Dec 13, 2024  
ARCHIVED 2022-2023 Graduate Catalog 
    
ARCHIVED 2022-2023 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Master of Occupational Therapy Academic Regulations



Enrollment

Leave of Absence

On a very rare occasion in the MOT program, it may be necessary for a student to interrupt his or her studies to accommodate external demands. Under such circumstances, a student may apply for a Leave of Absence. Leave of Absence time period is one calendar year. An approved Leave of Absence is not included in the five year completion timeline.

Application is made through the School of Graduate and Professional Studies. A student on Leave of Absence must notify the School of Graduate and Professional Studies and the MOT Program Director if their intention is to resume graduate study.

The student will re-enter at the point they stepped away from the program. A student who is approved for a Leave of Absence must meet with the MOT Program Director to develop a plan of review and demonstrate competency at a level consistent with a grade of “B” or above in all previously completed course material prior to reentry. The need to demonstrate competency of previous material reassures all stakeholders that the previously learned material has been retained and will allow the student to continue in the program and stay current in the field of OT. Demonstrating competency will not change the student’s official grade.

The School of Graduate and Professional Studies will approve only one Leave of Absence.

Readmission

The MOT Program requires continuous enrollment.

Students who fail to maintain continuous enrollment must reapply through OTCAS and meet all current admission criteria, unless prior approval is granted. Upon acceptance, the student is bound by the terms for completion of the degree as outlined by the requirements as outlined by the academic catalog.

Registration

Registration for MOT courses will be completed during orientation and at subsequent points in the academic year. After a term begins, all enrollments and withdrawals from courses are governed by published college wide deadline dates. A student who wants to withdraw must contact the School of Graduate and Professional Studies.

Repeating Courses

If a student earns a grade of a “C-” or lower, they must repeat the course the next time the course is offered. The student will be classified as being on academic suspension resulting in a registration hold, which will not allow them to continue in the curriculum until the course is offered again. MOT courses are not offered as directed studies.

Auditing Courses

Previously completed courses may be audited only with permission of the MOT program director if space is available.  

Academic Probation and Dismissal

Satisfactory progress shall be defined as maintaining a GPA of 3.0 and a grade of “C” or better in all MOT courses. Only one “C-” or below is allowed per student prior to dismissal from the program. A grade of “C-” or below requires the student to repeat the course. The student will be classified as being on academic suspension resulting in a registration hold, which will not allow them to continuing in the curriculum until the course is offered again. Courses may only be repeated once.

The student will re-enter at the point they stepped away from the program. A student must meet with the MOT Program Director to develop a plan of review and demonstrate competency at a level consistent with a grade of “B” or above in all previously completed course material prior to reentry. The need to demonstrate competency of previous material reassures all stakeholders that the previously learned material has been retained and will allow the student to continue in the program and stay current in the field of OT. Demonstrating competency will not change the student’s official grade.

If a student receives a “C+” or “C” in a given semester, the student will receive an Academic Warning Letter and will be required to meet with the program director to develop a study plan and identify appropriate resources. If a student’s cumulative GPA drops below 3.0, the student will be placed on Academic Probation.

A Master of Occupational Therapy student has one semester to raise their GPA to a 3.0 or above. Once the GPA has reached a 3.0 or above, the student will be removed from Academic Probation. If the student’s GPA remains below 3.0 upon completion of the subsequent term, the student will be academically dismissed.

A student who is academically dismissed must reapply directly through the MOT Program Education Committee. The student must provide the committee with compelling evidence as to how they have addressed the issues that had prohibited them from performing to the level of expectation of the MOT program, which resulted in their dismissal. If they do not show compelling evidence of how they addressed the issues and problems, the student will not be reinstated.

General Degree Program Guidelines and Graduation Requirements for the MOT Program

  1. Satisfactory completion of all courses in the curriculum as defined in the academic catalog.
  2. Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
  3. Completion of Level II Fieldwork with a passing grade.
  4. Completion and submission of fieldwork assessments including the Fieldwork Performance Evaluation and the Student Evaluation of Fieldwork Experience. 

No grade of a “C-” or below may be applied to the degree program. Only one “C-” or below is allowed per student prior to dismissal from the program.

Time Limit for Degree Completion

The MOT degree must be completed within five years from the date of matriculation.