About the Curriculum

Conceptually, the curriculum is guided by a transactional approach that focuses on the interdependence of the person within the environment, and the recognition that culture has an impact on the person, community and occupation. Occupational justice, the view that all persons in society have a right to be included in everyday occupations, is central to the philosophy of the program. In addition, client-centered and evidence-based practice principles are infused into the teaching-learning strategies that guide the curriculum.

The Occupational Therapy Practice Framework and the International Classification of Function (ICF), with its emphasis on health and functioning, define the program’s four curricular threads and provides the basis of academic and clinical instruction:

• Health and well-being
• Humanism and client-centered practice
• Occupation-based practice
• Evidence-based practice

Using a number of modalities, including case-based and problem-based teaching-learning strategies, students integrate basic and applied concepts of social science with the study and application of occupational therapy. During the clinical phase of the program, students are placed in various practice settings to synthesize and apply knowledge and skills under the supervision of a licensed occupational therapist. Practice settings include affiliated schools, hospitals, private practices, and community clinics to offer training and provide the opportunity for exposure to a wide variety of client populations. Research and the scholarship of clinical application are embedded into the course work, along with a research course that will culminate in a project that demonstrates the students’ ability to integrate theory with the principles of community-oriented and environmentally sensitive care.

All students are responsible for transportation to all fieldwork experiences and for maintaining viable health insurance, malpractice insurance, CPR certification, and immunizations according to their fieldwork placements. The Occupational Therapy Graduate Student Handbook contains further description of students’ responsibilities, code of ethical conduct and expectations for participation in Level I and Level II Fieldwork experiences.  The Master of Science program in Occupational Therapy at Hofstra University requires that students complete Level II fieldwork within 18 months. Membership in the American Occupational Therapy Association is required yearly. Students will earn a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy upon completion of the entire curriculum.

Admission Requirements

Students must meet the following requirements to be considered for the MS in occupational therapy program:

1. Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or institution, with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and a cumulative science GPA of 2.75 or higher. 
2. Three (3) letters of recommendation, with at least one letter from a licensed Occupational Therapist.
3. Personal essay identifying areas of interest and reasons for seeking advanced training in occupational therapy.
4. Transcript of prerequisite courses if not completed as part of a baccalaureate degree (see courses below).
5. Documentation of at least 20 hours of volunteer experience observing/shadowing occupational therapy-related experiences in at least two settings.
6. Interviews may be requested of applicants.
7. International students must take the TOEFL exam and pass with a minimum score of:

• Internet-based test: 80
• Computer-based test: 213
• Paper-based test: 550

Prerequisite Occupational Therapy Course Work**

1. Abnormal Psychology (or psychopathology or psychology of deviance): 3 s.h.
2. A course in developmental psychology (human development across the life span including theories of development): 3 s.h.
3. Human Anatomy (laboratory component required): 4 s.h.
4. Human Physiology (laboratory component required): 4 s.h.
   
   When anatomy and physiology are taken as a combined survey course, a full complete sequence of two semesters (Anatomy & Physiology I and Anatomy & Physiology II) must be taken to fulfill Human Anatomy and Human Physiology prerequisites.
5. Social behavioral science course (e.g. sociology, anthropology, political science, public health, epidemiology): 3 s.h.
6. RECOMMENDED: Elementary Statistics (can be online course)

**All pre-OT course work must be completed before matriculation into the occupational therapy program. Preference will be given to applicants with a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all course work, and a cumulative GPA of 2.75 in science courses. It is necessary to indicate courses in progress or planned on the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS) application.

Application

Applications must be submitted to the Occupational Therapy program through the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application System (OTCAS) online at otcas.liaisoncas.com by the deadline of February 1 for admission to the class that begins the subsequent September. Applications verified by OTCAS prior to the deadline are given preference, with all others reviewed on a space-available basis.

Applicants should be aware that a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 and a cumulative GPA of 2.75 in science courses do not guarantee entry into the program. The Occupational Therapy program is competitive and only the strongest applicants will be selected for a personal interview with the Program’s Admissions Committee for consideration for acceptance into the program. Those who apply earliest have the best chance of being invited for an interview and therefore being offered a seat in the program.

Program Requirements – Total Semester Hours: 68

The following major and additional requirements must be fulfilled with a minimum overall GPA of 3.0, with no more than two course grades below B-.

Graduation Requirements

1. Completion of all program requirements.
2. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 in overall graduate course work, with no more than two course grades below B-.