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Department of Occupational Therapy

Dean of the College of Health Professions: States

Chair: Griffiths

Associate Chairs: Prusnek, Sensel

Professor: Griffiths

Associate Professor: Prusnek

Assistant Professors: Johnson, Markley, McLaughlin, Sakemiller, Sensel

Assistant Professors of Teaching: Herr, Tippie, Weir

Instructor of Teaching: Kleman 

Accredited Doctoral-Degree-Level of Occupational Therapy Program

The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree 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-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.

Accredited Master's-Degree-Level Occupational Therapy Program

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 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. 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.

Program Options

The Occupational Therapy program offers two degree options, Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) and Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT).

Doctor of Occupational Therapy

The Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program awards a degree after three years of graduate study.

Mission

The mission of the Doctor of Occupational Therapy program at The University of Findlay is to prepare occupational therapists who value clinical and professional reasoning, implement evidence-based, community-focused and occupation-based approaches to practice grounded in the tenets of humans as occupational beings; are ethical, reflective, autonomous practitioners and leaders in a variety of meaningful professional roles for service with diverse populations.

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of the OTD program at The University of Findlay, the graduate will be prepared to:

  1. Practice occupational therapy in a holistic and client-centered manner that ensures a critical awareness of and sensitivity to contextual and cultural issues that impact occupational performance.
  2. Articulate and apply diverse evidence-based, community-focused, occupation-based approaches to interventions relevant to goals, outcomes, and resources for people, populations, and communities across the life span.
  3. Evaluate sociopolitical and economic systems and trends that impact the ever-changing administration and provision of occupational therapy services with all people, populations, and
    communities.
  4. Employ theoretical foundations, professional and clinical reasoning, and current research for effective evidence-based practice.
  5. Be moral and ethical occupational therapy practitioners who demonstrate leadership and an understanding of and commitment to the values of the profession by being self-directed practitioners, life-long learners, and agents of change through effective solutions. 

Admission Options into the Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program

Early Assurance

High school seniors who meet the criteria for an invitation to apply, have the option to apply to the Occupational Therapy Early Assurance option. Early assurance applicants are required to complete their bachelor’s degree at the University of Findlay. Students can choose any bachelor's degree that meets the required course prerequisites to the OTD program.

If granted university undergraduate admission and the applicant has a minimum overall grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale, the application will be sent a supplemental occupational therapy early assurance application.

The supplemental early assurance application allows high school seniors to provide the reviewers with information regarding extra-curricular activities and community service as well as performance in other areas pertinent to granting an invitation to participate in the Occupational Therapy Early Assurance option.

In order to maintain early assurance candidacy status for the OTD program, students will be required to:

  1. Meet with an identified OT advisor once per semester to ensure that the student maintains the requirements of the Early Assurance option,
  2. Have all Doctor of Occupational Therapy program prerequisites satisfied prior to the start of the OTD program,
  3. Maintain a minimum overall grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale,
  4. Complete the prerequisites courses with a "C" or better.
  5. Complete and submit the intent to enroll application and the OT advisor verification of status during the application cycle prior to their intended start date.

Note: Occupational therapy early assurance students have the option to enroll in the combined 3+3 bachelor of science in wellness and health promotion or psychology options or complete another bachelor’s degree including all required prerequisites prior to their intended start date.

Combined 3+3 BS in Wellness and Health Promotion or Psychology

The combined 3+3 pathway is an accelerated track designed for students to earn both their bachelor of sciences in wellness and health promotion or psychology and their Doctor of Occupational Therapy in six years. After three years of accelerated undergraduate work, meeting required prerequisites and GPA, students will complete their fourth year of undergraduate work enrolled in the Doctor of Occupational Therapy program. After the successful completion of the first year of graduate work, students will be able to apply for undergraduate graduation.

Students may apply for the 3+3 program at any time during their undergraduate pathway. The student’s transcript will be reviewed by a wellness and health promotion or psychology advisor for eligibility. If eligible, the student will then meet with a representative from the Department of Occupational Therapy for an admissions interview. After successful completion of the interview, the student will submit three letters of recommendation for review. Provisional acceptance into the OTD program will be determined and granted based on these criteria.

In order to maintain the provisional acceptance seat for the OTD program, students will be required to:

  1. Meet with an identified OT advisor once per semester to ensure that the student maintains the requirements of the 3+3 program,
  2. Have all Doctor of Occupational Therapy program prerequisites satisfied prior to the start of the OTD program,
  3. Maintain a minimum overall grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale,
  4. Complete the prerequisite courses with a “C” or better;
  5. Complete and submit the intent to enroll application and the OT advisor verification of status during the application cycle prior to their intended start date.
  6. Meet all requirements outlined by the undergraduate major with a minimum of 102 undergraduate credits completed.

If the applicant does not have the required undergraduate course credits and program prerequisites prior to the program start date, the status of provisional acceptance will be revoked and the student will continue with traditional undergraduate coursework required for the wellness and health promotion or psychology degree. In this instance, students may apply to the OTD program at a later date under the post-baccalaureate option. 

Post-Baccalaureate

Students wishing to apply for admission to the Doctor of Occupational Therapy program after the completion of a bachelor’s degree must have completed the prerequisite courses with a “C” or better and submit the OT program application through the Occupational Therapy Central Application Service (OTCAS).

Applicants may begin the application process during the application cycle prior to the conferral date of the bachelor’s degree. If accepted for admission, the applicant will be given conditional acceptance until proof of completion of the baccalaureate degree and program prerequisites are confirmed. If the applicant does not have the required baccalaureate degree and program prerequisites prior to the program start date, the status of conditional acceptance will be revoked.

Master of Occupational Therapy Program

The Master of Occupational Therapy program is a hybrid Weekend College program with a degree awarded after successful completion of the required credits. The Master of Occupational Therapy program is designed for students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university or who have earned an associate degree in occupational therapy (OTA) or Physical Therapy (PTA) and are enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Business Management-Occupational Therapy Strand/ Bridge Pathway.

Mission

The mission of the Master of Occupational Therapy Program is to prepare occupational therapists who value clinical and professional reasoning, implement contemporary evidence-based, community-focused, and occupation-based approaches to practice grounded in the tenets of humans as occupational beings. Graduates are ethical, reflective, autonomous practitioners who are leaders in a variety of meaningful professional roles for service with diverse populations.

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of the Master of Occupational Therapy Program at the University of Findlay, graduates will:

  1. Practice occupational therapy in a holistic manner to ensure a critical awareness and consideration of contextual, cultural and diversity factors impacting occupational performance in persons, groups and populations.
  2. Demonstrate clinical competence through articulation and application of contemporary occupation-based approaches relevant to the occupational therapy process across the life span
    for people, groups and populations.
  3. Analyze trends in sociopolitical and economic systems impacting the ever-changing administration and provision of occupational therapy services within traditional and emerging communities.
  4. Employ theoretical principles and approaches, professional reasoning, and current research for effective evidence-based practice.
  5. Be moral and ethical occupational therapy practitioners who are leaders committed to the values and principles of the profession by being self-directed life-long learners and agents of
    change.

Admission Requirements

Students wishing to apply for admission to the Master of Occupational Therapy hybrid program must have a minimum overall grade point average of 3.0 and completed the prerequisite courses with a “C” or better in all prerequisite courses. All prerequisite courses should be completed before making application to the program. In addition, the following admission criteria must be met:

Admission options for the Master of Occupational Therapy program:

Combined Bachelor of Science in Business Management (BSBM) – Occupational Therapy Strand / Bridge Pathway
The combined Bachelor of Science in Business Management (BSBM) – Occupational Therapy Strand/ Bridge Pathway is an accelerated track designed for students with an associate degree in occupational therapy or physical therapy to earn both their Bachelor of Science in Business Management (BSBM) and their Master of Occupational Therapy. After completion of the undergraduate work, meeting required prerequisites and GPA, students will complete their final year of undergraduate work while enrolled in the Master of Occupational Therapy program. After the successful completion of the first year of graduate work, students will be able to apply for undergraduate graduation.

Students with an associate degree in occupational therapy (OTA) or physical therapy (PTA) may apply for the combined Bachelor of Science in Business Management (BSBM) – Occupational Therapy Strand / Bridge Pathway. The student’s transcript will be reviewed by an OT advisor for eligibility. If eligible, the student will then meet with a representative from the Occupational Therapy department for an admissions interview. After successful completion of the interview, the student will submit three letters of recommendation for review. Provisional acceptance into the MOT program will be determined and granted based on these criteria.

In order to maintain the provisional acceptance seat for the MOT program, students will be required to:

  • Meet with an identified OT advisor once per semester to ensure that the student maintains the requirements of the combined Bachelor of Science in Business Management (BSBM) – Occupational Therapy Strand/ Bridge Pathway,
  • Have all Master of Occupational Therapy program prerequisites satisfied prior to the start of the MOT program,
  • Maintain a minimum overall grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale,
  • Complete the prerequisite courses with a “C” or better;
  • Complete and submit the intent to enroll application prior to their intended start date.
  • Meet all requirements outlined by the undergraduate degree completion major with a minimum of 102 undergraduate credits completed.

If the applicant does not have the required undergraduate course credits and program prerequisites prior to the program start date, the status of provisional acceptance will be revoked and the student will continue with traditional undergraduate coursework required for the Bachelor of Science in Business Management BSBM. In this instance, students may apply to the MOT program at a later date under the post-baccalaureate option.

Post-Baccalaureate
Students wishing to apply for admission to the Master of Occupational Therapy program after the completion of a bachelor’s degree must have completed the prerequisite courses with a “C” or better and submit the OT program application through the Occupational Therapy Central Application Service (OTCAS).

Applicants may begin the application process during the application cycle prior to the conferral date of the bachelor’s degree. If accepted for admission, the applicant will be given conditional acceptance until proof of completion of the baccalaureate degree and program prerequisites are confirmed. If the applicant does not have the required baccalaureate degree and program prerequisites prior to the program start date, the status of conditional acceptance will be revoked.

Admission Requirements Continued-OTD and MOT

Students, whose native language is not English and who have not graduated from a University of Findlay approved English speaking university, must meet the previously listed admission conditions plus the following for full admission:

  1. Must have a verified international English Language Testing System (IELTS) of 8 composite score with all bands of 7.5 or above, or an equivalent score as indicated on the University of Findlay's English Exam Admission Standards. Full admission is dependent on satisfying all admission requirements.
  2. Provide an affidavit of financial support (original), if not an American citizen or permanent resident.

Additionally, if the applicant supplies a non-U.S. school transcript the University's Office of International Admissions and Services may require additional specific documentation. Contact the Office of International Admissions at 800-472-9502 ext. 4558 or https://www.findlay.edu/admissions/international/.  

The Occupational Therapy program reserves the right to make program and admission requirement changes without prior notice.

Program Minimum Progress Standards

The Occupational Therapy program minimum progress standards are more stringent than the University’s policy regarding graduate minimum progress. Please refer to the Occupational Therapy Program Student Handbook for program policies regarding minimum progress.