General Information
Program Overview|Mission|Philosophy|History|Accreditation|Affirmative Action
AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROGRAM
The Occupational Therapy Program is in the Department of Kinesiology, School of Education, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition to the Occupational Therapy Program, the Department of Kinesiology also houses the Kinesiology Undergraduate Program, the Physical Education Profession Program, and the Physical Education Activity Program. The Department of Kinesiology offers graduate degrees in Therapeutic Science, Kinesiology, Biomechanics, Exercise Physiology, Measurement, Motor Control and Behavior and Sport Psychology. Our Ph.D. in Kinesiology has a track in Therapeutic Science specifically for occupational therapists.
The Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy is an entry-level master’s degree offered to students who have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. With an emphasis on research and evidenced-based practice, the program will prepare students for entry into the occupational therapy profession. Upon completion of the program, students will have the required academic credentials to sit for the certification exam administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy. Completion of 61 program credits are required and includes coursework related to biological sciences, professional skills, occupation-based theory and practice, research methods, completion of a research project or review paper, and 24 weeks of full-time fieldwork.
Classrooms, laboratories and offices are located on the second and third floors, west wing, and on the sixth floor of the west wing of the Medical Sciences Center (MSC), 1300 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706-1532.
MISSION OF THE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PROGRAM
"To excel in the discovery, critical examination and transmission of the knowledge and values of Occupational Therapy for the purpose of promoting health and well-being in the local, state, and global communities".
Our program mission reflects the mission of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the School of Education with its emphasis on discovery and transmission of knowledge.
Institution Mission – UW Madison
“To create, integrate, transfer and apply knowledge”.
School of Education Mission
"Contribute to local, state, national and international communities by demonstrating and fostering excellence in research and practice in education, the arts, and human services”.
PHILOSOPHY
Our program is based on a person/environment/occupation model. It is derived from the "Philosophy of Occupational Therapy Education", Commission on Education, adopted by the Representative Assembly, 2007. It stresses the complexity of human beings as well as the multifaceted interaction with the environment through which humans adapt and change. The UW Madison OT program faculty and staff define occupation as "Active participation in culturally relevant and meaningful patterns of activity. Occupations occur across the lifespan in the context of a person's environment.
We have the following beliefs about the nature of learning. Learning is developmental, building on itself, starting with basic concepts and building to increasing complexity. Therefore, our curriculum design is supported by two inter-related developmental theories of learning. Vygotsky's concept of scaffolding and Hilgard and Bower (1967) theories of classroom learning are reflected in the progression from foundational core knowledge to more complex application of theories and principals of occupation across a variety of populations and environments. Faculty encourage active learning and provide supports which are gradually removed as students develop autonomous learning strategies, thus promoting their own cognitive and affective learning skills and knowledge.
HISTORY
The Occupational Therapy Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison began in 1943 when academic courses prepared students to work in the areas of mental health, tuberculosis care, general medicine, pediatrics and orthopedics. At that time, the Medical School and the School of Education jointly administered the program. In 1945, 150 students were enrolled in the program and Miss Caroline Thompson accepted the position of Technical Director of the program. She would serve as the overall program coordinator for 31 years.
By the mid-1950's the Occupational Therapy Program grew to become the second largest in the country. Curriculum improvements included the addition of the first research methods course in 1964 and a broadly based course in OT theory for those in the junior year of the program. Increasing enrollment, however, made it difficult for the program to adequately meet the needs of the students. By the early 1970's, enrollment caps were in place and students were required to meet minimum standards for admission.
In 1985, a post-professional master's degree in Therapeutic Science (MS-TS) was started for individuals holding an undergraduate degree in occupational or physical therapy, and in 1996 the Doctor of Philosophy in Kinesiology, Therapeutic Science Track (Ph.D.) was established. To meet the increasing needs of graduate-level students, and the academic standards of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Occupational Therapy Program faculty members now hold doctoral degrees and have active research programs. Many of the faculty are nationally and internationally recognized experts within the occupational therapy profession.
After a 60-year history, the Occupational Therapy Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison phased out its Bachelor of Science degree to meet the educational standards of the Accreditation Council of Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). Beginning in 2007, all entry-level occupational therapists must be prepared at the post-baccalaureate level. The Occupational Therapy Program is especially well-suited to meet the challenges of offering an entry-level master's degree program with its emphasis on research and critical thinking skills. The University of Wisconsin-Madison began accepting graduate students for admission into the Master's in Occupational Therapy (MS-OT) Degree Program in 2005.
ACCREDITATION
In its 59-year history, the Program has continually been accredited by the accrediting body of the American Occupational Therapy Association (http://aota.org/). The Occupational Therapy Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220. AOTA's phone number is (310) 652-AOTA. Graduates of the Program are eligible to sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT), located at 12 South Summit Avenue, Suite 100, Gaithersburg, MD 20877-4150. NBCOT's phone number is (301) 990-7979. FAX (301) 869-8492. A felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification exam or attain state licensure. After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). Most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination.
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
"The goals of the University's affirmative action requirements are to provide equal access and equal employment opportunity to all groups of people. The University's equal employment opportunity/affirmative action policy statement (http://oed.wisc.edu/) is available on this website. Questions should be directed to the Human Resources Staff in the SOE Business Office.