Spring Break
WNMU INTRODUCES TWO NEW MASTERS DEGREES
Issue date: 4/13/09 Section: News
WNMU is now a leader among universities in the southwest with the introduction of the new Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT). The new degree is structured as a Certified Occupational Therapy to Master's Bridge program, one of just three such programs west of the Mississippi River, with only seventeen total in the United States.
Since 1994, WNMU has offered an associate degree in Occupational Therapy. The new MOT program is designed for practicing certified occupational therapists who have completed the undergraduate pre-requisite work and who hold a bachelor's degree in any major from an accredited university.
UNM is the only other university in New Mexico to offer an MOT degree, however, the school does not offer the bridge component.
"With the bridge program, entry-level students can career ladder to obtain the MOT degree in less time and have their undergraduate work in the field accepted," said Claudia Leonard, WNMU Associate Professor and Program Director for the Occupational Therapy program.
The WNMU program is unique in its online and weekend format allowing students to work and live anywhere in the region while obtaining their degree.
Occupational therapists, like social workers, are considered highly trained individuals. They work in a variety of settings including healthcare facilities, schools, home health agencies, and private practices. Coursework in the program includes six months of supervised work.
The U.S. Department of Labor reported 99,000 OT jobs in 2006. It projects a 23% increase by 2016.
"In the last year two years, there was a 75% vacancy rate in OT positions based on an employer survey of southwestern facilities," claimed Leonard. "This is really a recession proof field."
WNMU expects for both new degree programs to be in demand in the upcoming semester. The University now offers 12 master degree programs.
Since 1994, WNMU has offered an associate degree in Occupational Therapy. The new MOT program is designed for practicing certified occupational therapists who have completed the undergraduate pre-requisite work and who hold a bachelor's degree in any major from an accredited university.
UNM is the only other university in New Mexico to offer an MOT degree, however, the school does not offer the bridge component.
"With the bridge program, entry-level students can career ladder to obtain the MOT degree in less time and have their undergraduate work in the field accepted," said Claudia Leonard, WNMU Associate Professor and Program Director for the Occupational Therapy program.
The WNMU program is unique in its online and weekend format allowing students to work and live anywhere in the region while obtaining their degree.
Occupational therapists, like social workers, are considered highly trained individuals. They work in a variety of settings including healthcare facilities, schools, home health agencies, and private practices. Coursework in the program includes six months of supervised work.
The U.S. Department of Labor reported 99,000 OT jobs in 2006. It projects a 23% increase by 2016.
"In the last year two years, there was a 75% vacancy rate in OT positions based on an employer survey of southwestern facilities," claimed Leonard. "This is really a recession proof field."
WNMU expects for both new degree programs to be in demand in the upcoming semester. The University now offers 12 master degree programs.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Mark Singer
posted 4/13/09 @ 3:36 PM MST
Please note that, when used as in your headline, "master's" is a possessive modifying "degrees," so it is "master's degrees" rather than "master degrees. (Continued…)
Deanna Smith
posted 4/13/09 @ 7:18 PM MST
Thank you for reading The Mustang online edition. I have corrected the title of the artcle but I got this annoncement via Mustang Express so I just published it as it was sent to me. (Continued…)
samueljaxon
Master's Thesis
posted 2/10/10 @ 8:28 AM MST
I must admit great news about Master's degree.
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