Department Website
Program Description
In this one-year post-professional MA program in Advanced Occupational Therapy, students advance their skills and knowledge in occupational therapy by combining core courses in theory, research methods, and clinical practice with electives in areas like assistive technology, neurology, pediatrics, and more.
Students in this Master of Arts degree are professionals in the field looking to take their occupational therapy skills and knowledge to the next level.
After completing the one-year degree, students are prepared to return to the workforce with an enhanced understanding of occupational therapy ethics, theories, research, clinical practice, and a broadened perspective of the field of occupational therapy.
Admissions
Admission to graduate programs in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development requires the following minimum components:
- Résumé/CV
- Statement of Purpose
- Letters of Recommendation
- Transcripts
- Proficiency in English
See NYU Steinhardt's Graduate Admissions website for additional information on school-wide admission. Some programs may require additional components for admissions.
See How to Apply for admission requirements and instructions specific to this program.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will:
- Demonstrate the ability to provide evaluation and intervention approaches that address specific clients needs and modify these approaches to be used in changing healthcare and education systems.
- Identify collaborative working relationships and appraise the quality of team dynamics, communication, conflict resolution, decision-making, problem-solving, and negotiation skills.
- Develop basic skills in philosophical inquiry that enables them to examine ethical dilemmas and develop sound arguments concerning professional issues.
- Be able to work in a group to complete a scholarly project and assess its value to the profession and society.
Policies
Department Policies
Grade Point Average and Grading Scale
Grade Point Average
Graduate students enrolled in any master’s level study at NYU must maintain a GPA of 2.5; those enrolled in doctoral study at NYU (including MA/OTD) must maintain a GPA of 3.0. This applies to both full-time and part-time students. Students who do not maintain a satisfactory GPA will have their transcripts reviewed by the Department’s Committee on Student Progress and by Department faculty, who will take appropriate action. Possible actions are the issuance of a warning, the placement of the student on probation, or dismissal from the program.
Please note: Students should be aware that the accumulation of several “C” range grades may place them in academic jeopardy. Students should monitor their GPA carefully.
Grading Scale
Specific methods for computing grades will be outlined by the course instructor in the course syllabus. All instructors use the grading scale below. It is not our policy to round up the grade.
The Department of Occupational Therapy uses a uniform grading scale for converting numerical scores into letter grades:
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A: 94.0 - 100.0
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A-: 90.0 - 93.9
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B+: 87.0 - 89.9
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B: 84.0 - 86.9
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B-: 80.0 - 83.9
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C+: 77.0 - 79.9
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C: 74.0 - 76.9
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C-: 70.0 - 73.9
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F: 0.0 - 69.9
The Department of Occupational Therapy uses a uniform grading scale for converting letter grades into numerical scores:
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A = 97
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A- = 92
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B+ = 88
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B = 85
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B- = 82
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C+ = 78
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C = 75
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C- = 72
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F = 50
Final Grade Appeals
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Students may only appeal final course grades.
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Students wishing to appeal a course’s final grade must first speak with the course instructor, who will determine whether there is any procedural reason for the change of grade. If a grade change is not granted by the course instructor, and the student wishes to pursue the appeal request, the student then must consult with their academic advisor to consider the feasibility of an appeal to the Department of Occupational Therapy Student Appeals Committee.
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An appeal must be made in writing to the Department of Occupational Therapy Student Appeals Committee via email (occupational.therapy@nyu.edu). The appeal must be submitted within 15 business days after the grade in question has been officially posted on Albert.
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When students appeal a failing “F” final grade they are not permitted to continue the course sequence (and must drop all courses) while the appeal is in process. Therefore, students would be well advised to submit a letter of appeal as promptly as possible.
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The formal appeal should be addressed to the Chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy Student Appeals Committee.
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The formal appeal for a final grade change must establish policy and procedural error directly affecting the issue in question. The student’s letter of appeal should clearly state the reasons for appealing the final grade and include all relevant supporting documentation.
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Appeals are reviewed by the Department of Occupational Therapy Student Appeals Committee. The Committee may require the student to present and appeal to the Committee in person.
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The Chair of the Appeals Committee will notify the student of the Committee’s decision within 10 business days of the initial filing date of the appeal.
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If the student disagrees with the decision of the Appeals Committee, the student may file an appeal to the Chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy within 10 business days from the date of the Appeals Committee’s decision. The decision made by the Chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy is final.
Incomplete (I) Grades
The grade of Incomplete (I) is a temporary designation indicating that, due to extenuating circumstances, a student has not yet completed all required coursework, but is likely to pass the course once the remaining requirements are completed. A student may request an “I” grade from the professor providing a rationale for the request. There must also be a documented agreement between the student and the professor outlining the remaining course requirements and the deadline by which these must be completed. Professors can update an “I” grade via Albert SIS once the student has successfully completed the outstanding coursework. Should a grade of “I” not be changed to a final grade by the established deadline, it will automatically convert to an “F” grade.
When an Incomplete grade is received in a course that serves as a prerequisite to a course in the following semester, the student may continue in the curriculum sequence with approval from the course instructor of the subsequent course. However, the incomplete grade must be resolved satisfactorily within the first three weeks of the new semester. If the incomplete grade is not resolved within this three-week period, the student will be required to withdraw from all courses that depend on the incomplete course as a prerequisite, and the Incomplete grade will convert to an “F.” Please note: In accordance with NYU’s Policy, a final grade of “F” cannot be removed from a transcript, and will be included in the GPA calculation.
NYU Policies
University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages.
Steinhardt Academic Policies
Additional academic policies can be found the Steinhardt academic policies page.