Occupational Therapy Program (MSOT Degree)

The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) major is a 2 1/4 year graduate program housed in the Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy Program within the Frances M. Maguire School of Nursing and Health Professions.

Program Summary

77 credits

2 1/4 years (including 5 academic and 1 fieldwork term)

Program launched in May 2018

Accreditation
Outcomes
Admission
Technical Standards for Occupational Therapy Practice
Curriculum
Financial Aid, Tuition & Fees
Why Choose OT at GMercyU?

Mission

The Mission of the Occupational Therapy Program at GMercyU is to prepare competent, reflective, ethical and compassionate OT professionals for a successful career and a meaningful life within the tradition of the Sisters of Mercy. This Mission is accomplished through the offering of an education that values integrity, respect, service, and promotion of occupational justice. Occupational therapy graduates will be prepared to practice as generalists while understanding the value of people-first language and conducting therapeutic practices that are occupation-based, evidence-based, and client-centered in order to promote the health and well-being of individuals and society.

Accreditation

The entry-level occupational therapy master’s degree 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-AOTA and its Web address is www.acoteonline.org. Graduates of the 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). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. ACOTE® accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational programs satisfy the states’ educational requirements in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Students graduating from an ACOTE® accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational program are eligible to take the NBCOT certification exam and apply for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. For more information regarding state qualifications and licensure requirements, please refer to the AOTA State Licensure webpage.

 

Outcomes

Program Graduates and Graduation Rate

The MSOT Program at GMercyU graduated its first class in 2020. This table outlines the number of students who entered the program and the number of students who graduated.

Year of Entry	# Entered	# Graduated	Graduation Rate
2018	30	29	97%
2019	29	*	*
2020	31	*	*

*Students have not graduated since they are currently in progress in completing their degree requirements.

National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) Examination

The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) Examination program results can be found online on the NBCOT website. Since the MSOT Program at GMercyU did not graduate its first class until 2020, pass rate data is not yet available. When this data is available, you can search Gwynedd Mercy University program results, by searching in Pennsylvania under OT Masters-Level Programs.

Admission

Paths of Entry

There are two paths of entry into the MSOT Program. First, a select number of eligible undergraduate students from GMercyU who major in our Occupational Science Pre-Occupational Therapy Program can enter the MSOT Program after the spring semester of their junior year.

Second, applicants holding a baccalaureate degree or expecting to graduate in the spring semester prior to the start of the MSOT Program will follow the admission steps below.  The GRE is not required for admission to GMercyU's Occupational Therapy program. 

Application Information

The application cycle for 2021 is now closed. Applicants to the MSOT Program apply online using the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS). To learn more about the OTCAS application process and to create your OTCAS account, please visit the OTCAS portal. The application cycle for 2022 will open in July. The Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy assumes the primary responsibility for the admission of its graduate students.

Baccalaureate Degree

Applicants are required to successfully complete a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university prior to the start of the MSOT Program in mid to late May and should hold a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (based on a 4.00 scale). 

Prerequisite Courses

Complete the following prerequisite courses with a minimum combined GPA in these prerequisites of 3.1 (based on a 4.00 scale). Anatomy and Physiology I & II must be completed within the past 5 years, the remainder of the prerequisites must be completed within the past 10 years.

• Anatomy and Physiology I & II (with a laboratory component): 8 credits    
• General Psychology: 3 credits
• Abnormal Psychology: 3 credits
• Developmental (Lifespan) Psychology: 3 credits
• Sociology/Anthropology: 3 credits
• Statistics/Research Methods: 3 credits

Note: CLEP, IB, or AP credits are not accepted as fulfillment of prerequisite courses. 

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

Gwynedd Mercy University does not require the GRE for admission into the MSOT Program.

Observation of Occupational Therapy

Observation and/or volunteer observation hours under an occupational therapist (OTR) are not required for applicants in the 2021 application cycle.

Letters of Recommendation

You must have a minimum of three requested and returned letters of recommendation attesting to your academic and/or professional abilities.

Personal Essay

Complete a personal statement that should highlight your uniqueness and how these qualities may translate to your future success as an occupational therapist.

Interview

Conduct an interview with members of the Occupational Therapy faculty.

Technical Standards for Occupational Therapy Practice

Students entering into and engaged during the full course of the Occupational Therapy Master’s Program must possess essential skills (observation, communication, motor function, intellectual-conceptual abilities, integrative and quantitative abilities, and behavioral and social attributes) to perform all educational (classroom, virtual, laboratory, and clinical), fieldwork, and experiential preceptorship tasks in an accurate, safe, and efficient manner, to the satisfaction of the faculty, with or without reasonable accommodation. 

Observation

• Normal or corrected visual ability sufficient for client observation and assessment to ensure safety and accurate measurement.
• Ability to obtain information from written documents, videotaped data, graphic images and measuring devices accurately and within a reasonable time frame. 
• Ability to sufficiently monitor and assess health needs of clients. 

Communication

• Interact with others in a professional, courteous, and collaborative manner while using good judgment for confidentiality.
• Demonstrate respect for the dignity of each person.
• Maintain integrity in word and deed with others.
• Read, speak, and write in English effectively using proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

Motor Function

• Assume a variety of body postures that can include continuous sitting, standing, walking, bending, reaching, pulling, lifting, stooping, kneeling, and crawling.
• Demonstrate manipulation skills to effectively carry and use therapeutic equipment (i.e. assistive devices, weights). 
• Demonstrate movement and mobility skills that are required for safe handling of persons of various sizes in order to perform safe transfers and guarding during functional mobility with and without an assistive device.
• Pushing and pulling in order to provide resistance for the purposes of maneuvering and transitioning persons such during bed mobility, using a wheelchair, and for sitting and standing balance activities.
• Demonstrate eye-hand coordination, postural control, strength, endurance, and integrated function of the senses (vision, hearing, smell, and touch) during the therapeutic process.

Intellectual-conceptual Abilities

• Demonstrate verbal and written insight into one’s own academic and clinical performance.
• Demonstrate the mental capacity to understand, problem-solve, and make judgments in order to promote ethical reasoning.
• Demonstrate the ability to collect, document, and analyze evaluation data and implement client-centered and occupation-based interventions. 

Integrative and Quantitative Abilities

• Demonstrate the mental capacity to understand, problem-solve, and make judgments in order to promote safety.
• Intellectual capacities to measure, evaluate, calculate, reason, analyze and synthesize information specific to client care.
• Demonstrate the ability to apply information learned from the classroom to a therapeutic practice environment.
• Demonstrate the ability to use online databases and online discussion boards, as well as the ability to use a computer to complete forms, reports, and papers.

Behavioral and Social Attributes

• Demonstrate mature and professional behaviors with other students, faculty, colleagues, and clients.
• Be receptive and open to mentor feedback about academic or fieldwork performance and adherence to academic and fieldwork policies and procedures. 
• Establish and maintain a therapeutic relationship with clients.
• Ability to work cooperatively and collaboratively with others.

Students should review the Technical Standards for the MSOT program carefully and identify if additional supports are needed for any portion (didactic and clinical) of the MSOT program. Students are encouraged to contact the Student Accessibility Services Office (215-646-7300 extension 21427) to arrange an individualized consultation to discuss any support services or accommodations they may need. Student Accessibility Services is located within Counseling Services in The Griffin Complex, 2nd-floor window hallway of Rotelle Lounge.
 

International Applicants

To enroll as a graduate-level international student at Gwynedd Mercy University, you need to:

• Have your transcript evaluated and have a course-by-course evaluation by either the World Education Services or Educational Credential Evaluators if you hold a bachelor's degree from an institution outside of the U.S.
• Score at least a 79 on the Internet-based TOEFL test or a 6 on the IELTS test

Transfer of Credit 

No more than six graduate credits that were taken at other accredited institutions prior to matriculation, may be applied toward the master’s degree. The credits must have been taken within seven years of admission and a grade of B or better must have been earned. The official transcript for transfer of credit must be on file prior to acceptance of credits for transfer.

Curriculum

The MSOT Program is designed to educate students to adapt to the rapidly changing and dynamic nature of contemporary health and human services delivery systems by gaining the knowledge and skills as a direct care provider, consultant, educator, manager, researcher and advocate for the profession and the consumer. This program consists of five semesters (including summers) of didactic learning and two level II fieldwork rotations. All students must complete level II fieldwork within 24 months following completion of academic preparation. The Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy assumes the primary responsibility for planning and delivering the curriculum. The MSOT Program consists of courses and fieldwork experiences that serve to promote a successful career and meaningful life in a global society. Full course descriptions are available below.

Curriculum

Year 1: Summer Term 8 credits
OSC 501: Foundations of Occupational Science (3 credits)
OSC 502: Neuroscience of Occupational Behavior (2 credits)
OSC 503: Functional Anatomy for Occupational Therapy (3 credits)

Year 1: Fall Term 15 credits
OSC 505: Foundations of Occupational Therapy (3 credits)
OSC 506: Creativity and Activity Analysis (2 credits)
OSC 507: Kinesiology for Occupational Therapy (3 credits)
OSC 514: Research Methods I: Evidence-based Practice (3 credits)
OSC 508: Professional Skills I: Therapeutic Use of Self (2 credits)
OSC 510: Professional Development I: Ethics, Values, and Responsibilities (2 credits)

Year 1: Spring Term 16 credits
OSC 511: Health and Medical Conditions: Children and Youth (2 credits)
OSC 512: Occupational Therapy Process: Children and Youth (5 credits)
OSC 513: Occupational Therapy Fieldwork I: Children and Youth (1 credit)
OSC 518: Wellness and Health Promotion through Occupation (2 credits)
OSC 515: Professional Skills II: Safety, Mobility, ADL, IADL, and Work (3 credits)
OSC 516: Professional Development II: Health Care, Policy, and Advocacy (3 credits)

Year 2: Summer Term 8 credits
OSC 601: Health and Medical Conditions: Adults (2 credits)
OSC 602: Occupational Therapy Process: Adults (5 credits)
OSC 603: Occupational Therapy Fieldwork I: Adults (1 credit)

Year 2: Fall Term 16 credits
OSC 604: Health and Medical Conditions: Older Adults (2 credits)
OSC 605: Occupational Therapy Process: Older Adults (5 credits)
OSC 606: Occupational Therapy Fieldwork I: Older Adults (1 credit)
OSC 607: Emerging Areas of Occupational Therapy Practice (2 credits)
OSC 609: Research Methods II: Applied Research (2 credits)
OSC 608: Professional Skills III: Environmental Adaptations and Assistive Technology (2  credits)
OSC 610: Professional Development III: Management and Leadership (2 credits)

Year 2: Spring Term 14 credits
OSC 611: Fieldwork Level IIA (6 credits)
OSC 612: Professional Development IV: Fieldwork Education (1 credit)
OSC 701: Fieldwork Level IIB (6 credits)
OSC 702: Professional Development V: Career Success and Meaningful Life (1 credit)

Please note: All MSOT students are required to maintain health, wellness, and clearance requirements that can include the following annually – criminal background check, child abuse clearance, DHS and DOE fingerprint clearances, drug screen, and CPR certification. Students will be required to have a laptop.

Course Descriptions

OSC 501: Foundations of Occupational Science (2) [Entry-level Master’s students only] Introduces the academic discipline of Occupational Science and its relationship to occupational therapy. The complex nature of occupation is explored from an interdisciplinary perspective. Emphasis on how occupational injustices can limit occupational performance and occupational participation, and how the therapeutic use of occupation can influence the development and/or recovery of persons with disabling conditions. 

OSC 502: Neuroscience of Occupational Behavior (2) Covers body functions and structures of the nervous system, including the impact of nervous system impairment on occupational behavior.

OSC 503: Functional Anatomy for Occupational Therapy (3) In-depth study of the body functions and structures of the human body with a major emphasis on functional anatomy within the domain of concern for occupational therapy. Includes a practice lab.            

OSC 505: Foundations of Occupational Therapy (3) Introduction to the foundations of the occupational therapy profession including its history, philosophical base, professional terminology, theory development, frames of reference, and the varied scope and roles of the occupational therapy practitioner.      

OSC 506: Creativity and Activity Analysis (2) Exploration of the historical and contemporary use of creativity in the promotion of health through client-centered activities to promote health and recovery. Emphasis on the analysis, grading, and managing the complexity of therapeutic activities. Includes a practice lab.

OSC 507: Kinesiology for Occupational Therapy (3) Focus on the understanding and analyzing typical, atypical, and compensatory human movement across the life span. Includes a practice lab. 

OSC 508: Professional Skills I: Therapeutic Use of Self (2) Exploration of human behavioral theories and practice of therapeutic use of self within individual and group therapeutic contexts. Focus on understanding the occupational needs of individuals and groups, teaching-learning process, appraisal of effective communication, empathy, mindfulness, and building of rapport to foster effective therapeutic relationships. 

OSC 510: Professional Development I: Ethics, Values, and Responsibilities (2) Examines the ethics and values of the profession of occupational therapy including the ethical standards of occupational therapy practice and review of scenarios to solve ethical dilemmas. Includes professional development regarding the acquisition of professional membership, knowledge, and skills expected of students in a professional program while beginning to develop a plan for lifelong learning. 

OSC 511: Health & Medical Conditions: Children & Youth (2) Examines the development and the prevailing health and welfare needs of children and adolescents with or at risk for mental and/or physical disabilities and chronic health conditions. Focus on varying medical conditions that can impact occupational performance and participation of children and youth. 

OSC 512: Occupational Therapy Process: Children &Youth (5) Integrates theories and the occupational therapy process of evaluation (including assessment), intervention, and targeted outcomes with children and adolescents. Includes a practice lab. 

OSC 513: Occupational Therapy Fieldwork: Children & Youth (1) Immersion experience into a therapeutic service delivery context with children or youth. 

OSC 514: Research Methods I: Evidence-based Practice (3) Review of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, appraisal of professional literature and levels of evidence, and the influence of clinical expertise and client values in supporting best therapeutic practices.

OSC 515: Professional Skills II: Safety, Mobility, ADL, IADL, and Work (3) Review and practice of a wide array of health care and practice skills that include infection control, safety, body mechanics, wheelchair and mobility device use, ADL training, IADL training, and ergonomics to improve work performance. Includes a practice lab.

OSC 516: Professional Development II: Health Care, Policy, and Advocacy (3) A focus on understanding health care, policy, and reimbursement that influence access to occupational therapy practice across multiple practice areas. Review of intra-professional and inter-professional roles, and the laws and regulations that influence occupational therapy practice. Promotion of occupational therapy to other professionals, service providers, consumers, third-party payers, regulatory bodies, and to the public. 

OSC 518: Wellness and Health Promotion through Occupation (2) Exploration of occupation and diversity factors that influence health and wellness. Review of community-based and institutional-based practice areas in the promotion of health and wellness in individual, group, and population-based contexts. Create a scholarly proposal designed to improve the wellness, health promotion, and/or occupational participation needs of a targeted community group.

OSC 601: Health and Medical Conditions: Adults (2) Examines the development and the prevailing health and welfare needs of adults with or at risk for mental and/or physical disabilities and chronic health conditions. Focus on varying medical conditions that can impact occupational performance and participation of adults.

OSC 602: Occupational Therapy Process: Adults (5) Integrates theories and the occupational therapy process of evaluation (including assessment), intervention, and targeted outcomes with adults. Includes a practice lab. 

OSC 603: Occupational Therapy Fieldwork: Adults (1) Immersion experience into a therapeutic service delivery context with adults. 

OSC 604: Health & Medical Conditions II: Older Adults (2) Examines the development and the prevailing health and welfare needs of older adults with or at risk for mental and/or physical disabilities and chronic health conditions. Focus on varying medical conditions that can impact occupational performance and participation of older adults.

OSC 605: Occupational Therapy Process: Older Adults (5) Integrate theories and the occupational therapy process of evaluation (including assessment), intervention, and targeted outcomes with older adults. Includes a practice lab. 

OSC 606: Occupational Therapy Fieldwork: Older Adults (1) Immersion experience into a therapeutic service delivery context with older adults. 

OSC 607: Emerging Areas of Occupational Therapy Practice (2) Emerging areas of occupational therapy practice and identifying opportunities to work in an emerging practice area on a full time or contractual basis. 

OSC 608: Professional Skills III: Environmental Adaptations & Assistive Technology (2) Overview of environmental adaptation, compensatory strategies, and types of common assistive devices and technology to improve occupational performance and participation needs identified by individuals and communities. 

OSC 609: Research Methods II: Applied Research (3) Using scholarly literature to develop a research plan to promote evidence-based decisions for an innovative therapeutic program. Make a plan to locate and secure a grant to support program development and implementation. 

OSC 610: Professional Development III: Management and Leadership (2) Plan, develop, and market the management and delivery of occupational therapy that includes care coordination, case management, transition of services, consultation, management of staffing occupational therapy assistants, referral and collaboration with other inter-professional partners, and provision of fieldwork education. 

OSC 611 Fieldwork IIA (6) A twelve-week fieldwork experience designed to promote clinical reasoning and reflective practice to gain the skills as a generalist therapist in a selected practice area.

OSC 612 Professional Development IV: Fieldwork Education (1) Professional responsibility for providing fieldwork education and the criteria to become a fieldwork educator. Discussion of practical solutions to student challenges with occupational therapy service delivery across multiple therapeutic contexts. [online course]

OSC 701 Fieldwork IIB (6) A twelve-week fieldwork experience designed to promote clinical reasoning and reflective practice to gain the skills as a generalist therapist in a selected practice area.

OSC 702 Professional Development V: Career Success and Meaningful Life (1) Preparation methods to taking the NBCOT® exam, future job interviewing, service to society, and the completion of an e-portfolio with strategies to engage in scholarly activities to become a lifelong learner. [online course]

More information can be found in the graduate catalog.

Graduation Requirements

To complete the Occupational Therapy Master’s Program at Gwynedd Mercy University successfully and graduate, students must complete all 6 terms of the professional Occupational Therapy Program which includes 1 term for full-time Level II fieldwork. While enrolled in the Program, students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or greater to remain in good standing. Students with a GPA of less than 3.0 will be placed on probation and will have two terms to raise their GPA to 3.0 or greater. A GPA of less than 3.0 after two terms on probation may result in dismissal from the Program. All students must complete Level II fieldwork within 24 months following completion of academic preparation. 

Financial Aid, Tuition & Fees

The financial aid process and program tuition and fees can be found on GMercyU's Financial Aid & Tuition page. 

The estimated cost of attendance for this program at 77 credits over 26 months is approximately $72,065. This cost is based on the rates for tuition, comprehensive fees, program fees, clearance fees, parking, and books and supplies for the 2020-2021 academic year. This cost does not include transportation. Tuition and fees are not subject to change during the academic year, however, tuition and fees are subject to change from year to year while a student is in the program. To view the tuition and fees associated with the program, please visit the Nursing and Health Professions Tuition & Fees page.

Student Occupational Therapy Association

Gwynedd Mercy University’s Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA) is an active and productive student organization that is primarily comprised of occupational science and occupational therapy students. SOTA serves to enhance the public understanding of the occupational therapy profession through professional development, fundraising, social media, community service, and social activities. To meet the current SOTA Executive Board and to learn of past and upcoming SOTA events, please visit the SOTA homepage.

Why Choose OT at GMercyU?

GMercyU’s MSOT Program is dedicated to preparing future occupational therapists who are capable of making a real difference in the everyday lives of whom they serve to enable.

Offered through the Frances M. Maguire School of Nursing and Health Professions, the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy joins a well-established group of programs and offers many Program highlights including:

• Program philosophy that is consistent with the core values of higher education within the Mercy tradition
• 77 credit program that can be completed in just 26 months
• State-of-the-art classroom and practice labs
• Only program in the region that offers a dual degree of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
• Program that advocates for client-centered, occupation-based, and evidence-based practices
• e-Portfolio that can be used to help graduates stand out during job interviews
• Individualized faculty advisement
• Small class sizes
• Diverse fieldwork options
• Beautiful, private 314-acre campus just 30 minutes from Philadelphia

What Current OT Students Say

Our current students created this video for future students to give you great insight into the program.