Master of Science in Occupational Therapy

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 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. 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.

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, engage in collaborative scholarship, and support continual learning for members of our occupational therapy community.

The faculty of Sacred Heart University’s Occupational Therapy program believes that learning emerges from interactions between students, faculty, and clients and engagement in learning pedagogies that reflect practice. With these beliefs in mind, our program is structured to encourage and nurture active engagement, collaboration, and interactions among peers and with faculty. The program uses a wide variety of teaching/learning methods to accommodate the diverse learning styles of students including seminars, laboratories, community-based projects, field visits, clinical fieldwork, small-group and individual work, lectures, and problem-based learning. The primary pedagogical method for our program is problem-based learning (PBL) in which small groups of students and a faculty facilitator work through a case to foster clinical reasoning and clinical decision-making. Problem-based learning facilitates learning of educational content while simultaneously creating a forum for engaging in interactions and clinical decision-making typical of team-based healthcare. Group interactions also support the development of professional behaviors critical to practice.

Our department’s mission, vision, philosophy, and curriculum design reflects the values of the University as a whole as well as the educational philosophy of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA, 2014). The acronym PRIDE, adopted by our program, reveals our commitment to excellence in ourselves, our program, and our students. The PRIDE aspirational goals stand for Principled, Responsive, Interprofessional, Dynamic, and Excellent:

The Curriculum's PRIDE Objectives

Practice in a safe, legal, and ethical manner.
Respond to unmet needs in undeserved communities through leadership, advocacy, or service.
Interact collaboratively and communicate effectively with individuals, populations, and interprofessional teams.
Demonstrate readiness, habits, and skills for self-directed, life-long learning and self reflection.
Exhibit critical thinking, clinical reasoning, use of evidence, and competence in skills requisite for entry-level, holistic application of the occupational therapy process.
Engage in professional activities and demonstrate professional behaviors.

Principled

We expect and ensure ethical behavior.
We make decisions with integrity.
We are respectful of others.

Responsive

We are caring, attentive, and present in interactions with others.
We value and engage in service to meet needs.
We identify learning needs and share our knowledge and expertise.

Interprofessional

We interact collaboratively, share knowledge with and engage with interprofessional teams including professionals, students, clients, and caregivers.
We communicate respectfully with interprofessional teams to develop a constructive team climate.
We address differences in a way that strengthens team effectiveness.
We understand our own and other's roles and responsibilities and are able to appropriately share leadership based on that understanding.

Dynamic

We are actively engaged in learning and teaching.
We accept and support change.
We take initiative.
We seek and consider diversity of opinion.
We gather and use feedback to promote growth and change in ourselves and others.

Excellent

We excel in our areas of practice.
We seek to exceed standards of competence.
We engage in evidence-based practice and life-long learning.
We support and encourage curiosity.
We are globally focused.
We are committed to our professional organizations.

Our curriculum design is portrayed as the tree of life and reflects our beliefs about the complexity and interactive nature of human learning outlined in our mission and philosophy. The tree depicts learning as recursive, with new learning built on a foundation of previous knowledge and experience, thus becoming a new foundation for new learning in a continual process. The tree's roots are the foundational knowledge upon which learning is built. Courses are organized into three branch themes; occupational therapy assessment and intervention preparing students with the knowledge and skills they need to become exemplary practitioners; therapeutic and professional relationship branch theme courses develop in students self-reflection and professional relationships, and evidence-based practice and professional identity branch theme courses facilitate creative and efficacious practice, participation in the profession's scholarship, and engagement with the profession. The trunk symbolizes the teaching and learning processes that support and scaffolds knowledge and critical thinking. The tree's leaves symbolize the skills, abilities, professional behaviors, and PRIDE outcomes of the graduates from our program. The tree’s branches circle back to its roots, demonstrating the continual process of learning of new information with the foundational roots as an occupational therapist growing throughout a lifetime of 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 2023/2024 under “The Standards for an Accredited Educational Therapy Program for the Occupational Therapist - 2011” 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, telephone c/o AOTA (301)-652-AOTA (2682).

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)
American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
4720 Montgomery Lane, Suite 200
Bethesda, MD 20814-3449
Tel: 301-652-AOTA (2682)
http://www.acoteonline.org
http://www.aota.org

Students must complete all fieldwork requirements within 24 month 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). Most states, including Connecticut, 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.

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 is a voluntary, regional approach to state oversight of post-secondary distance education.

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

Admissions Requirements

For those applying for fall 2018 entry: Students entering the program must have completed their undergraduate degree in a discipline of their choice; however, the Bachelor of Science in Health Science major (BSHS) offers students a solid foundation in aspects of healthcare. Sacred Heart University undergraduates interested in completing their undergraduate study in three years may do so only in the Health Science major (BSHS). Refer to the Health Sciences website for the 3 + 2 pre-occupational therapy 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 2018 entry are required to successfully complete the bachelor’s degree and prerequisite requirements, maintain a 3.0 cumulative and 3.2 prerequisite GPA with no individual prerequisite grade below a C. The baccalaureate degree and all prerequisite courses must be successfully completed prior to enrollment. Eligible early and regular decision applicants must complete an onsite 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.

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: biology with laboratory, human anatomy and physiology I with laboratory, human anatomy and physiology II, psychology, and statistics.

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 retake any of the above-listed prerequisite courses. Students who have additional outstanding prerequisites may be considered provisional pending successful completion of all prerequisite courses. Admission criteria include:

A baccalaureate degree with a 3.0 or better cumulative GPA and official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
3.2 or better prerequisite course GPA with no individual prerequisite course grade below a C. 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, statistics *, and sociology or anthropology (*must be taken within past five years).
Essay/writing sample 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 onsite interview including the group problem-based learning experience with the Occupational Therapy Admissions Committee upon invitation.

Students accepted as freshman and those accepted provisionally 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, proficiency in word processing, and e-mail at the time of enrollment and throughout the program.

For those applying for fall 2019 program entry and beyond: Students entering the program must have completed their undergraduate degree in a discipline of their choice; however, the Bachelor of Science in Health Science (BSHS) offers students a solid foundation in aspects of healthcare. Sacred Heart University undergraduates interested in completing their undergraduate study in three years may do so only if they major in Health Science (BSHS), providing that they complete all required prerequisites and meet all enrollment criteria by the end of the summer prior to enrollment. Refer to the Health Sciences website 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 are required to successfully complete the bachelor’s degree and all required prerequisites and maintain a 3.2 cumulative and 3.2 prerequisite GPA with no individual prerequisite grade below a C. Only one prerequisite course may be repeated only one time. The baccalaureate degree and all prerequisite courses must be successfully completed prior to enrollment. All applicants, internal and external to Sacred Heart University, including students directly admitted as freshman, must submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. GRE Analytical Writing scores of 3.5 or above are required, and combined Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning scores of 300 or above are desired. Eligible early- and regular decision applicants must complete an onsite interview with a problem-based learning experience upon invitation as an admission requirement. Students admitted directly into the program as freshman 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. Additional admission criteria include:

A baccalaureate degree with a 3.2 or better cumulative GPA and official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
A 3.2 or better prerequisite course GPA with no individual prerequisite course grade below a C. Only one prerequisite may be re-taken one time. 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).
GRE scores with Analytical Writing scores of 3.5 or better are required and combined Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning scores of 300 or better are desired. Sacred Heart University students admitted as freshman and those applying for the June 30th application deadline, must submit GRE scores by August 30th following the June 30th application deadline. Early and Regular decision applicants must submit GRE scores with their application.
Essay/writing sample 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 onsite interview including the 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.

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:

A graduate admissions application form and supplemental prerequisite sheet;
A nonrefundable application fee (waived for Sacred Heart University students);
Official transcripts from all previous college or university studies;
GRE scores (for fall 2019 entry and beyond);
Two letters of recommendation (one from an academic source and one from an employer or volunteer supervisor)
Relevant volunteer, observation, and/or work experience in the healthcare field with specific knowledge of occupational therapy is recommended.

Application Deadlines for Fall Enrollment

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 Early Decision by the October 31 application deadline, or Regular Decision by the December 15 application deadline. Highly qualified applicants who meet or exceed the admission criteria are encouraged to apply Early Decision.

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.

Freshmen Admission for Qualified Freshmen Entering Sacred Heart University

Refer to Sacred Heart University’s Undergraduate Catalog for freshman admission requirements.

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.

Early Decision

Early decision is for highly qualified applicants who have completed prerequisite courses in biology with laboratory, human anatomy and physiology I and II with laboratories, psychology, and statistics, with grades entered with the University Registrar, and who meet or exceed the program’s admission requirements. Sacred Heart University and external students who have not completed these requirements should apply for regular decision.

Applicants who meet the early decision criteria will have the option of early acceptance into the Occupational Therapy program contingent upon maintenance of all admission GPA requirements, a 3.0 cumulative (3.2 cumulative GPA required for fall 2019 program entry and beyond) and 3.2 prerequisite GPA throughout their University tenure, successful completion of the baccalaureate degree and all program prerequisites, GRE requirements (for fall 2019 program entry and beyond), and a successful interview with the Occupational Therapy Admissions Committee upon invitation.

Regular Application

For students who do not wish to apply for early-decision admission or who do not meet the criteria, the application deadline is December 15 (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 2019 program entry and beyond), and complete a successful 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, PRIDE 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.

Prerequisite Courses

Biology I with Lab (4 credits)*
Human Anatomy & Physiology I with Lab (4 credits)*
Human Anatomy & Physiology II with Lab (4 credits)*
Psychology (3 credits)
Abnormal Psychology (3 credits)
Lifespan Development or Developmental Psychology (3–9 credits) (content must include the study of the entire lifespan, from birth to old age)
Sociology, Anthropology, Social Psychology, or Diversity/Multicultural Studies (3 credits)
Statistics, or Psychological Statistics, or Social Statistics, or Biostatistics (content must include descriptive statistics, probability, confidence intervals, correlation, and hypothesis testing) (3 credits)*

Only prerequisite course grades of C or better meet prerequisite requirements. Only one prerequisite course may be repeated only one time.

*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.

Required Courses

Fall Semester, PY1

OT 501	Introduction to Occupational Therapy as a Profession	3
OT 504	Therapeutic Use of Self I	2
OT 505	Health Policy & Law	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 543	Needs Assessment & Program Development	3

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