Click here for information about the Graduate Occupational Therapy Department

Barbara Schell, Associate Dean, College of Health Sciences; Director, School of Occupational Therapy
Wendy Holmes, Chair Occupational Therapy-Gainesville
Mary Shotwell, Chair Occupational Therapy-North Atlanta

Occupational Therapy Undergraduate Preparation

Occupational therapy is a health profession which is committed to helping all people participate in necessary and meaningful activities of life. The School of Occupational Therapy provides graduate education programs preparing students to become occupational therapists who excel in Practice, Inquiry and Advocacy. Building on and continuing the values of liberal education, students are guided to become excellent practitioners in diverse settings; to improve the profession by engaging in practice scholarship; and to provide leadership and advocacy ranging from local to international levels. In conjunction with its educational mission, the School engages with the larger professional and client community to encourage high quality services and to advocate for the health and participation of people, organizations and populations through meaningful occupation.

Degrees Offered  Please see a detailed list at the end of this section of majors and courses offered by the School of Occupational Therapy.

Undergraduate Information/ Preparation for the MSOT

Students enter the Occupational Therapy program at the graduate level. There are several majors at Brenau specifically designed to provide the undergraduate preparation for entry into the M.S.O.T. program. Students who take the substantial portion of their undergraduate work at Brenau are given preference in admission. Please click on the links below for the information specific to these options .

• Post Baccalaureate Pre-Occupational Therapy Program  for those with prior degrees: Students who already possess a bachelor’s degree and who wish to take program pre-requisites may enroll in the Pre-OT Preparatory Program which consists of all program pre-requisite courses. Students may choose this option if they wish to complete some or all of the required M.S.O.T. pre-requisite courses at Brenau.
• Health Science (B.S.) [pre-OT] Health Science (B.S.) [pre-OT] 
• Psychology (B.S.) [Pre-OT] 
• Students with any undergraduate major will be considered for admission to the M.S.O.T. program, as long as they have met the program pre-requisites.
• Accelerated M.S.O.T. admission for those without a bachelor’s degree: Highly qualified applicants without a bachelor’s degree who meet program criteria may to apply directly to the M.S.O.T. program 

Accelerated M.S.O.T. admission for those without a bachelor’s degree

This accelerated admission program is designed for academically strong Brenau undergraduates who meet all program requirements except the Bachelor’s degree requirement. All students who are considering this program should be following an undergraduate program of studies which leads to a degree, until such time as they are awarded accelerated admission into the M.S.O.T. program. See the health science or psychology options above for appropriate programs to consider at Brenau.

In this program, students will proceed from the end of their junior year (or equivalent hours) directly into graduate studies. At the completion of the occupational therapy program, they will be awarded an M.S.O.T.; no bachelor’s degree is awarded. Students interested in this option are advised that there may be financial aid implications associated with an early move to graduate status; therefore they are encouraged to work with their financial aid and academic advisors prior to deciding on this option.

Accreditation  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 4720 Montgomery Lane, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA. 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, most 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.

Center for Productive Living

The Center for Productive Living (CPL) housed within the School of Occupational Therapy provides services to the community while at the same time providing educational opportunities for Brenau students. The Center reflects the School’s commitment to promote health through engagement in life by facilitating opportunities for all individuals to participate in the occupations of their choice. Further, the center provides students and faculty members, as well as clients and community members, the opportunity to engage in activities which help remove barriers to social participation.

The mission of the Center for Productive Living is to provide services to individuals, organizations, and populations in local and international communities so as to promote individual and family health by facilitating engagement in purposeful and meaningful occupations and consequently, optimal participation in society. Further, the Center seeks to provide life-changing educational experiences to students so as to prepare practitioners who are creative, leading, and inspiring citizens of the 21st century and who provide life-changing experiences for others.

Services are provided by occupational therapy students with supervision from licensed occupational therapists. The program is scheduled each semester based on both community and student learning needs. The CPL is located at the School of Occupational Therapy at Brenau East located at 1001 Chestnut Road, with additional programs offered at the North Atlanta (Norcross) Campus Occupational Therapy Department located at 3139 Campus Drive, Norcross, GA 30071. For information about services, please call (678) 707-5010.
 

Center for Professional Reasoning

The mission of the Center for Professional reasoning is to promote effective professional practice through educational activities designed to stimulate systematic examination of current practices, as well as to promote the infusion of reasoning practices most likely to result in efficient and effective client outcomes. Students are engaged into a professional process of reflection practice through coursework, fieldwork and research. Practitioners are engaged in practice improvement through collaboration with Brenau faculty members in research, workshops, seminars and consultation experiences, some of which result publications and presentations to national and international organizations. The Center is located in the School of Occupational Therapy, at Brenau East, 1001 Chestnut Road, Gainesville, GA. For information about the Center, contact bschell@brenau.edu or by phone at (678) 770-5007.

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Occupational Therapy Graduate Information

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
The School of Occupational Therapy offers degree program at the graduate level, the Master of Science Occupational Therapy (M.S.O.T) which is a professional entry program. The program is offered at two different locations: Gainesville and Norcross. All programs are cohort programs.

Purpose
The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (M.S.O.T.) is for students who have a bachelor’s degree and who wish to become occupational therapists. The program is designed to meet the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) standards for entry level professional education and to provide advanced graduate education in occupational therapy.

About Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy is a health profession which is committed to helping all people participate in the activities of life. Occupations are activities that bring meaning to the daily lives of individuals, families, and communities and which enable them to participate in society. Examples of occupational activities include self-care, home management, work, play, education and community life. The profession is based in the belief that all individuals have a need and right to engage in meaningful occupations throughout their lives. Participation in these occupations influences human development, health and well-being across the life course, and is fundamental to a just and equitable society. Occupational therapy practitioners conceptualize occupations as both a means and an end to therapy. That is, there is therapeutic value in occupational engagement as a change agent, and engagement in occupations is also the ultimate goal of therapy.

Educational Outcomes: Professional Entry M.S.O.T Program

Together with our Community of Practice—faculty, alumni, clinical educators, and students—the M.S.O.T. program prepares its graduates to excel in Professional Practice, Scientific Inquiry and Advocacy. Brenau graduates are reflective, pragmatic scholars who use effective professional reasoning to engage in innovative, ethical, science-driven and culturally-relevant therapeutic practice. Our graduates value life-long personal and professional growth, and share a commitment to contributing to the wider body of professional knowledge through scientific endeavors and scholarship. Finally, we endeavor to educate occupational therapists who will provide transformative leadership at the local, state, national and international levels within the profession and society at large.
Specific educational goals are to develop occupational therapists who can:

1. Provide high quality professional occupational therapy services in diverse practice environments including medical, educational and community settings.

• collaborate with individuals and groups in the identification of service goals:
• Evaluate occupational performance history, capacities and limitations;
• Identify the influence of personal factors and developmental status affecting performance;
• Evaluate contextual factors affecting occupational performance;
• Design and provide services to maintain, improve and prevent limitations in occupational performance; and
• Develop programs to promote healthy access and participation in society.

2. Demonstrate knowledge and skills in:

• Program design and development,
• Community and population-based care and,
• Selected specialty practices.

3. Communicate professionally in written and oral form using applicable technological resources.
4. Demonstrate a critical understanding of occupational therapy and occupational science theories and their utility for guiding practice and research.
5. Conduct and use research to inform practice:

• Understand and use a range of research designs and methods
• Access and critically evaluate evidence to inform practice decisions and program planning.
• Collaborate in designing and conducting research relevant to practice
• Communicate research findings in order to contribute to client and professional knowledge.

6. Participate in life-long professional development through:

• Critical reflection on practice,
• Identification and implementation of professional development plans

7. Participate in life-long personal development related to self-awareness, spirituality and life-time fitness
8. Contribute to the development of the profession through ongoing professional activities
9. Reflect the values and attitudes of the profession through ethical practice
10. Analyze socio-cultural factors affecting practice, including organizational, legal and global/political issues.
11. Advocate for societal acceptance of individuals with occupational performance problems in order to support access to and participation in desired activities

Please see the Occupational Therapy (M.S.O.T.)  program for prerequisite and graduation requirements.

M.S.O.T. Program Locations  The program is offered at two different locations: Gainesville and North Atlanta (Norcross). All programs are cohort programs.

Gainesville: The Day Program-Gainesville is a typical weekday program in which students take 14-17 hours a semester over seven semesters. Students in this program need to be able to devote 40-50 hours a week to coursework, fieldwork and assignments. Students enter in the Fall and deadlines for admission to the program are in the preceding January.

North Atlanta: There are two M.S.O.T. programs in North Atlanta, a weekend program and a day program. Both programs are designed for students with significant work or other responsibilities which are not compatible daily weekday course obligations.

• The Weekend Program-North Atlanta is a hybrid program, with an average of 9-13 credits per semester over nine semesters. Students attend on ground on Friday evenings and Saturdays for 7-8 weekends per semester. Some fieldwork is required during the week, and there are two full time fieldwork semesters at the end. Students in this program should plan to devote 20-30 hours a week to coursework, fieldwork and assignments. Students enter in the spring semester and deadlines for admission to the program are in June of the preceding year.
• The Day Program-North Atlanta is a hybrid program, with students attending 2-3 weekdays each week on ground, with the rest of the program online. Students in this program should plan to devote 40-50 hours during the week and weekends to coursework, fieldwork and assignments. Students enter in the summer and deadlines for admission to the program are in the preceding December.

Admission Process

The Brenau School of Occupational Therapy participates in the Occupational Therapy Centralized Applications Service, known as OTCAS. Students wishing to be considered for admission to the occupational therapy program need to apply online using the OTCAS application and submit the completed application by the published deadlines scheduled approximately 8 months prior to the start of either the day or weekend program. The Brenau OTCAS application requires the following each applicant to complete the following: 1) the OTCAS application, 2) three professional references, 3) documentation of observation/shadowing hours in at least two different occupational therapy practice settings, 4) two copies of official transcripts from all previous institutions. To learn more about the OTCAS application process visit the OTCAS website.

Students who meet the admission requirements will be required to submit a writing sample and to participate in an interview. Applications are evaluated based on the admission requirements and continue until the class is filled. An alternate list of qualified students is maintained until confirmation is obtained on all vacant positions in the class.

Admission Requirements  Admission to the M.S.O.T. program is highly competitive. There is no graduate entrance examination (GRE/MAT) requirement, but the following academic and other admission criteria must be met for consideration.

1. Overall GPA of 3.0 in college course work.
2. Successful completion (no grade below C) of all prerequisite courses by the end of the semester before starting the program. Combined GPA of 3.0 in these prerequisites.
3. Basic understanding of the profession

• Evidence of sustained volunteer, work or life experience with individuals who have disabilities.
• Evidence of volunteer or observations of occupational therapy (no minimum number of hours required).

4. Evidence of strong interpersonal skills and potential to work in a therapeutic relationship.

• Three recommendations, using OTCAS form. One must be from an occupational therapist, and all from individuals who are knowledgeable of the applicants work and potential for occupational therapy.

5. Evidence of strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Writing sample on admission form and on site.
• Interview.

Admission criteria for accelerated program:

1. 90 hours of completed coursework with an overall GPA of 3.4 or better

• Must include all Brenau general education core requirements
• 18 of the 90 undergraduate credit hours must be upper division courses (300-400 level).
• 75 credit hours must be completed at time of application.
• Met the 30 hour undergraduate residency requirement with Brenau.

2. B or better in all completed pre-OT requirements:

• minimum 18 of the required 25 pre-requisite hours completed at time of application

Progression Requirements

The following requirements must be met for students to remain classified as in good standing in the occupational therapy program, therefore earning the right to continue in the program:

1. Consistent with Graduate School requirements, a minimum 3.0 GPA must be maintained while at Brenau to be considered in good standing. Students falling below this cumulative 3.0 will be placed on academic probation. Students earning a second semester cumulative GPA of below 3.0 will be placed on Academic Suspension. Courses within the M.S.O.T. curriculum may have specific grade requirements in order for students to progress within the curriculum. The course syllabus provides information about specific grading requirements. Students must maintain satisfactory professional behaviors in all classes and field work. Documentation of unsatisfactory ratings of professional behaviors in two or more semesters can be grounds for termination from the program.
2. Successful completion of all Level I and II Fieldwork prior to graduation. Level II Fieldwork must be completed within 24 months of academic program completion.
3. Successful completion of the graduate thesis prior to graduation. The thesis must be completed within 6 months of completion of other academic coursework.

Readmission after Dismissal  After being dismissed from the occupational therapy program, a student may be readmitted one time. Formal requests for readmission must be submitted to the Department Chair one semester prior to the desired readmission date. Documents submitted must include a letter requesting readmission as well as transcripts and other documents deemed necessary by the Progression Committee. The Program Chair and the student’s advisor determine the documentation required for the Progression Committee to consider student readmission. The Progression Committee will make a recommendation to the Program Chair after a review of the submitted information. Students may be required to complete additional coursework or meet specified criteria in order to be readmitted. All readmitted students will be on probation for one semester. Readmission is not automatic.

Special Fees and Expenses  In addition to the University tuition and fees, students are responsible for additional expenses for lab coats and supplies, lab fees for selected courses, E*Value database, other health certificates necessary as requirements for completion of the M.S.O.T. program.

• Textbooks  tend to be expensive, but are used across the program and as professional references once in the field.
• Professional Organization Memberships  Memberships in the American Occupational Therapy Association and the student’s state or regional organization are required. Information from these organizations is routinely used in coursework. Students are also encourages to join the Brenau Occupational Therapy Student Association.
• E*Value database  Students are charged fees for the E*Value web database to maintain health records and other professional resources including a professional portfolio. Students retain access to E*Value for a period of time after graduation from the program.
• Travel & living expenses during fieldwork  Students must be able to provide their own transportation to fieldwork sites. Level I Fieldwork sites may occur in a 60 mile radius from the program site. For students in the evening/weekend program, Level I Fieldwork placements may require similar distances from the student’s home. Level II Fieldwork experiences may be out of state for all students. Note that students are also expected to cover living expenses related to the required two semesters of full-time Level II Fieldwork which may occur at a distance from student residence.
• Laptop computer  Students are expected to have a laptop computer which meets specifications consistent with Brenau IT guidelines available on the Brenau IT web page.

Health and Other Special Requirements  Because of the intensive clinical work in a variety of health settings, the following additional requirements must be met upon admission to the program and renewed as needed throughout the program. Students will be notified of due dates for fees and documentation for these requirements. Students must pay these fees in order to start classes each year.

• Annual physical
• Annual T.B. Titer Test or Chest X-Ray: T.B.
• Tetanus shot done during past 10 years
• MMR shot or documentation of having illnesses in past
• Hepatitis B Vaccine Series or Waiver (Students may not be able to go to certain fieldwork sites if they do not receive the vaccine)
• C.P.R. Training
• Health Insurance
• Malpractice Insurance in the amount of $1,000,000/$3,000,000
• Criminal background check
• Additional information, such as drug screening, may be required by some facilities. This cost is the student’s responsibility.

Course Sequence and Requirements  The professional entry programs are scheduled as cohort programs and courses are generally offered only once a year in each program site. Course sequences for each program location are available on the web site.

Essential Functions  Admitted students are required to meet essential functions necessary for an occupational therapy student. A list of these is available from the School of Occupational Therapy and is also on the School website. Reasonable accommodations are provided consistent with Brenau Policies.

General Certification and Licensure Requirements  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, most 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. All applicants should be aware that the certification and licensing boards have the right to refuse to grant occupational therapy certification and/or licenses to any individuals regardless of their educational credentials under circumstances of:

1. Falsification of application for certification/licensure
2. Conviction of a felony or crime of moral turpitude
3. Other moral and legal violations specified in relevant state laws.

Any applicant who thinks they may have an applicable situation should talk with the Occupational Therapy Department Chair for their program location. This should be done either prior to admission or shortly thereafter.

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Programs

• Occupational Therapy (M.S.O.T.)
• Post Baccalaureate Pre-Occupational Therapy Program

Courses

• CD 230 - Human Occupation and Lifestyle Design
• CD 415 - Qualitative Research
• CD 615 - Qualitative Methods for Evidence Based Practice
• CD 616 - Quantitative Methods for Evidence Based Practice
• CD 900 - Professional Reasoning
• CD 901 - Profession Literacy & Evidence Based Practice
• CD 902 - Leadership, Ethics, and Advocacy
• CD 903 - Teaching in Practice, Community, & Classroom
• CD 904 - Program Development
• CD 906 - Adult Learning and Development
• CD 920 - Qualitative Research Methods
• CD 921 - Adv Qualitative Research Methods
• CD 922 - Intermediate Quantitative Research Methods
• CD 923 - Single Subject & Small-n Design for Practice Studios
• CD 924 - Research Systems: Organization & Support
• CD 938 - Instruments and Measurements for Practice
• CD 950 - Advanced Anatomy of the Upper Limb
• CD 951 - Advanced Neuroscience
• OT 301A - Occupational Therapy Practice I - Foundations
• OT 301B - Occupational Therapy Process I - Foundations
• OT 302 - Professional Development
• OT 310 - Occupational Media
• OT 311 - Clinical Reasoning Seminar 1
• OT 311L - Clinical Reasoning Fieldwork 1
• OT 312 - Clinical Reasoning Seminar 2
• OT 312L - Clinical Reasoning Fieldwork 2
• OT 320 - Neuroscience
• OT 320L - Neuroscience Lab
• OT 330 - Developmental Conditions
• OT 350A - Occupational Therapy Practice 2
• OT 350B - Occupational Therapy Process 2
• OT 400 - Topics in Occupational Science
• OT 411 - Clinical Reasoning Seminar 3
• OT 411L - Clinical Reasoning Fieldwork 3
• OT 412 - Clinical Reasoning Seminar 4
• OT 412L - Clinical Reasoning Fieldwork 4
• OT 415 - Medical Conditions
• OT 460A - Occupational Therapy Practice 3
• OT 460B - Occupational Therapy Process 3
• OT 462A - Occupational Therapy Practice 4
• OT 462B - Occupational Therapy Process 4
• OT 470 - Supervision and Service Management
• OT 475 - Occupational Therapy Reasoning in Practice
• OT 485 - Qualitative Research *
• OT 500 - Clinical Research Project
• OT 510 - Level II Fieldwork
• OT 515 - Level II Fieldwork
• OT 600 - Professional Reasoning
• OT 601 - Occupational Theories in Research and Practice
• OT 602 - Evidence Based Practice
• OT 603 - Foundations of Practice
• OT 603L - Foundations of Practice Lab
• OT 606 - Professional Reasoning - Client Centered Care
• OT 607 - Professional Reasoning - Adolescent/Adult
• OT 608 - Professional Reasoning - Adult/older Adult
• OT 609 - Professional Reasoning - Infants and Children
• OT 611 - Research Seminar
• OT 612 - Evidence Based Practice and Professional Literacy
• OT 613 - Research Supervision 1
• OT 614 - Research Supervision 2
• OT 615 - Qualitative Research
• OT 617 - Level 1 FW - Community Based/mental health/DD
• OT 618 - Level 1 FW - Adult/Older Adult
• OT 619 - Level 1 FW - Infants and Children
• OT 621 - Functional Kinesiology
• OT 622 - Functional Kinesiology in OT
• OT 624 - Occupational Therapy - Adolescents and Adults
• OT 625 - Health Education and Promotion
• OT 626 - Occupational Therapy - Adults & Older Adults
• OT 628 - Occupational Therapy - Infants & Children
• OT 634 - Occupational Therapy Applications - Adolescent/Adult
• OT 636 - Occupational Therapy Applications - Adults and Older Adults
• OT 638 - Occupational Therapy Applications - Infants and Children
• OT 639 - Neuroscience
• OT 639L - Neuroscience Lab
• OT 640 - Supervision & Service Management
• OT 645 - Advanced Practice Elective
• OT 650 - Advanced Practice Elective
• OT 655 - OT Community Based Practice
• OT 660 - Administration Issues in Healthcare
• OT 665 - Clinical Conditions - Adults & Older Adults
• OT 667 - Clinical Conditions - Infants, Children & Adolescents
• OT 670 - Occupation and Adaptation
• OT 680 - Advanced OT Process
• OT 700 - Thesis
• OT 701 - Graduate Seminar
• OT 705 - Instruments and Measurement
• OT 710 - Advanced Anatomy of the Upper Limb
• OT 711 - Research Seminar
• OT 714 - Advanced Neuroscience
• OT 715 - Level II Fieldwork
• OT 716 - Level II Fieldwork
• OT 720 - Special Topics in Occupational Therapy
• OT 721 - Thesis
• OT 722 - Supervision and Administrative Issues in OT
• OT 725 - Health Education and Promotion
• OT 745 - Advanced Practice Elective
• OT 750 - Advanced Practice Elective
• OT 760 - Professional Development Planning
• OT 901 - Occupational Science and Occupation-Based Practice
• OT 920 - Occupational Therapy Services for Children and Youth