About the profession

What is an occupational therapist?
Occupational therapists help people to develop or adapt the skills they need for everyday living. A homemaker with rheumatoid arthritis learns to become more self-reliant using energy conservation and work simplification techniques. A high-school student with a spinal cord injury learns to navigate life from a wheelchair and to use technology to participate in the classroom. A child born with a developmental disability learns to play with other children. Occupational therapists work in many traditional and emerging settings. They may work as members of a health care team to provide needed rehabilitation services, or they may work with school systems or local agencies to help those in need to participate more fully in life.

 How does occupational therapy differ from other health professions?
Occupational therapy is a health profession dedicated to helping people participate fully in life. When people are faced with overcoming the effects of delay, deprivation, trauma, or stress, occupational therapists help them engage in occupations or everyday activities that are personally meaningful, socially satisfying, and culturally relevant. When occupational therapists focus on the pattern of occupations and the ways in which occupations shape people's lives, they act as agents of prevention, education, and restoration.What is satisfying about this career?
The most satisfying aspect of an occupational therapy career is making a positive impact on the way people live their lives. Occupational therapists must be excellent observers of human behavior, good problem-solvers, great listeners, and persistent advocates for their clients. They find the most effective means of collaborating with their clients to achieve meaningful solutions. Effective occupational therapists display a combination of creative and pragmatic approaches, along with excellent interpersonal communication skills.

 What opportunities are available to become specialized in occupational therapy or to work with different populations?
There are many opportunities for specialization in occupational therapy once you have graduated, passed the certification exam, and begun entry level practice in the field. Probably the most frequently pursued specializations are in the area of adult rehabilitation, pediatrics, and hand therapy. Emerging areas of practice include ergonomics, vision rehabilitation, community consultation, driver rehabilitation, and working with elders in assisted living. Occupational therapists may also work in Native American health centers, prisons and detention centers, industrial and corporate settings, rural communities, and in school systems. The possibilities for working in different settings with unusual populations also abound.The education you receive as an occupational therapy student provides you with the professional skills and attitudes, and critical thinking tools to make a significant contribution in many settings for many people who have not traditionally been served by occupational therapy.

 What is the job outlook for occupational therapy?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor lists occupational therapy in the top 20 professions for projected job growth. The uniqueness of occupational therapy, its focus, habilitation and rehabilitation, its contribution to wellness and its ability to serve a wide variety of clients/patients in multiple settings, all bring a variety of employment opportunities to graduates. The Department of Labor expects occupational therapy to grow much faster than average, which means a projected growth rate of 27% or more through 2014.

 What salary can I expect as a new graduate?
Salaries vary according to geographic region. In South Carolina, average starting salaries currently range from $45,000 - $62,000.  

 Applying to the program

Do applicants have to do voluntary work in an occupational therapy setting prior to applying?
Volunteering or working in an occupational therapy setting is compulsory to ensure that you find out whether you are selecting the right career. Applicants who work or volunteer in an occupational therapy setting receive extra credit in the application process. You need to work or volunteer with one occupational therapist for 30 hours or more. Use the occupational program Confidential Volunteer Work Evaluation Form in your application to confirm this.

 How many references do I need to send with my application?
Send three reference forms if you have not spent more than 30 hours volunteering or working with an occupational therapist. Send two reference forms and one occupational therapy program Confidential Volunteer Work Evaluation Form, if you have completed 30 or more hours either working or volunteering with an occupational therapist.

About the program

What GPA do I need to enter the program?
The minimum undergraduate GPA for entry into the program is 3.0.  Recent incoming average gpa's have been in the 3.2 - 3.5 range.

Do I need a degree before I enter the program?
Yes, you need to have a bachelor's degree and complete the specific course prerequisites from an accredited college or university before you enter the program.

Do all the prerequisites need to be completed before I apply to the occupational therapy program, or before I enter the occupational therapy program?
You do not have to complete all courses prior to application, however, all prerequisites must be completed prior to entering the program. See the form, "Plans for Remaining Academic Year", in the application supplemental forms section online. List courses currently in progress and ones you plan to complete prior to admission into the program.

The program is described as being interdisciplinary. What does this mean?
The occupational therapy education program is one of three programs in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences. Courses are completed either as "core" courses with physical therapy and communication sciences and disorders students or are "discipline-specific" courses that are for occupational therapy students only. This enables students to be excellently trained in their chosen discipline but also have a working understanding of these other disciplines, with whom they will interact in a clinical situation in the future.

When does the program start and end?
The program begins at the end of May each year, and lasts for 7 semesters or approximately 26 months.

What is the clinical component of the program?
Clinical and practical experiences take place throughout the program. During the first year, there are many opportunities to gain experience working in community-based organizations. These experiences are designed for you to engage in service learning with a variety of clients and health care professionals. During the second year, one-week intensive clinical experiences are arranged in a variety of health care facilities in and around Charleston.  Finally, during the last two semesters of the program, three full-time clinical experiences, spanning almost seven months, are arranged throughout the state and region.

What is the success rate of the MUSC graduates on the national certification examination?
Our students consistently score above the mean on the national certification examination.

Is it possible to work while in the occupational therapy program?
Most students do not work during their first semester, which is a very busy short semester. Many students work part-time as their schedules permit and some students may qualify for work-study on campus.

Student Services

Are there workout facilities available at MUSC?
Yes. For enrolled full-time students, the Wellness Center provides a weight room, aerobic gymnasium, racquetball and squash courts, swimming pool, indoor and outdoor track, and tennis courts.

Is there help available if I happen to struggle in any of the assigned classes?
Faculty teaching your classes will always help you. Individual and group tutoring sessions are available on campus through the Center of Academic Excellence at no additional cost to the student.

Is there housing on-campus for MUSC students?
There is no student housing on-campus. The MUSC housing office can assist students looking for accommodations. Call
(843) 792-0394 for more information.