Department of Occupational Therapy

Return to: School of Graduate & Professional Studies

Occupational therapy (OT) is a science-driven, evidence-based profession that enables people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them to promote health and prevent— or live better with—illness, injury or disability. Occupational therapists work together with the client to design strategies for everyday living and customize environments to develop and maximize their potential to lead independent, productive, and satisfying lives. Today’s therapists work in a variety of settings including clinical practice, administration, education, research and private practice.

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 have the opportunity to contribute to the community’s health and wellness, conduct research with a mentor, present findings at state and national meetings, manage and staff a student-run free health clinic and complete fieldwork assignments at clinical sites across the country.

The OT Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education of the American Occupational Therapy Association, located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220; (301)-SAY-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). 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 800 South Frederick Avenue, Suite 200, Gaithersburg, MD 20877-4150, (301) 990-7979.

Admission to 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, Transfer Pre- Admission, and regular acceptance during the final year of undergraduate coursework. Post baccalaureate students may be accepted at any time during the academic year for the next occupational therapy class.

• Pre-Admission 
  Exceptional students may be awarded a freshman pre-admission guarantee based on a combination of ACT or SAT scores, high school grades and class rank. Once admitted, students must fulfill specific requirements for maintaining Pre-admission status. Students complete their application to the OT Program before beginning their Junior year.
   
• OT Scholars Program 
  Rockhurst students with outstanding academic work may apply for advanced admission status through the OT Scholars Program. To apply for acceptance into the OT Scholars program, students submit a letter of intent to the Occupational Therapy Program office at the beginning of their Sophomore year. OT Scholars must achieve and maintain a minimum cumulative and science grade point average of 3.4. Once admitted, students must fulfill specific requirements for  aintaining OT Scholars status. Students complete the application process before beginning their Junior year.
   
• Fast Track: Pre-Occupational Therapy Program
  Rockhurst University offers a five-year Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) Fast Track program available to students consecutively enrolled at Rockhurst University from freshman year. Students interested in the Fast Track need to contact the Department of Occupational Therapy Education early in their academic studies notifying them of their intent. Students then remain in close contact with their undergraduate and pre-Occupational Therapy advisor to assure completion of program requirements for application to the MOT program. Students on the Fast Track focus on the requirements for their undergrgraduate major early on since they enter the MOT program during their senior year. For the Rockhurst student, 30 MOT hours taken during their senior year can be applied toward their undergraduate degrees as meeting undergraduate elective requirements. Students can opt out of the Fast Track program and complete their undergraduate education before beginning the MOT program.
   
• Transfer Pre-Admission
  Students transferring to Rockhurst 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. Once admitted, students must fulfill specific requirements for maintaining Transfer Pre-admission status. Students complete the application process before beginning their Junior year.
   
• Post-Baccalaureate Students
  Students who will have completed their baccalaureate studies before entering the OT Program are encouraged to apply upon completion of the majority of their prerequisite coursework.
  
  The master’s curriculum, including fieldwork, takes approximately 24 months to complete, including summer classes.

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.

• Ability to complete a Rockhurst baccalaureate degree concurrent with enrollment in the first year of the OT Program OR have completed a baccalaureate degree at an accredited college in a discipline other than occupational therapy.
• Complete prerequisite courses (see below);
• Complete all materials in the application packet for admission into the OT Program, through OTCAS.org;
• Participate in a personal interview;
• TOEFL scores of at least 550 must be submitted by international students whose first language is not English;
• Candidates are evaluated based on overall achievements; however, grade point average is valued in the application process. The Occupational Therapy Education Department recommends a minimum grade point average of a 3.0 in prerequisite courses.

It is strongly recommended that all prerequisite coursework be completed before the beginning of the program.

Prerequisite Courses: (numbers reflect semester credit hours)

Basic Foundations

English Comp I, II (6)
Foundations of Communication (3)

Humanities

Ethics (3)

Behavioral, Social and Natural Sciences

Abnormal Psychology (3)
General Biology w/Lab (4)
Anatomy w/Lab (4)
Introductory Sociology or Anthropology (3)
Rockhurst undergraduates must take Biology I and II (8 hrs.)
Developmental Psychology (3)
Introductory Physics w/Lab (4)
Physiology w/Lab (4)
Statistics (3)

(Human Anatomy and General Physiology are strongly recommended for successful completion of the Occupational Therapy program.)

Rolling Admissions

The Rockhurst University OT Program utilizes a rolling admissions process; i.e., qualified applicants are accepted until the class is filled. It is to the applicant’s advantage to apply early. Applications to the graduate program can be obtained through the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS), www.OTCAS.org. Interested students may request additional information about the program by contacting:

Office of Graduate Admission
Rockhurst University
1100 Rockhurst Road
Kansas City, MO 64110-2561
(816) 501-4100 or 501-4097
1-800-842-6776
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. a. Complete the baccalaureate degree before the end of the first year of the OT program if the student is obtaining a baccalaureate degree and completing the undergraduate sequence at Rockhurst. 
   b. Complete their baccalaureate degree prior to enrolling in the OT Program if the student is pursuing a baccalaureate degree from an institution other than Rockhurst.
2. Complete all prerequisite courses prior to entry into the OT Program.
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. 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 in determining criteria for promotion and continuation in the OT Program.
5. 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 of immunizations.
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.

Return to: School of Graduate & Professional Studies