Occupational Therapy

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Degrees:

Master of Science

Program Director: Associate Professor Barb Brockevelt, Ph.D.

Program Description

The mission of the Occupational Therapy Department at USD is to develop innovations in teaching, research, clinical practice, community services and policy advocacy on rural health to meet the needs of the people of South Dakota and the region. Our goals are to (1) promote occupational therapy as the profession with the greatest potential to improve the health of communities, (2) graduate occupational therapists who promote health through the use of occupation to attain a balance of physical, mental, and social well-being, (3) promote research on health-related issues of importance to rural communities, (4) provide continuing education opportunities for practicing occupational therapists, and (5) work with organizations and local, state, and federal agencies to improve and increase health-related services to rural residents.

Preparation includes a two and one-half year curriculum, which combines didactic and clinical education, leading to the Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy. Graduates are prepared to pursue careers in traditional and emerging areas of practice. Students admitted to the program must have a Baccalaureate degree. No preference is given to any particular field of study; all students must have a strong foundation in the biological and behavioral sciences, excellent communication skills, and knowledge of the field of occupational therapy.

The Occupational Therapy Department is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA),4720 Montgomery Lane, Bethesda, MD 20841-3425.

Graduate Faculty

Angela Anderson, Assistant Professor, M.S., OTR/L, The University of South Dakota. Specialization: Pediatrics and Assistive Technology in the Classroom

Barb Brockevelt, Associate Professor, Ph.D., OTR/L, Nova Southeastern University. Specialization: Low Vision in Pediatrics, Family-Centered Care, and Movement Analysis in Occupation.

Audrey Cross, Assistant Professor, OTD, OTR/L, Creighton University. Specialization: Upper Extremity Rehabilitation, Ergonomics

Moses Ikiugu, Associate Professor, PhD, OTR/L, Texas Women’s University. Specialization: Psychosocial Rehabilitation, Occupational Therapy Theory, and Application of Theory to Practice

Stacy Smallfield, Assistant Professor, Dr.OT,, OTR/L, Nova Southeastern University. Specialization: Adult Physical Disability, Ergonomics, and Low Vision

Admission Requirements in addition to those of the Graduate School

• Students admitted to the program must have a Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution. No preference is given to any specific field of undergraduate study.
• The GRE is required.
• Cumulative, prerequisite, and science prerequisite (Anatomy and Physiology) GPA of 2.7 or better based on a 4.0 scale.
• Submission of USD OT application with pre-professional information
• Specific prerequisite courses are required. These include:

Human Anatomy
Human Physiology
Majors Biology (two semesters)
Statistics
General Psychology
Cultural Anthropology or Sociology
Lifespan Development
Psychology of Abnormal Behavior
College Physics (Recommended but not required)

• Two official transcripts from each college or university attended. Send transcripts directly to the USD Occupational Therapy Department. Graduates of USD or any of the South Dakota Regental institutions (BHSU, DSU, NSU, SDSMT or SDSU) may submit unofficial transcripts.
• Three letters of recommendation
• A personal interview is also required with Occupational Therapy faculty.
• Additional requirements exist for international students.

Application Deadline

• Regular Admission
  Applications are accepted from September 1st to February 1st for enrollment the following fall semester. Applicants for the class entering in 2008 must complete a minimum of 5 of the 7 prerequisite courses, including at least 1 of the 2 science prerequisite courses (Anatomy and Physiology), prior to application. Applications will continue to be accepted until June 1st only if a full class of students has not yet been admitted. Applicants for the class entering in 2009 and beyond must complete a minimum of 18 of 27 prerequisite semester hours prior to application.  Applications are processed on a rolling basis once all application components are received. Personal interviews will be scheduled for qualified applicants. Preference for any available first-year scholarships will be given to those applicants with a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or better who apply prior to November 1st.
• Health Sciences Scholar Program ***
  This program allows the sophomore or junior undergraduate student to apply for acceptance into the Occupational Therapy program while completing his or her undergraduate degree. Students accepted into this program are guaranteed a seat in the OT program the fall semester after they complete their undergraduate degree. Applicants for the Health Sciences Scholar Program must have an overall GPA of 3.5 and a science GPA of 3.2. Students may submit their application between February 1st of their sophomore year and April 1 of their junior year of college.
• Special Senior Health Sciences Admission ***
  This program allows the exceptional undergraduate student to begin the occupational therapy curriculum during the fall semester of the senior undergraduate year. If accepted, the student would enroll at USD in ANAT 711 Human Gross Anatomy for 8 graduate credits. The student would then complete the undergraduate degree during the spring or first summer semester. During the first semester of full-time enrollment in the OT program, the student would receive a teaching assistantship for Human Gross Anatomy consisting of a 2/3 reduction of in-state tuition and a stipend. Applicants for the Special Senior Health Sciences Admission must have an overall GPA of 3.5 and a science GPA of 3.2. The deadline for application to this program is November 1st of the student’s junior year.

*** Other conditions apply to these special admission procedures. Students wishing to learn more should contact the Department of Occupational Therapy at (605) 677-5600.

For Additional Information

The University of South Dakota
Department of Occupational Therapy
414 East Clark Street
Vermillion, SD 57069
(605) 677-5600
Email: usdot@usd.edu
Website: www.usd.edu/ot

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