Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy

Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis

Program Director: Associate Professor Hamant

Associate Professors Emeriti: Lamport, Nathan, Simek

Assistant Professor: Worrell

Clinical Associate Professor: Kiel

Clinical Assistant Professor: Griswold

Lecturers: Janson, McAfee, Swinehart, Troyer

Adjunct Assistant Professor: Feinberg

Adjunct Instructor: Hamman

Adjunct Lecturers: Atkins, Hingtgen, Raisor, Yoder

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM

Length of the Program Four years, if full time; two years (59 credit hours) of prerequisite course work plus 24 months of professional course work.

Structure of the Professional Program The academic and fieldwork portions of the curriculum are designed as full-time or part-time experiences.

Design of the Professional Curriculum Full-time students entering the Occupational Therapy Program will attend three academic semesters. There will be a summer clinical experience between the junior and senior years and a six-month clinical experience beginning in January of the senior year. The curriculum content includes basic knowledge of development; medical and psychiatric conditions; technical skills, treatment theory and practice; interpersonal communication; creative problem solving; understanding human performance as it relates to health and wellness; and beginning clinical practice (Fieldwork Level I). Following the academic course work are two, three-month, full-time training experiences (Fieldwork Level II) to provide integration of the academic material and further prepare the student for entry into the profession. The curriculum content contains all of the subject matter required in an accredited occupational therapy program and is organized to emphasize the developmental continuum.

Additional Cost In addition to regular university fees, students should expect to spend approximately $1,300-$1,400 on textbooks. Additionally, some courses have clinical fees that are assessed at the rate of $25 per credit hour. Contact program for current cost sheet. Students should be prepared to assume living and travel expenses associated with fieldwork experiences in the spring semester of the senior year. Some assignments may be out of state.

Opportunity for Students to Work The class schedule for full-time occupational therapy students is rigorous; part-time employment during the evening or weekend hours is possible for some students during fall and spring semesters. A part-time program is optional.

Program Facilities The Occupational Therapy Program offices are located on the third floor of Coleman Hall. Classrooms are located in Coleman Hall, Ball Residence, and other buildings on the Indianapolis campus.

Location of Clinical Sites Fieldwork Level I occurs in a variety of settings, including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, school systems, community sites, and other health care facilities within Indiana. Fieldwork Level II is directed toward physical and psychosocial dysfunction and may be located throughout the United States depending on the student’s individual assignment. Prior to starting fieldwork experience, students may be required to undergo drug testing and/or a criminal background check.

Accreditation The Occupational Therapy Program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) located at:

ADMISSION

General Information

Students accepted into the program must complete the school’s and the following program admission requirements prior to the first day of classes. Admission to the professional program is competitive; therefore, completion of the prerequisites does not guarantee admission to the program.

Criteria Used for Selection of Class Cumulative grade point average and personal interview.

Class Size 50 each fall semester.

Specific Requirements

In addition to the School of Allied Health Sciences admission policies and procedures found at the beginning of this section of the bulletin, the following admission policies apply to the Occupational Therapy Program.

Application Deadline November 1 of the year prior to desired entry into the program.

Total Number of Prerequisite Credit Hours 59 semester hours. Applicants must have completed a minimum of 30 credit hours, including six courses from the prerequisite list, including one laboratory science, by the time of application.

Distribution of Credit Hours in Specific Areas See prerequisites.

Limitations of Course Work Remedial courses do not count toward the 59 prerequisite credit hours and are not calculated in the cumulative grade point average.

Minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average Requirement In-state residents, 3.00 on a 4.00 scale. Out-of-state students, 3.70 on a 4.00 scale. This requirement is applied at the time of program application and must be maintained throughout the admissions process.

Fresh Start/Academic Bankruptcy/Repeated Courses The Indiana University Occupational Therapy Program adheres to the School of Allied Health Sciences Fresh Start Policy and the Repeated Courses Policy. In addition, the Occupational Therapy Program may grant Academic Bankruptcy for up to one academic year to students with a GPA of 2.00 or above. A student may use either the Fresh Start Policy or Academic Bankruptcy Policy, but not both, for purposes of admission. No requests for Fresh Start, Academic Bankruptcy, or Repeated Courses will be accepted after November 1.

Minimum Grade Requirement in a Stated Prerequisite Course C (2.00 on a 4.00 scale).

Interview A personal interview is required. However, if the number of applications to the program far exceeds the number of positions available, the program admissions committee reserves the right to limit the number of applicants to be interviewed to two times the number of positions available in the class. Selection of the candidates to be interviewed will be based solely on the cumulative grade point average. Interview topics are highlighted in an interview letter sent to all applicants.

Technical Standards In addition to School of Allied Health Sciences technical standards, the Occupational Therapy Program has developed program-specific technical standards. These standards are available upon request and are sent to all applicants selected to be interviewed.

Indiana Residents Preference Policy See School of Allied Health Sciences policy. Out-of-state candidates must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.70 on a 4.00 scale to be considered eligible.

Volunteer Experience Although volunteer experience is not required, it is recommended as very helpful in making a career choice.

CURRICULUM—B.S. PROGRAM

Prerequisites

Prior to entering the program, students must complete the following minimum prerequisites. Students should consult with their academic advisors for appropriate courses and semester sequence in order to complete prerequisites. Prerequisites may be taken at any accredited college or university. With the exception of laboratory courses and public speaking, prerequisites may be taken by correspondence. The code "G" indicates a course that meets the school’s general-education requirements.

Written Communications (G) 2 courses (The second course should focus on business or professional writing.)
Public Speaking (G)	2-3 cr.
Philosophy or Ethics (G)	3 cr.
College-Level Mathematics (G)	3 cr.
Introductory Statistics (G)	3 cr.
Psychology (G)	3 cr.
Psychology Elective (G)	3 cr.
Medical Terminology	1 cr.
Abnormal Psychology	3 cr.
Sociology	3 cr.
Life Span Development.	3 cr.
Introductory Chemistry (with lab)	3-5 cr.
Anatomy (emphasis on human anatomy; with laboratory)	3-5 cr.
Physiology (with laboratory)	3-5 cr.

Suggested Electives The following electives, while not inclusive or mandatory, are suggested: developmental anatomy, anthropology, business, community health, computer science, creative arts, government, group dynamics, philosophy, sociology, special education, teaching methods, and word processing.

Note: Students are required to prepare papers using a computer during the professional program.

A Suggested Plan of Study

Freshman
Fall
Elementary Composition I	3 cr.
Philosophy or Ethics	3 cr.
Medical Terminology	1-2 cr.
Elementary Chemistry	3-5 cr.
Psychology	3 cr.
Total 13-16 cr.
Spring
Human Anatomy	3-5 cr.
Speech Communication	3 cr.
College-Level Mathematics	3 cr.
Psychology Elective	3 cr.
Elective	2-4 cr.
Total 14-18 cr.
Sophomore
Fall
Sociology	3 cr.
Second Written Communication	3 cr.
Human Physiology	3-5 cr.
Electives	5-7 cr.
Total 14-18 cr.
Spring
Life Span Development	3 cr.
Abnormal Psychology	3 cr.
Statistics	3 cr.
Electives	6 cr.
Total 15 cr.

Professional Program—Full Time

A three-year, part-time baccalaureate degree program is also available. Contact the OT Program Office for a curriculum.

Opportunity exists for students admitted into the professional occupational therapy program to begin an articulated program that will give them the additional degree of Master of Science in Health Sciences Education. The articulated program, which will not replace the traditional baccalaureate program in occupational therapy, requires a minimum of three and one-half years, including three summer sessions and full-time fieldwork. The articulated program requires a minimum of 102 credit hours (63 undergraduate and 39 graduate). The Graduate Record Examination is required.

CURRICULUM—B.S./M.S. PROGRAM

Students must successfully complete a first aid class and a professional CPR class that have written examinations prior to beginning Fieldwork Level II (AHLT T495, AHLT T496). If either of the classes is graded, the course grade must be acceptable according to the Occupational Therapy Program Performance Policies. The CPR course should be the Professional Rescuer or Healthcare Provider course, not the Community CPR course. If a documented physical problem makes a person incapable of performing the activities in either or both of these areas, the person must be able to pass the written examinations required in the course.

Scholarships In addition to financial assistance obtained through the IUPUI Office of Student Financial Aid, there are scholarship and grant opportunities available through the Occupational Therapy Program.

Following admission into the Occupational Therapy Program, students may seek information from the program director regarding scholarship and grant opportunities specific to occupational therapy.

Awards The program faculty will recommend students with superior academic performance for degrees awarded with distinction. The Carol D. Nathan Leadership Award is presented annually to a senior selected by the senior class and the faculty as having demonstrated outstanding leadership potential. The award is in recognition of Associate Professor Emerita Carol D. Nathan, former director of the Occupational Therapy Program.

Honors The Occupational Therapy program offers students the option of participating in an Honors Degree Program. Students may enter the honors program no later than the second semester of their first year in the program. The honors degree requires 12 hours of honors credit, distributed as follows: two theory courses, two techniques or media courses, and one course in the basic sciences.

No more than two honors courses may be taken per semester. Students must earn no less than a B+ (3.5) in an honors course. Students seeking to graduate with honors must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.3 with a 3.5 grade point average in honors course work.

Graduation Requirements for a B.S. in Occupational Therapy Satisfactory completion of 102 credit hours: 59 prerequisite credit hours and 63 credit hours of professional courses. All course work must be completed in compliance with the program’s and school’s academic and professional policies.

For further information, contact:

Professor Cel Hamant
Program Director, Occupational Therapy
IUPUI
Coleman Hall 316
1140 W. Michigan Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202-5119
(317) 274-8006.