Occupational Therapy - Degrees & Policies

Degrees Offered

Combined: BS/MS in Occupational Science/Occupational Therapy

Advisement

For academic advisement during the pre-professional phase of the program (years 1 and 2), all students should contact the Office for Academic and Student Affairs (OASA) at 716-829-6769 or by email at sphhp-OASA@buffalo.edu. Upon promotion to the professional sequence of the program, each student is assigned a faculty advisor from the Occupational Therapy program.

Acceptance Information

Students who declare occupational therapy as their major on the UB application will have the status of intended major in the Occupational Therapy program. Courses in the first two years of the combined BS/MS program meet the general education requirements and include the program prerequisite courses. Students must complete the prerequisite courses with a minimum GPA of 2.8 and a grade of C or better in each prerequisite course in order to be considered for acceptance into the professional component of the program. Students may not take any prerequisite course more than twice and are limited to repeating no more than two prerequisite courses. Acceptance to the professional sequence is highly competitive and is limited to approximately forty students.

By January 15 of the year in which students intend to begin the professional program, intended OT majors must complete a Promotion to Professional Sequence form and submit evidence of a minimum of seventy hours of volunteer experience in a United States occupational therapy setting providing direct patient/client care under the supervision of an occupational therapist. This experience must be undertaken within two years prior to application in a maximum of two (2) settings. The Volunteer Experience form is available online; only ratings of "Excellent" or "Good" will receive credit toward this requirement.

Transfer Policy

Students can enter the occupational therapy program as transfer students from other institutions. Students who declare occupational therapy as their major on the UB application will have the status of intended major in the Occupational Therapy program. Students must complete the prerequisite courses with a minimum GPA of 2.8 and a grade of C or better in each prerequisite course in order to be considered for acceptance into the professional component of the program. Students may not take any prerequisite course more than twice and are limited to repeating no more than two prerequisite courses. Acceptance to the professional sequence is highly competitive and is limited to approximately forty students.

Courses completed at other colleges or universities are not automatically accepted by the program as fulfilling the prerequisite requirements. Determination is made by an evaluation of the student's transcripts, descriptions of courses that he/she has taken, and credit hours completed. It is recommended that prospective transfer students contact the Office for Academic and Student Affairs (OASA) at 716-829-6769 or by email at sphhp-OASA@buffalo.edu to determine the suitability of prior coursework. Please note that ES 207 (Human Form and Function) and OT 201 (Introduction to Occupational Therapy) must be taken at UB.

Occupational Science/Occupational Therapy - B.S./M.S.

Acceptance Criteria

In order to apply for and be considered for acceptance into the professional sequence of the program, students must:

1. Complete all prerequisite courses with a grade of C or better and attain a GPA (Grade Point Average) of 2.8 in these courses; students may not take any prerequisite course more than twice and are limited to repeating no more than two prerequisite courses.

2. At the time of application, have a minimum GPA of 2.8 in all prerequisite courses.

3. Complete 70 hours of volunteer work in a United States occupational therapy setting providing direct patient/client care under the supervision of an occupational therapist; the volunteer form is to be submitted with the Promotion to Professional Sequence form. This experience must be undertaken within two years prior to application in a maximum of two (2) settings. The Volunteer Experience form is available online; only ratings of
"Excellent" or "Good" will receive credit toward this requirement.

4. Complete a Promotion to Professional Sequence form, which includes a personal statement, by the January 15th of the year in which they intend to begin the professional program. At the time of application, students must have completed a minimum of eight prerequisite courses including ES 207, PHY 101, OT 201, and STA 119. All remaining prerequisite courses must be completed during the spring semester. The grades in prerequisite courses taken during the spring semester will not be used in admissions decisions. However, students must earn a grade of C or higher in the remaining prerequisite courses and earn a spring semester prerequisite GPA of not less than 2.8.

5. Complete all general education requirements prior to the beginning of the professional program, except the Capstone requirement.

6. The Admissions Committee will review all applications and students will be notified of their acceptance status by mid-March.
A wait list will be established and used if the academic performance of any accepted students falls below the stated standards during the spring semester.
Admission to the professional phase of the program is highly competitive and is limited to approximately 40 students.

Advising Notes

Prerequisite Courses

Please note that some prerequisite courses are in high demand by the general student population at UB. Students must give careful consideration to dropping a high-demand course. It may not be possible to schedule the course in a subsequent semester. This may delay eligibility for completion of the Promotion to Professional Sequence form for an entire academic year, thus extending the length of the program. Students may not take any prerequisite course more than twice and are limited to repeating no more than two prerequisite courses.

ES 207 Human Form and Function
OT 201 Introduction to Occupational Therapy
OT 217 Medical Terminology
PGY 300 Human Physiology
PHI 101 Introduction to Philosophy or PHI 107 Ethics or PHI 237 Social and Ethical Values in Medicine or PHI 217 Professional Ethics
PHY 101 College Physics I
PSY 101 Introductory Psychology
PSY 322 Abnormal Psychology
PSY 336 Developmental Psychology or NSG 250 Human Growth and Development
SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology
STA 119 Statistical Methods or PSY 207 Psychological Statistics
SOC 211 Sociology of Diversity, or SOC 332 Medical Sociology, or ARC 211 American Diversity and Design, or APY 106 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology, or APY 275 Introduction to Medical Anthropology, or APY 276 Introduction to Ethnomedicine.

Required Courses

Eligibility is limited to those students who have been accepted into the professional sequence of the Occupation Therapy program.

ANA 407 Gross Human Anatomy
OT 333 Human Occupation Across the Lifespan
OT 341 Critical Analysis of Scientific Literature
OT 342 Neuroscience I
OT 344 Neuroanatomy I
OT 346 Introduction to Scientific Writing
OT 352 Assistive Technology
OT 355 Medical Conditions I
OT 356 Medical Conditions II
OT 361 Functional Anatomy
OT 366 Occupational Therapy Process
OT 382 Issues in Occupational Therapy Service Delivery
OT 402 Group Process and Interpersonal Skills
OT 417 Neurorehabilitation Across the Lifespan
OT 420 Fieldwork Seminar I
OT 450 Prosthetics and Orthotics
OT 472 Level I Fieldwork A
OT 520 Fieldwork Seminar II
OT 535 Medical Evaluation/Intervention: Neurological and Cognitive
OT 536 Medical Evaluation/Intervention: Musculoskeletal, Cardiopulmonary, Integumentary, Oncology
OT 547 Home Based Evaluation and Intervention
OT 548 Community and Vocational Evaluation and Intervention
OT 555 Educational Evaluation and Intervention
OT 566 Occupational Therapy for Underserved Populations
OT 572 Level I Fieldwork B
OT 573 Level I Fieldwork C
OT 574 Level I Fieldwork D
OT 575 Project Guidance I
OT 576 Project Guidance II
OT 577 Project Guidance III
OT 586 Management and Administration
OT 587 Applied Management and Administration
OT 589 through OT 598 Special Topics: Advanced Practice
OT 618 Professional Development
OT 620 Level II Fieldwork A
OT 621 Level II Fieldwork B
CHB 550 Public Health and Population Well Being
Capstone
One advanced elective

Combined Degree Credit Requirement Chart

Credits Required for Major (Undergraduate)	85
Credits Required for Major (Graduate)	59
Additional Credits Required for UB Curriculum	23
Additional Credits Required for Electives	0
Total Credits Required for Degree	167

Students should consult with an academic advisor to determine how any transfer or exam credit might be utilized in meeting general education, prerequisite, or major requirements.

See Baccalaureate Degree Requirements (UB Curriculum) for general education and remaining university requirements.

Learning Outcomes

In keeping with the vision, mission, and philosophy of the University at Buffalo, School of Public Health and Health Professions, Rehabilitation Science Department, and Occupational Therapy Program, graduates of the BS/MS program will:
1. Demonstrate entry-level occupational therapist clinical skills.
2. Analyze trends in occupational therapy service delivery areas, anticipate changes that may have an impact on practice, and advocate for positive change.
3. Demonstrate a commitment to evidence-based practice by both utilizing and contributing to the occupational therapy body of knowledge through research, writing, presentations, or other scholarly activities.
4. Value the role of occupation in public health for wellness and health promotion among individuals and populations.
5. Recognize the role of culture, socioeconomic status, and other contextual factors on occupational performance and participation of all members of society and promote social and occupational justice to reduce health disparities.
6. Become leaders among their peers through professional service and advocacy.
7. Demonstrate a commitment to lifelong learning.

Recommended Sequence of Program Requirements

View the Curricular Plan for the Occupational Science BA/ Occupational Therapy MS which is a recommended sequence of courses to help achieve this degree in five years.

Electives and Course Groupings

Not all courses listed are offered annually

OT 530 Computer Access 1
OT 533 Wheeled Mobility and Seating
OT 534 Ergonomics and Job Accommodation
OT 589 through OT 598 Special Topics: Advanced Practice
OTD 517 Principles of OT with the Physically Disabled
OTD 532 Societal Impact on Persons with Disabilities
OTE 514 Advanced Evaluation/Treatment Principles I - Infants and Toddlers
OTE 515 Advanced Evaluation/Treatment Principles II - Preschool Children
OTE 516 Advanced Evaluation/Treatment Principles III - School Age Children
RSC 570 Culture and Disability
RSC 610 Rehabilitation Environments

Last updated: November 22 2021 21:01:55