Occupational Therapy (M.S.)
The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (M.S.O.T.) professional program offers a dynamic, challenging academic and experiential curriculum designed to prepare students for entry-level practice. In keeping with the Mission of Seton Hall University, the program offers a values-centered curriculum focused on the development of compassionate, innovative, evidence-informed leaders who will care for the current and future needs of individuals, communities, and populations. The curriculum emphasizes collaborative and interprofessional teamwork in traditional and non-traditional practice settings.
The program consists of four consecutive terms that combine didactic and experiential learning followed by two terms of full-time clinical experiential education (fieldwork II) for a total of 64 credits. The program length is two years of full-time study that integrates didactic, laboratory, clinical and service-learning experiences. All students must complete Level II fieldwork within 24 months following completion of academic preparation.
This is a lock-step curriculum which means that courses cannot be taken out of sequence. Therefore, failure in a course results in a one-year delay of graduation.
The occupational therapy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE's telephone number, c/o AOTA, is (301) 652-6611, and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.
Graduates of the program are eligible to take the National Certification Examination for the Occupational Therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this examination, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). Most states require license to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification or attain state license.
Admission
Admission to the program requires:
- Completion of the Seton Hall University MSOT program application through OTCAS;
- a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a minimum overall GPA of 3.2;
- completion of the following prerequisite courses with a minimum GPA of 3.2 and a grade of “C” or better in each course; and
- three letters of recommendation, one from a registered occupational therapist (OTR).
Prerequisite Courses
- Human Anatomy and Physiology (with Lab) 8 credits
- English 3 credits
- Statistics 3 credits
- Introduction to Sociology 3 credits
- Introduction to General Psychology 3 credits
- Abnormal Psychology 3 credits
- Developmental Psychology (Across the Life Span) 3 credits
Anatomy and Physiology must include a laboratory. Students with incomplete prerequisites may apply; however, they must state how they will satisfy the prerequisites prior to the start of the program. All prerequisite courses must be completed within 10 years of the application date. College Level Examination program (CLEP), Advanced Placement (AP), and International Baccalaureate (IB) credits cannot substitute for prerequisite courses required for admission.
Applicants are required to perform a minimum of 50 hours of volunteer work with an occupational therapist (OTR). One letter of recommendation must be from an occupational therapist (OTR). The Committee on Admissions will determine candidates’ eligibility upon review of the following: GPA; non-quantifiable items, including letters of recommendation, occupational therapy volunteer experiences, employment experiences, healthcare experiences, professional and community activities, and a written essay demonstrating understanding of and commitment to the profession. If English is not the native language, a student must submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Score Report documenting a paper-based score of 550 or above, a computer-based score of 213 or above, or an Internet-based score of 79 or above.
Information regarding the application deadline may be obtained from the School of Health and Medical Sciences, (973) 761-7145 or email shms@shu.edu.
Curriculum Requirements
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | |
| GMOT 6600 | Orientation to Occupational Therapy Domain & Process | 3 |
| Functional anatomy and kinesiology for occupational centered practice | 2 | |
| GMOT 6605 | Functional Anatomy and Kinesiology for Occupational Centered Practice | 2 |
| Functional anatomy and kinesiology for occupational centered practice (lab) | 2 | |
| GMOT 6610 | Func A & K for OT Practice-lab | 2 |
| Neuroscience and functional cognition for occupational centered practice | 3 | |
| GMOT 6615 | Neuroscience and Functional Cognition for Occupational Centered Practice | 3 |
| Occupational therapy reasoning and practice skills | 2 | |
| GMOT 6620 | Occupational Therapy Reasoning and Practice Skills | 2 |
| Occupational therapy reasoning and practice skills (lab) | 2 | |
| GMOT 6625 | Occupational Therapy Reasoning and Practice Skills | 2 |
| Occupational justice and diversity, equity, and inclusion for occupational centered practice | 2 | |
| Principles for evidence informed practice I | 1 | |
| GMOT 6630 | Principles for Evidence Informed Practice I | 1 |
| Hours | 29 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| Assessments for occupational centered practice with adults | 3 | |
| GMOT 6635 | ||
| Occupational centered practice for adults with orthopedic conditions (lecture) | 3 | |
| GMOT 6640 | ||
| Occupational centered practice for adults with neurologic conditions | 2 | |
| GMOT 6645 | ||
| Occupational centered practice for adults with neurologic conditions (lab) | 1 | |
| Occupational centered practice for adults: integrative experiential seminar | 1 | |
| Occupational centered practice for mental health across the lifespan | 2 | |
| Group process for occupational centered practice | 2 | |
| Fieldwork level I: Rehabilitation | 1 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Summer | ||
| Occupational therapy leadership and management | 2 | |
| Wellness and health promotion for occupational centered practice | 3 | |
| Assistive technology of occupational centered practice | 2 | |
| Development and context for pediatric occupational centered practice | 1 | |
| Fieldwork level I: Behavioral health, community health, mental health | 1 | |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| Occupational centered practice for pediatrics (lab) | 1 | |
| Occupational centered practice I: infants and children (lecture) | 3 | |
| Occupational centered practice II: Adolescents (lecture) | 2 | |
| Level I fieldwork: Pediatrics | 1 | |
| Professional transition and interprofessional practice | 2 | |
| Principles for evidence informed practice II | 2 | |
| The reflective practitioner | 2 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| Level II fieldwork 1 | 4 | |
| Professional development: Reflection seminar I | 1 | |
| Hours | 5 | |
| Summer | ||
| Level II fieldwork 2 | 4 | |
| Professional development: Reflection seminar II | 1 | |
| Hours | 5 | |
| Total Hours | 76 | |
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