REMINDER: The University is closed from December 24, 2008 through January 4, 2009. Please make sure that you drop off your portfolios either by December 23rd at noon or before 5:00 p.m. on January 5th. No late portfolios will be accepted..

PLEASE NOTE: Our application process has been revised for the January 5th, 2009 deadline. Read the content below carefully for new requirements.

WELCOME! We’re glad that you are investigating a career in Occupational Therapy. At Eastern Michigan University, you have the opportunity to receive a Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) Degree in just 2 ½ years after completing your basic studies requirements and application prerequisites

Our program features:

• courses and fieldwork that prepare you to enter the rehabilitation workforce with confidence, knowledge and skills
• a degree that meets the national requirements of the American Occupational Therapy Association
• expert faculty with a variety of background
• a strong commitment to preparing students for careers in both traditional OT settings and non-traditional settings in the community

Is this the MOT Program for you?

IF you want to be an occupational therapist and you are an undergraduate,

THEN:

YES, the MOT Program combines approximately three years of undergraduate coursework and two and a half years of upper level coursework to give you a Bachelor of Science degree (BS) and a Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) degree upon completion of the program.
IF you already have an undergraduate degree in another field and you want to be an occupational therapist,

THEN:

YES, you can apply to the occupational therapy program, January 5th of each year. If accepted, courses begin in the fall of each academic year. You will complete the full-time program in two and one-half years, including six months of fieldwork.

If you are interested in joining us, here’s what to do next:

• complete the prerequisites courses
• meet the minimum cumulative GPA requirements
• take the GRE general test
• complete 100 volunteer service hours and follow guidelines below for references
• submit an application portfolio by January 5th. Late applications are not accepted.
• What are the prerequisite courses?
• Anatomy & Physiology
  Here at EMU, the course numbers are ZOOL 201 and ZOOL 202
• Neuroanatomy
  Here at EMU, the course number is ZOOL 316
• Medical Terminology
  Here at EMU, the course number is AHPR 200
• Statistics
  All of the following EMU courses meet this requirement: SOCL 250, EDPS 621, or 651. Math 170, 360, 370, 571, 573, 574, or PSY205
• Human Growth and Development
  Either IHHS 260 or EDPS 325 at EMU.

NOTE: Beginning Summer 2008, a grade of B- or better is required in all courses. If you have taken the course prior to the summer of 2008 then the old rule of “a B- or better in five of six courses, allowing one grade of C,” will stand for 2009 admissions. Proof of semester taken is required to waive the new grade guidelines.
Courses that must be completed before applying:

• Medical Terminology
• Statistics
• Human Growth and Development
• Anatomy and Physiology I

**IMPORTANT: ALL PREREQUISITE SUBSTITIONS MUST BE PREAPPROVED BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION. SUBMITTING YOUR PORTFOLIO WITHOUT PROPER APPROVAL WILL RESULT IN YOUR APPLICATION BEING DENIED.

Click here for course catalog

What is the minimum GPA?
The minimum GPA is 2.75. This is your cumulative GPA, which includes all prior college level coursework.

How do I complete the volunteer service hours?
In order to apply to the OT Program, you must have completed 100 hours of volunteer work.  This work must have been done within the last three years.
Volunteer work must consist of:

• A minimum of 20 hours with an OT in any setting
• A minimum of 20 hours in an agency that is committed to social justice, community welfare, community building, health and wellness, for example.
• Examples of agencies committed to social justice: soup kitchens, homeless shelters, or habitat for humanity
• The remaining hours should be done at an agency where the focus is on individuals with occupational performance issues (physical, mental, developmental, etc) or on issues that are created due to environmental factors including social, cultural, economic, political, etc.

NOTE: Students who have taken OCTH201 will have fulfilled 80 hours of the volunteer requirement. You will still need to complete 20 more hours. Contact the MOT Admissions Assistant to determine the area of focus.

Do I have to take the GRE?  Yes, we now require applicants to take the GRE General test prior to submitting their application portfolio. Results of the GRE General Test must be included in the portfolio.

Finally, you must submit an application portfolio here...
All students applying to the MOT Program are required to submit an application portfolio that includes:

• An identifying page with your name, address, phone and email and the date that you submitted the portfolio;
• All your college transcripts - must be official in sealed envelopes. Please include an unofficial EMU transcript.
• A list of the prerequisites that you have taken ( are taking or will be taking) with dates and grades
• Results of the GRE General Test
• Academic Reference – One academic reference is required. Follow the Academic Reference Guidelines found here...
• Documentation of your volunteer hours – You must submit proof of completing 100 hours of volunteer service.  A minimum of TWO references are required on the forms found here...
• Reflective Writing– For the specific directions, use the portfolio requirement link above.

Submit the completed application portfolio by January 5th to:
The Occupational Therapy Program
Eastern Michigan University
313 Marshall Building
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
If you are mailing your portfolio, allow sufficient time for the receipt of this packet by January 5th. Write “OT Application Portfolio” to the left of the address on the front of the envelope.
Things to remember:

• APPLICATION DEADLINE – January 5 of each year
• Four of the six prerequisite courses must be completed before applying (see above). The remaining two must be completed by August 1st of the year you intend to begin the program.
• Volunteer hours must be completed prior to the January 5th deadline
• Undergraduates applying for the MOT Program must have completed 90 undergraduate credits by Aug 1 before they can begin the Occupational Therapy Program in the Fall of the year in which they applied.
• INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS PLEASE READ:
• You must contact the International Admissions office at (734)487-0205. They will assist you with evaluating your transcripts and determining your cumulative GPA.
• You must provide a copy of the EMU Graduate School approved TOEFL score in your application portfolio.

QUESTIONS?

Call the MOT Advisor at (734)487-3227 (select the OT intent option)
OR email us at ot_intent_advising@emich.edu


ACCREDITATION

The EMU OT Program is accredited by the American Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220. Telephone number: C/O AOTA (301) 652-AOTA. Graduates of our program will be eligible for the national certification exam for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an occupational therapist, registered (OTR). In addition, most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Exam.
NOTE: All students admitted to the MOT program who successfully complete the academic program are required to take the NBCOT Certification exam in order to practice occupational therapy. Character background information is reviewed by NBCOT to determine a person’s ability to sit for the examination. If you have any previous circumstances, such as a felony charge or conviction, an encumbrance of professional license or negligence, malpractice or willful intentional misconduct, we strongly recommend that you contact Paul Grace at NBCOT for a free, confidential early determination of your ability to sit for the national exam.

Contact information:

Paul Grace, MS, CAE
Executive Director
NBCOT
Phone: (301)990-7979 ext. 3130
paul.grace@nbcot.org

If you require additional information about the pass rates for EMU's MOT Program graduates, please call the MOT Program Director via the School of Health Sciences at (734)487-4096