Occupational Therapy

[1] Occupational Therapy: Living Life to Its Fullest

Occupational therapy practitioners help people across the lifespan participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities. They use a holistic and customized approach to evaluations, interventions, and outcomes to help a child with disabilities participate in school and in social situations, assist a person recovering from injuries to regain skills, aid older adults to stay as independent as possible, and offer specialized support and services to people of all ages and in all circumstances that only occupational therapy can provide. Occupational therapy interventions may be provided to individuals, groups, communities, or to society as a whole.

[2] Doctor of Occupational Therapy

[2.1] Mission

The mission of the University of Central Arkansas Occupational Therapy Program in implementing a clinical doctorate in occupational therapy (OTD) is to develop leaders, advocates, researchers, and skilled practitioners competent in providing OT services to individuals and populations who are limited by physical or psychosocial situations that compromise independence and wellness. Graduates are prepared to practice in a variety of service delivery models, and to develop productive interpersonal and therapeutic relationships with clients, families, communities, populations, organizations, and other health and human services professionals.

The program is committed to promoting student awareness and appreciation of different cultural and social value systems. Student sensitivity is cultivated through the improved awareness of self and appreciation of diversity among client populations. The program seeks to instill in students a sense of self direction, discernment, and a desire to assume active responsibility for leadership, advocacy, clinical research, advanced clinical skills, and education.

In addition to educating competent practitioners, leaders, and advocates, the program strives to have a strong positive influence on the profession throughout the state and region, by assisting in the development of new knowledge in the science of occupation and in conducting and disseminating clinical research that establishes the efficacy of OT services.

[2.2] Accreditation

The entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). Contact information for ACOTE is

Students must complete 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork as well as an individual 14-week capstone experience within 12 months following the completion of the didactic portion of the program. The doctoral capstone experience must be started after completion of all coursework and Level II fieldwork as well as completion of preparatory activities defined in 2018 ACOTE OTD Standard D.1.3.

[2.3] Certification

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, all 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. For further information, contact NBCOT at the following address/phone number:

[2.4] Course of Study

The curriculum leading to the Doctor of Occupational Therapy requires prior completion of a baccalaureate degree from a United States Department of Education (USDE)-recognized regionally accredited college or university. Moreover, completion of 25 hours of prerequisite course work (grade C or better) is required. Prerequisite courses may be completed at UCA or at another regionally accredited college or university. Students who plan to complete prerequisites at another university are strongly urged to contact the Occupational Therapy Program Advisor to assure course equivalency.

Students are admitted to the program via a competitive admission process. Students who are admitted will complete 112 graduate credit hours, scheduled across a 36 month period. Within the course of study, the students are engaged in both classroom and fieldwork experiences at facilities in Arkansas and across the US. The first level of fieldwork assignments occur in concert with on-campus course work. Advanced levels of fieldwork assignments involve full time placement at two different fieldwork sites across a 6 month period. At this level, students may again be placed at facilities in Arkansas or across the US. In addition, a 560-hour doctoral capstone program will serve as an integral part of the program’s curriculum and will include in-depth experiences in clinical skills, research skills, administration, leadership, program and policy development, advocacy, education, and/or theory development.

Students are responsible for their own transportation and living expenses throughout the program, including fieldwork assignments and doctoral capstone.

[2.5] Program Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission, candidates must complete a baccalaureate degree and meet the specific prerequisite requirements of the UCA Department of Occupational Therapy. Students may pursue the bachelor’s degree in any chosen field of study at UCA or from a USDE-recognized regionally accredited college or university. Moreover, completion of 25 hours of prerequisite course work is required. Prerequisite courses may be completed at UCA or at another regionally accredited college or university. Students who plan to complete prerequisites at another university are strongly urged to contact the Occupational Therapy Program Advisor to assure course equivalency.

Students enrolled in the occupational therapy program must perform certain essential functions in order to participate in and complete program requirements. A list of these essential functions and the departmental policy is available at uca.edu/ot/.

All prospective students should review the document “UCA Department of Occupational Therapy Essential Functions” and the departmental policy prior to applying for admission to the program.

[2.5.1] Prerequisite Course Work

Department of Occupational Therapy: Pre-requisite Course Work with University of Central Arkansas course numbers. Prerequisite courses taken elsewhere must be approved in advance by the Occupational Therapy Program Advisor.

[2.6] Application Process

The Doctor of Occupational Therapy (Entry-Level) program has strict admission requirements and enrollment limitations. Acceptance is by specific application and competitive admission only. A new class begins each fall semester.

Two options exist for admission to the program. Regardless of admission option, all applicants are required to complete the online application through the Occupational Therapist Centralized Application Service (OTCAS) at www.otcas.org by January 15th of the year of planned enrollment.

[2.6.1] Freshman Admission

Declaration of Intent: Intent to pursue the option for Freshman Admission must be completed with the Department of Occupational Therapy Program Advisor by November 1 of the freshman year.

Students who begin study at UCA as a freshman will be admitted into the occupational therapy program if they meet and maintain specific performance standards and criteria. Actual enrollment in the occupational therapy program will occur after completion of the baccalaureate degree and if performance standards and criteria were maintained.

To maintain Freshman Admission status, the applicant must

• Take all coursework at UCA.
• Attend three SPOT (Students for Pre-Occupational Therapy) meetings each year (12 total meetings in 4 years).
• Maintain at least a 3.7 cumulative GPA every semester and a 3.5 GPA for all occupational therapy prerequisite course work.
• Submit GRE revised General Test (August 2011) scores to OTCAS (OTCAS GRE code 7416): score at least 150 on Verbal, 150 on Quantitative, and 4 on Analytical Writing sections.
• Complete a minimum of 20 hours volunteer/observation experience under the supervision of one licensed occupational therapist (supervision by an OTA will not be accepted); the therapist must submit a performance rating from this experience (form and specific instructions are available from the Department of Occupational Therapy website: uca.edu/ot/).
  

  Due to the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic, the University of Central Arkansas Occupational Therapy Department has suspended the requirement for observation hours as part of our application process for admission to the program for the 2024 cohort. All applicants will receive full credit for this component of the application process.

• Complete all prerequisite course work by the end of the fall semester prior to the spring graduate OT program application deadline (January 15th of each year). Occupational therapy prerequisite coursework 10 years old or older will not be accepted.
• Complete the online application through the Occupational Therapist Centralized Application Service (OTCAS) at www.otcas.org by January 15 of the year of planned enrollment.
• Complete a baccalaureate degree at UCA by May of the year of planned enrollment.

No interview is required of applicants entering the graduate OT program under Freshman Admission. Contact the UCA Occupational Therapy Program Advisor for more details regarding Freshman Admission.

[2.6.2] Regular Admission

Application deadline: January 15th of the year of planned enrollment

Those applicants not using the Freshman Admission or those who were not able to maintain performance standards and criteria for Freshman Admission will follow requirements for Regular Admission. The deadline for Regular Admission is January 15th of the year of planned enrollment.

To be eligible for Regular Admission, by the application deadline, the applicant must:

• Possess a cumulative GPA of 2.75 minimum based on a 4.0 scale or possess at least a 3.0 GPA on the last 60 hours of course work on a 4.0 scale.
• Submit GRE revised General Test (August 2011), including the GRE Analytical Writing scores, to OTCAS (OTCAS GRE code 7416).
• Complete a minimum of 20 hours volunteer/observation experience under the supervision of one licensed occupational therapist (supervision by an OTA will not be accepted); the therapist must submit a performance rating from this experience (form and specific instructions are available from the Department of Occupational Therapy website: uca.edu/ot/).
  

  Due to the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic, the University of Central Arkansas Occupational Therapy Department has suspended the requirement for observation hours as part of our application process for admission to the program for the 2024 cohort. All applicants will receive full credit for this component of the application process.

• Complete all occupational therapy prerequisite course work, with a grade of C or better, by the end of the fall semester prior to the spring graduate OT program application deadline (January 15th of each year). Occupational therapy prerequisite coursework 10 years old or older will not be accepted.
• Complete the online application through the Occupational Therapist Centralized Application Service (OTCAS) at www.otcas.org by January 15th of the year of planned enrollment.
• Complete a baccalaureate degree by May of year of planned enrollment

NOTE: All college work must be submitted regardless of when completed or the nature of the course work. Work experience is not calculated into the satisfaction of admission requirements.

All applications of candidates who meet qualifications for Regular Admission are reviewed by the OT Admission Committee. Applicants are ranked according to a formula based on overall GPA and GRE scores; top-ranked candidates are invited to a mandatory interview scheduled in March. The interview is used to assess such factors as the ability to present oneself professionally, ability to use verbal and nonverbal communication appropriately, and to express knowledge about the profession of occupational therapy. Final ranking of candidates is based on the interview, GRE scores, volunteer/observation experience, and GPA. The top 48 applicants invited to enter the program are notified in late March. In addition to the selected candidates, a ranked alternate list is established. Individuals may be chosen from the alternate list to replace applicants who decline their appointment at any time, up to the date of enrollment.

Applicants who believe that they have been treated differently from other candidates in admissions decisions are to contact the chairperson of the Department of Occupational Therapy for information about the appeals process. All appeals must begin at the department level.

[2.7] Tuition and Fees

Occupational therapy students pay UCA general registration and other mandatory fees plus combined health science and departmental fees of $14 per credit hour and a lab fee of $5 per credit hour each semester.

Information on tuition and other mandatory fees is available from the UCA Office of Student Accounts. Fees are subject to change.

[2.8] Professional Courses

Required courses for the program are listed below in curriculum sequence order:

[3] Graduate Courses in Occupational Therapy (OTHY)

Follow this link for OTHY course descriptions: course link.