Master of Science in Occupational Therapy

Offered in Hickory

All OT courses and fieldwork Level II experiences must be completed prior to graduation. Verification by the school chair and registrar is required to take the national certification examination.

Accreditation

The Occupational Therapy Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE c/o AOTA, 4720 Montgomery Lane, Suite 200 Bethesda, MD 20814-3449, telephone (301) 652-2682, Web site: www.acoteonline.org) The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) is located at One Bank Street Suite 300 Gaithersburg, MD 20878; (301) 990-7979; www.nbcot.org. A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

Lenoir-Rhyne University’s School of Occupational Therapy was reaccredited by ACOTE on November 30, 2018 for a period of seven years for academic year 2018-2019 to 2025/2026.

Missions Statement

The School of Occupational Therapy, in concert with the mission of Lenoir-Rhyne University, seeks to develop skilled and caring students who respond adaptively to situations, meticulously investigate their world and knowledge base, and provide ethical and unbiased services. The School serves as a resource for OT practitioners and advocates for the value of occupation to the community.

Curriculum Structure

The Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy includes a curriculum sequence of 3 summers and 2 academic years (27 months). The total credit hours for the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program consists of 12 foundational course credit hours (first summer term) and 58 additional graduate course credit hours.

Admission Requirements

Candidates for admission to the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (OT) program must meet the following minimal requirements to be considered for admission. Admission to the OT program is competitive so meeting minimum criteria may not ensure admission.

Minimal requirements include:

1. Submit an application and all application requirements through the Centralized Application Service for Occupational Therapy (OTCAS);
2. Have earned or will have earned prior to matriculation an undergraduate degree with a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale;
3. Complete all prerequisite coursework in the last five years with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale;
4. Complete all prerequisite courses (see below) with a grade of B- or better and provide documentation of approved coursework through the Prerequisite Inquiry Form;
5. Submit official transcripts from all colleges attended;
6. Submit a written personal statement of 500-750 words, as specified in the application;
7. Submit a resume describing education, work and volunteer experience;
8. Submit three letters of professional recommendation:
   1. One letter of reference must come from a registered occupational therapist (OTR);
   2. One letter of reference must come from an additional OTR or an occupational therapy assistant (COTA);
   3. One letter of reference must come from an employer/supervisor or professor.
9. All students requesting recommendations for the application process need to have references to indicate their title/position and specifically the number of hours of observation. Students are encouraged to independently log their own hours in order to make this information readily available for the individual writing the letter of reference.
10. Answer other specific questions as noted in OTCAS;
11. Participate in an interview: Applicants must be verified through OTCAS before they are eligible for their interview. After verification, student will be notified of possible interview dates/times that will take place via Zoom. No interviews will be conducted in person.
12. Upon admission, complete a criminal background check to the program;Notification if the applicant has been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor as this may affect eligibility to take certification examination or attain state licensure.
13. Students must have certain essential skills to meet the minimal technical standards necessary to perform successfully as a student in the classroom, laboratory and clinical/fieldwork environments.
14. Our Blended Learning Approach requires learners to use an active rather than a passive approach that involves face-to-face and online learning activities to increase interaction and involvement in the student learning and build dynamic partnerships between the instructors and the students to improve learning retention, course content application, an understanding of different viewpoints and interpretations and application of content.

Prerequisite Requirements

Master’s degree applicants must present evidence of completion of all prerequisite courses and undergraduate degree before the start of the program. Prerequisite completion must be within 5 years of the application date. The areas of competency are covered in the following courses or their equivalents completed within the last five years: Anatomy and Physiology I and II with labs, Statistics, Abnormal Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Cultural Diversity, Ethics, and Medical Terminology.