Graduate Program

Admission Requirements

Up to 24 students are admitted each year into the Occupational Therapy Graduate Program. Highest consideration is given to residents of New Mexico and WICHE states (Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Montana, and Wyoming). A strong academic record is essential, but does not guarantee acceptance. The application deadline for Fall admissions is December 1. Students are admitted once a year, with classes beginning in the fall semester. Students must have a baccalaureate degree and have at least a 3.0 GPA on the last 50 credits taken. Prerequisite courses must be completed within the past five years. Students may apply while enrolled in undergraduate courses to complete a baccalaureate degree or prerequisite courses if all courses will be completed by the end of the spring semester prior to beginning the program. Six basic areas are considered in the selection process:

  1. Earned baccalaureate degree
  2. The student’s academic record (grades for prerequisite courses and grade point average of the last 50 credits completed)
  3. Three letters of reference (one from a health professional)
  4. Life experiences including volunteer/work experience and community involvement
  5. Writing ability
  6. Personal interview and professional communication

The top candidates will be invited to the Occupational Therapy Graduate Program for an interview and an extemporaneous sample of their writing ability. The selection process does not discriminate against any student on the basis of gender, marital or parental status, race, color, religion, age, sexual orientation, national origin or disability.

If you wish to apply to the UNM Occupational Therapy Graduate Program, you must apply online through the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service, known as OTCAS. Applicants for the 2012 entering class will need to apply online using the OTCAS application beginning in August 2011. To learn more about the OTCAS application process, please go to the OTCAS website at www.otcas.org. The UNM Occupational Therapy Graduate Program reviews applications after they have been processed by OTCAS.

In addition to OTCAS, applicants must apply and be accepted into graduate studies by the University of New Mexico Office of Graduate Admissions at http://www.unm.edu/apply/.


Pre-Professional Curriculum

Prerequisites provide a general foundation in behavioral sciences and are essential for success in the Occupational Therapy Graduate Program. Applicants must complete all prerequisite courses with a minimum 3.0 grade in each course by the end of the spring semester preceding entry into the program. All prerequisites must have been successfully completed within the past five years. 

 
Required Prerequisite Courses: Credit
STAT 145 Statistics 3
PSY 220 Child/Developmental Psychology 3
PSY 332 Abnormal Behavior 3
BIOL 237 & 247L Human Anatomy and Physiology I for the Health Sciences &
Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory I
4
BIOL 238 & 248L Human Anatomy and Physiology II for the Health Sciences &
Human Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory II
4
 
Total 17

 Additionally, ENGL 219 Technical Writing, is strongly recommended.


Professional Curriculum

Master of Occupational Therapy–minimum 82 credit hours

The Occupational Therapy Graduate Program offers the master’s degree under Plan I (Thesis) and Plan II (Project). The student must submit a written research document that is approved by their committee, and successfully complete the Occupational Therapy Student Performance Assessment (OTSPA). Occupational therapy course work is taken in a designated sequence.


Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees are subject to change without notice. Tuition is determined by the Board of Regents each April for the following school year beginning in Fall. To verify current tuition, log onto http://www.unm.edu/%7ebursar/tuitionrates.html. Additional expenses, including course fees, health insurance, books, and supplies, recur annually. See our website for a detailed breakdown of these expenses. For financial aid information, contact the financial aid department at (505) 272-8008.

Scheduling

The Occupational Therapy Graduate Program offers a traditional 2.5-year schedule which involves an intensive, full-time load taken in a designated sequence. It is not recommended that students work while in the traditional program. Students who choose to work part-time need to understand that work schedules cannot conflict with required courses or fieldwork assignments.

The part-time track is designed to be completed in 9 consecutive semesters. A maximum of 10 semesters is allowable. The required 6 months of Fieldwork Level II is included in the 10-semester maximum. Please note that the third year of the part-time track is essentially full-time, and that Fieldwork Level II must be completed on a full-time basis.

Core Professional Curriculum
Year 1 Fall (16 credits)
 
OCTH 514L Introduction to Occupation and Health 4-PBL
OCTH 524L Kinesiology of Occupation 3
OCTH 534 Introduction to Evidence-Based Practice 3
OCTH 544L Occupation Across the Life Span 5
OCTH 594/599 Graduate Seminar/Master's Thesis
1 *,**
Year 1 Spring (13 credits)
 
OCTH 554L Person, Family, Systems Centered Care 2
OCTH 564L Applied Occupations I
6-PBL
OCTH 634L Neuroscience of Occupation 1
OCTH 522L Neuroanatomy 3
OCTH 594/599 Graduate Seminar/Master's Thesis
1 *,**
Year 1 Summer (2-7 credits)
 
OCTH 654 Organization and Administration
2***
 
Plan II Elective **may be taken in any semester 1-3
OCTH 594/599
Work on Thesis or Project
1-2 *,**
Year 2 Fall (14-15 credits)

OCTH 604L Applied Occupations II 5-PBL
OCTH 614L Applied Occupations III 5-PBL
OCTH 624L Advocacy, Communication and Leadership 3
OCTH 654 Organization and Administration 2***
OCTH 594/599 Graduate Seminar/Master's Thesis
1-2 *,**
Year 2 Spring (11-12 credits)
 
OCTH 664L Applied Occupations IV 6-PBL
OCTH 674L Community Health 4-PBL
OCTH 594/599 Graduate Seminar 1-2 *,**
Master's examination, Occupational Therapy Student
Performance Assessment (OTSPA)
Year 2 Summer (12-13 credits)
 
OCTH 675 Fieldwork Level II 12
OCTH 594/599 Work on Thesis or Project
1 *,**
Year 3 Fall (12-13 credits)
 
OCTH 675 Fieldwork Level II 12
OCTH 594/599 Work on Thesis or Project
1 *,**


* Plan I Master’s Thesis (6 credits, continuous enrollment in OCTH 599)
** Plan II Master’s Project (minimum 3 credits of OCTH 594, plus 3 credits Elective)
*** Will be offered either Summer or Fall


Graduation Requirements

Graduation requires successful completion of a minimum of 82 credits including required didactic course work, assessments, and Master's Examination. Students must complete all Office of Graduate Studies requirements including Plan I or Plan II requirements with a minimum 3.00 GPA.

Plan I Master's Thesis
52 credits didactic course work
6 credits minimum OCTH 599 (Master's Thesis)

24 credits Fieldwork Level II (two 12 week sessions)

Thesis option requires:

  • Continuous enrollment in OCTH 599 (Master's Thesis)
  • Defense of the master's thesis and approval by a faculty committee
  • Master's Examination: Occupational Therapy Student Performance Assessment (OTSPA)

• Plan II Master's Project
52 credits didactic course work
3 credits minimum OCTH 594 (Research Project)

3 credits graduate level elective
24 credits Fieldwork level II (two 12-week sessions)

 Project option requires:

  • Completion of the master's research requirement and approval by a faculty committee
  • Master's Examination: Occupational Therapy Student Performance Assessment (OTSPA)

Additional Fieldwork Information
Fieldwork is an important part of occupational therapy education. Short term fieldwork (FW I) is arranged in coordination with specific academic courses. Full-time fieldwork (FW II) follows successful completion of academic course work and the OTSPA.

  • Students are responsible for tuition, transportation to and from fieldwork sites, and living expenses while on fieldwork. Fieldwork opportunities are usually available in New Mexico; however, students may be assigned to fieldwork in other states.
  • All required FW II must be completed within 24 months of completion of the academic courses.
  • Each FW II placement is usually three months in length (total of six months).

    Courses

    OCTH 499. Occupational Therapy Independent Study. (1-4)



    OCTH 508. Interdisciplinary Leadership in Family and Community Partnerships. (1)



    OCTH 514L. Introduction to Occupation and Health. (4)



    OCTH 518. Interdisciplinary Leadership in Advocacy and Public Policy. (2)



    OCTH 522L. Neuroanatomy. (3)



    OCTH 524L. Kinesiology of Occupation. (3)



    OCTH 528. Interdisciplinary Leadership in Research. (2-3)



    OCTH 534. Introduction to Evidence-Based Practice. (3)



    OCTH 538. Interdisciplinary Leadership in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities-Didactic. (3)



    OCTH 544L. Occupation Across the Lifespan. (5)



    OCTH 554L. Relationship Centered Care [Person, Family, and System Centered Care]. (2)



    OCTH 558. Interdisciplinary Leadership and Team Development. (2-3)



    OCTH 564L. Applied Occupations I. (6)



    OCTH 594. Graduate Seminar. (1-3 to a maximum of 10 ∆)



    OCTH 599. Master’s Thesis. (1-6, no limit ∆)



    OCTH 604L. Applied Occupations II. (5)



    OCTH 614L. Applied Occupations III. (5)



    OCTH 624L. Advocacy, Communication and Leadership. (3)



    OCTH 634L. Neuroscience of Occupation. (2)



    OCTH 650L. Special Topics in Occupational Therapy. (2-6, to a maximum of 6 ∆)



    OCTH 654. Organization and Administration. (2)



    OCTH 664L. Applied Occupations IV. (6)



    OCTH 674L. Community Health. (4)



    OCTH 675. Fieldwork II. (12 to a maximum of 36 ∆)



    OCTH 690. Independent Study. (1-4, no limit ∆)



Course Search:




Keyword Search:

Office of the Registrar

MSC 11 6325
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131

Phone: (505) 277-8900
Fax: (505) 277-6809