The Occupational Therapy Department offers master’s degrees at two different levels, for those entering the profession and for post-professional study. It also offers for post-professional students practice certificates (inquiries about the practice certificate program should be directed to the Occupational Therapy Department). The master’s degree programs are designed for persons with various backgrounds and levels of education who either wish to become occupational therapists or who wish to further their education in the field. Most students choose to earn a master of education (M.Ed.) in Occupational Therapy. The master of science (MS) option requires three additional research related courses to be taken beyond the standard program requirements.

Fully encompassing Springfield College’s humanics philosophy, the occupational therapy programs emphasize that health and learning are best gained through an approach that unifies spirit, mind, and body. The overarching goal of the programs is to foster in each student a strong sense of professional identity embracing the basic tenets and ethical practices of the profession.

The entry level course of study includes occupational therapy theory, skills and administration in working with individuals across the life span. The entry-level curriculum meets the requirements of the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education of the American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. (4720 Montgomery Lane, P. O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220, telephone 301-652-2682, www.aota.org). Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the National Certification Examination for the Occupational Therapist (National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, 800 S. Frederick Avenue, Suite 200, Gaithersburg, MD 20877-4150, telephone 301-990-7979, www.nbcot.org). After successful completion of this exam, the graduate will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). Most states also require licensure in order to practice.

The post-professional degree programs are designed for students who have already achieved national certification in occupational therapy at the professional level. The curriculum focus is on theoretical foundations of occupational therapy practice, advanced clinical competency, and professional leadership ability. Each post-professional degree program requires a minimum of thirty-two semester hours of credit and may culminate in the master’s degree (for students who enter with a baccalaureate degree). Full time students may complete the post-professional master’s program in one year, including two academic semesters and the summer term, unless they choose a research project or thesis option, which typically requires one additional semester.  Part-time study is also possible.

Interested students are urged to contact the Occupational Therapy Department at (413) 748-3581 to meet with a faculty member before or while applying for admission to either program level. General criteria for admission are included on page 6 of the Graduate Catalog, and specific criteria are included under each of the program descriptions that follow.

Entry-Level Master’s Degree Program in Occupational Therapy

Students in the entry-level program in occupational therapy learn to work with individuals whose abilities to engage in the everyday tasks of living or the mastery of self and the environment are challenged by developmental delays, mental or social disabilities, physical dysfunction, chronic illness, or age. The curriculum closely integrates academic course work with lectures, seminars, group projects, and hands-on practice in supervised laboratories, and work with clients in service delivery settings under the direction of experienced therapists. Such collaborative activities facilitate the learning of essential technical and clinical skills, critical problem-solving techniques, leadership skills, and the development of self-confidence and professional identity.

Students may choose to pursue the master of education degree, which requires successful completion of seventy-seven credits of graduate study including a research requirement, or the master of science degree, requiring successful completion of a three-credit independent research project and five credits of graduate study beyond the master of education requirements, generally completed in one additional semester. Students with prior occupational therapy course work and/or experience may apply to waive and/or transfer up to twelve credits.  Students in the Dual Degree and Advanced Senior Programs must complete forty-eight credits at the graduate level for the master of education degree, or fifty-six credits for the master of science degree.

Certified occupational therapy assistants with a bachelor’s degree in another major and at least two years clinical experience in OT may be eligible to waive certain program requirements and/or to substitute elective, independent study, or post-professional courses for some program requirements. (Inquiries about these program modifications should be directed to the Occupational Therapy Department Chair.)

Applicants with a bachelor’s degree in another major who have taken professional-level courses within another accredited occupational therapy program within the past three years may apply for advanced standing.  A maximum of 18 credits may be waived under this option, leaving a minimum of 39 credits of graduate academic courses (not including Level II fieldwork) that must be completed at Springfield College to earn the Master of Education in Occupational Therapy degree, or a minimum of 47 credits for the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy.  Applicants must present all materials required for advanced standing waivers by April 1 for fall entry, by October 1 for spring entry, and by February 1 for summer entry.  Interested applicants may contact the Occupational Therapy Department Chair for supplemental materials to apply as an advanced standing candidate. 

Full-time students pursuing the master of education degree may complete the program’s academic and clinical requirements in twenty-two months. Part-time study is possible until the start of the six- to nine-month fieldwork requirement. Although most classes are scheduled during the day, they are often offered in blocks (i.e., one three-hour class per week) for the convenience of part-time students. All requirements for the degree must be completed within five years of entry into the program, and the required six months of fieldwork must be completed within two years of finishing the academic requirements of the program.  Sample part-time course plans may be obtained from the Occupational Therapy department.

Entry-Level Program Admission Requirements

Students who will have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university by the time they enroll in the program may apply to the entry-level master’s degree program in occupational therapy as graduate students. There are also several entry points at the undergraduate level, which are described in further detail in the Springfield College Undergraduate Catalog. These programs include options for:

* Undergraduate applicants, who may enter the Occupational Therapy Dual Degree Program as first-year students, simultaneously enrolling in a separate undergraduate major and the graduate program in occupational therapy to earn both a bachelor of science or arts degree in a field of study related to occupational therapy and a master’s degree in occupational therapy in five years.

* Transfer applicants, including certified occupational therapy assistants and others with associate degrees in related fields, as well as internal transfers, who may be accepted to the dual degree program as space is available.

* Qualified students currently enrolled in an undergraduate major at Springfield College, who may apply during their junior year to enter the occupational therapy program as Advanced Seniors.

Graduate applicants must submit their complete applications and all required credentials by January 1 for guaranteed consideration for acceptance the following fall, though applications received after this date will be reviewed on a space-available basis. The application must include transcripts, references, a resume, completed prerequisite and experience worksheets, and a strong statement of personal and professional objectives. Applicants must also have observed, volunteered, and/or worked in an occupational therapy setting prior to application. Additional experience working with people in an educational or health care setting, especially in the capacity of full-time employment, is also highly valued. Reference to these experiences will strengthen the applicant’s personal statement. One letter of reference from an occupational therapist is also strongly recommended.

The following prerequisite courses with satisfactory grades are required of all candidates:

Physical Sciences, which must include:

• Anatomy and Physiology with labs, taken within the last five years 6-8 credits
• One elective physical science (physics or kinesiology is strongly recommended) 3 credits

Social Sciences, which must include:

• Introduction to Sociology 3 credits
• Introduction to Psychology 3 credits
• Abnormal Psychology 3 credits
• One elective social science 3 credits
  (Human Development is strongly recommended)

English, including one composition course 6 credits
Introduction to statistics 3 credits

To receive consideration for admission, applicants must have a minimum grade point average of at least 3.0 in both the physical and social science prerequisite courses, as well as a 3.0 overall cumulative average. Applicants must have completed at least two courses in the physical science and two in the social science categories at the time of application. Candidates may be accepted while still taking prerequisite courses, but enrollment, if accepted, is contingent upon successful completion of the remaining prerequisites. In some cases a student may be conditionally accepted to a three-year accelerated entry track that includes several prerequisite courses during the first year. Full acceptance will be considered once prerequisites are successfully completed. CLEP examinations to fulfill prerequisites are also acceptable. Those applicants with exceptional qualifications in all areas except meeting the academic standards may be considered on a conditional basis.