Mar 29, 2024  
2021-2022 Graduate Catalog 
    
2021-2022 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Occupational Therapy, MSOT


Program Coordinator: Lynne Murphy (3305-J Health Sciences Building; 252-744-6193; http://otadmissions@ecu.edu)

The occupational therapy program offers the professional (entry-level) master’s degree and offers preparation for certification for individuals with baccalaureate degrees in fields other than occupational therapy. Students who complete this program are eligible to sit for the national certification exam with National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy.

Admission


Application for admission to the graduate program in occupational therapy must be initiated through the Graduate School. The department requires that the applicant meet the following minimum admission requirements: a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, and satisfactory Graduate Record Examinations. Nonnative speakers must submit an acceptable score on one of the language tests approved by the Graduate School or evidence of at least 1 year of college/university study in the United States. At the time of application, the applicant must submit two letters of reference, and a completed statement as specified in the Graduate School application.

For the professional (entry-level) master’s degree, the applicant must present evidence that the required prerequisite course work will be completed and an undergraduate degree (other than occupational therapy) conferred before the start of the program in the fall. Required undergraduate prerequisite courses include anatomy, physiology, statistics, developmental psychology or other course with emphasis on human development across the lifespan, abnormal psychology, introduction to anthropology or sociology, and a reasoning course such as logic, ethics, or research inquiry in social sciences. Students must demonstrate a proficiency in medical terminology or take a course in medical terminology.

Minimum degree requirement is 69 s.h. for project-based students and 75 s.h. for thesis students.

Note:


 OCCT 6450  must be repeated once for a minimum of 12 s.h.

2. Research options - 3-9 s.h.


(Choose one.)

a. Master’s project - 3-6 s.h.:


Note:


Successful completion of a professional presentation in a public venue of the master’s project or master’s thesis serves as a comprehensive examination.

Standard grading policies will follow Graduate School guidelines. Verification by the department chair of the completion of the professional (entry-level) master’s degree requirements is necessary to meet occupational therapy practice licensure statutes of the North Carolina Board of Occupational Therapy. Verification by the registrar for completion of the professional (entry-level) master’s program is required to take the national certification examination.

Accreditation


The occupational therapy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is 301-652-6611. Graduates of this program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) located at One Bank Street, Suite 300, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, 301-990-7979. After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an occupational therapist, registered (OTR). In addition, most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT certification examination. However, a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

Licensure/Certification Requirements in North Carolina


The curriculum for all ECU Certificates, Degrees, and other Graduate Programs  have been designed to meet the licensure/certification requirements in North Carolina and prepare students to sit for licensure/certification exams in North Carolina. The various licensure boards in each state are responsible for setting requirements for licensure/certification in their state. Other states have their own requirements, and you’ll want to make sure your program meets criteria in your home state (or state where you intend to work) before you apply. Search our state  Licensure Dashboard to see if the program you’re interested in meets the educational requirements for licensing/certification in your home state (or state where you intend to work).