Master of Health Sciences Occupational Therapy

Summary

• Degree offered: Master of Health Science (MHSc)
• Registration status option: Full-time
• Language of instruction: French
• Program options (expected duration of the program):
  • with coursework (6 full-time terms; 24 consecutive months)
  • with coursework and research paper (6 full-time terms; 24 consecutive months)
  • with coursework and research paper, accelerated stream (3 full-time terms; 12 consecutive months or 9 part-time terms)
• Enrollment capacity: Limited
• Academic units: Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Rehabilitation Sciences.

Program Description

The mission of the Masters of Health Science in Occupational Therapy program at the University of Ottawa, which is offered in French, is to train competent health care professionals able to respond to the needs of the francophone population in Ontario and, more generally, to the needs of francophone communities in the bilingual and multilingual Canadian context.

Occupational therapy is both an art and a science whose aim is to prevent handicap situations, re- establish or promote occupation (everyday activities that people do), health, and well-being of individuals. Occupational therapists work in collaboration with individuals or groups of individuals to prevent or address occupational performance difficulties. Occupational performance difficulties may arise from a health condition, developmental issue, environmental obstacle or a consequence of aging. Difficulties may occur in areas of self-care, productivity, or leisure. Occupational therapists enable their clients to reconstruct their life and develop a renewed sense of self-identity and independence.

The occupational therapy program follows the standards developed by the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT). This allows students develop the skills and competencies needed to practice their profession upon graduation. In addition to the coursework, students complete 1,000 placement hours as required by CAOT. These mandatory placements can take place in Ottawa-area hospitals, schools, community organizations, the interprofessional university clinic and rehabilitation centres or at locations outside the National Capital Region.

Students complete this limited-enrollment program over six consecutive terms, i.e., two years of full-time study (including placements). However, students with an undergraduate degree in occupational therapy at the time of admission can follow the accelerated program, which leads to a masters degree after one year (three terms). Students complete practical and theoretical courses, placements and on-site observation placements. Teaching activities are grouped under the following six themes:

• Theme 1: Knowledge of the human being, his occupations and his environment
• Theme 2: Knowledge of the fundamentals of client- centered occupational therapy practice
• Theme 3: Knowledge of health problems in individuals and communities, as well as occupational factors that promote health
• Theme 4: Knowledge of specific aspects of occupational therapy practice among diverse populations
• Theme 5: Critical analysis of current knowledge
• Theme 6: Knowledge integration

Consortium National de Formation en Santé (CNFS)

The CNFS is a pan-Canadian organization funded by Health Canada. It brings together eleven post- secondary institutions offering programs of study in French in various health disciplines. It provides students of Francophone minority communities with improved access to health-related study programs. The CNFS allowed the addition of additional occupational therapy places for Francophones from provinces other than Quebec and Ontario. Students welcomed by the CNFS are encouraged to return to their home province to do their clinical rotations.

Learning Outcomes

The goal of the masters program is to provide solid training following current clinical guidelines in the client-centred, evidence-based practice of occupational therapy. In addition to acquiring the knowledge and know-how required for professional practice (expertise, technical abilities and people skills), graduates develop the ability to critically analyze and synthesize research findings published in academic journals.

Other Programs Offered Within the Same Discipline or in a Related Area

• Master of Health Sciences in Audiology (MHSc)
• Master of Health Sciences Speech-Language Pathology (MHSc)
• Master of Health Sciences Physiotherapy (MHSc)
• Doctorate in Philosophy Rehabilitation Sciences (PhD)

Fees and Funding

• Program fees:

The estimated amount for university fees associated with this program are available under the section Finance your studies.

International students enrolled in a French-language program of study may be eligible for a differential tuition fee exemption.

• To learn about possibilities for financing your graduate studies, consult the Awards and financial support section.

Notes

• Programs are governed by the general regulations in effect for graduate studies.
• In accordance with the University of Ottawa regulation, students have the right to complete their assignments, examinations, research papers, and theses in French or in English. While French is the language of instruction, some clinical placements, however, take place in French, Bilingual and English settings.

Program Contact Information

Academic Office, Faculty of Health Sciences
125 University Private, Room 242
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
K1N 6N5

Tel.: 613-562-5853
Toll free: 1-877-868-8292, ext. 5853
Email: healthsc@uOttawa.ca

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For the most accurate and up to date information on application deadlines, language tests and other admission requirements, please visit the specific requirements webpage.

To be eligible, candidates must:

• Have an honours bachelor’s degree or equivalent with a minimum average of B (70%).

Note: International candidates must check the admission equivalencies for the diploma they received in their country of origin.

• Have successfully completed 3 course units in musculoskeletal anatomy (e.g. ANP 1506 or equivalent).
• Have a satisfactory score on a personal characteristics test (Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics (CASPer)).¹

Language Requirements

Candidates must be proficient in written and spoken French and must have a working knowledge of written and spoken English. In order to assess these language skills, French and English tests are required. 

Note(s)

• Candidates are responsible for any fees associated with the language tests.
• To help students obtain a passing grade in their bilingual clinical placements, the School of Rehabilitation Sciences offers an English conversation course (REA 5940). This course may be recommended or required according to the applicants’ language competencies.
• If deemed necessary, an English or French course could be added to the program of study at the time of admission and would be considered a program requirement.

Notes

• The admission requirements listed above are minimum requirements and do not guarantee admission to the program.

• Admissions are governed by the general regulations in effect for graduate studies.
• Prerequisite courses must have been completed within the last six years prior to admission application.
• The course codes in parentheses indicated above represent equivalent courses offered at the University of Ottawa and are given as examples to help applicants in their course choices. Acceptability of equivalent course from other universities may be verified with the Academic Office of the Faculty of Health Sciences.

Admissions to the Accelerated Stream

Candidates who have a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from a Canadian university recognized by the CAOT, and who have a B (70%) average (calculated in accordance with graduate studies guidelines) may also be admitted to the accelerated stream of the master’s in occupational therapy. These candidates will be credited with 30 course units for their training, diploma and clinical experience. They will not be required to redo the 1000 hours of clinical training already completed at the bachelor’s level or through work experience.

Applicants must also fulfill these additional requirements:

• Have a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from a university accredited by the CAOT at the time of graduation;
• Have worked as an occupational therapist in a clinical setting for the equivalent of at least two years full-time;
• Be (or be eligible to become) a charter member of the regulatory body of the candidate’s province at the time of initial enrollment;
• Have an active understanding of spoken French and have sufficient knowledge of English to consult scholarly documents in that language;
• Submit a satisfactory master’s research project proposal (two pages maximum) that identifies the following: the area of research interest; the problematic that the candidate is interested in addressing; the research question; the proposed methodology; the name of the professor who has accepted to supervise the proposed research project. The candidate may wish to develop this research project proposal in collaboration with their potential supervisor.
• Applications for this program are submitted through ORPAS. 

• Apply online through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC), by completing form 105.
• Declare all your current and previous postsecondary studies, completed or not, even if they are not related to your application. Failure to do so may lead to the cancellation of your application or the withdrawal of your offer of admission at any time.
• Enter your email address, making sure it is accurate. We will use this address to communicate with you for all matters. Also, check your inbox (and junk mail folder) regularly for messages from the University of Ottawa.
• Pay the application fees for all your admission applications. Applications are forwarded to the University of Ottawa only after fees are paid in full and the payment has cleared. Learn more about application fees.
• Note that OUAC is not part of the University of Ottawa. It handles applications to all Ontario universities and is responsible for transferring your application to our admission office.