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Fast Facts
TopDegree
Master of Occupational Therapy (M.O.T.)
General Requirements
- Bachelor's degree
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75
- Successful completion of prerequisite courses
Length of Program
27 months, full-time
Class Size
28-32
2011 Class Profile
- Female: 90%
- Male: 10%
- Average Age: 24
- Average Overall GPA: 3.27
- Class Size: 30
- Top Home States: Arizona (67%), Illinois, Ohio
Occupational Therapist Professional Responsibilities
- Evaluation and treatment
- Screening and education
- Consultation
- Research
- Administration
Fieldwork Placements
Occupational therapy students are provided four different clinical experiences during the course of the program. Two Level I rotations, a total of 40 hours each, are concurrent with the academic program. Two Level II rotations are full time for 12 weeks each during the Spring Quarter of the second year, and the Fall Quarter of the third year.
National Certification Exam Scores (2008-2010) Pass Rate
First-time test-takers
- The national average for first-time takers was 85% for 2008 and 78% for 2009. The National average for first-time test takers was 82% for 2010.
| Exam Period | Number of Graduates | No. of Graduates who Took the Exam for the First Time | No. of First Time Test Takers who Passed the Exam | Percentage of First Time Test Takers who Passed the Exam |
| Jan - Dec 2008 | IL: 24 | 24 | 22 | 92% |
| AZ: 16 | 16 | 15 | 94% | |
| Jan - Dec 2009 | IL: 38 | 38 | 23 | 61% |
| AZ: 21 | 21 | 17 | 81% | |
| Jan - Dec 2010 | IL: 37 | 33 | 24 | 73% |
| AZ: 31 | 28 | 25 | 89% | |
| Total | IL | 95 | 69 | 73% |
|
| AZ | 65 | 57 | 88% |
|
| Combined | 160 | 126 | 79 % |
Career Placements / Career Opportunities
Community and clinical settings, including:
- Rehabilitation hospital (in-patient acute care, rehabilitation)
- Outpatient rehabilitation and clinic settings, hand clinics
- Long-term care
- Behavioral health
- Senior living (independent/assisted living)
- Home health care
- School-based practice
- Private practice (pediatrics, orthopedics)
- Mental health
- Business/industry
Time to Employment
Within two weeks of 'completion day' from MWU
Fieldwork placements often lead to full-time employment offers.
MWU Placement Rate
100%
US Employment Projections through 2012
Employment of occupational therapists is expected to increase by 26 percent between 2008 and 2018, much faster than the average for all occupations. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, Occupational Therapists, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos078.htm, retrieved May 23, 2011)
Mean Salary Range
The national average for occupational therapists' salary was $66,780 in 2008.
Admission Requirements
TopIndividuals applying for admission to the College of Health Sciences Occupational Therapy Program must submit documentation for the following minimum requirements before the academic year commences for the incoming class:
- Completion of a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
- A minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale. Grades of C or better for prerequisite coursework (grades of C- are not acceptable).
- Completion of the minimum number of prerequisite courses in the prescribed subject areas at regionally accredited colleges or universities.
- Satisfaction of the standards set forth by the Admissions Committee, including documentation of academic and professional promise in the prospective student.
- Completion of the OT Program's interview process. On-campus interviews are by invitation only.
- Completion of a first aid course within three years prior to enrollment.
- Current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) Level C/Health Care Provider or Basic Life Support of the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross. Students are responsible for maintaining CPR certification at this level while enrolled in the program.
- Demonstration of a people or service orientation through community service or extracurricular activities.
- Motivation for and commitment to health care as demonstrated by previous work, volunteer work, or other life experiences.
- Oral and written communication skills necessary to interact with clients and colleagues.
- Commitment to abide by the Midwestern University Drug-Free Workplace and Substance Abuse Policy.
- Passage of the Midwestern University criminal background check.
Prerequisite Courses
Students must complete these courses with a grade of C or higher (Grades of C- are not acceptable).
| Human Anatomy | One course* |
| Physiology | One course* |
| Statistics | One course |
| Human Development | One course** |
| Abnormal Psychology | One course |
| Social and Behavioral Science | One course |
*The Anatomy and Physiology requirements may also be fulfilled by taking Anatomy and Physiology I and Anatomy and Physiology II, as some universities offer combined courses.
**The Human Development course requirement refers to at least one course which includes the physical, social, and psychological development throughout the lifespan.
Additional courses in the sciences and mathematics are also recommended, including chemistry, physiology, physics, and biology.
General education electives are also recommended to demonstrate competency in English composition, oral communication, problem-solving behavior, logic, and ethical theories.
Application Deadline
Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis. Students are advised to complete their application files as early as possible to ensure timely consideration. Applicants are required to submit their applications to OTCAS by February 1st.
Additional Application Information
Program Description
TopThe Occupational Therapy Program offers a curriculum leading to the Master of Occupational Therapy (M.O.T.) degree for qualified students. The full-time, continuous, entry-level master’s curriculum is designed to deliver the academic and clinical education required to prepare students for their professional role as key members for the health care team and as integral practitioners in the health care delivery system. The curriculum for the Master of Occupational Therapy degree is a continuous, full-time program, extending 27 months from matriculation to graduation. The maximum allotted time for completion of this program is 40.5 months. It is also required that all Level II fieldwork must be completed within 18 months of completion of the didactic portion of the program. The general education, professional training, experience, and personal character development of occupational therapists uniquely prepare them to respond to the needs of individuals who face challenges participating in their daily lives.
The Master of Occupational Therapy Program offers a balanced combination of foundational, clinical, and research coursework designed to foster therapists who are self-directed, thoughtful, and caring professionals. The Program provides students with a balanced complement of coursework. Approximately half of the course credits are obtained from foundational courses in the sciences, occupational therapy theory, and research. The remaining credits focus on courses related to client evaluation and interventions appropriate for various client populations (e.g., children, the elderly, etc.), specialized coursework in upper extremity intervention, and many opportunities for experiential (hands-on) learning. The practice courses facilitate students' application of content related to client evaluation and intervention using community-based and case-based learning opportunities. In addition to such preclinical learning opportunities, the fieldwork program is extensive and rich in the types of experiences offered to students. Such a strong curricular framework succeeds in preparing graduates who are ready - and able - to enter the profession of occupational therapy and to make a difference in the world.
The Occupational Therapy Program is open on a competitive admission basis to applicants who have received a bachelor's degree in any field, but who have not completed an accredited occupational therapy program. The curriculum is designed to prepare entry-level practitioners to provide occupational therapy services in the home, community, and clinical practice settings that require independent judgment, leadership, and self-directed practice. The educational experience provides the foundation for graduates to identify and contribute to effecting solutions to the major emergent health issues of society and contribute to the academic and clinical education of future practitioners. It also is designed to prepare graduates for leadership and management roles in the profession. The graduate will be prepared to make meaningful, ongoing contributions to society, health care, and the profession through leadership activities and collaborative efforts with others in occupational therapy and interdisciplinary education, practice, and research.
Program Objectives
The Occupational Therapy Program is guided by the following educational objectives:
- To integrate liberal arts and science foundations and professional coursework to prepare graduates to provide and manage a wide range of professional occupational therapy services in a competent, responsive, and caring manner for clients from diverse backgrounds in a wide range of health care settings;
- To instill an appropriate professional sensibility and response to the impact of altered health and occupational performance on clients and their significant others;
- To cultivate the fundamental ethical and moral attitudes, principles, and behaviors that are essential to acquiring and sustaining the confidence of clients and their significant others, colleagues, and other health care personnel in the professional or practice setting, and the support of the community at large;
- To learn and apply clinical reasoning and critical thinking skills consistently to the occupational therapy process (receiving appropriate client referrals, performing appropriate client evaluations, establishing goals and client outcomes, developing treatment plans, providing appropriate treatments based on these plans and outcomes, re-evaluating the client and course of therapy, and client discharge planning);
- To provide theoretical, analytical, and experiential foundations that prepare students to perform tasks, functions, and duties commensurate with the dynamic nature of occupational therapy and the changing role and responsibilities of the occupational therapist in a wide range of professional settings that depend on a strong clinical knowledge base but do not necessarily involve direct client care;
- To educate practitioners who will assume leadership roles in the development and/or implementation of new and innovative approaches intended to minimize the severity and impact of physical and psychological conditions on occupational performance;
- To develop clinical reasoning and critical thinking skills that will prepare students to design and implement preliminary research studies that evaluate clinical practice and/or service delivery;
- To prepare practitioners who will engage in systematic and comprehensive planning of client care services leading to more cost-effective care and more efficient utilization of health care resources;
- To provide theoretical and experiential constructs for expanded professional contributions, including enhanced management skills, advocacy, and leadership roles in occupational therapy and interprofessional education, practice, and research;
- To integrate and coordinate occupational therapy skills with those of other health care service providers to meet the needs of clients within an increasingly more complex and diverse health care delivery system;
- To instill the desire for continued personal and professional growth through the development of and active participation in continuing educational experiences; and
- To cultivate the fundamental ethical and moral attitudes and behaviors so that graduates are knowledgeable and adhere to the occupational therapy professional code of ethics and the profession's rules, regulations and scope of practice.
Planned Program Improvements
While there are no planned changes to the curricular content or course sequence in the coming year, we always strive to use innovative and evidence-based strategies to provide our students with the best professional preparation possible. In preparation for reaccreditation in 2012, the Program is undergoing an intensive self-study to identify any needed improvements.
Accreditation
TopThe Midwestern University 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, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220; 301/652-AOTA. Graduates of the program will be able to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).
Midwestern University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission/A Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (HLC/NCA), 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604-1413.
Related Links
TopMWU Occupational Therapy Program in Downers Grove
Occupational Therapy as a Career
American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
American Occupational Therapy Foundation
National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)
World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT)
