The College of Allied Health Sciences at Augusta University offers a Master of Health Science in Occupational Therapy (MHSOT) degree. The program consists of six consecutive full-time graduate semesters, including two, twelve week fieldwork rotations. After successful completion of the program, graduates are eligible to sit for the National Board Certification in Occupational Therapy Examination.
■ Master of Health Science in Occupational Therapy catalog listing
Augusta University’s Department of Occupational Therapy supports the mission of the
University and the College of Allied Health Sciences. The Occupational Therapy faculty
members and staff are committed to the development of lifelong learners who are able
to systematically consider complex issues that influence the ability to engage in
meaningful occupations within a culturally diverse society. The Department of OT is
committed to the following:
■ To Educate: OT's educational curriculum experiences include theory, practice, assessments and
interventions, hands on skills, documentation, management and supervision courses,
research projects, leadership development and fieldwork experiences.
■ To Discover: All OT students participate in scholarship activities and analyze evidence based occupational outcomes in order to positively impact the health of the people we serve. Research and scholarship experiences translate evidence based outcomes to improve population health, community benefits, and the OT profession.
■ To Care: The educational experiences are designed to provide client and family centered care through excellence in all service delivery, advocacy, and leadership roles. Augusta University's Department of OT has a commitment to quality and ethical care in order to meet the health care needs of a widely dispersed and diverse population.
The occupational therapy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).
Students must meet requirements in the following areas in order to be recommended for graduation by the MHSOT program: Augusta University's time frame for completion of all program requirements is specified as four years from the date of initial enrollment.
■ Curriculum: Students must have successfully completed all academic requirements set forth by the Department, including a passing score on the Departmental Exit Examination.
■ Research: All MHSOT students are required to complete a graduate level research project in conjunction with a faculty research mentor. Research projects will culminate by successful defense of the research topic on a date determined by the Chair and faculty.
■ Fieldwork Requirements: ACOTE requires that all Occupational Therapy students successfully complete Level II fieldwork within the time frame established by the program. The time frame is specified to be within twenty-four months (2 years) of completion of academic course work.
Graduates of accredited programs are eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successfully completing this certification examination (NBCOT), the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). Most states, including Georgia, require licensure to practice. Hence, in such states, the therapist will need a professional license, and be considered an OTR/L. State licenses are usually based on the receipt of a passing score on the NBCOT Certification Examination.
■ Augusta University - Students are continually required to disclose in writing to their dean and/or the director of Campus Life Services criminal convictions occurring since completing the application for admission. (Pre-application for admission criminal record disclosure is required on the application for admission.) Criminal convictions include adjudication of guilt by a judge or jury for any crime. This does not include minor traffic offenses, but it does include "no contest" pleas, first-offender treatment, convictions under appeal and convictions which have since been pardoned. Minor traffic offenses are those which do not involve driving while under the influence of alcohol and other drugs, which did not result in imprisonment and for which a fine of less than $250 was imposed. Disclosures should be made within 30 days of conviction.
■ Department of Occupational Therapy - An integral part of the OT curriculum is successful completion of fieldwork experiences throughout the program. All OT students must consent to a criminal background check in order to have access to our fieldwork sites. Prior criminal history may impact the student's ability to be cleared for client contact, thus jeopardizing successful completion of the program.
Certification & Licensure: The National Board for Certification for Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) will require applicants to answer questions concerning felony history. This information is then available to states with licensure requirements. The Augusta University Department of Occupational Therapy Program assumes no responsibility for ineligibility for sitting for the NBCOT certification examination or the denial of licensure in states in which there are such requirements. For further information please contact the:
National Board for Certification of Occupational Therapy, Inc.
12 South Summit Avenue, Suite 100
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20877-4150
Telephone: (301) 990-7979
Georgia State Board of Occupational Therapy
237 Coliseum Drive
Macon, Georgia 31217-3858
Telephone: (478) 207-1620
