.sacredheart.edu or through the Office of Graduate Admissions’ webpage. External students complete the national occupational therapy common application (OTCAS) online at www.OTCAS.org. Please refer to the Office of Graduate Admissions’ website for details on the Sacred Heart University and OTCAS application processes.

Applications must include the following materials:

Completed application
- Freshman Admission and Sacred Heart University internal students applying competitively complete the online application (fee waived) through the Office of Graduate Admissions.
- External students complete the online application through OTCAS.
Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
Interview upon invitation. In lieu of interview, students admitted as freshman will participate in mandatory advisement and orientation meetings as undergraduates.
Writing samples may be required (depending on COVID-19).
Observation of occupational therapists in practice is highly recommended. Documented hours are not required.

Application Deadlines for Fall Enrollment

Incoming freshman students applying for the Bachelor's-MSOT dual degree program progress on a defined pathway of study to move seamlessly from their undergraduate degree to a graduate degree. Refer to Sacred Heart University's undergraduate Catalog for freshman admission requirements to the BS-MSOT Dual Degree Program.

Internal Sacred Heart University students admitted as freshman must complete the Sacred Heart University online application by June 30 following the junior year for 4 + 2 students or following the sophomore year for 3 + 2 students. Application materials are used to verify the student’s continued eligibility for enrollment in the Occupational Therapy program. The application fee is waived for Sacred Heart University students.

Internal Sacred Heart University students not admitted as freshman may apply competitively submitting a completed application to the Office of Graduate Admissions by the June 30th deadline following the junior year for 4 + 2 students or following the sophomore year for 3 + 2 students. The application fee is waived for Sacred Heart University students.

Applicants external to Sacred Heart University may apply through a rolling admissions process. The deadline for all applications will be October 15th , however, applications will be accepted until the class is filled. OTCAS will open July 2023 for the Fall 2024 application cycle..

Please allow a minimum of two to three months for OTCAS to verify your application. Sacred Heart University does not receive applications from the OTCAS system until the application has been completed and verified by OTCAS. OTCAS and Sacred Heart University reviews completed applications only.

Freshman Admissions for Qualified Freshmen Entering Sacred Heart University

Refer to Sacred Heart University’s Undergraduate Catalog for freshman admission requirements to the BS-MSOT Dual Degree program.

Sacred Heart University freshmen who were admitted into the Graduate Occupational Therapy program as freshman must meet ALL of the program’s admission standards as a condition for keeping their seat and enrolling in the Graduate Occupational Therapy program. Students admitted into the program as freshman who do not meet ALL of the criteria at the time of application will forfeit their seat and admission status to the Occupational Therapy program and will be ineligible for continued enrollment into the Graduate Occupational Therapy program.

Sacred Heart University students who were not admitted into the Graduate Occupational Therapy program as freshman may apply competitively to the program.
All applicants must meet ALL of the program’s admission standards at the time of application.

Regular Application

The application deadline for all is October 15th (or the date published by Graduate Admissions) for the incoming fall class. All applicants must have successfully completed prerequisite courses in biology with laboratory, human anatomy and physiology I and II with laboratories, psychology, and statistics, with final course grades entered with the University’s Registrar, meet GRE requirements (for fall 2024 program entry and beyond), and complete an interview with the Occupational Therapy Admissions Committee upon invitation.

Refer to “Admissions Requirements” above.

Transfer of Credits

Students interested in transferring into the Graduate Occupational Therapy program from another occupational therapy program may do so at the discretion of the program director and faculty admissions committee, depending on the student’s qualifications, reason for transfer, and available seats. Transfer students must adhere to Sacred Heart University’s course grade requirements for transferring into graduate programs (See “Transfer Credits and Residency Requirements” in the Graduate Admissions section of Sacred Heart University’s Graduate Catalog). Only courses taken within the past six years at the graduate level from a USDE recognized regionally accredited college or university with a minimum grade of B are eligible for transfer credit. Students interested in transferring into the Graduate Occupational Therapy program must meet all admission criteria and complete an application with the Office of Graduate Admissions.

The Occupational Therapy curriculum reflects its philosophy, problem-based learning pedagogy, vision, mission, and objectives to prepare reflective practitioners. Transfer students, therefore, are required to take all courses rooted in these philosophies and problem-based learning pedagogy regardless of the number of credits that may qualify for transfer. These courses include: OT 504 Therapeutic Use of Self; OT 525 Health & Wellness: Personal Journey; OT 526 Topics in Mental Health; OT 527 Problem-Based Learning in Mental Health; OT 528 Clinical Lab in Mental Health; OT 529 Level I FW & Seminar: Mental Health; OT 542 Health, Prevention, & Well-Being; OT 578 Capstone I: Planning, Permissions, & Approvals; OT 545 Topics in Pediatrics & Adolescence; OT 547 Clinical Lab: Pediatrics & Adolescence; OT 548 Level I FW & Seminar: Pediatrics & Adolescence; OT 549 Problem-Based Learning: Pediatrics & Adolescence; OT 574 Topics in Adults & Geriatrics; OT 575 PBL in Adults & Geriatrics; OT 576 Clinical Lab: Adult & Geriatrics; OT 577 Level I Fieldwork & Seminar; OT 608 Capstone II: Implementation; OT 609 Portfolio; OT 691 Level II Fieldwork; and OT 693 Level II Fieldwork.

Required Courses

Fall Semester, PY1

OT 501	Introduction to Occupational Therapy as a Profession	3
OT 504	Therapeutic Use of Self I	2
OT 523	Applied Functional Anatomy & Neuroanatomy	4
OT 524	Physical & Mental Health Conditions Across the Lifespan	3
OT 525	Health & Wellness: Personal Journey	0.5
OT 546	Human Occupation & Activity Analysis	3

Spring Semester, PY1

OT 503	Research I: Introduction to Research	2
OT 526	Topics in Mental Health	2
OT 527	Problem-Based Learning in Mental Health	3
OT 528	Clinical Lab in Mental Health	5
OT 529	Level I FW & Seminar: Mental Health	0.5
OT 530	Groups	2
OT 505	Health Policy & Law	2
OT 543	Needs Assessment & Program Development	3

Summer-Semester-PY1

OT 547	Clinical Lab: Pediatrics & Adolescence	5
OT 575	PBL in Adults & Geriatrics	3
OT 576	Clinical Lab: Adults & Geriatrics	5
OT 529	Level I FW & Seminar: Mental Health	0.5
OT 531	Research II: Single-Subject Design	2
OT 542	Health, Prevention, & Well-Being	2
OT 578	Capstone I: Planning, Permissions, & Approvals	1.5

Fall Semester, PY2

OT 545	Topics in Pediatrics & Adolescence	2
OT 547	Clinical Lab: Pediatrics & Adolescence	5
OT 548	Level I FW & Seminar: Pediatrics & Adolescence	1
OT 549	Problem-Based Learning: Pediatrics & Adolescence	5
OT 607	Leadership & Management	3
OT 608	Capstone II: Implementation	1.5

OT 608: Note: The capstone project, professional poster presentation and defense, and completed portfolio are graduation requirements. Special mandatory presentations and events are scheduled between the two level II fieldwork experiences and prior to the May graduation ceremony. All level I and II fieldwork requirements must be completed within 24 months of completed coursework.

Spring Semester, PY2

OT 609	Portfolio	1
OT 691	Level II Fieldwork	4

OT 609: Note: The capstone project, professional poster presentation and defense, and completed portfolio are graduation requirements. Special mandatory presentations and events are scheduled between the two level II fieldwork experiences and prior to the May graduation ceremony. All level I and II fieldwork requirements must be completed within 24 months of completed coursework.

Summer Semester, PY2

OT 693

Level II Fieldwork