Department of Occupational Therapy

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Occupational therapy (OT) is a science-driven, evidence-based profession that focuses on transforming lives and building independence by helping enable people of all ages to participate in meaningful activities they need or want to do. Occupational therapists work with the client to restore function, identify strengths, design strategies for everyday living and customize environments in order to develop and maximize their potential to lead an independent, productive, and satisfying life. OT’s work in a variety of practice settings, including children and youth, rehabilitation/hospital settings, health and wellness, mental health,productive aging, work/industry, hand therapy and orthopedics.

Our vision is to make a difference in the lives of our students and the academic and professional communities we serve through an educational experience that supports, challenges, and mentors learning, leadership, and service. Rockhurst’s Department of Occupational Therapy builds on this Jesuit tradition by combining a strong foundation in the liberal arts and sciences with a professional master’s curriculum emphasizing critical thinking, problem solving, and ethics. These themes, integrated throughout the curriculum, culminate in the student’s ability to clinically problem solve in traditional and emerging practice settings.

As an OT student  at  Rockhurst, you will engage in service learning and leadership with various organizations, contribute to the community’s health and wellness, conduct research with a mentor and present findings  at state and national meetings. Students will complete fieldwork assignments at sites across the country, and can include group, service immersions at regional and international locations.

The OT Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education of the American Occupational Therapy Association, located at 4720 Montgomery Lane,  Ste. 200, Bethesda, MD 20814-3449; (301)-652-6611, www.aota.org. 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). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). Most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. When you apply to take the certification examination with NBCOT, you will be asked to answer questions related to the topic of felonies. For further information, you can contact NBCOT at 12 South Summit Avenue, Suite 1000, Gaithersburg, MD 20877, (301) 990-7979.

Admission to the Program

The Occupational Therapy Education Program accommodates multiple points of acceptance for interested students. The Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) curriculum, including fieldwork, takes approximately 24 months to complete, including summer classes.

Points of Acceptance into the Program

The Occupational Therapy Education Program accommodates multiple points of acceptance for interested students . For the Rockhurst Undergraduate student, these include Freshman Pre-Admission, the Occupational Therapy Scholars Program, or regular admittance during the final year of undergraduate coursework. Rockhurst students also have the option of completing their undergraduate degree and OT degree within our 3+2 program. Post-baccalaureate students from other accredited universities are also invited to apply as well as transfer students. Transfer students may qualify for the Transfer Pre-Admission program. Please see details below.

Early Acceptance

Freshman Pre-Admission - Exceptional students who plan to attend Rockhurst University for their undergraduale degre may be awarded a freshman early-admission guarantee for the Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) Program based a combination of ACT or SAT scores, high school grade point average and prerequisite courses. Students complete the application process by September 1 of their junior year at Rockhurst.

Rockhurst Undergraduates

OT Scholars - Rockhurst students with outstanding academic work may apply for advanced admission status through the OT Scholars Program. To apply for acceptance into OT Scholars, students submit a letter of intent to the Occupational Therapy Program office before the start of their sophomore year. OT Scholars must achieve and maintain a cumulative and science grade point average of a minimum of 3.5. Students then complete the application process by September 1 of their junior year.

3+2 Program - A five-year Master of Occupational Therapy program is available to students consecutively enrolled at Rockhurst University from their freshman year. RU students need to contact the OT Department early if you are interested in this opportunity.

Post-Baccalaureate or Transfer Students

Post-Baccalaureate Students - Students from accredited universities are welcome to apply to Rockhurst University. Typically, students apply while in the last year of their undergraduate degree with a plan to enter the graduate program upon completion of their undergraduate degree.

Transfer Students - Students transferring to Rockhursl may apply for pre-admission if they have completed two years of undergraduate coursework. To apply, the student submits a letter of intent to the Occupational Therapy Program office before the conclusion of their first semester at Rockhurst. Students then complete the application process by September 1 of the junior year.  *Transfer students are not eligible for the 3+2 program.

Rockhursl students may apply for admission to the MOT program through the Graduate Admissions Office. All other applicants must apply through OTCAS at www.olcas.org the summer prior to the seleclion of a new class.

Requirements for Admission

Enrollment is limited, and meeting the minimal requirements does not guarantee admission into the Occupational Therapy Education Program. Admission is based on academic and personal qualifications considered necessary for successful, competent practice as an occupational therapist.

• Completion of a bachelor’s degree at an accredited university in a discipline other than occupational therapy.
• A minimum cumulative, natural science, and prerequisite coursework GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) is recommended.
• Completion of all prerequisites by the end of the spring semester prior to beginning the program.
• If you are an international student applying from a non-English speaking country, please also submit TOEFL score of at least 79 internet based test.
• Professional references - three required.
• Personal essay.
• Observation hours - two different OT settings for a total of 16 hours.
• Completion of all materials In the online application (OTCAS.org).
• Participation in a personal interview.

All prerequisite coursework must be completed before the beginning of the program.

Prerequisite Courses: (numbers reflect semester credit hours)

• English Composition (6)
• Fundamentals of Communication (3)
• Statistics (3)
• Ethics (3)
• Abnormal Psychology (3)
• Introductory Sociology or Anthropology (3)
• Developmental Psychology (3)
• Introductory Physics w/Lab (4)
• Biology w/Lab (4)
• Human Anatomy and Physiology I w/Lab (4)
• Human Anatomy and Physiology II w/Lab (4)

Admissions Process

The admissions cycle begins the summer prior to the year of entry into the occupational therapy program. Rockhurst undergraduate students, including freshmen pre-admits, OT scholars, and transfer pre-admits, may obtain an application to the occupational therapy education program from the Rockhurst Graduate Admissions Office. Rockhurst OT Pre-Admit and OT Scholars applications are required September 1 of each admissions cycle. It is recommended all other Rockhurst applicants also submit by September 1.

Applicants outside of Rockhurst University are required to apply to the MOT program through the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS) www.OTCAS.org.

The OT Admissions Committee begins reviewing applications each cycle once they are verified by OTCAS and received by the Graduate Admissions Office. Applicants are responsible for checking OTCAS.org for the dates when the admission portal opens annually. The final deadline date for OTCAS applications for Rockhurst MOT program is January 1 of each cycle.

The OT Department will conduct two interview sessions, once in November and again in February. Interview dates are announced at the start of the admissions process and qualified applicants will be selected to interview for either of these dates throughout the application review process.

Interested students may request additional information about the program by contacting:

Rockhurst Graduate Admissions Office at:
graduate.admission@rockhurst.edu
www.rockhurst.edu/OT

Department of Occupational Therapy
Telephone: (816) 501-4059
Email: occupational.therapy@rockhurst.edu

Promotion in the Program

To progress toward the Master of Occupational Therapy degree, a student must:

1. Complete all prerequisite courses prior to entry into the OT Program.
2. For Rockhurst undergraduates accepted into five year program, complete the baccalaureate degree by the end of the OT program’s first year. All other students must complete their baccalaureate degree prior to enrolling in the OT Program if the student is pursuing a baccalaureate degree from Rockhurst or an institution other than Rockhurst.
3. Maintain a 3.0 semester and cumulative grade-point average for all OT Program courses. All courses in the OT Program curriculum must be completed with at least a grade of C, including passing grades on all fieldwork experiences. Any grade below a C results in dismissal from the OT Program.
4. Comply with all requirements for fieldwork placement. These requirements will include at least one background check, to be completed in the Fall, Year One. Additional requirements may include a drug screening, CPR certification, TB testing, and proof or immunizations.
5. Consistently demonstrate professional behavior when interacting with faculty, staff, students, and clients/patients. These behaviors reflect the capacity to deliver a high standard of health service and are as important as traditional academic standards indetermining criteria for promotion and continuation in the OT Program.
6. Students should be aware that a criminal background check will be required. The presence of any criminal conviction on the student’s record may affect his/her eligibility for participating in clinical internships, becoming certified or licensed, and/or securing a job in the student’s field.

Graduation

The Master of Occupational Therapy degree requires a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or greater to graduate. All degree requirements must be completed within 48 months for full-time students and 60 months for part-time students from the beginning of the first semester in which a student is enrolled. The Level II Fieldwork must be completed within 24 months after completion of academic preparation. The Occupational Therapy Education Program Student Handbook contains additional supplementary information about the OT Program.

Programs

• Occupational Therapy Education, M.O.T.

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