Graduate Program

Degree Offered

Master of Occupational Therapy (M.O.T.)
Doctor of Occupational Therapy (O.T.D.)

Master of Occupational Therapy

Admission Requirements

Prospective applicants must have:

Bachelor's degree.
3.0 cumulative GPA on the last 50 graded credit hours taken.
Prerequisite courses completed within the past 5 years with a grade of "B" (3.0 GPA) or better.

Students may apply while enrolled in undergraduate courses to complete a baccalaureate degree, or prerequisite courses if all prerequisite courses will be completed by the end of the Fall semester of the current application cycle. The application deadline for Fall admission is November 1. Up to 30 students are admitted each year, with classes beginning in the upcoming Fall semester.

Selection is based on:

Transcript evaluation.
CASPer Computer Based Assessment
Personal Statement (OTCAS form).
Written materials, 3 letters of reference (one from a health professional) and application – (including life experiences, volunteer/work experience, community involvement, and regional bilingual skills).

Applicants must complete the following steps to apply to the Occupational Therapy Graduate Program.

Submit departmental application to the UNM Occupational Therapy Graduate Program.
Submit application through the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS). The UNM Occupational Therapy Graduate Program will review the applications after they have been verified by OTCAS.

The top candidates are 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 late January. Submission of an online application and official transcripts to the Office of Graduate Admissions is required at this time. Final selection is 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. Additional admission information is located on the Occupational Therapy Graduate Program Web site.

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.

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. Contact the Financial Aid Department at (505) 272-8008 for information.

Graduation Requirements

Graduation requires successful completion of a minimum of 84 credit hours including required didactic coursework, assessments, and Master's Examination (OTSPA). Students must complete all Graduate Studies requirements, including the Master's Project, with a minimum 3.00 GPA.

53 credit hours didactic coursework.
4 credit hours minimum OCTH 594.
3 credit hours graduate-level elective.
24 credit hours OCTH 675 (Fieldwork Level II, two 12-week sessions).
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 coursework 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 12 weeks in length (total of six months).

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 Fall semester of the application period. All prerequisites must have been successfully completed within the past five years.

Courses other than the specific courses listed below must be approved by the admissions committee prior to the application deadline. Applicants must submit a Course Waiver Form (available on our website) to the admissions committee for each course being considered.

		Credit Hours
	Required Prerequisite Courses
BIOL 2210	Human Anatomy and Physiology I	3
BIOL 2210L	Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory	1
BIOL 2225	Human Anatomy and Physiology II	3
BIOL 2225L	Human Anatomy and Physiology II Laboratory	1
ENGL 2210	Professional and Technical Communication	3
MATH 1350	Introduction to Statistics	3
PSY 332	Abnormal Behavior	3
PSYC 2120	Developmental Psychology	3
	Total	20

Professional Curriculum

The Occupational Therapy graduate program offers the Master of Occupational Therapy degree. The student must complete the academic and fieldwork components of the program and successfully complete the Occupational Therapy Student Performance Assessment (OTSPA). Occupational therapy coursework is taken in a designated sequence.

Requirements

Must complete Core Professional Curriculum including Fieldwork II (full-time track) for 77 credit hours.
Must complete OCTH 594 for a minimum for 4 credit hours.
Must complete elective coursework for a minimum of 3 credit hours.


		Credit Hours
Year 1	Fall (16 credit hours)
OCTH 514L	Introduction to Occupation and Health	3
OCTH 524L	Kinesiology of Occupation	3
OCTH 534	Introduction to Evidence-Based Practice	4
OCTH 544L	Occupation Across the Life Span	5
OCTH 594	Graduate Seminar	1
	Subtotal	16
	Spring (14 credit hours)
OCTH 522L	Neuroanatomy	3
OCTH 554L	Person, Family, Systems Centered Care	2
OCTH 564L	Applied Occupations: Orthopedic Practice	6
OCTH 634L	Neuroscience of Occupation	2
OCTH 594	Graduate Seminar	1
	Subtotal	14
	Summer (1-5 credit hours)
OCTH 614L	Applied Occupations: Psychosocial Practice	5
	Subtotal	5
	Year 1 Total	35
Year 2	Fall (16-17 credit hours)
OCTH 604L	Applied Occupations: Neurological Practice	5
OCTH 624L	Advocacy, Communication and Leadership	3
OCTH 654	Organization and Administration	2
OCTH 594	Graduate Seminar	1
	Subtotal	11
	Spring (11-12 credit hours)
OCTH 664L	Applied Occupations: Pediatric Practice	6
OCTH 674L	Community Health	4
OCTH 594	Graduate Seminar	1
	Subtotal	11
	Master's Examination: Occupational Therapy Student Performance Assessment (OTSPA)
	Summer (12 credit hours)
OCTH 675	Fieldwork Level II	12
	Subtotal	12
Year 3	Fall (12 credit hours)
OCTH 675	Fieldwork Level II	12
	Subtotal	12
	Year 2 Total	46
	Graduate-level elective	3
	Elective Total	3
	Degree Total	84

Doctor of Occupational Therapy

The OTD curriculum is designed for occupational therapists who desire a post-professional advanced practice degree beyond the master’s degree. The core courses are consistent with the goals of educating occupational therapists to be innovators in practice, evidence-based clinical decision-makers, and leaders in practice, education, and public policy. The electives and capstone project allow students to pursue specialty areas of interest, expand services and develop new programs.

Program Curriculum

The OTD offers both full and part-time study. Full-time study consists of enrolling in 9 credit hours/ semester (6 credits summer) for 4 semesters. Part-time study consists of enrolling in 3-4 credit hours/semester for 12 semesters. Options exist for part-time students who wish to finish faster. OTD courses are primarily taught by online delivery with 1-2 days on campus in the fall or spring semester. However, the Teaching Practicum course and some electives may only be offered in the traditional face-to-face format.

A minimum of 3 students must be registered for a course for the course to be offered. All courses will be offered at least every other year depending on the program and student demand.

		Credit Hours
	Core OT Courses
OCTH 615	Complex Reasoning in Practice	3
OCTH 625	Scholarship of Practice	3
OCTH 635	Advanced Leadership and Advocacy	3
OCTH 645	Education in Occupational Therapy	3
OCTH 655	Teaching Practicum	3
OCTH 660	Applied Data Management and Research for Clinical Practice	3
	Subtotal	18
	Capstone
OCTH 695	Professional Capstone Project	6
	Electives	6
	Total Credits	30