Current Students
Progression & Maintaining Graduate Status
Graduate students in Occupational Therapy are expected to maintain an overall 3.25 GPA in all OT coursework. A graduate OT student is ineligible to continue and will be dismissed from the Program if:
- A student receives a failing grade "F" in any course.
- A student receives a grade of "C" in three courses in the Program. (Even if the course is repeated and a higher grade is received, the higher grade does not alter the "C" rule.)
- A student receives a grade of "C" in Applied Clinical Kinesiology & Biomechanics (ODTE 8401), Applied Clinical Neuroscience (OTDE 8305), or any of the OT intervention & treatment courses (OTDE 8402, 8309, 8403, and 8310) and does not make a grade of "B" or better on the repeated class. Even though the student has no prior grades of "C," the student must repeat that course and earn a grade of "B" or better. If the student is not successful in making a grade of "B" or better on the repeated course, the student will be dismissed from the Program.
- A student fails two Level II Fieldwork (OTDE 8601/8602 or 8312/8313) or Capstone Experiences (OTDE 8603/8604 or 8316/8317). If a student fails one Level II Fieldwork or Capstone Experience, the course must be repeated and scheduled at the discretion of the Program.
If a student gives evidence of unsafe or ineffective health care practice, the faculty of the Occupational Therapy Department reserves the right to refuse the opportunity to the student to care for patients or perform evaluation/testing procedures. A student may not render care, tests, or evaluations when under the influence of prescribed or over-the-counter medication, which may affect judgment or if the student imbibes or is under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs. A student who is deemed to demonstrate unsafe practice will fail the course and be dropped from all clinical rotations in which they are enrolled at that time. The student may be dismissed from the Program.
Any student whose overall OT GPA falls below 3.25 or placed on academic probation by the Graduate College must meet with their academic advisor to develop a remedial action plan. This plan must be submitted to the program chair for final approval. If the student does not restore their OT GPA to 3.0 by the end of the next semester, they will be terminated from the OT program.
Competency
At the end of the academic course work and fieldwork Level II, the students will be administered a comprehensive assessment to determine their understanding of OT principles and knowledge. Should a graduate OT student fail to obtain the required passing score on the departmental academic competency, the student will not be allowed to proceed. The student may repeat the competency up to 3 times to achieve a passing score; afterward, the student may be required to repeat selected OT coursework and activities. If the student does not reach the passing score after three months, the student may be dismissed from the Program.
Should a graduate OT student fail to achieve the required passing score on a designated OT professional practice exam, the student will not be eligible to proceed to the doctoral capstone experience. The student may repeat the practice exam as many times as needed before the end of the semester until the required passing score is achieved.
Maximal Length of Time to Completion
The maximum length of time to complete the OTD Occupational Therapy program is five (5) years. This includes successful completion of all academic coursework and requirements as well as fieldwork experiences.
Students have 24 months after completing the academic coursework to complete Level II fieldwork requirements declared by ACOTE. Students must complete and pass the equivalent of a minimum of 24 weeks full-time Level II fieldwork before proceeding to the doctoral capstone.
Practicum, Fieldwork, and Capstone Experiences
Fieldwork education and doctoral capstone experiences are a crucial part of professional preparation and are integrated as a curriculum design component. Each student must complete three Level I practicum, two Level II fieldwork (the equivalent of 24 weeks), and one doctoral capstone (14 weeks) experience. Students should expect to take at least one experience outside the Rio Grande Valley. These experiences will provide the student with opportunities to work with various clients across the lifespan and in a variety of settings. They will learn to carry out professional responsibilities and in-depth exposure to OT concepts and practice.
- Practicum (Level I Fieldwork)
- Fieldwork (Level II Fieldwork)
- Capstone
An integral part of the program curriculum, the Doctoral Capstone (DC) provides in-depth exposure to one or more of the following areas:
- administration and leadership,
- program development,
- education,
- clinical practice skills,
- research skills,
- advocacy,
- and theory development.
Resources for Fieldwork Educators
Occupational Therapy fieldwork
The fieldwork experience is a dynamic educational process in which occupational therapy students can experience the roles, responsibilities, and rewards of facilitating occupational therapy services. Numerous fieldwork education and supervision resources are available on The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) website: https://www.aota.org/Education-Careers/Fieldwork.aspx .
For more information about UTRGV Fieldwork contact:
Eva Maria Anger, OTD, OTR, Clinical Assistant Professor, Academic Fieldwork Coordinator
evamaria.anger@utrgv.edu , 956-665-2680
Jack Ruelas, MS, OTR, Clinical Associate Professor, Academic Fieldwork Coordinator
jack.ruelas@utrgv.edu 956-665-2664
Research Agenda
The research conducted within the UTRGV Department of Occupational Therapy aims to promote occupational therapy education quality, occupational therapy role in health services, and the effectiveness of occupational therapy interventions with a focus on the Rio Grande Valley and Mexican American culture. We are actively engaged in quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methodologies studies, pilot feasibility studies, and single-subject intervention studies. The research activities of the faculty and students serve to support the University, college, department, and professional. Their studies support the missions to promote the development of outstanding, ethical practitioners and scholars who are prepared to respond to society's ever-changing needs and improve occupational therapy practice.
Student-faculty collaborative research projects that have resulted in presentations at OT professional state and national conferences have ranged from
- Sleep patterns among Mexican American College students
- The Use of Spirituality Through Hardship Among Hispanics
- Use of Public Restrooms by Individuals with Physical Disabilities: ADA 25 years later
- Hispanic Homeless Veterans in the Rio Grande Valley
- Changes in the Moral Values of Hispanic Veterans
- Caring for A Family Member with Borderline Personality Disorder in Mexican American Families
- Health Care Decision-Making Among Middle Age Men
- Transphobia in the Workplace: An OT Perspective
- Accessibility and Inclusion: The Perspective of Young Adults with Physical Disabilities in Health and Fitness Clubs
- Homelessness among the LGBT population in the Rio Grande Valley
Student Financial Support
Graduate Research Assistant
The GRA assistantship is a prestigious award given to qualified students to promote research in occupational therapy, increase the visibility of research in the Program, college, and University, and support research faculty in scholarship productivity.
(more information coming)