Department of Occupational Therapy

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Vision

To be a transformative force in occupational therapy education, cultivating competent and compassionate occupational therapists who integrate Christian values into their practice, fostering healing, hope, and holistic well-being for individuals and communities.

Mission

The mission of the occupational therapy program at Harding University is to educate and inspire students to become skilled occupational therapy practitioners committed to lifelong learning. Our graduates will exemplify the principles of faith, servant leadership, and ethical care, making a lasting impact guided by the teachings of Christ.

The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy (ACOTE)

The entry-level occupational therapy master’s degree program has applied for accreditation and has been granted Candidacy Status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-6611 and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.

The program must have a preaccreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination 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, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony  conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

NOTE: Students must complete 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork within 12 months following completion of the didactic portion of the program.

Professional Licensure

A felony conviction may adversely affect an individual’s eligibility for certification as an occupational therapist. Individuals with a felony conviction are urged to immediately contact the National Board for Certification of Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) for regulations regarding your specific circumstance, and procedures to follow to determine your eligibility to practice. All requests for early determination of practice are held in the strictest confidence.

Admission Requirements

The application cycle for OTCAS is from mid-July to March 6th annually. The minimal admission requirements for the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy include:

1. A completed Occupational Therapy Central Application System (OTCAS) Application:
2. Official transcripts sent to OTCAS.
   • Please include all academic transcripts from all colleges attended, including current coursework.
   • A final academic transcript indicating an earned bachelor’s degree from an institution accredited by an agency nationally recognized by the US Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. 
3. Three letters of recommendation submitted through OTCAS:
   1. One letter of recommendation should be provided by an occupational therapist.
   2. One letter of recommendation should be provided by a professional who has observed the applicant’s work.
   3. One letter of recommendation should be provided by a spiritual mentor or other mentor who has observed the applicant’s character.
4. Complete Personal statement in OTCAS.
5. Complete Supplemental questions in OTCAS.
6. Prerequisite Coursework:
   1. All coursework to be completed with a grade of C or higher by the program’s start date.
   2. All prerequisites must be completed within 7 years of the program’s start date.
      • Sociology or Anthropology - 3 hours
      • Abnormal Psychology - 3 hours
      • Lifespan Development/Developmental Psychology - 3 hours
      • Statistics - 3 hours
      • Anatomy and Physiology (with lab) - 8 hours
      • Medical Terminology - 1 to 3 hours or a certificate completion    

Health and Safety Requirements

Working in a health care environment requires that certain measures are taken to protect the practitioner and his/her clients from serious communicable diseases and to assure competence in emergency situations. To this end, students are required to provide annual documentation, which must be uploaded onto an electronic portal, showing the student is up to date on certain health and safety requirements. Additionally, since occupational therapists work with vulnerable populations are in positions of public trust, criminal background or other documentation may be required. Failure to maintain required documentation will result in dismissal from the program.

Academic Progression Policy

I. Academic Requirements:

To maintain good standing in the program and graduate on time, students must obtain a grade of C or higher in each course and maintain an overall cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0.

Failure to earn a grade of C or higher in any course in the professional curriculum will result in dismissal from the OT program.

II. Glossary of Terms:

Academic Warning: This status is an early warning to students who are in danger of being put on academic probation and, as such, does not carry any restrictions.

Academic Probation: A student who fails to maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA in any academic semester will be placed on academic probation and notified in writing by the Program Director of this status.

Suspension: A temporary status of a student being removed from the program. 

Dismissal: A permanent status of being removed from the program.

III. Process and Procedures

Academic Warning:

Students who earn a term GPA below a 3.0 but maintain a cumulative GPA above a 3.0 will be on Academic Warning. A written warning will be sent to the student, the student’s assigned academic advisor, and the program director.

Academic Probation:

The purpose for placing a student on Academic Probation is to provide the student an opportunity to improve academic status and encourage successful progression through the graduate program. A student is placed on academic probation when their cumulative GPA falls below 3.0. Upon failure to meet the above standards students are expected to meet with their academic advisor to develop a remediation plan. This plan will then be shared with the program director.

Students may be placed on academic probation no more than two times. Students that fail to meet the cumulative GPA of 3.0 for a third time will be dismissed from the program. Students may not enter Level II Fieldwork on Academic Probation.

Academic Suspension: Academic suspension will occur when students fail to pass a course.

Students who do not achieve the required passing grade of C or higher in a course must prepare a remediation plan with their academic advisor and the program director. Once approved, students will be either granted a leave of absence/suspension until the course is offered the next academic cycle or the student will be dismissed from the program and the University.

Students can only fail one course and be reinstated. Students who fail two courses during one term may be dismissed from the program and the University.

Non-academic suspension: This includes professional behavior and leave of absence due to personal reasons.

1. Professional Behavior: Violation of academic integrity policy, failure to adhere to AOTA Code of Ethics, failure to follow HIPPA guidelines, behaviors related to unsafe situations, failure to represent themselves and the HUOT program and OT profession, excessive absence or tardiness, violation of cell phone policy, repeated violations of the dress code.
2. Leave of absence for one year for personal reasons.

Academic Dismissal: The student is not allowed to rejoin the program unless he/she reapplies to the program and is selected to matriculate with another cohort of students.  There is no guarantee that a dismissed student will be re-accepted if he/she re-applies for acceptance into the program.

Faculty

Program Director: Cathy Acre, Ed.D., OTR/L, FAOTA

Associate Professors:

Cathy Acre, Ed.D., OTR/L, FAOTA
     Program Director

Assistant Professors:

Jill Knight, B.S.O.T.​
Melodie Mauney, M.S., OTR/L, CLT-LANA
Paige Spillman, M.S., OTR/L, CLT
     Academic Fieldwork Coordinator

Programs

• Occupational Therapy (OTH), MS

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