Occupational Therapy, M.Sc.

Admission Requirements

To be eligible for admission to the M.Sc.(OT) program, applicants must have completed a four-year baccalaureate degree or the equivalent number of courses (120 units/credits) and have achieved a minimum grade-point average of “B+” or 77%, or 3.3/4.0 or 9.0/12.0 in their final 60 units of credit. Post-graduate coursework is also considered in this GPA calculation, and calculated on a case-by-case basis.

Applicants may apply during the fourth year of their degree. In this case, the pre-admission GPA for eligibility purposes is calculated using the most recent 60 units of credit towards their degree. If an applicant in this category is subsequently offered admission to the program, the offer is “conditional” upon successful completion of their four-year degree by June 30 in that year and maintenance of a B+ average in their final 60 units of credit.

An offer of admission is contingent upon a “clear” approved police check or approval by the Assistant Dean. This condition of admission follows the Police Records Check Policy - Faculty of Health Sciences, that was approved in November 2013. Click here for the full policy.

Application Procedure

Applicants are required to apply via the ORPAS online application service located at the Ontario Rehabilitation Sciences Programs Application Service (ORPAS), Guelph, Ontario website: http://www.ouac.on.ca/orpas/.

Top ranked applicants (based on GPA) will be invited for a personal interview, which entails a series of short, in person
interview stations and station-based written responses. Personal qualities, aptitudes and skills are assessed at these interview stations. Interview evaluators are drawn from the faculty and the community.

Professionalism is an important requirement of the McMaster Occupational Therapy Program. Graduates of the program that register with a regulatory college will be expected to demonstrate professional behaviours in practice. In preparation for licensure and in keeping with the standard of excellence required in our program, we expect applicants to the MSc(OT) program to conduct themselves in a professional manner throughout all phases of the application process. Any and all interactions throughout the admissions process, where applicants are engaged with Occupational Therapy program staff, faculty, students, and/or community volunteers may be taken into consideration in making admissions decisions. Admission may be denied to applicants who, amongst other critical determinants, behave in a manner that is considered below the level of professionalism expected of similarly situated candidates, regardless of their academic standing or interview performance.

Enquiries: 905 525-9140 Ext. 27829, OT Program Coordinator
Fax: 905 524-0069
Email: askOT@mcmaster.ca
Website: http://srs-mcmaster.ca

Program Requirements

The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy is a full time course-based accredited professional Master’s program. It prepares students with knowledge, skills, and professional behaviours to practice as entry level occupational therapists. The program utilizes a problem-based self-directed learning philosophy. Students will complete course work, clinical practica, and an independent evidence-based practice project during their two extended study years. All courses are required with the exception of OT 798 and 799 which are elective courses offered to students who have failed a required course and are eligible for remediation.

The University reserves the right to cancel academic privileges of a student at any time should the student’s scholastic record or conduct warrant so doing. For details on procedures and requirements related to university-based courses, clinical practica courses, remediation, and required withdrawals for the Occupational Therapy Program, students should consult the relevant sections of Graduate Calendar, the Occupational Therapy Program Handbook, Clinical Education Handbook, and Term handbooks. In the event of a discrepancy between these documents and the Graduate Calendar, the Graduate Calendar represents the official policy.

Review of Student Progress

The progress of graduate students enrolled in the Master’s Program in Occupational Therapy is overseen by a team of McMaster faculty and registered occupational therapists. Student progress in the program is regularly reviewed by a Program Academic Study Committee (PASC). The committee is responsible for, but not limited to, determining if a student may proceed to the next term of study.

The program may, in appropriate circumstances, defer or remove a student from a clinical practicum if the student, including but not limited to, fails to maintain communication with the program, exhibits behaviours that place clients or others at risk, or fails to comply with other academic or non-academic (e.g., obtain and receive clearance for mandatory health screening, mask fit testing, police records check etc.) requirements. Deficits in matters pertaining to work in clinical settings, research ethics, or professionalism may result in restrictions or termination of the work in a clinical practicum or research project. Unsatisfactory standing or deficits in matters pertaining to professionals skills, which include, but are not limited to: patient safety, professionalism, ethical behavior, and technical skills, as articulated in the Essential Competencies of Practice for Occupational Therapists in Canada and Occupational Therapy Standards of Practice (available at www.coto.org), may result in a decision to terminate the clinical placement or research project.

In most cases termination of the clinical placement or research project constitutes a failure and will result in the student receiving a grade of F in the course, and may result in dismissal from the program.

Accreditation

The M.Sc. (OT) Program is accredited by the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT).

Regulation of Practice

 All occupational therapists in Canada must be registered with the appropriate provincial regulatory organization in order to practice in that province. Each regulatory body has a separate and distinct registration process; however, in all circumstances, an approved degree in occupational therapy and in most cases successful completion of the CAOT national certification examination are required. In Ontario, graduates from the M.Sc. (OT) Program will be granted a provisional practicing certificate of registration by the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario (COTO) until they write and pass the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) examination, at which point a general practicing certificate is granted.