Graduate students have the opportunity for study and mentorship with doctoral trained faculty who represent  diverse clinical and research backgrounds, as well as depth of experience as educators and clinicians.     

The program is structured to accommodate therapists who are employed full-time.  Therefore, most classes are offered late afternoons and evenings, with possible weekend offerings as well.  In addition, courses are being developed for internet format.  Students may select a thesis (33 semester hours) or non-thesis (36 hours) option.

                                        
In addition to the Graduate School Admission requirements, the Occupational Therapy Department requires:

• Graduation from an accredited program in Occupational Therapy with a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent.

• *Certification as an Occupational Therapist by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).

• Completion of Graduate School application.

• Completion of Departmental application.

• Three letters of reference.

• Graduate Record Exam (GRE) Scores.

• Interview with Departmental Graduate Admission Committee.

* International students please contact the department for requirements in lieu of NBCOT certification

OTHY 6305 - Comparative Theory - Analysis of the work of major theorists and other leaders in the occupational therapy profession, and the relationship of their ideas to occupational therapy research and practice.  Offered online.

OTHY 6310 - Occupational Therapy as Educator - Academic issues and concepts are presented; students will learn to prepare educational objectives, learning experiences, and evaluations for a variety of teaching situations. Offered late afternoon.

OTHY 6312 - Occupational Therapy Administration and Management - Advanced theory, philosophy, and management functions as related to occupational therapy practice.  Reimbursement and health care economic issues are addressed.  Offered late afternoon.

OTHY 6315 - Occupational Therapy Research Methods - Provides the skills and procedures necessary for designing a research proposal or project of importance to the field of occupational therapy.  The kinds of data collection, analysis, and interpretations pertinent to occupational therapy are discussed.  

OTHY 6365 - Current Issues in Occupational Therapy - Identification and analyses of current issues and trends in occupational therapy and the health care environment.  Reading and discussions of recent changes and future projections for occupational therapy practice, education, reimbursement, ethics, research, and legislative actions.  Role of the occupational therapist in effecting and impacting change in the profession.  Offered online.

OTHY 6320 - Thesis - Includes the writing and defense of the thesis.  Open only to students in the thesis option of the Occupational Therapy master's program.  

Statistics - an approved statistics course.           

Recent research topics of the program graduates include:

• efficacy of sensory integration with children

• relationship between fine motor skills and handwriting

• exploring the reasons for failure of occupational therapy students in Level II Fieldwork

• efficacy of a sensory diet with children with ADHD

• exploring the pediatric curriculum in occupational therapy programs
  

Individuals seeking admission to the Post-professional Master of Science degree program in Occupational Therapy, and who have received their occupational therapy education from institutions from outside the United States, must meet the following requirements to be eligible:

1. Submit an Application for Admission to the Occupational Therapy Program.

2. Submit an Application for Admission to Graduate Studies at the University of Central Arkansas.

3. Submit educational program transcripts that demonstrate US equivalent of the bachelor of science degree.

4. Submit proof of financial support.

5. Demonstrate successful completion of a WFOT recognized entry-level occupational therapy educational program which provides comparable professional education as that required for UCA entry-level students.

6. Demonstrate completion of at least 1000 hours of supervised fieldwork (equivalent to US fieldwork requirements).

7. English language proficiency, demonstrated by:
       TOEFL score of 560 (paper-based) or 220 (computer-based)
       Test of Written English (TWE) score of 4.5
       Test of Spoken English (TSE) score of 50

8. Graduate Record Examination general test scores.

9. Three Letters of Reference

10. While initial NBCOT certification is not required for admission to graduate study, international students must become NBCOT certified within 1 year of beginning graduate study at UCA.

All documents, including Application for Admission to Graduate Study, TOEFL scores, GRE, and official transcripts should be sent to:

            University of Central Arkansas
            Office of International Programs
            3rd Floor Torreyson Library
            Conway, AR  72035 USA

Application for Admission to the Occupational Therapy Post-Professional Master of Science Program should be sent to:

            University of Central Arkansas
            Department of Occupational Therapy
            201 Donaghey Ave.
            Conway, AR  72035 USA

Important links to assist you throughout the graduate program:
Graduate studies
Graduate handbook
Petition for candidacy
Change in petition for candidacy
Student's research guidelines
Thesis guidelines
Institutional review board (IRB)Guidelines

For further information or an advisement appointment, contact:

University of Central Arkansas
Occupational Therapy Department
201 Donaghey Ave.
Conway, AR  72035

Phone:  501-450-3192
Fax:  501-450-3622

Email: lindas@uca.edu
or jennifer@uca.edu