School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences - Entry-Level Professional Programs: MOT and MPT

The School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences offers two master's degrees for applicants interested in getting entry-level professional training: the Master of Occupational Therapy and the Master of Physical Therapy. These programs are intended for students interested in beginning careers as occupational therapists or physical therapists who have a bachelor's degree and some volunteer or limited professional experience in the field. The two first-professional programs are detailed below.

Contact Information

Requests for application and other information on both degree programs can be obtained from the following address and phone number:

School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Office of Admissions and Recruitment
4019 Forbes Tower
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Phone: (412) 383-1252
E-mail: shrsadmi+@pitt.edu
Web site: http://www.shrs.upmc.edu/

Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT)

Occupational therapy is a healthcare profession that provides services to individuals of all ages whose lives have been disrupted by physical injury or illness, developmental problems, the aging process, or social or psychological difficulties. Occupational therapists assume the roles of practitioner, manager of occupational therapy services, and contributor to the profession. The occupational therapist practitioner develops and implements a treatment plan to help individuals to function in self-care, home management, school, work, and play/leisure occupations to establish a lifestyle that is optimally independent, productive, and satisfying to the individual. The occupational therapist manager understands the roles and functions of other health care professionals and collaborates with them in coordinating and integrating services. The occupational therapist contributor recognizes current issues facing occupational therapy and health care and advocates appropriately for clients and the profession.

The occupational therapy program is a two-year graduate curriculum, requiring applicants to have a baccalaureate degree. The occupational therapy program is accredited by the Accreditation 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. AOTA's phone number is (301) 652-AOTA. Graduates of the program are able 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). Most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination.

Admission Requirements

Following are the requirements for students to be eligible to apply for admission to the Master of Occupational Therapy program:

1. A baccalaureate degree (no specific major is required; however, prerequisite study should include a well-rounded general education that includes a distribution of studies in the natural sciences, social sciences, and the humanities).
2. Prerequisite course work includes:

   Human anatomy and physiology (four credits)

   Behavioral sciences (six credits) - psychology, sociology, and anthropology

   Statistics (three credits)

   The following are highly recommended, but not required courses or competencies:

   Human anatomy with a laboratory component

   Abnormal psychology

   Lifespan human development

   Physics

   Competence in one word processing program (e.g., Microsoft Word, WordPerfect)

3. Minimum cumulative QPA of 3.00 (based on 4.00 scale)
4. Minimum QPA of 3.00 (based on 4.00 scale) in prerequisite course work
5. Minimum grade of C in each of the prerequisite courses
6. Minimum of 20 hours of volunteer or paid work experience in two different occupational therapy practice areas (e.g., pediatrics, geriatrics, medical rehabilitation, psychiatric rehabilitation, home health care, school system)
7. Three letters of reference (one from an occupational therapist)
8. A self-evaluation essay
9. Results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test

International applicants should also see Graduate Admissions of International Students in the front section of this bulletin for further information on requirements.

Application Process and Deadline

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. A completed application will include the following:

1. A non-refundable application fee of $40, in check or money order, made payable to the University of Pittsburgh
2. Completed application form
3. Transcripts: official transcripts from colleges or universities attended
4. Three letters of reference, one of which must be from an occupational therapist
5. Experience summary form: a complete summary of work in the health care field, including volunteer and paid experience
6. Self-evaluation: each applicant must submit a typed, double spaced statement of no more than three pages discussing:
   • when and how the applicant became interested in occupational therapy as a career choice
   • how the applicant's work experiences has helped the applicant to understand the scope and role of occupational therapy
   • professional goals
7. Applicants must arrange to have GRE scores sent directly to the SHRS Admissions Office. To facilitate the admission process, applicants should include a photocopy of their scores in the application packet.

Admission Status

Admission to the Master of Occupational Therapy degree program is only available for full-time status.

Master of Occupational Therapy Curriculum

The curriculum involves 78 credits, including fieldwork. A research project is not required, but is available as an option. An outline of the curriculum is detailed below, semester by semester:

Master of Occupational Therapy Course Listings

OT 2100 Foundations of Occupation Science and Occupational Therapy

OT 2101 Human Movement Analysis

OT 2102 Group Theory and Practice

OT 2103 Occupation Across the Life span

OT 2104 Clinical Psychiatry

OT 2105 Clinical Medicine

OT 2106 Clinical Research for Occupational Therapy

OT 2107 Psychosocial/Cognitive Theory and Practice

OT 2108 Clinical Neurology and Orthopedics

OT 2109 Neurobehavioral Science

OT 2110 Biomechanical Theory and Practice I

OT 2111 Occupational Therapy and the Health Care System

OT 2112 Neurorehabilitation Theory and Practice

OT 2113 Rehabilitation Theory and Practice

OT 2114 Biomechanical Theory and Practice II

OT 2115 Development Theory and Practice

OT 2116 Integrative Capstone Seminar

OT 2117 Management of Occupational Therapy Practice

OT 2118 Special Topics in Occupational Therapy Theory and Practice

OT 2119 Occupational Therapy Fieldwork Education A

OT 2120 Occupational Therapy Fieldwork Education B

OT 2121 Occupational Therapy Fieldwork Education C (Optional)

Master Of Physical Therapy (MPT)

Physical therapy is the examination, treatment, and instruction of human beings to detect, assess, prevent, correct, alleviate, and limit physical disability, movement dysfunction, bodily malfunction, and pain from injury, disease, and other bodily and mental conditions. A physical therapist evaluates and treats (with physical measures) patients with movement dysfunctions. Other professional activities include: consultation, education, research, management, and referral.

The Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) is an entry-level educational program. Upon successful completion of the curriculum, a student is eligible for the licensure examination, which is required to be a practicing physical therapist. The curriculum will prepare physical therapists to be self-directed, self-accountable generalists possessing problem-solving skills who practice in a variety of settings. The graduates will be prepared to enhance human movement and function and to assess and treat individuals with movement dysfunction disability. Graduates with these capabilities will have a foundation on which to develop specialty theory and skills to contribute to the development of the art and science of physical therapy.

Admission Requirements

The curriculum of study for the MPT student is based upon a strong general undergraduate education that provides a sound foundation in knowledge, methods, and attitudes. Specific requirements for admission are:

1) A baccalaureate degree (no specific major is mandated; however, prerequisite study for post-baccalaureate professional education should include a well-rounded general education that includes a distribution of studies in the natural sciences, social sciences, and the humanities).

2) Prerequisite course work includes:

• Two foundation courses in each of the following areas, including labs:

Biological sciences (eight credits)

Chemistry (eight credits)

Physics (eight credits)

Students must possess foundation knowledge of the concepts and terminology in biological, chemical, and physical sciences on which to build in the physical therapy curriculum and experience in appropriate laboratory procedures.

• Two psychology courses (six credits):

General or Introductory Psychology and either Abnormal Psychology, Child Psychology, or Developmental Psychology

Students must have an understanding of human growth and development, human behavior (cognitive and affective), and interpersonal relationships.

• One anatomy course (three credits) and one physiology course (three credits) or any two-term sequence of combined anatomy and physiology courses (six credits). Laboratories are recommended. Students must understand body organ systems and have a knowledge of terminology used to describe these systems. It is also assumed that the student has an overview understanding of how the human body, cells, organs, and body systems function.

• One statistics course (three credits). Students must have an understanding of descriptive and inferential statistics used to report information and data.

• One English composition course (three credits). Students must have the ability to communicate in a clear, organized, logical fashion with appropriate grammatical format, both verbally and in writing.

3) The applicant should have a minimum overall QPA of 3.00, and 3.00 in the prerequisite courses.

4) The applicant must have taken the Graduate Record Examination (GRE-general test). While no minimum score is required, a total score of at least 1500 is recommended.

5) The applicant will demonstrate knowledge of physical therapy through volunteer or paid work experience. A minimum of 200 hours in at least two clinical settings is recommended.

International applicants should also see Graduate Admissions of International Students in the front section of this bulletin for further information on requirements.

Application Process

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis beginning September 1 until the class is filled. The application package should include the following:

1. A non-refundable application fee of $40 in check or money order made payable to the University of Pittsburgh
2. A completed application form
3. Transcripts: official transcripts from colleges or universities attended
4. Letters of evaluation: three strong letters of evaluation are required. One should be from the applicant's school faculty and two from physical therapists with whom the applicant has worked and who can evaluate the applicant's qualifications and aptitude for professional graduate education, including academic and personal strengths and attributes.
5. Experience summary form: a complete summary of work in the health care field, including volunteer and paid experience
6. Well-written essays that indicate depth and breadth of interest in the field of physical therapy as well as a description of extracurricular activities, community service, hobbies, and pursuits that have contributed to personal and professional aspirations.

Admission Status

Admission to the Master of Physical Therapy program is only available on a full-time basis.

Statute of Limitations

All requirements of the MPT must be completed within two years. Extension of the statute of limitations may occasionally be granted when circumstances warrant. Such requests, listing reasons for an extension and the amount of additional time needed, must be approved by the department chair.

Master of Physical Therapy Curriculum (87 credits)

The MPT curriculum involves 87 credits. An outline of the curriculum is detailed below, term by term: