Professional Occupational Therapy Program Requirements for Advanced-Standing Students B.S./M.S.
The program is two-and-a-half years (five semesters) of coursework, including fieldwork experiences. Students enroll in a 1-credit January term (J term) Level 1 fieldwork course in between the first and second semesters of the first year of the professional program. There are no summer course requirements.
Advanced-standing students complete the first year of the professional program as part of their B.S. degree in occupational science.
Professional Occupational Therapy Program Requirements for Entering Graduate Students M.S.
The program is two-and-a-half years (five semesters) of coursework, including fieldwork experiences. Students enroll in a 1-credit January term (J term) Level 1 fieldwork course in between the first and second semesters of the first year of the professional program. There are no summer course requirements.
Academic Standards and Policies
In order to be awarded a M.S. in occupational therapy from UNH, students must earn a minimum of B- in all required occupational therapy courses and receive a passing criterion score on the American Occupational Therapy Association Fieldwork Evaluation for the Occupational Therapist in both 12-week Level II fieldwork experiences. Students must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 and meet professional behavioral standards, which are explained in detail in the OT Department Policy and Procedure Manual.
Because curriculum review and revision is undertaken annually, occupational therapy faculty work closely with students during academic advising sessions and share information about any policy and requirement changes during registration periods as well as throughout the academic year. Students are expected to take an active role in verifying expectations and requirements and should check with their departmental advisers each September for updated policies and requirements. Program requirements and policies for retention in the major are posted annually in the OT Department Policy and Procedure Manual, which is available on the OT department’s organization site on MyCourses; students are provided a hard copy or a digital copy of the manual when they enter the program.
Students will participate in a variety of off-campus and fieldwork experiences throughout the course of study. Students are responsible for transportation to fieldwork sites and other off-campus learning experiences and are covered with basic personal liability insurance through UNH for all practical components of the curriculum. Students are responsible for meeting the health and criminal record clearances established by their fieldwork sites and off-campus learning experiences. Proof of immunization such as poliomyelitis, rubella, H1N1, and hepatitis B may also be required. For Level II fieldwork, health insurance and a physical examination, including a tuberculin test, are required. All fieldwork experiences are scheduled in centers approved by the Department of Occupational Therapy and with whom active Memoranda of Understanding with UNH exist.
After successfully completing all Level II fieldwork requirements and academic work, students are awarded a Master of Science Degree in Occupational Therapy. They are then eligible to sit for the National Board Certification Examination in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). Consistent with NBCOT expectations, students must sit for the certification examination within two years of completion of coursework and fieldwork. A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination and/or obtain State Licensure.
Curriculum and schedule: Most classes will be scheduled during weekdays during the day and into early evening. Some courses require experiential, off-campus learning in addition to off-campus Level I and II fieldwork experiences that are two weeks and twelve weeks, respectively. These full time experiences are planned collaboratively with the academic fieldwork coordinator.
