Program Director: Vogtle
Faculty: Barstow, Moyers, Rowe, Vogtle, Warren
The program offers postprofessional education to occupational therapists who wish to learn advanced theoretical, practice, and research skills. Currently two online specialization options exist for the postprofessional - low vision and pediatrics. Students interested in low vision must be accepted into the low vision certificate program prior to applying for the postprofessional master's degree. The 33 semester hour program guides the student through coursework for the areas indicated including theory, specialty practice application, research methodology, and a project or thesis. Elective coursework from related departments may be approved for degree requirements. Graduates of the program may use this degree to enter specialized areas of practice, as part of the requirements for specialty certifications, and to assume leadership positions within the profession or to prepare for doctoral level study.
Length of Study: minimum of four semesters (16 months) for the full-time student and approximately seven semesters for part-time students. Both the pediatric and low vision options were designed specifically for part-time students.
Credentials Conferred: Diploma The Master of Science degree is awarded by the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Program Entrance Date: Rolling admission.
Application Deadline: One semester preceding the expected semester of enrollment.
Application Procedure: Received by UAB Graduate School:
511 HUC; 1400 University Boulevard
1530 Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35294-1150
- Complete UAB Graduate School application materials (available at UAB Graduate School Online Application)
- Submit application fee payment
Domestic: $35.00
- Request one (1) official transcript to be mailed by the issuing institution to the UAB Graduate School
- Submit official GRE test score
GRE Institutional Code: 1856
- Three (3) letters of recommendation are required. Please ask the individuals from whom you request references to submit them online via the Apply Yourself system. Electronic submission is the preferred method. However, if your referees prefer to mail a recommendation letter, it should be mailed to the address of the department or program to which you are applying.
Received by UAB Department of Occupational Therapy (Postprofessional)
1705 University Boulevard; SHPB 353
1530 3rd Avenue South
Birmingham, Alabama 35294-1212
- Request one (1) official transcript to be mailed by the issuing institution to the Occupational Therapy-Postprofessional Program
- See instructions under Graduate School application process for letters of recommendation
Materials used in the low vision application can be used for the postprofessional master's application, however 3 letters of reference and GRE scores and a letter of intent to apply to the post professional program are also required.
International Students:
- completed UAB Graduate School International application materials (available at Information for International Students);
- non-refundable Graduate School application processing fee;
International: $60.00
- official transcripts (2) from each college or university attended; request one transcript be mailed to the UAB Graduate School and one to the Department of Occupational Therapy;
- Submit official GRE test score
GRE Institutional Code: 1856;
- transcript evaluation by an external agency prior to the submission of application materials. It is the student's responsibility to have the transcripts evaluated. Please contact the UAB Graduate School Program (205-934-8227) for information regarding agencies that will complete a transcript review;
- students from countries where English is not the official and primary language must also take and receive an acceptable score on the TOEFL, Institution Code 1856;and
- For the postprofessional master's degree, the occupational therapy school attended must be approved by the World Federation of Occupational Therapy.
Requirements for Admission: For unconditional acceptance, the student must satisfy the following requirements:
- a baccalaureate degree in occupational therapy from an accredited educational program with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (A= 4.0) computed over the last 60 hours of coursework,
- eligibility for licensure as an occupational therapist,
- a score of at least 500 on each section (verbal and quantitative) of the GRE general test;
- completed application for admission to the UAB Graduate School,
- three letters of reference,
- if accepted, complete the UAB medical history questionnaire and physical, provide proof of required immunizations, and receive satisfactory screening by the UAB Medical Center Student Health Service.
Essential Requirements: Fundamental tasks, behaviors, and abilities necessary to successfully complete the academic and clinical requirements of the program and to satisfy licensure/certification requirements, if any, have been outlined and are available upon request from the academic program office. Students requesting disability accommodations must do so by filing a disability accommodation request in writing with the Disability Support Services Office.
After acceptance and prior to enrollment into online programs, students must certify their ability to complete the essential tasks, with or without reasonable accommodation, associated with performing as an occupational therapy student. Reasonable accommodation refers to ways in which the University can assist students with disabilities to accomplish these tasks (for example, providing extra time to complete an examination or enhancing the sound system in a classroom). Reasonable accommodation does not mean that students with disabilities will be exempt from certain tasks; it does mean that the Department of Occupational Therapy will work with students with disabilities to determine whether there are ways to assist the student with completion of the required tasks.
After enrollment, a student with a disability who wishes reasonable accommodation contacts Disability Support Services (205) 934-4205 or (205) 934-4248 (TDD) or visits 516 Hill University Center, provide appropriate and current documentation substantiating the claimed disability, meet the requirements of a disability as described in the ADA, and identify the needed accommodation. Reasonable accommodation in classroom and in practice settings cannot be provided without the formal request and the required documentation of the ADA defined disability.
Essential Tasks:
- Students must meet class standards for course completion throughout the curriculum.
- Students must be able to read, write, speak, and understand English at a level consistent with
successful course completion and development of positive client-therapist relationships.
- Students must complete readings, assignments, and other activities outside of class hours.
- Students must gather decision-making pieces of information during client assessment activities in class or in the fieldwork setting without the use of an intermediary, such as a classmate, an occupational therapy assistant, or an aide.
- Students must perform intervention activities in class or in the clinical setting by direct performance.
- Students must apply critical thinking processes to their work in the classroom and in the fieldwork setting, exercise sound judgment in class and in fieldwork, and follow safety procedures established for each class and fieldwork setting.
- Students must have interpersonal skills as needed for productive classroom discussion, respectful interaction with classmates and faculty, and development of appropriate therapist-client relationships .
- Students must maintain personal appearance and hygiene conducive to classroom and fieldwork settings.
- Students must pass a cardiopulmonary resuscitation course at the health professional level (American Heart Association, Course C) every two years under Alabama guidelines for CPR certification.
- Students must demonstrate appropriate health status prior to enrollment, with annual updates on some items: no active tuberculosis, rubella (German measles) and rubeola (measles) immunity, tetanus-diphtheria booster within 10 years of anticipated graduation, and hepatitis B vaccine series or written declination.
- Students must follow standards and policies specified in the Department of Occupational Therapy Student Handbook, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham Directions Handbook.
- Students must adhere to all policies outlined in the Department of Occupational Therapy Student Handbook which will be displayed in the Resource section of each online course.
Typical Program
(Course requirements are listed in semester credit hours)
Students must specify a speciality area prior to entering the program. Course requirements for each of the three specialities are listed below.
Students interested in a postprofessional master's in low vision need to complete the 17 hours of coursework for the low vision certificat which can be viewed at
www.main.uab.edu/Shrp/Default.aspx?pid=76987.
OT 615 Infant-Toddler Mental Health OT Intervention (3)
OT 616 Early Intervention and School Setting Practice (3)
OT 641 Pediatric Theory Development and Practice (3)
*OT 642 Research Design in OT (1-3)
*OT 643 Data Analysis in OT Research (1-3)
*OT 645 Project Dissemination-Professional Writing and Presentation (1-3)
OT 653 Using the Lit: Evidence-Based Practice (3)
OT 655 Qualitative Research Methods for Health Professionals (2)
OT 658 OT Foundations of Graduate School (4)
OT 667 Research Methods (3)
OT 671 The Advanced Theory of the Assessment Process in Occupational Therapy (3)
OT 680 Clinical Education and Supervision (3)
OT 681 Practicum in Consultation (1-2)
OT 682 Advanced Clinical Practicum (1-3)
OT 683 Practicum in Teaching (1-4)
OT 692 Directed Readings (1-3)
**OT 698 Master's Level Non-Thesis Research (minimum 6 hrs total) or
**OT 699 Thesis Research (minimum 6 hrs total)
* Research courses offered as distance education.
** Research courses not offered as distance education
Electives offered outside of the occupational therapy curriculum in programs at UAB are allowed with the permission of the advisor. Up to 12 hours of coursework taken at other institutions may apply as well but must be approved by the student's advisor and must be completed with a grade of B or better.
For further information, contact:
Laura K. Vogtle, Ph.D.
Program Director
Occupational Therapy Postprofessional Program
School of Health Professions
SHPB 338
1530 3rd Avenue South
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama 35294-1212
Telephone: (205) 934-3568
E-mail:
lvogtle@uab.edu