Gwynedd Mercy University 2026-2027 University Catalog
OCCUPATIONAL SCIENCE
Degree: Bachelor of Health Science( BHS) Program Modality: On Ground( The didactic portion of the Occupational Science program is delivered on-ground.) Academic Program Director: Thomas Mernar
The Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy offers a 5-year dual degree program in Occupational Science( BHS) and Occupational Therapy( MSOT).
Accreditation, Certification, and Credentialing Requirements: The Bachelor of Health Science( BHS) in Occupational Science Program is a dual degree program with the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy( MSOT) Program. The entry-level occupational therapy master’ s degree program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education( ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association( AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’ s telephone number c / o AOTA is( 301) 652-6611 and its Web address is www. acoteonline. org.
The Occupational Science program is a term degree program with course offerings in the summer, fall, and spring. Students are required to complete one summer term during their senior year. This summer term begins during the first week of June each year and this summer does not align with the summer I or summer II schedules.
Program Description: The Occupational Science program holds two phases. First, the pre-professional phase of the program occurs during the first three years when students will complete courses in general education, liberal arts, health science, and occupational science. Second, the professional phase of the program occurs during the fourth year when students complete the first year of occupational therapy courses. This phase is referred to as the Professional Phase or PY1.
Occupational Science majors will have an undergraduate advisor during both the pre- professional and professional phases of the program.
Preparation for Professional Licensure: To be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy( NBCOT ®), students will need to complete both their BHS in Occupational Science and MS in Occupational Therapy degrees. After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered( OTR). In addition, all states require licensure to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT ® Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’ s ability to sit for the NBCOT ® certification examination or attain state licensure. ACOTE accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational programs satisfy the states’ educational requirements in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Students graduating from an ACOTE accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational program are eligible to take the NBCOT ® certification exam and apply for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
Program Learning Outcomes: The five program learning outcomes for the Occupational Science Program are as follows: PLO1 Analyze the relationships between occupation, health, and well-being.
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