Occupational Therapy Degree Programs:
Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT)

Curriculum

The curriculum is designed on the premise that competent occupational therapists have the ability to link technical competence and skills with professional values, attitudes and behaviors. Technical competence and professional competence are viewed as inter-related and are sequenced in coursework throughout the curriculum.

Technical competencies are the theoretical foundations and therapeutic skills needed to practice occupational therapy. Theoretical foundations include occupational therapy's philosophical base, theories, and evidence-based practices. Therapeutic skills are the tools that the occupational therapist uses and include therapeutic use of self, activity groups, occupational performance processes and use of physical modalities such as technologies and environmental components.

Professional competencies represent a broad array of values, attitudes and behaviors that are important to professional practice. These include adaptability, communication skills, critical thinking, contextual orientation, professional ethics, leadership capacity, professional identity, and continued learning.

Master of Occupational Therapy Program Sequence

In the last four academic quarters, students apply foundation knowledge to courses that focus on the practice environments of physical rehabilitation, mental health, pediatrics, geriatrics, and community-based services. Fieldwork I is a full-time experience in the field and is integrated into four courses in the curriculum for one week each. Students observe and participate in diverse practice settings and have the chance to apply the information they are learning in class.

Students receive a strong foundation in research and its application to evidence-based practice. They learn about evaluation and intervention in assistive technology and industrial rehabilitation. They develop leadership skills and professional identity through courses focused on current trends and issues in the field. as well as administration and management. Students complete a written Master's Project and present this at a professional symposium to students, faculty, and practitioners in the community.

After successful completion of all academic coursework, including Fieldwork I, students take 24 weeks of full-time Fieldwork II, typically in two different settings for 12 weeks each. Students apply the knowledge and skills they have learned in coursework to actual practice and learn from their clinical supervisors.

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Masters Project

The occupational therapy curriculum includes a Master's Project that provides a "capstone" learning experience. Students select topics of interest presented by OT faculty, then work in small groups over three quarters with a faculty advisor who guides and supervises them. Projects typically focus on research, administration, education, practice, political advocacy, or other scholarly or creative work. Examples of projects include faculty research, community-based program development, and educational class materials. The projects involve conducting a review of the literature that forms a rationale for the project and implementing project methods to accomplish the goal.

The Master's Project culminates in a scholarly written paper and is presented orally at a professional symposium attended by faculty, students, and community practitioners.

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Fieldwork - Practical Experience in the Field

Fieldwork education is an important part of the student's preparation as a professional. These practical experiences provide an opportunity to integrate and apply what is learned in the classroom and a chance to observe professional role models in practice settings.

Level I Fieldwork
Level I Fieldwork is integrated into four core courses in the curriculum, and is integral to the program's design and sequence. These experiences vary and may include everything from direct observation to supervised "hands-on" participation in occupational therapy practice. At the UW, each Level I Fieldwork is one week of full-time experience working under the supervision of an occupational therapist or other professional. Integrated classroom experiences include assessment reports, treatment planning, and documentation notes. Fieldwork I experiences are shared in class discussions with the instructor and fellow students.

Level II Fieldwork
The goal of Level II Fieldwork is for the student to develop into a competent, entry-level occupational therapist. This experience is more in-depth and includes delivering occupational therapy services to clients, focusing on purposeful and meaningful occupation. The Academic Fieldwork Coordinator will help you select from over 150 fieldwork centers to best meet your interests and skills. We work to make sure that you are exposed to a variety of clients of different ages and in various practice settings. After successful completion of Fieldwork II, you are eligible to graduate and to sit for the National Certification Examination for Occupational Therapist, Registered.

Master of Occupational Therapy Curriculum

The following courses are taken at the University of Washington in the scheduled sequence, beginning Autumn Quarter. This schedule is subject to change to accommodate classroom space, faculty time, and revisions in the program.

A more detailed listing of courses for the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine (including the occupational therapy programs) may be found in the University of Washington General Catalog, www.washington.edu/students/crscat/rehab.html

Scholastic and Graduation Requirements

In accordance with graduate school requirements, a minimum grade of 2.7 or a “credit” grade in non-graded courses must be attained in each required course in order to be in good standing in the occupational therapy program.  In any course with both didactic and clinical/laboratory components, the student must pass both the written and practical portions of the course in order to pass the course.  A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 and “credit” grades in the two required Level II Fieldwork placements are required for graduation from the program.

If a student receives a grade below 2.7 in a required course, continuation in the program is subject to review by the Occupational Therapy Advisory and Evaluation Committee (OTAEC). If the student is allowed to proceed in the program, the student will be placed on academic probation and the OTAEC will provide a remediation plan for passing the course with a 2.7 grade or better. For example, the OTAEC may require the student to drop from the program for one year and repeat the course at the next offering and then re-enter program; or continue in the program and take the course in addition to regularly-scheduled classes the next year in the program; or do independent study simultaneously the next quarter in the program. A required course may only be repeated once.

If at any point the cumulative GPA in the OT program falls below 3.0, the student’s academic record is reviewed by the OTAEC and the student is placed on academic probation.  In order to be taken off probation, the student must achieve a GPA of 3.0 in the program courses by the end of two consecutive quarters, or within a time frame designated by the OTAEC. If a student is unable to remove his/her probation status in the required timeframe, the student is subject to dismissal from the program.

Due to the lock-step sequence of the program, students may not withdraw from any required course.  Students seeking exceptions must petition the OTAEC.

An “Incomplete” may be given only when the student has done satisfactory work to within two weeks of the end of the quarter and has furnished satisfactory proof to the instructor that the work cannot be completed because of illness or other circumstances beyond the student’s control.  A written statement giving the reason for the incomplete and indicating the work required to remove it must be filed by the instructor of the course at the time of issuing the incomplete grade or as soon thereafter as possible. 

Students must pass all academic coursework and pass all Level I Fieldwork placements in order to be promoted to Level II Fieldwork.  If a Level I Fieldwork placement is not completed satisfactorily according to the criteria specified on the Level I Fieldwork Performance Evaluation form, it must be repeated at the first possible opportunity.  The student may repeat each Level I Fieldwork placement only once. If the student does not pass Level I Fieldwork, he/she will receive a failing grade in the course and be subject to dismissal from the program.

If a student does not pass ("credit") a required Level II Fieldwork placement, the student will be placed on probation and continuation in the program will be subject to review by the OTAEC.  The student must petition the Committee for approval to repeat the Level II Fieldwork placement.  If the Committee allows the student to repeat the Fieldwork II placement, it can only be repeated one time and must be completed in the Seattle/Tacoma vicinity to assure optimal monitoring by the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator. Both of the two required Level II Fieldwork placements must be satisfactorily completed in order to graduate from the program and they must be completed within two years after the completion of the academic portion of the program.

Throughout the program, the student is expected to comply with the Student Conduct Code of the University of Washington and the Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics.

The student is expected to demonstrate satisfactory professional behaviors in classes; in working with faculty, staff and classmates; and in Level I and II Fieldwork placements.

At any point in the program, a student’s entire record may be reviewed by the OTAEC relative to continuance in the program.  This review may include academic coursework, clinical or laboratory performance, and/or professional behaviors.  Graduates of the program must meet the “Essential Requirements of Occupational Therapy at the University of Washington School of Medicine: Admission, Retention, and Graduation Requirements.”

Those students not meeting the above requirements will be dismissed from the program.

The Advisory and Evaluation Committee for Occupational Therapy reviews student scholarship standings as required and may initiate academic actions as they see appropriate.  If the student feels that unusual circumstances warrant reconsideration of an academic decision and/or academic dismissal from the program, a written request for review must be filed with the OTAEC within 10 working days of receipt of the academic decision. Review decisions of the Occupational Therapy Advisory and Evaluation Committee are final.

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