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Kinesiology Department Chair: Richard Laird, Ph.D.
Undergraduate Health Science Occupational Therapy Specialization Coordinator: Catherine Springer-Sapp, Ph.D.
Graduate Occupational Therapy Program Director: Cathy Felmlee Shanholtz, OTD, M.Ed.
McDaniel’s Bachelor of Arts - Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MS in OT) accelerated five-year program is designed for academically qualified first-year students or current McDaniel students who are confident they want to become occupational therapists. Students who are admitted to this program will earn both a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree and a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MS in OT) degree in five-years from McDaniel when completing the requirements of both degrees. Currently, students who major in Kinesiology or Health Science (with an OT Specialization) as an undergraduate student are eligible for the BA/MS in OT Accelerated five-year program. For more information contact Graduate and Professional Studies, gpsadvising@mcdaniel.edu.
Admission Requirements for First-Year Entry Students:
First year students interested in enrolling at McDaniel and who are interested in admission to the accelerated five-year program will apply to McDaniel using McDaniel’s online application, indicating interest in the five-year accelerated program BA Kinesiology/MS in OT program or BA Health Science (with an OT Specialization)/MS in OT. Admission requirements for the program include the following. Please note admission to the first-year student entry to the BA/MS in OT program is a competitive process and students must meet the following admission requirements.
- High school degree with a minimum 3.00 GPA or higher (unweighted) with the following recommended courses. Grade of B or better in all high school science and math courses.
- 4 years of English
- 3 years of math
- 3 years of natural sciences – including a course in Biology
- 3 years of social sciences
- The following courses are not required but highly recommended: Biology, Psychology, Statistics, and Anatomy. AP courses are also considered favorably.
- Two letters of recommendation.
- A professor, teacher, counselor, academic advisor, or a person of your choice other than a relative or family friend, who can speak objectively about your strengths, such as a work supervisor or employer.
- A person who can speak to your potential as an occupational therapist, such as someone who supervised you during an OT-related experience or worked with you in a setting related to health care or populations related to OT.
- Evidence of life experience and leadership and/or strong leadership in school or community activities. Please submit a resume highlighting these activities and any work history.
- Personal statement describing your understanding of occupational therapy and reasons for interest in the profession. It is encouraged that all written personal statements be completed without the assistance of an IA tool since the statement should provide information related to the individual’s personal and professional goals and aspirations as an Occupational Therapist.
- Completion of admission interview. Please note that not all qualified students are invited for an interview. Admission is competitive.
Admission Requirements for Current McDaniel Students:
The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MS in OT) program also offers an accelerated five-year program for current McDaniel students majoring in Kinesiology or Health Science (OT Specialization). Current McDaniel students interested in pursuing the MS in OT accelerated five-year program should apply in the fall of their third year of study. To be considered for admission students must:
- Complete 76-80 credit hours of undergraduate coursework to include the following MS in OT prerequisites and be on track to complete all major and McDaniel Plan requirements by the end of the third year of study. Students must have a cumulative 3.00 GPA or higher and must have a “C” or better in the following prerequisites. Admission into the program is competitive and will be based on available seats. Students may not repeat more than one prerequisite course. Prerequisites for the MSOT:
- Medical Terminology
- Introduction to Psychology
- Introduction to Sociology
- Developmental Psychology
- Abnormal Psychology
- Statistics
- Human Anatomy with Lab
- Human Physiology with Lab
- Submit two letters of recommendation from a professor, teacher, counselor, academic advisor, or a person of your choice other than a relative or family friend, who can speak objectively about your strengths, such as a work supervisor or employer.
- Provide evidence of life experience and leadership. Please submit a resume highlighting these activities and any work history.
- Personal statement describing your understanding of occupational therapy and reasons for interest in the profession. It is encouraged that all written personal statements be completed without the assistance of an IA tool since the statement should provide information related to the individual’s personal and professional goals and aspirations as an Occupational Therapist.
- Completion of admission interview. Please note that not all qualified McDaniel students will be invited for an interview. Admission is competitive.
Progression Requirements for Students Admitted to the Accelerated Five-Year Program:
Students admitted into the Accelerated Five-Year BA/MS in OT Program must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA and a grade of “C” or better in all prerequisite courses. Students may not repeat more than one prerequisite course.
Prerequisite Courses:
- Medical Terminology
- Introduction to Psychology
- Introduction to Sociology
- Developmental Psychology
- Abnormal Psychology
- Statistics
- Human Anatomy with Lab
- Human Physiology with Lab
Students will be required to follow a prescriptive program of study and will be required to begin in the MS in OT professional phase, taking graduate courses, in the summer following the third year of study. Students may not receive more than one grade below a “B” in any graduate course taken while an undergraduate student to remain in the program and to matriculate to the MS in OT program. Students will complete 29 graduate credits while an undergraduate student will be used as free electives toward completion of the 128 credits required for the bachelor’s degree. Students will be awarded the bachelor’s degree after completing all requirements for the degree following completion of the fall semester in the fourth year of study and will matriculate into the MS in OT program to complete the remaining 49 graduate credits with continuous enrollment in the following 1.5 years to include January and summer terms. All graduate credits taken as an undergraduate student will be transferred to the master’s transcript for completion of the required 79 credits required for the MSOT degree.
Students in the accelerated BA/MS in OT program who do not meet the progression requirements for the BA/MS in OT program or who choose to leave the program for any reason, will be required to complete the requirements of the BA in Kinesiology or BA in Health Science (OT Specialization) in order to be awarded the Bachelor of Arts degree (all graduate courses taken will be applied to the degree). Students may later apply for entry to the MS in OT program but will be required to meet all admission requirements and will be considered for admission through the traditional master’s entry competitive admission process.
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