University
of Southern Indiana
Occupational Therapy Program
Accreditation Status - Course
Descriptions - Current OT Professional Curriculum
- Curricula Information - Application and Selection Process - FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) -
Links - Pre-OT Students & Prerequisite Coursework
The Occupational Therapy Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, PO Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is 301-652-2682. Graduates of this program who earn the combined BS/MSOT degrees will be eligible to sit for the Certification Examination for the Occupational Therapist Registered® 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 require additional credentialing in order to practice; however, state credentials are usually based on the results of the NBCOT certification examination.
The total number of USI MSOT graduates who passed the certification exam in 2005-2007 was 63 out of 64 first-time new graduate test takers, which is a 98% pass rate. During that three-year time period, the program had 66 graduates.
Please note: a felony conviction (this includes documentation of driving under the influence—DUI) will affect your eligibility to take the national certification examination and also state credentialing (e.g., license, certificate, registration). If you are currently charged with or have been convicted of a felony, please notify the Occupational Therapy Program immediately. In addition, if you have had credentials (e.g., license, registration, certificate) in another field (e.g., PTA) denied, revoked, suspended, or subject to probationary conditions, your eligibility to take the national certification examination may be in jeopardy. Please contact the Occupational Therapy Program if you have questions.
Back to top
Successful completion of the combined BS/MSOT degree occupational therapy curriculum requires the fulfillment of three distinct sets of coursework—prerequisite coursework, undergraduate professional coursework, and graduate professional coursework.
BS/MSOT professional program includes:
- Professional undergraduate coursework consisting of 64-65 credit hours (2 years) including 300 and 400 level occupational therapy courses
- Professional graduate coursework consisting of 32 credit hours of 600-level occupational therapy courses and 2 extensive fieldwork experiences.
Link to the USI BS/MSOT Curriculum Info Sheet
Students have opportunities to earn a BS degree and a MSOT degree (the minimum entry-level degree for occupational therapists).
Admission into the BS/MSOT professional program portion of the curriculum is by selection only.
Pre-OT Students & Prerequisite Coursework
Pre-OT Student advising at USI is the responsibility of the Student Advising Center of College of Nursing and Health Professions
--Mary Lindsey can be contacted at 465-1283 or mflindsey@usi.edu
At the conclusion of the 2007 Spring Semester, the Occupational Therapy Program implemented a new curriculum with significant changes in the required prerequisite courses. For particular questions regarding your personal prerequisite requirements, please contact Mary Lindsey, the Pre-OT Student Adviser.Eligibility and selection criteria, including the required prerequisites and selection components may be altered in future years. However, we endeavor to make this known in a sufficient manner for students to respond to any changes prior to application and/or admission to the professional program. Please check this website periodically.
Application and Selection Process
The Occupational Therapy Program
invites a maximum of 30 qualified students to begin taking the professional
undergraduate coursework each Fall Semester.
To apply, a student must:
The application
deadline for admission to the BS/MSOT professional program is typically
January 10 for students hoping to be invited to start the professional undergraduate
coursework the following Fall Semester. Specific information regarding the
selection process for a given year is posted on the Occupational Therapy
Program’s Web site (http://health.usi.edu/acadprog/ot/index.php)
each November.
A student can be in the process of taking prerequisite courses when application
is made. However, an invited student must complete all prerequisite coursework
with a grade of C or better by the conclusion of the USI Second Summer Session.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Is the selection process
competitive?
Yes. We are planning for somewhere between 80-120 applicants for the 2009
selection process.
Is there
an application deadline for the selection process?
Yes. The deadline will be posted on this Web site.
Do I have to have a minimum number of hours to apply?
Yes. You must show completion of a minimum of 40 semester credit hours of
prerequisite work by the application deadline to begin the application
process.
Is there an alternate
list in case I am not invited?
Yes. Depending on overall ranking, students who are not among the top 30
ranked students may be placed on a alternate list.
When will I find out if I am accepted?
The OTP will notify applicants regarding their status (invitation to begin,
conditional invitation, alternate list placement, or no ranking) during
March.
What is a conditional invitation?
A conditional invitation is offered to students who are invited, via the
selection process, to begin the professional program, but who have prerequisite
work remaining. These students are invited on the condition that the grades
earned in the remaining prerequisite work do not significantly affect their
ranking among those who participated in the selection process.
Do I have to complete all prerequisite courses before I apply to
the program?
No. You can be in the process of taking prerequisite courses when you apply.
However, a student receiving an invitation into the professional program
must complete all prerequisite courses by the conclusion of USI’s
Second Summer Session.
How long is the combined BS/MS degree curriculum?
5 years
Will I need to
leave the area for one or both of the extensive fieldwork opportunities?
Probably—a student is assigned to a fieldwork site based on a number
of factors—including the sites available, the student’s interests,
and the student’s educational needs.
What degree(s) will I have an opportunity to earn?
Note:
At USI you must complete both degrees (BS/MSOT) to be eligible to take the
national certification examination for the occupational therapist.
I already have
a bachelor’s degree (e.g., psychology, health services, biology)—can
I just do the MSOT-only option?
No. If you have a BA/BS in another area, you must apply for selection and
complete the combined BS/MSOT degree curriculum.
I already have a bachelor’s degree (e.g., psychology, health
services, biology)—what prerequisite courses do I need?
Student Handbook
Combined BS/MSOT in Occupational Therapy Curriculum
Student Right to Know Act
University Core Curriculum requirements
Accreditation
Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
University of Southern Indiana Home Page
USI College of Nursing and Health Professions Home Page
University of Southern Indiana Occupational Therapy Program
8600 University Boulevard, HP 2068
Evansville, IN 47712
812-465-1179 or 812-465-1140
812-465-7092 (fax)