Master of Science (Occupational Therapy–Post-Professional) (MSc OT)
Admission into the MSc Occupational Therapy Post Professional Program is suspended effective January 2019.
Introduction
The School of Occupational Therapy opened a post-professional Master of Science program in occupational therapy in 1998. Admitting qualified occupational therapists from national and international locales, this is an innovative, part-time or full time on-line distance education, 30 credit hours Master’s program with course work (non-thesis) or thesis options. Students require regular and consistent access to the internet to participate successfully in this online distance education program.
- Full MSc (OT–Post-Professional) Program: 30 credit hours full- or part-time study on line
a) Research Thesis Stream: Two required courses, two electives and a thesis
b) Practice Leaders Stream: Five required courses, including a practicum and four electives
- Single courses: with Post Professional Graduate Program Coordinator and Instructor permission, see Regulation 5.7
MSc (Occupational Therapy—Post-Professional) Program
Post Professional Courses (selection for Practice Leaders or Research Thesis Streams). Please note that not all courses are offered every year.
- OCCU 5010.03: Advanced Studies on Enabling Occupation
- OCCU 5020X/Y.06: Graduate Seminar and Practicum
- OCCU 5030.03: Advanced Research Theory and Methods for Occupational Therapists
- OCCU 5040.03: Identity and Transitions
- OCCU 5041.03: Evidence-Based Occupational Therapy
- OCCU 5042.03: Community Development for Occupational Therapists
- OCCU 5043.03: Program Evaluation for Occupational Therapists
- OCCU 5050.03: Public Dialogue on Occupations and Enablement
- OCCU 5501.03/OCCU 5502.03/OCCU 5503.03/OCCU 5504.03: Graduate Reading
- OCCU 6501.03: Special Topics in Health, Health Care, and Social Services
- OCCU 6502.03: Special Topics: Advanced Data Analysis
- OCCU 6503.03: Advancing Vocational Rehabilitation Through Critical Occupational Analysis
- OCCU 6504.03: Measuring Health Outcomes
- OCCU 6506.03: Practice Management of Occupational Therapy
- OCCU 6507.03: Critical Perspectives on Inequities
- OCCU 6508.03: Chronic Condition Management
- OCCU 6509.03: Aging and Continuing Care
- OCCU 9001.18: Thesis
Practice Leaders Stream (Coursework)
The Practice Leaders Stream is designed for clinicians and managers and emphasizes leadership in enabling occupation in any area of practice. Students may complete the degree in 10 months full-time study or part-time up to five years. Elective options should be confirmed each year with the School. Students with specific clinical management or other interests are encouraged to consult with the School about options. Please note that not all courses are offered every year.
Students complete five required courses (18 credit hours):
- OCCU 5010.03: Advanced Studies on Enabling Occupation
- OCCU 5020 X/Y.06: Graduate Seminar and Practicum
- OCCU 5041.03: Evidence-Based Occupational Therapy
- OCCU 5043.03: Program Evaluation for Occupational Therapists
- OCCU 5050.03: Public Dialogue on Occupations and Enablement
Students select four elective courses (12 credit hours):
- OCCU 5030.03: Advanced Research Theory and Methods for Occupational Therapists
- OCCU 5040.03: Identity and Transitions
- OCCU 5042.03: Community Development for Occupational Therapists
- OCCU 5501.03: Graduate Reading
- OCCU 6501.03: Special Topics in Health, Health Care, and Social Services
- OCCU 6502.03: Special Topics: Advanced Data Analysis
- OCCU 6503.03: Advancing Vocational Rehabilitation Through Critical Occupational Analysis
- OCCU 6504.03: Measuring Health Outcomes
- OCCU 6506.03: Practice Management for Occupational Therapy
- OCCU 6507.03: Critical Perspectives on Inequities
- OCCU 6508.03: Chronic Condition Management
- OCCU 6509.03: Aging and Continuing Care
Sample Plan for Part-Time Practice Leaders Stream
(Note: Student pays program fee over nine academic terms, continuing theses only fees thereafter) Part time may attend to five years.
Research Thesis Stream
Students registered in the Research Thesis Stream complete a minimum of 30 credit hours including OCCU 5010: Advanced Studies on Enabling Occupation (3 credit hours), OCCU 5030: Advanced Research Theory and Methods for Occupational Therapists (3 credit hours), two elective courses (3 credit hours), and a thesis (18 credit hours). Thesis students must complete OCCU 5010 and OCCU 5030 before defending their thesis proposal.
Sample Plan for Full-Time Research Thesis Stream
(Note: Student pays program fee for one academic year; continuing fees thereafter). Students studying full time may complete courses and a thesis proposal in one year. Thesis completion time will depend on the study and student/research circumstances.
Sample Plan for Part-Time Research Stream (three years)
(Note: Student pays program fee over nine academic terms; thesis only fees thereafter).|
Part time may attend to five years.
Program Information
Residency, Orientation, Additional Courses, Advisors (Degree students, not single course students)
All full-time and part-time MSc (OT–Post-Professional) students in both Practice Leaders and Research Thesis Streams are required to participate in an online orientation period of up to two weeks. The schedule includes an orientation to the program, library and technology. Each student is assigned a Faculty Advisor upon their admission to the program.
Students wishing to spend time on campus at any time throughout their program are encouraged to use library and other university and School facilities. Students are also welcome to complete part or all of their program on-site. Students determine their own schedule in consultation with their Faculty Advisor. Faculty Advisors may or may not become the student’s Thesis Supervisor.
For students in the Research Thesis Stream, negotiations between a student and Thesis Supervisor may result in a student being required to complete an additional three credit hours in research methods or elective courses, as available and accessible with appropriate permission.
Full-Time and Part-Time Study
The MSc (OT–Post-Professional) program is available to Research Thesis students on a full time or part time basis. The Practice Leader Stream is available on a part-time basis only. Full-time students may enrol in up to 30 credit hours per year. Part-time students may enrol in up to 15 credit hours in any one academic year. Students are advised to enrol first in OCCU 5010.03: Advanced Studies on Enabling Occupation. The normal upper time limits are four years for full time and five years for part time study. Extensions may be granted in special cases upon petition to the Faculty of Graduate Studies
Distance Costs
Students pay a Distance Fee per course to cover mailings, limited long distance phone costs, administration, and related expenses. Additional student expenses include: textbooks, long distance telephone and fax costs, photocopy costs for library materials, access to the Internet and other technology or software. Depending on a student’s thesis research, statistical or qualitative analysis software and bibliographic software may be required.
Transfer Credits
Occupational therapists with partial graduate level education in another field or at another university may submit a request to transfer credits to this program if the credits have not been used toward another degree. A maximum of six credit hours with a grade of B- or above may be transferred, on individual review of transcripts and full course descriptions by the Post Professional Program Coordinator. All transfers are subject to approval by the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
Dalhousie Letters of Permission
Students may complete up to six credit hours of the MSc (OT–Post-Professional) program outside Dalhousie under Letters of Permission from the Graduate Program Coordinator. Requests, including a detailed course outline, must be submitted prior to the student enrolling in the course. A grade of B- or higher is required for these courses to be credited towards the student’s MSc (OT–Post-Professional) degree. Enrollment at Dalhousie enables students to complete courses by Letter of Permission at Canadian Atlantic universities without additional fees. Additional fees are normally required by other universities.
Awards, Scholarships, Bursaries
Refer to www.dalgrad.dal.ca/funding for information regarding awards, scholarships and bursaries for the MSc (OT–Post-Professional) program.
Special Student - Graduate Studies (SSGS) (No-Degree, For Course Specific Admission)
Occupational therapists who meet Faculty of Graduate Studies criteria, and who have permission of the School Post-Professional Program Coordinator may enroll in a maximum of six credit hours offered within the MSc (OT– Post-Professional) program.
Normally, courses completed under SSGS status cannot be used for credits towards formal graduate programs. However, occupational therapists who complete courses under SSGS status can at the time of their application to the MSc (OT– Post-Professional) program, apply to receive transfer credit for up to two SSGS courses (one full credit total). Final approval must be granted by the Post-Professional Graduate Program Coordinator and the Faculty of Graduate Studies. (see Regulation 5.7.7)
NOTE: The fees paid as an SSGS do not count towards the program fee paid by a student admitted to the MSc (OT– Post-Professional) program.