Academic Catalog 2021-22

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Additional Requirements

Admission and Progression within the Health Science/Pre­Occupational Therapy Major

Health Science/Pre-Occupational Therapy majors must attain a minimum grade of ‘C’ (2.0) in all occupational therapy, prerequisite and corequisite courses. A student who earns less than ‘C’ (2.0) in any required course must repeat the course with a passing grade. Progression in the major may be delayed by course failures.

All students progressing into occupational therapy major must have documented evidence of 60 hours of volunteer or paid work in a human service setting within the last year. A minimum of 40 hours must be supervised by a licensed occupational therapist.

Students are permitted to repeat only one academic OT course and one OT fieldwork course while enrolled in the (BS/MS) Occupational Therapy program. Students must pass the clinical/fieldwork portion of all practice classes in order to pass the class. Additionally, students must achieve an average score of 73% in examinations of specified classes in order to pass the course. A student who fails to score a 73% average or above on the examinations in a course cannot receive a grade higher than a 'C-' (1.7), regardless of grades earned on written work or other course assignments.

  1. Health Science/Pre-Occupational Therapy majors must complete all ten (*) prerequisite courses by the end of the spring semester of their Sophomore year in order to progress into the Junior year of the BS/MS Occupational Therapy program. Some of the OT seminar courses may be waived for transfer students.
  2. Students wishing to take courses or complete volunteer work over the summer before their Junior year must submit a written petition by April 15th, and may be denied entrance to the BS/MS Occupational Therapy program if other eligible candidates have completed all requirements.
  3. Students admitted in Fall 2020 or later must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in all prerequisite courses and a cumulative GPA of 3.25 for all lower division college coursework. Any student who falls below a cumulative 3.25 GPA for one semester prior to their Junior year will be placed on academic probation, any student who falls below for a second semester is ineligible to progress into the BS/MS Occupational Therapy program.
  4. Students who fail (‘C-’ or less) more than one of the ten prerequisite courses are not eligible to progress in the BS/MS Occupational Therapy program. This includes repeating the same course.
  5. Students applying for the Junior year of the BS/MS Occupational Therapy program must complete and submit a Petition to Progress form, with all required documentation, by April 15th. Failure to submit the completed form by the deadline will disqualify students from progressing into the major.
  6. Students may apply to progress into the junior year of the BS/MS OT program ONCE. If denied admission, they will not be reconsidered.
  7. In the event that more eligible students apply for admission to the junior year of the occupational therapy program than space permits, admission will be determined on the basis of CUM GPA.
  8. Current DUC students who wish to declare HS/OT as their major or request a place on the waitlist, must do so by the last day of the early registration period to be given priority over external transfer students applying for program admission.
  9. A waiting list will be maintained as needed in the occupational therapy department of current DUC students wishing to declare occupational therapy as a major. As space becomes available, students will be admitted once per semester from the waitlist on the basis of cumulative grade point average only.
  10. Students will be notified of these policies by the DUC admissions staff by OT department academic advisors, on the Moodle site for the occupational therapy department, by faculty in the OT Seminar classes (OT 1002, OT 1003, OT 1004), by the OT Program Administrator, and the OT Program Director. Copies of this policy and the Petition to Progress form will be given to the student during the academic advising period.
  11. Questions regarding requirements or policies for entrance into the occupational therapy major may be directed to the admissions staff, the OT Program Administrator, or the OT Program Director.
  12. Students who progress to the Junior year must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 at all times while enrolled in the clinical portion of the OT program. Students with a cumulative GPA below 3.0 for one semester will be placed on academic probation. A second semester of a below 3.0 cumulative GPA may result in program dismissal. Students must pass all OT courses with a 'C' or better. Students who receive more than one 'C-' or less in an OT course are subject to dismissal from the OT Program.
  13. The Department of Occupational Therapy requires that students have a clear criminal background check prior to admission to the junior year and throughout the academic program.
  14. Students must meet the following health requirements in the junior year and beyond: continuous health insurance coverage, current health examination, evidence of CPR certification, evidence of immunizations for and/or immunity to Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis (whooping cough): Hepatitis B, Rubella, Rubeola (Measles), and a clear tuberculin  test prior to their first fieldwork placement in the second semester in the OT Clinical program.  All required documents must be submitted and/or updated annually to CastleBranch.com, by September 1st beginning in the junior year.  Failure to meet these requirements may result in ineligibility for some fieldwork experiences and a delay in graduation.

Please contact the OT Department prior to admissions if you are unable to meet the background check or health requirements.

Transfer Requirements for the BS/MS Program in Occupational Therapy

Students may transfer into the Health Science/Pre-Occupational Therapy Major at Sophomore or Junior class levels as space is available.  In the event that there are more transfers than available spaces, admission will be offered on the basis of prerequisite GPA only.

  1. Documented evidence of 60 hours of volunteer or paid work in a human service setting within the last year. A Minimum of 40 hours must be supervised by a licensed occupational therapist. .
  2. The following courses must be completed before the student can enter the Junior year of the BS/MSOT program:
    • Human Anatomy BIO 2500/BIO 2505 or comparable course (4 units with lab, completed within last five years)
    • Human Physiology BIO 2600/BIO 2605 or comparable course (4 units with lab, completed within last five years)
    • Introduction to Psychology PSY 1100 or comparable course (3-4 units)
    • Statistics for the Health & Behavioral Sciences PSY 3187 or comparable course (4 units)
    • Abnormal Psychology PSY 3141 or comparable course (3-4 units)
    • Lifespan Development PSY 3122 or comparable course (3-4 units)
    • EDUC 1000 Mastering College (1 unit), may be waived for transfer student by permission of OT department chair or administrator
    • OT 1002 OT Seminar: Occupation & Others (1 unit), may be waived for transfer student by permission of OT department chair or administrator
    • OT 1003 OT Seminar: Occupation & Community (1 unit), may be waived for transfer student by permission of OT department chair or administrator
    • OT 1004 OT Seminar: Occupation as Therapy (1 unit), may be waived for transfer student by permission of OT department chair or administrator
  3. Courses must be taken at an accredited institution of higher learning, such as a Junior college, or through an accredited online university. The student must receive a grade of 'C' (2.0) or better.
  4. Transfer courses may be taken for upper or lower division credit.
  5. Additional courses may be required to meet general education requirements. All occupational therapy courses must be taken at Dominican University of California. Non-OT courses in support of the major may be completed at another college or university. Students must obtain approval from their faculty advisor before enrolling in a substitute course to ensure transfer of units.
  6. Health and criminal background check clearance:

See the Occupational Therapy Student Handbook for other OT Departmental Policies

Occupational Therapy Course Sequence

  • All occupational therapy courses require admission to the major or permission from the Chair.
  • All practice courses are sequential, and must be taken in order. Exceptions require permission from the academic advisor, the instructor, and the OT Department Chair.