At which campus can I study this program?
Begin Campus
DuBois, Mont Alto, Shenango
End Campus
DuBois, Mont Alto, Shenango
Degree Information At Additional Campuses
Program Description
This major helps graduates prepare to be occupational therapy assistants who are qualified to be employed by agencies that provide occupational therapy and related services. The goal of occupational therapy is to enable the client to be as independent as possible in the daily performance of self-care, productive, and leisure occupations. General education, basic science, and occupational therapy courses are followed by supervised field experience. Upon successful graduation from the program, students must sit for and successfully pass the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) national certification examination to practice. Most states also require licensure as a condition for employment. A felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination and obtain licensure. NBCOT may be contacted at:
NBCOT
One Bank Street #300
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
301-990-7979 or on the Web at www.NBCOT.org
To enter this major, students must have a high school diploma or its equivalent. To be admitted to degree candidacy, the applicant must have completed educational background requirements called Carnegie Units or Secondary School Units. Students are responsible for proof of liability insurance and other requirements specified by the facility providing supervised field experience.
The size of each entering class is limited so that optimal clinical experiences and practical application situations can be maintained. Students are expected to progress through the program in the prescribed manner. Fieldwork affiliations are maintained over a wide geographical area. Students may be required to make special housing and transportation arrangements during the fieldwork phase. Students must complete all Level II fieldwork within eighteen months of successful completion of OTA didactic course work. The 2OTCC and 2OTBL curricula are delivered in five semesters.
What is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy is a practice informed by physical, psychological, and occupational science. It is with these skills and knowledge; occupational therapy assistants employ intervention plans that engage people in maintaining or reclaiming independence. A physical or psychological challenge may hinder an individual, group, and/or community from participating fully in meaningful occupations. When this occurs an occupational therapy assistant works with the client(s) to design a plan to Live Life to its Fullest™. As a certified occupational therapy assistant, you will work in numerous practice settings, guided by the supervision of occupational therapists. Most importantly, by choosing a career in occupational therapy, you will be at the forefront in making a difference in people’s lives by way of therapeutic use of self and an intentional relationship.
You Might Like This Program If...
You want to work in a variety of practice settings with individuals and groups across the lifespan. Physical, mental health, emotional, and other challenges prevent people from participating fully in the job of living. Occupational therapy makes it possible for people to regain independence and to enjoy life. By choosing a career in occupational therapy, you will make a difference in lives of people and groups in your community.
Entrance to Major
Students must have a minimum 2.0 GPA to change to this Associate degree after admission to the University.
Additional Information
Students are responsible for proof of liability insurance and other requirements, including criminal background checks and health information specified by the facility providing supervised field experience.
A felony conviction on record may impact a student's ability to sit for the certification examination administered by NBCOT after gradation; this can subsequently impact a graduate's ability to attain state licensure. Before applying to the OTA program, students can contact NBCOT for information on their early determination program to assess examination eligibility. Contact NBCOT at https://www.nbcot.org/ for more information.
Degree Requirements
For the Associate in Science degree in Occupational Therapy, a minimum of 69 credits is required:
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| General Education | 21 |
| Requirements for the Major | 60 |
12 of the 21 credits for General Education are included in the Requirements for the Major. This includes: 3 credits of GWS courses; 6 credits of GS courses; 3 credits of GN courses.
General Education
Connecting career and curiosity, the General Education curriculum provides the opportunity for students to acquire transferable skills necessary to be successful in the future and to thrive while living in interconnected contexts. General Education aids students in developing intellectual curiosity, a strengthened ability to think, and a deeper sense of aesthetic appreciation. These are requirements for all baccalaureate students and are often partially incorporated into the requirements of a program. For additional information, see the General Education Requirements section of the Bulletin and consult your academic adviser.
Foundations (grade of C or better is required.)
- Quantification (GQ): 3 credits
- Writing and Speaking (GWS): 3 credits
Knowledge Domains
- Arts (GA): 3 credits
- Humanities (GH): 3 credits
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS): 3 credits
- Natural Sciences (GN): 3 credits
Foundations or Knowledge Domains
- A General Education course selected from GWS, GQ, GN, GA, GH, or GS, and may include Integrative Studies (Inter-domain or Linked) courses: 3 credits
The keystone symbol 
appears next to the title of any course that is designated as a General Education course. Program requirements may also satisfy General Education requirements and vary for each program.
University Degree Requirements
Cultures Requirement
3 credits of United States (US) or International (IL) cultures coursework are required and may satisfy other requirements
Writing Across the Curriculum
3 credits required from the college of graduation and likely prescribed as part of major requirements.
Total Minimum Credits
A minimum of 60 degree credits must be earned for a associates degree. The requirements for some programs may exceed 60 credits. Students should consult with their college or department adviser for information on specific credit requirements.
Quality of Work
Candidates must complete the degree requirements for their major and earn at least a 2.00 grade-point average for all courses completed within their degree program.
Limitations on Source and Time for Credit Acquisition
Credit used toward degree programs may need to be earned from a particular source or within time constraints (see Senate Policy 83-80). For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.
Requirements for the Major
To graduate, a student enrolled in the major must earn a grade of C or better in each course designated by the major as a C-required course, as specified by Senate Policy 82-44.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Courses | ||
| ENGL 15 | Rhetoric and Composition | 3 |
| HDFS 129 | Introduction to Human Development and Family Studies | 3 |
| KINES 13 | First Aid, Personal Safety, and CPR | 1 |
| OT 100 | Structural Foundations of Occupational Therapy | 1 |
| PSYCH 100 | Introductory Psychology | 3 |
| Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better | ||
| BIOL 129 | Mammalian Anatomy | 4 |
| BIOL 141 | Introductory Physiology | 3 |
| BIOL 142 | Physiology Laboratory | 1 |
| OT 101 | Conceptual Foundations of Occupational Therapy Practice | 2 |
| OT 195A | Level I Fieldwork Experience | 1 |
| OT 103 | Occupational Performance Across the Life Span | 3 |
| OT 105 | Group Process Across The Lifespan | 3 |
| OT 107 | Activity Analysis: Assistive Technologies and Methods of Adaptation | 3 |
| OT 109 | Management and Ethics in Occupational Therapy | 3 |
| OT 195B | Level I Fieldwork Experience | 1 |
| OT 201 | Clinical Reasoning and Documentation in Occupational Therapy | 3 |
| OT 202 | Occupational Therapy for Developmental Disabilities | 3 |
| OT 204 | Occupational Therapy for Behavioral Health | 3 |
| OT 206 | Occupational Therapy for Physical Disabilities | 4 |
| OT 295A | Field Experience in Occupational Therapy I | 6 |
| OT 295B | Field Experience in Occupational Therapy II | 6 |
Academic Advising
The objectives of the university’s academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.
Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee’s unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.
READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY
DuBois
LuAnn Demi
Program Director
1 College Place
DuBois, PA 15801
814-375-4748
ldb4@psu.edu
Mont Alto
Angela Hissong
Associate Teaching Professor in Occupational Therapy
201 Student Services Annex
Mont Alto, PA 17237
717-749-6165
anh1@psu.edu
Shenango
Tammy Divens
Assistant Teaching Professor
147 Shenango Avenue
104 Chadderton Lab
Sharon, PA 16146
724-983-2966
tsd13@psu.edu
Berks
David Kresse
Program Coordinator, Assistant Professor
Luerssen 115
Reading, PA 19610
610-396-6425
dck12@psu.edu
Suggested Academic Plan
DuBois Campus
The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| OT 100 (Seminar course)* | 1 | PSYCH 212 or HDFS 129 | 3 | ||
| OT 101* | 2 | OT 103* | 3 | ||
| BIOL 129*† | 4 | BIOL 141*† | 3 | ||
| ENGL 15‡ | 3 | BIOL 142*† | 1 | ||
| PSYCH 100† | 3 | General Education Course: Humanities or Arts† | 3 | ||
| KINES 13† | 1 | ||||
| 13 | 14 | ||||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| OT 105* | 3 | OT 195B* | 1 | OT 295A* | 6 |
| OT 107* | 3 | OT 201* | 3 | OT 295B* | 6 |
| OT 109* | 3 | OT 202* | 3 | ||
| OT 195A* | 1 | OT 204* | 3 | ||
| General Education: Quantitative‡1 | 3 | OT 206* | 4 | ||
| General Education: Humanities or Arts† | 3 | ||||
| 16 | 14 | 12 | |||
| Total Credits 69 | |||||
* Course requires a grade of C or better for the major
‡ Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education
# Course is an Entrance to Major requirement
† Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement
University Requirements and General Education Notes:
US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy University Requirements (United States and International Cultures).
W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.
GWS, GQ, GN, GA, GH, and GS are abbreviations used to identify General Education program courses. General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ) and Knowledge Domains (GN, GA, GH, and GS). Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of ‘C’ or better.
Integrative Studies courses can be completed for the General Education program. N is the suffix at the end of a course number used to designate an Inter-Domain course and Z is the suffix at the end of a course number used to designate a Linked course.
Mont Alto Campus
The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| OT 100* | 1 | OT 103* | 3 | ||
| OT 101* | 2 | HDFS 129 or PSYCH 212† | 3 | ||
| BIOL 129*† | 4 | BIOL 141*† | 3 | ||
| ENGL 15‡ | 3 | BIOL 142*† | 1 | ||
| PSYCH 100 (GS)† | 3 | General Education Course (GH or GA)† | 3 | ||
| KINES 13 (GHW)† | 1 | ||||
| 13 | 14 | ||||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| OT 105* | 3 | OT 201* | 3 | OT 295A* | 6 |
| OT 107* | 3 | OT 202* | 3 | OT 295B* | 6 |
| OT 109* | 3 | OT 204* | 3 | ||
| OT 195A* | 1 | OT 206* | 4 | ||
| General Education Course (GQ)‡1 | 3 | OT 195B* | 1 | ||
| General Education Course (GH or GA)† | 3 | ||||
| 16 | 14 | 12 | |||
| Total Credits 69 | |||||
| 1 | GQ - Recommended GQ = MATH 17, MATH 21, STAT 100 or STAT 200. |
Advising Notes:
As per ACOTE Standard A.3.5 Advance Notice to Students related to Criteria for Successful Completion and ACOTE Standard A.4.13 Progression, Retention, and Graduation from the OTA Program is as follows:
Successful completion of each segment of the OTA Program requires:
- Student earn a C or better in all OT courses (except OT 100S), BIOL 129, BIOL 141 & BIOL 142.
- OT courses must be taken in the semester designated on this Suggested Academic Plan for OTA.
- Student pass BIOL 129, BIOL 141, and BIOL 142 prior to taking OT 105W, OT 107 & OT 109 in the 3rd semester.
- Student pass ENGL 15, PSYCH 100, and HDFS 129 prior to entering the 3rd semester.
- When a student fails an OT course (except OT100S); they may not progress to next semester. Student will need to meet with adviser to discuss options of progression in the program.
- Courses meeting the GQ, GH, or GA requirements may be taken during any semester; however, it is recommended they are completed prior to the 4th semester (recommendations for GQ are as follows: MATH 17, MATH 21, STAT 100, or STAT 200).
- Student maintain 2.0GPA, in order to engage in OT 195A or OT195B Fieldwork Level I.
- All didactic degree requirements be completed with a 2.0GPA or better prior to enrolling in OT 295A/B.
- OT 195A, OT 195B, OT 295A, and OT 295B dates & place of experience will be scheduled by the AFW Coordinator.
In order to graduate with an Associate in Science in Occupational Therapy degree:
- Student must maintain a 2.0 GPA per Academic Progress Policy 54-00, "To graduate, a degree candidate must complete the requirements for the candidate's major and earn at least a C (2.00) average for all courses taken at this University as stated in 82-40, subject to the conditions of 51-00.”
- Student must complete OT 295A/B within 18 months of completing the didactic requirements.
Total OTA program credits = 69
University Requirements and General Education Notes:
US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy University Requirements (United States and International Cultures).
W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.
GWS, GQ, GN, GA, GH, and GS are abbreviations used to identify General Education program courses. General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ) and Knowledge Domains (GN, GA, GH, and GS). Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of ‘C’ or better.
Integrative Studies courses can be completed for the General Education program. N is the suffix at the end of a course number used to designate an Inter-Domain course and Z is the suffix at the end of a course number used to designate a Linked course.
Shenango Campus
The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| OT 100 | 1 | OT 103* | 3 | ||
| OT 101* | 2 | PSYCH 100* | 3 | ||
| ENGL 15 | 3 | Art Elective (GA) | 3 | ||
| BIOL 129* | 4 | BIOL 141* | 3 | ||
| HDFS 129 or PSYCH 212 | 3 | BIOL 142* | 1 | ||
| KINES 13 | 1 | ||||
| 13 | 14 | ||||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| OT 105* | 3 | OT 201* | 3 | OT 295A* | 6 |
| OT 107* | 3 | OT 202* | 3 | OT 295B* | 6 |
| OT 109* | 3 | OT 204* | 3 | ||
| OT 195A* | 1 | OT 206* | 4 | ||
| Humanities Elective (GH) | 3 | OT 195B* | 1 | ||
| Quantification Elective (GQ) | 3 | ||||
| 16 | 14 | 12 | |||
| Total Credits 69 | |||||
* Course requires a grade of C or better for the major
‡ Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education
# Course is an Entrance to Major requirement
† Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement
University Requirements and General Education Notes:
US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy University Requirements (United States and International Cultures).
W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.
GWS, GQ, GN, GA, GH, and GS are abbreviations used to identify General Education program courses. General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ) and Knowledge Domains (GN, GA, GH, and GS). Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of ‘C’ or better.
Integrative Studies courses can be completed for the General Education program. N is the suffix at the end of a course number used to designate an Inter-Domain course and Z is the suffix at the end of a course number used to designate a Linked course.
Program Notes
Students must complete a 3-credit course in "United States Cultures (US)" or a 3- credit course in "International Cultures (IL)."
Career Paths
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants (COTA's) work in numerous practice settings. Across the lifespan, individuals engage in meaningful occupations. Learning, playing, working, resting, and caring for self and others are among the occupations of life. A physical or psychological challenge may hinder an individual, group, and/or community from participating fully in meaningful occupations. Occupational therapy makes it possible for people to maintain or reclaim independence. Following graduation from the nationally accredited program, students are eligible to take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam.
Careers
A Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) supports individuals of all ages develop, recover, improve, or maintain the skills necessary for daily living, leisure, play, and work. COTA’s work in public and private schools, early intervention programs, general, psychiatric, and pediatric hospitals, day treatment centers, hospices and home health agencies, rehabilitation hospitals and centers, skilled and intermediate care facilities, community living programs, community wellness centers, and/or hand therapy clinics.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT POTENTIAL CAREER OPTIONS FOR GRADUATES OF THE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PROGRAM
Opportunities for Graduate Studies
Once you have completed the associate in science in occupational therapy and become a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant you can further your studies by obtaining a baccalaureate degree in psychology, occupational science, biobehavioral health, health and human development or another related degree. From this point, students can apply to an entry-level master’s or doctoral program in occupational therapy.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATE STUDIES
Professional Resources
Accreditation
The Penn State Occupational Therapy Assistant programs are fully accredited by ACOTE, which can be reached at:
Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education
4720 Montgomery Lane
Suite 200
Bethesda, MD 20814-3449
ACOTE’s telephone number, c/o AOTA, is 301-652-6611 @ extension 2042
www.acoteonline.org
ACOTE is recognized as the accrediting agency for occupational therapy education by the United States Department of Education (USDE) and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ACCREDITATION AT PENN STATE DUBOIS
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ACCREDITATION AT PENN STATE MONT ALTO
Contact
DuBois
1 College Place
DuBois, PA 15801
814-375-4748
ldb4@psu.edu
Mont Alto
201 Student Services Annex
Mont Alto, PA 17237
717-749-6165
anh1@psu.edu
http://montalto.psu.edu/directory/associate-occupational-therapy-assistant-program
Shenango
147 Shenango Avenue
104 Chadderton Lab
Sharon, PA 16146
724-983-2966
tsd13@psu.edu
Berks
SCIENCE DIVISION
Luerssen Science Building
Reading, PA 19610
610-396-6425
dck12@psu.edu