The research thesis is conducted under the supervision of faculty members and must meet professional publication standards. Students’ proposals must be accepted for thesis research by the faculty. These students will register for OTMS-67200/67300 Individual Thesis Research.
Students who do not undertake a thesis must take OTMS-67100 Group Research and OTMS-67500 Advanced Program Practice, as well as pass a comprehensive examination developed by the faculty prior to graduation.
Students enrolled in the thesis option who have completed all coursework except the thesis will be required to enroll in at least 1 credit of thesis each semester until they finish their degree. Students should work with their program advisers to plan an appropriate course and credit schedule. For international students this schedule will be reflected in the immigration paperwork.
| OTMS-62000 | Advanced Theory and Practice | 3 |
| OTMS-65000 | Applied Pediatric Neuroscience (3)or | 3 |
| OTMS-65100 | Applied Adult Neuroscience (3) | |
| OTMS-65500 | Technological Interventions in Occupational Therapy | 3 |
| OTMS-66500 | Gerontic Occupational Therapy | 3 |
| OTMS-xxxxx | Clinical Elective I | 3 |
| OTMS-xxxxx | Clinical Elective II | 3 |
| Total, major department requirements | 18 |
Students are expected to take 6 credits of clinical electives in the 03 spring block, which is in the first half of the spring semester. Students must take 3 credits from the OTMS-64xxx list of courses and 3 credits from the OTMS-68xxx list of courses. Specific courses offered will be determined by student consensus.
Clinical Elective Courses
| OTMS-64100 | Adaptation and Environmental Modification | 3 |
| OTMS-64300 | Cognitive Rehabilitation | 3 |
| OTMS-64500 | Vocational Readiness | 3 |
| OTMS-64600 | Play and Leisure | 3 |
| OTMS-68100 | Advanced Concepts in Physical Disabilities | 3 |
| OTMS-68200 | Advanced Concepts in Psychosocial Occupational Therapy | 3 |
| OTMS-68300 | Advanced Concepts in Geriatric Rehabilitation | 3 |
| OTMS-68400 | School-Based Occupational Therapy | 3 |
| OTMS-68500 | Hand Therapy | 3 |
| OTMS-68800 | Occupational Therapy in Early Intervention | 3 |
Clinical Fieldwork Courses
| OTMS-60000 | Clinical Fieldwork II -- Children and Adolescents | 6 |
| OTMS-69000 | Clinical Fieldwork II -- Adult and Geriatric | 6 |
| OTMS-69500 | Clinical Fieldwork II -- Elective Specialty or | 4 |
| OTMS-69600 | Elective Internship | |
| Total, clinical fieldwork | 16 |
Research
| OTMS-67200 | Individual Thesis Research I (3) and | |
| OTMS-67300 | Individual Thesis Research II (3) or | |
| OTMS-67500 | Advanced Program Practice (3) and | |
| OTMS-67100 | Group Research (3) | |
| Total, research | 6 | |
| Total, M.S. in occupational therapy | 40 |
Clinical fieldwork is an essential part of professional training, and students must complete three level II fieldwork experiences in preparation for their degree and certification. Fieldwork centers maintain contractual relationships with Ithaca College, and students are placed in fieldwork centers by the fieldwork coordinator well in advance of the beginning of these placements. Once placements are confirmed, students cannot alter them.
Students will be assigned to fieldwork based on their preferences and the availability of placements. Students should expect to do at least some of their fieldwork at a distance from their homes and Ithaca. They are responsible for making their own housing and travel arrangements, although the department and the fieldwork center are usually able to provide some help. Students and their families need to plan ahead for this process.
The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) requires that all level II fieldwork experiences be completed within 24 months of the completion of the academic portion of the curriculum. Students who fail to complete graduate fieldwork within this period are subject to dismissal from the program.