About

Rehabilitation science is an interdisciplinary field dedicated to understanding human function and participation and its relationship to health and well-being. Those who work in the field of rehabilitation will focus on assisting individuals and populations to recover from or adapt to disability. The Department of Rehabilitation Science is dedicated to nurturing the scholastic development, respect for dignity, ethical behavior, passion for advocacy, and professionalism of future rehabilitation practitioners.

Mission

The mission of the Department of Rehabilitation Science is to offer evidence-based educational programs that prepare graduates to serve their communities in healthcare jobs that will decrease the effects of disability for individuals and populations while enhancing health and well-being, quality of life, and independence.

Vision

The vision of the Department of Rehabilitation Science is to advance the field of rehabilitation through excellence in clinical practice, education, and community service.

The Department of Rehabilitation Science currently offers a Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Science and an Associate of Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant. The Department of Rehabilitation Science is excited to announce the start of a new Master of Science in Occupational Therapy bridge program in August 2022, pending ACOTE approval. Eligible students will be currently licensed Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants who wish to pursue a graduate degree in occupational therapy.

NOTE: The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Program at Middle Georgia State University has been granted Applicant status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is 301.652.AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. The program must have a pre-accreditation review, be granted Candidacy Status, complete an on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT®). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses (including Georgia) are usually based on the results of the NBCOT® Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT® certification examination or attain state licensure. More information about NBCOT® can be found online at https://www.nbcot.org.

The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Program has been granted approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).