The accelerated program provides a means by which highly qualified undergraduate students at East Carolina University enroll in the undergraduate program of Health Services Management with the intention of preparing for a professional masters (entry-level) degree program in Occupational Therapy. The student would graduate with a total of 162 credit hours and completing the master's degree in five years. The student would not receive an undergraduate degree.
The professional master's degree path was designed as a graduate program, requiring students to be accepted into the graduate school only after completing an undergraduate degree. However, exceptional students should be able to be complete the program in five years through a carefully designed plan with a health related undergraduate degree program. Specifically, the students would complete all of the general education requirements, the required core courses of the undergraduate degree, and the prerequisite courses for the master's degree program. After being accepted into the Graduate School, the student would enter the master's program after 92 credits. The student would not be awarded a baccalaureate degree, but would get a master's degree in occupational therapy after the completion of 162 credits. If the student, for some reason, would not complete the occupational therapy program, he or she would be required to complete all the required courses for the degree in Health Services Management in order to obtain the baccalaureate degree.
This program is designed cooperatively by Health Services Management undergraduate degree program and the Master's of Science degree program in Occupational Therapy. The two programs have agreed on specific courses and credit for the program. The following are proposed requirements and procedures.
Eligibility Requirements
- Students must maintain an accumulated grade point average (GPA) of 3.2/4.0 at East Carolina University in the undergraduate program.
- Students would apply to the graduate school in their junior year or after completing at least seventy-five (75) credit hours, including credits earned from advanced placement.
- Completion of the course requirements does not guarantee an admission to the Graduate School.
- Students who complete the program will not receive an undergraduate degree, but must complete the core requirements of the undergraduate degree program, all the general education courses, and all prerequisites of the graduate program as outlined.
Application and Participation
- The student will follow the approved program of study leading to completion of the required core undergraduate courses, prerequisites of the master's degree, and the master's degree.
- Students must submit the standard application for admission to the Graduate School including an application form, application fee, and transcripts.
- Students must take the GRE for admission into the Graduate School.
- Students who are accepted into the graduate school will matriculate into Occupational Therapy Professional Master's path after completion of the set courses in the plan for the Health Services Management undergraduate program, a minimum of 92 credits.
Withdrawal/Ineligibility
- A student who fails to follow the approved plan for the Health Sciences Management undergraduate degree program will not be allowed to matriculate into the graduate occupational therapy program.
- A student who is ineligible to participate in or withdraws from the integrated program must complete all of the standard requirements for the undergraduate major in order to obtain a baccalaureate degree in Health Services Management. Substitute graduate courses will not be used to qualify for the undergraduate courses.
- A student may withdraw at any time from the integrated program by informing the respective Unit Administrators or designee of Undergraduate and Graduate programs in writing.
If OT Degree Not Completed
No undergraduate degree would be granted. If the student does not complete the graduate degree, he or she would have to complete the requirements for a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Services Management for a total of 126 credits. Specifically, the student would need to complete the following:
MIS 2223 Intro to Computers - 3
HSMA 3050 Leadership in Health Care - 3
HSMA 2000 Professional Roles and Environments in Health Care - 3
HIMA 3113 Applied Medical Science I - 3
HIMA 3118 Applied Medical Science II - 3
HSMA 4075 Biomedical Research support - 3
HSMA 4903 Allied Health Management Experience - 3
HSMA Electives
OCCT 3000 Introduction to Occupational Therapy substitutes for HSMA 2000 Professional Roles and Environments in Health Care
OCCT 6600 Concepts and Practice of Research in Occupational Therapy substitutes for HPRO 4350 Research Design
OCCT 6500, 6550 Managing Occupational Therapy Services substitutes for HSMA 3050 Leadership in Health Care
OCCT 6005,6006 Health Impairments and Occupational Therapy I substitutes for HIMA 3113 Applied Medical Science I
OCCT 6007,6008 Health Impairments and Occupational Therapy II substitutes for HIMA 3118 Applied Medical Science II
