A program for a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program is in the process of being approved for the summer of 2014. The Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition is currently accepting applications.

Since there is no specific corresponding bachelor’s degree, any student with the prerequisite science courses can apply, said program director Dr. Hope Martin.

“We have a heavy psychological background,” she said. “Typically we get people from exercise science, kinesiology or biology. We can get psychology or social work majors.”

The degree program, currently in the process of being accredited by the American Occupational Therapy Association, was partly created because of the field’s anticipated growth. Martin said there are currently only five occupational therapy programs in Texas, with ACU’s being the sixth.

“The United States Bureau of Labor predicts a 34 percent growth in the field over the next ten years,” Martin said.

Dr. Joe Bell, chair of the Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition, said that although the degree has been introduced, the finished product is still in progress.

“We haven’t hired all our faculty yet,” he said. “We’ve got a program director and a couple of adjuncts committed, but the faculty will be phased in over the next few years.”

The Master’s degree provides an excellent way for students to carry out the university’s mission, Martin said.

“Occupational therapy is utilized to restore function and well-being in people who have been injured in various ways,” she said.