Post-professional Master’s Degree Program: Goals, Course Sequence, Admissions

Coordinator: Ellen McLaughlin, EdD, OTR/L

The post-professional master's of science in occupational therapy is a 30-credit graduate program with two tracks, an interdisciplinary and pediatric concentration. Students in all tracks of the program will complete a total of 30 graduate credits distributed among the following categories: theory and core: 9 credits; research: 9 credits; concentration: 12 credits.

This program is offered in a variety of formats using an adult learning model, including online distance education, weekend or night courses, and workshop formats. The pediatric track includes courses currently being offered in the post-professional pediatric certificate program. This allows students to transfer their graduate credits from the certificate program into the post-professional master's degree program. The interdisciplinary track includes courses from a variety of departments including education, nursing, and organizational management.

Curricular goals of the program include:

1. The student will be able to foster the most effective interventions when working with occupational therapy clientele to promote independence and success in their life roles and activities.
2. The students will advance their knowledge base in specialty areas related to occupational therapy and their practice through the choice of four elective courses within the MS program.
3. The student will be able to synthesize their knowledge base in research and evidence based practice in order to implement best practice in occupational therapy.
4. The student will advance their knowledge base in order to integrate and evaluate occupational therapy theory in clinical practice.
6. Course Sequence

Students may choose 12 credits in pediatrics, geriatric care management or from the interdisciplinary offerings.

Education Offerings:

Nursing Offerings:

Organizational Management Offerings:

Pediatric certificate offerings are listed in the following section.

* May not be used to satisfy both the Core and Research Requirements

Admissions Requirements:

The post-professional master's degree program requires submission of the following information for admissions consideration:

• NBCOT initial certification as an occupational therapist
• College/university transcripts from all prior academic work
• Basic statistics course
• Undergraduate GPA of 2.8 or higher
• Statement of professional goals and how matriculation in the post-professional master's degree program can contribute to those goals
• Two letters of reference

Students taking courses in the pediatric certificate program who wish to move into the post-professional master's degree program should apply by the final semester of their 12 credit certificate, if they have not completed formal application prior to that point.

If students are not enrolled in the pediatric certificate program, and they are interested in pursuing the master's degree, they must formally apply to the post-professional master's degree program after six credits of coursework.

Students in the post-professional master's degree program must take 30 graduate credits to receive the master's of science degree. Credits transferable to this degree must be within the following guidelines:

• all courses transferred in must be formally evaluated by the registrar's office for transferability;
• a maximum of six transfer credits will be accepted towards the 30 required for the master's of science degree.