University of Southern Indiana
Occupational Therapy Program
Accreditation Status - Course
Descriptions - Current OT Professional Curriculum - Curricula Information - Application and Selection Process - FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) - Links - Pre-OT Students & Prerequisite Coursework
The Occupational Therapy Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, PO Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220. ACOTE's telephone number c/o AOTA is 301-652-2682. Graduates of this program who earn the combined BS/MSOT degrees will be eligible to sit for the Certification Examination for the Occupational Therapist Registered® 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). Most states require additional credentialing in order to practice; however, state credentials are usually based on the results of the NBCOT certification examination.
The total number of USI MSOT graduates who passed the certification exam in 2005-2007 was 63 out of 64 first-time new graduate test takers, which is a 98% pass rate. During that three-year time period, the program had 66 graduates.
Please note: a felony conviction (this includes documentation of driving under the influence-DUI) will affect your eligibility to take the national certification examination and also state credentialing (e.g., license, certificate, registration). If you are currently charged with or have been convicted of a felony, please notify the Occupational Therapy Program immediately. In addition, if you have had credentials (e.g., license, registration, certificate) in another field (e.g., PTA) denied, revoked, suspended, or subject to probationary conditions, your eligibility to take the national certification examination may be in jeopardy. Please contact the Occupational Therapy Program if you have questions.
Application and Selection Process
BS/MSOT Occupational Therapy Selection for Fall 2009 Entry
For student wishing to enter the professional program and begin taking 300-level occupational therapy courses in the fall semester of 2009 - the application deadline is January 10, 2009.
Appointments for formal interviews and writing samples will be scheduled for the week of January 19, 2008. Eligible applicants will be contacted by email to establish an appointment date and time for an interview and writing sample.
To be eligible to apply, a student must:
Students can be in the process of completing prerequisite courses when they apply. However, all prerequisite coursework must be completed by July 20, 2009.
Selection Process Components (weight) and Conditions
The Occupational Therapy Program will invite a maximum of 30 qualified students, ranked on the selection process components, to begin taking 300-level occupational therapy courses.
Selected students who have not completed all the prerequisite courses with a letter grade of C or better will receive a conditional invitation based upon the recalculation of their final prerequisite GPA. If a conditionally invited student's prerequisite GPA drops prior to beginning the profession OT coursework, the student may lose her/his ranking on the prioritized invitation list and the student's invitation into the BS/MSOT Professional Curriculum may be revoked.
Students who decide to accept the conditional invitation into the BS/MSOT Professional Curriculum, must submit with their acceptance (of the conditional invitation) their plan for completing all prerequisite courses with a letter grade C or better. All prerequisite course work must be completed by July 20, 2009.
Depending on overall rankings, students who are not initially invited
may be placed on an alternate list. Students on the alternate list may
be contacted at any time through the first week of 300-level occupational
therapy courses.
Students who decide to decline their invitation into the professional
program can apply for the competitive selection process in subsequent
years.
To apply:
Link to USI OTP BS/MSOT Application
Link to USI OTP Prerequisite Audit Form
Submit your completed USI OTP BS/MSOT Application and USI OTP Prerequisite Audit Form together to:
Occupational Therapy Program
University of Southern Indiana
8600 University Blvd
Evansville, IN 47712
Upon receipt of your application, the Occupational Therapy Program at USI will send you an email confirming receipt.
Applicants will be notified by email of the date and time of their formal interview and writing sample. Interviews will take place the week of January 19, 2009.
Invitations to begin the Occupational Therapy Program at the University of Southern Indiana will be sent by March 1, 2009.
Pre-OT Students & Prerequisite Coursework
Pre-OT Student
advising at USI is the responsibility of the Student Advising Center of
College of Nursing and Health Professions
--Pre-OT advisor can be contacted at 465-1283 or otinfo@usi.edu
At the conclusion of the 2007 Spring Semester, the Occupational Therapy Program implemented a new curriculum with significant changes in the required prerequisite courses. For particular questions regarding your personal prerequisite requirements, please contact the Pre-OT advisor at 465-1283 or otinfo@usi.edu
Link to the OT Prerequisite Coursework Checklist
Eligibility and selection criteria, including the required prerequisites and selection components may be altered in future years. However, we endeavor to make this known in a sufficient manner for students to respond to any changes prior to application and/or admission to the professional program. Please check this website periodically.
Successful completion of the combined BS/MSOT degree occupational therapy curriculum requires the fulfillment of three distinct sets of coursework - prerequisite coursework, undergraduate professional coursework, and graduate professional coursework.
Pre-OT prerequisite coursework includes: 64-65 credit hours (typically 2 years) of prerequisite courses that qualify you to apply for selection into the BS/MSOT Professional Program.
BS/MSOT professional program includes:
Link to the USI BS/MSOT Curriculum Info Sheet
Students have opportunities to earn a BS degree and a MSOT degree (the minimum entry-level degree for occupational therapists).
Admission into the BS/MSOT professional program portion of the curriculum is by selection only.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Is the selection process
competitive?
Yes. We are planning for somewhere between 80-120 applicants for the 2009
selection process.
Is there
an application deadline for the selection process?
Yes. The deadline will be posted on this Web site.
Do I have to have a minimum number of hours to apply?
Yes. You must show completion of a minimum of 40 semester credit hours of
prerequisite work by the application deadline to begin the application
process.
Is there an alternate
list in case I am not invited?
Yes. Depending on overall ranking, students who are not among the top 30
ranked students may be placed on a alternate list.
When will I find out if I am accepted?
The OTP will notify applicants regarding their status (invitation to begin,
conditional invitation, alternate list placement, or no ranking) during
March.
What is a conditional invitation?
A conditional invitation is offered to students who are invited, via the
selection process, to begin the professional program, but who have prerequisite
work remaining. These students are invited on the condition that the grades
earned in the remaining prerequisite work do not significantly affect their
ranking among those who participated in the selection process.
Do I have to complete all prerequisite courses before I apply to
the program?
No. You can be in the process of taking prerequisite courses when you apply.
However, a student receiving an invitation into the professional program
must complete all prerequisite courses by the conclusion of USI's
Second Summer Session.
How long is the combined BS/MS degree curriculum?
5 years
Will I need to
leave the area for one or both of the extensive fieldwork opportunities?
Probably - a student is assigned to a fieldwork site based on a number
of factors - including the sites available, the student's interests,
and the student's educational needs.
What degree(s) will I have an opportunity to earn?
Note: At USI you must complete both degrees (BS/MSOT) to be eligible to take the national certification examination for the occupational therapist.
I already have
a bachelor's degree (e.g., psychology, health services, biology) - can
I just do the MSOT-only option?
No. If you have a BA/BS in another area, you must apply for selection and
complete the combined BS/MSOT degree curriculum.
I already have a bachelor's degree (e.g., psychology, health
services, biology) - what prerequisite courses do I need?
Current Professional OT Curriculum Students
Student Handbook
Combined BS/MSOT in Occupational Therapy
Curriculum
Student Right to Know Act
University Core Curriculum
requirements
Accreditation
Occupational Therapy Assistant
Program
American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
University of Southern Indiana Home Page
USI College of Nursing and Health Professions
Home Page
University of Southern Indiana Occupational Therapy
Program
8600 University Boulevard, HP 2068
Evansville, IN 47712
812-465-1179 or 812-465-1140
812-465-7092 (fax)