• UNM 2013-2014 Catalog
• »Colleges
• »Health Sciences Center
• »Occupational Therapy
• »Graduate Program

Graduate Program

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor's degree.
• 3.0 cumulative GPA on the last 50 credits taken (A strong academic record is essential, but does not guarantee acceptance).
• Prerequisite courses must have been completed within the past 5 years with a grade of B or better.

Residency Requirement

• To be considered for admission to the Occupational Therapy Graduate program, applicants MUST:
  • be a resident of New Mexico for at least one year at the time of application,
  • OR be a resident of a member WICHE state (Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Montana, and Wyoming),
  • OR have strong ties to New Mexico and file Residency Appeal Form

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. The application deadline for Fall admissions is December 1. Students are admitted once a year with classes beginning in the fall semester.  

Up to 24 students are admitted each year into the Occupational Therapy Graduate Program.

Selection will be based on:

1. Transcript evaluation.
2. Personal Statement (OTCAS form).
3. Written materials, 3 letters of reference (one from a health professional) and application – (including your life experiences, volunteer/work experience, community involvement, and regional bilingual skills).
4. Personal interview and spontaneous writing sample.

The top candidates will be invited to the Occupational Therapy Graduate Program at the University of New Mexico for an interview and an extemporaneous sample of their writing ability in mid-February. Final selection will be made from this group of candidates. 

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. To learn more about the OTCAS application process, please go to the OTCAS Web site. The UNM Occupational Therapy Graduate Program reviews applications after they have been verified by OTCAS.

In addition to submitting a program application through OTCAS, applicants must apply and be accepted into graduate studies by the University of New Mexico Office of Graduate Admissions.

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. 

Additionally, ENGL 219 Technical Writing, is strongly recommended.

Professional Curriculum

Master of Occupational Therapy–minimum 83 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, visit the Bursar's Office Web site. Additional expenses, including course fees, health insurance, books, and supplies, recur annually. See our Web site 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.

* 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)

Graduation Requirements

Graduation requires successful completion of a minimum of 83 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

• 53 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

• 53 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).