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University of South Alabama

Mobile , Alabama ,United States

Occupational Therapy (MS)

Occupational Therapy is a health care profession devoted to providing skilled treatment that helps individuals achieve independence in all aspects of their lives. Occupational therapists work with persons with acute and chronic physical, psychosocial, mental and developmental disabilities. An occupational therapist may aid in the growth and development of premature babies; create a learning environment for physically and mentally challenged children; adapt home environments for persons with stroke, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury and other disabilities; or create activities that are designed to restore mental health for persons with emotional, mental, or substance abuse problems. Occupational therapy focuses on "skills for the job of living" which includes all of the necessary skills for individuals to "live life to its fullest" and lead independent and satisfying lives.

The Master of Science degree program in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) is an entry-level professional program designed to enable the student to develop advanced critical reasoning skills and to prepare the graduate for professional practice in a variety of settings. Graduates will also have the capability of assuming responsibilities in the areas of administration, program development, consultation and research in occupational therapy.

The program consists of 95 semester hours and is seven consecutive semesters in length. This includes 24 weeks of full-time Level II Fieldwork as required by accreditation standards. Level II Fieldwork is available in a variety of medical and community sites representing a diverse range of learning opportunities for students. All Level II Fieldwork must be completed within 12 months following completion of academic requirements.

Intakes

  • Jan
  • May
  • Aug

Application Processing Time in Days: 30

Minimum English Language Requirements

English Level Description IELTS (1.0 -9.0) TOEFL IBT (0-120) TOEFL CBT (0-300) PTE (10-90)
Expert 9 120 297-300 86-90
Very Good 8.5 115-119 280-293 83-86
Very Good 8 110-114 270-280 79-83
Good 7.5 102-109 253-267 73-79
Good 7 94-101 240-253 65-73
Competent 6.5 79-93 213-233 58-65
Competent 6 60-78 170-210 50-58
Modest 5.5 46-59 133-210 43-50
Modest 5 35-45 107-133 36-43
Limited 4 32-34 97-103 30-36
Extremely Limited < 4 < 31 < 93 < 30

Job Opportunity Potential

Applying for Jobs through USA
All employment opportunities that are reported to the University of South Alabama (including full-time positions, co-ops, internships) are circulated to possible candidate students by the Career Services Office. Once a student creates an account in Handshake, emails will be sent to their JagMail account when positions become available. Students should browse through Handshake frequently for updated job postings, career events, and more. To create an account, you must first have a resume to upload and unofficial transcripts.

There are two types of employment opportunities, the co-op program and internships:

Cooperative Education Program
Working as an engineer in a professional setting is a great opportunity. Students gain real-world experience that will translate into a better understanding of the concepts they are learning in class, a glimpse into what their future will look like, and an ability to better define their job preferences when interviewing for a permanent position upon graduation. These are paid positions where students can earn two to three times the wage of a traditional college student job.

The University of South Alabama Engineering Cooperative Education Program provides an opportunity for students to alternate time in the classroom with periods of paid, full-time, career-related work experience. Work experience may take place in industry or government agencies.

Internships
Students may also look for internships while they are taking classes at USA. Summer internships are usually a full-time job for 10-12 weeks between semesters. Engineering internships are usually paid positions.

There are also opportunities available for part-time internships, both during the summer and during the academic year. Please remember that being an engineering student is a full time occupation, so if you plan an internship be sure to meet with your advisor to discuss your course load.

PSW Opportunity

3 Years

Admission Requirement / Eligibility Criteria

?Each program has specific requirements for admission that may exceed the requirements listed as follows for admission to the Graduate School. 

Applicants seeking admission must satisfy the following requirements:

Have earned a bachelor's degree from an accredited United States institution of higher education.

Have earned the minimum grade-point-average required by the relevant graduate program. See the individual program descriptions for details.

Possess sufficient coursework in the major subject to qualify for graduate study in the relevant graduate program. Students with a deficiency in required coursework may be required by the admitting graduate program to take pre-requisite courses.

International students who do not meet the exception listed above or below must submit  an official language test:

TOEFL minimum score of 71
IELTS minimum score of 6
iTEP minimum score of 3.7
PTE  Academic minimum score of 48
Duolingo minimum score of 100

Please note some programs may require higher scores to prove English proficiency.