Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy (MAOT)

Occupational therapy practitioners are credentialed professionals who work with individuals and organizations, using occupation in all its forms to help them develop to their fullest potential. Occupations are skills for the job of living, including work/education, self-care and play/leisure. Occupational therapy practitioners work with people of all ages and ability levels in a variety of medical, educational and community settings, providing individual, instructional or consultative services. For more information on the profession, visit the American Occupational Therapy Association website at www.aota.org.

The Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy (MAOT) program provides excellent entry-level education in occupational therapy based on an occupational science and liberal arts foundation. The MAOT program prepares students to lead and influence occupational therapy practice in existing and emerging professional areas.

St. Catherine’s Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy Program:

• is highly rated among occupational therapy graduate programs by U.S. News and World Report.
• is available in a traditional weekday format as well as a unique weekend format.
• provides cutting-edge, progressive curriculum.
• is taught by outstanding faculty recognized locally and nationally for their contributions to the profession in teaching, research, publication, innovative practice ideas and leadership.

CURRICULUM

The MAOT program prepares students for dynamic careers as occupational therapists in a range of settings with individuals of all ages. The curriculum is offered in two formats: a weekday format or an alternate weekend format (Friday afternoon and evening; Saturday morning and afternoon and Sunday mornings in the fall semesters). The weekend format includes a range of online learning opportunities.

The program in both formats provides learning experiences to enable students to meet the following goals:

• demonstrate skills to lead and influence occupational therapy practice, as well as the skills to collaborate with and follow the lead of others
• demonstrate ethical decision making grounded in principles of social justice
• develop skills to work effectively in cross cultural settings with diverse clientele
• demonstrate critical analysis and reasoning skills using factual, creative, logical, scientific and value sensitive modes of thought applied to occupational science and occupational therapy addressing current practice, evolving practice and research
• have proficiency in written and oral communication skills
• apply theoretical basis for professional practice by integrating theories, frames of reference and core concepts
• critique the health-pathology continuum and its relationship to participation in human occupation
• provide appropriate client-centered evaluation, intervention and discontinuation of services
• use a variety of service delivery models in ever-changing practice arenas
• understand human occupation including its form, function and meaning across the lifespan, for individuals, groups and societies
• have a philosophy and practice of lifelong learning

The philosophy of the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy and the Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy Program regarding human beings and how they learn is consistent with the philosophical base of the occupational therapy profession. The department's philosophy is published in the MAOT Student Handbook.

ACCREDITATION

The graduate program for occupational therapy at St. Catherine is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association. They may be contacted at 4720 Montgomery Lane, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220; phone (301) 652-2682.

CERTIFICATION

The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) conducts a national certification program. To be certified as a registered occupational therapist (OTR), a person must be a graduate of an accredited program and pass a national certification examination, which is administered by the NBCOT. Completion of all academic, thesis/project and fieldwork requirements is necessary to be eligibile for the examination. When graduates apply to take the certification examination with NBCOT, they will be asked questions related to the topic of felony convictions. A felony conviction may have a potential impact on a graduate's eligibility for certification and credentialing. NBCOT may be contacted at 800 South Frederick Avenue, Suite 200, Gaithersburg, MD 20877-4150; phone (301) 990-7979. The NBCOT website is www.NBCOT.org.

In addition, most states have licensure/registration for occupational therapy. In these states, it is mandatory to have a current occupational therapy license/registration to practice. Almost all states use the national certification examination as part of the qualifications for a license/registration.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Academic Course Work
You must complete 59 graduate credits in occupational therapy courses and a minimum of 12 additional fieldwork credits (total of 71 credits minimum). You will usually take 8–16 credits per term and must be prepared to do additional work outside of class time. The number of credits per term will vary for the day and weekend formats.

Fieldwork 
Fieldwork provides opportunities for you to experience working with a range of ages, conditions and in a wide variety of settings. You complete two types of fieldwork. Level I Fieldwork (4 total credits) is attached to four Seminar courses spread across the first two years of the program. Level II Fieldwork (12 credits) occurs following the majority of academic course work. It involves six months of full-time clinical experiences in the field. You may elect to take an additional (4 or 6 credit) Level II (Specialty) Fieldwork experience in a specialty area of interest.

YEARS TO COMPLETE THE PROGRAM

The MAOT program takes approximately 2.5 years (day format) and three years (weekend format) to complete, but must be completed within five years.

TRANSFER CREDITS

Requests for transfer of credit are considered on an individual basis and only graduate courses will be eligible. You must request a review of previous coursework upon admission to the program if you wish to receive credit for previous work.

ENTRY LEVEL MASTERS

The Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy — Entry Level Masters (ELM) program is available for women and men with a baccalaureate degree. It is offered in a weekday or alternate weekend format. It prepares you to be certified as a registered occupational therapist.

DUAL DEGREE PROGRAM

BACCALAUREATE DEGREE IN OCCUPATIONAL SCIENCE (OS)/MASTERS IN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY (MAOT)

The dual degree program is available to St. Catherine's undergraduate students (women) seeking a dual-degree option resulting in a baccalaureate degree in occupational science and a master of arts degree in occupational therapy. This option prepares students for entrance into the profession. This option is more fully described in the undergraduate catalog.

REQUIRED COURSES

OSOT 5010 Occupational Science Foundations
OSOT 5020 Occupational Science: Community and Justice
OSOT 5030 Occupational Science: Ethics and Advocacy
OSOT 5200 Mental Health Theory and Service Delivery
OSOT 5210 Mental Health Practice
OSOT 5410 Pediatric Theory and Service Delivery
OSOT 5450 Pediatric Practice
OSOT 5500 Neuroscience
OSOT 5600 Clinical Kinesiology
OSOT 6000 Skills I: Introduction to Occupational Therapy
OSOT 6010 Fieldwork Seminar A
OSOT 6020 Fieldwork Seminar B
OSOT 6030 Fieldwork Seminar C
OSOT 6040 Fieldwork Seminar D
OSOT 6060 Skills II: Biomechanical Concepts
OSOT 6310 Evidence-Based Practice
OSOT 6410 Foundations of Research
OSOT 6610 Rehabilitation Theory and Service Delivery
OSOT 6615 Rehabilitation Practice
OSOT 6620 Management and Leadership
OSOT 7000 Masters Project Seminar
OSOT 7110 Occupational Therapy for Older Adults
OSOT 7780 Level II Fieldwork
OSOT 7790 Level II Fieldwork
OSOT 7500 Masters Project


PROGRESSION POLICY

REQUIREMENTS TO REMAIN IN GOOD STANDING

To remain in good standing in the MAOT program, you must:

• maintain an overall 3.0 grade point average in the MAOT Program.
• earn a grade of C+ or better in each graduate course.
• successfully complete each Level I Fieldwork assignment.
• successfully complete Level II Fieldwork requirements.
• demonstrate satisfactory professional attitudes and behaviors as defined by the program.

CONDITIONS FOR ACADEMIC PROBATION

You are placed on academic probation by the MAOT program if:

• a grade of C or C– has been earned in any MAOT course.
• the overall GPA for the MAOT Program is less than 3.0.

The faculty of the MAOT program will identify the written conditions of academic probation.

REMOVAL FROM ACADEMIC PROBATION

You will be removed from academic probation if the conditions are met by the end of the following semester/term. Failure to meet the written conditions for academic probation or to bring the grade point average to 3.0 by the end of the next semester/term may result in automatic dismissal from the program.

ACADEMIC CONDITIONS FOR PROGRAM DISMISSAL

You are automatically dismissed from the program for academic reasons if:

• a grade of D or F is earned in a required occupational therapy course including Level I Fieldwork (OSOT 7602 Internship)
• more than one grade of C or lower is earned in a required occupational therapy course
• conditions for removal from academic probation are not met
• overall GPA in the MAOT Program is less than 3.0 by the end of the semester/term on probation
• failure of two consecutive level II fieldwork placements. Under extraordinary circumstances, you may petition in writing to repeat a course or fieldwork, but you may not take the next courses in sequence unless the petition has been approved and you agree with the conditions for continuance.

CONDITIONS FOR PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIORS PROBATION

Professional attitudes and behaviors will be considered in your overall evaluation and your progress in the program. You may be placed on probation for demonstration of unprofessional behavior(s). Failure to improve specific behaviors identified by the faculty as problematic will result in dismissal from the program.

CONDITIONS FOR PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIORS PROGRAM DISMISSAL

You will be automatically dismissed from the MAOT program for the following unprofessional behaviors:

• violation of the Code of Ethics of the American Occupational Therapy Association
• violation of the Institution's policy on academic integrity
• violation of the Institution's policy on student conduct

(The complete document on student conduct, including the process for implementation, may be found in LeGuide, the student guide to the Institution's policies, procedures and rules.) You may appeal an academic probation or dismissal from the MAOT program by following the Student Complaint Process outlined in LeGuide and identified in the MAOT Student Handbook.