General Program Information
Kyle Leister, Ph.D., CPO, Graduate Coordinator
Ed Allen Hall (VA Campus) Room 133
Box 70260
(423) 439-7414
email: leister@etsu.edu
Bea Owens, PT, Ph.D., CHT Department Chair (Interim)
VA Campus, Building 2
(423) 439-8791
Master of Science in Orthotics and Prosthetics
Orthotics and Prosthetics, is a unique and evolving healthcare profession that involves the design and creation of engineered wearable technologies to control movement (i.e., orthoses and prostheses) as part of the treatment plan for persons with physical challenges. Orthoses are technologies that serve as “motion control treatment” for persons with dysfunction of the neuromuscular and skeletal systems of the limbs, spine and head due to stroke, cerebral palsy, scoliosis, arthritis, complex fracture, and other conditions. Prostheses are technologies that similarly serve as “motion control treatment” to enable persons with limb loss, limb difference or limb absence due to trauma, body system dysfunction or congenital abnormality to function to the best of their abilities. The orthotist-prosthetist is a clinical practitioner/technology manager and member of the healthcare team that collaborates with physicians, therapists and the client. Additionally, the orthotist-prosthetist evaluates the unique needs, challenges and goals of the client. Then they apply their knowledge and skills to create the optimal combination of technologies that allow the client to achieve their goals. The process of providing care occurs in a variety of settings such as acute trauma hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, ambulatory outpatient facilities, as well as research and education centers.
The Orthotics and Prosthetics program offers the entry-level Master of Science in Orthotics and Prosthetics degree. The degree is designed to integrate classroom, research, applied device design/fabrication and applied clinical learning experiences; to prepare its graduates to carry out effectively the expanding responsibilities of orthotists and prosthetists as health care providers practicing in environments ranging from clinical care to research and device design and development. Students who enter the program will have strong but diverse academic backgrounds reflecting their abilities to think creatively and independently, evaluate critically and systematically, and exercise good judgment. Additionally, students in the program should display the personal qualities of flexibility, responsibility, and sensitivity to others.
Admission Requirements
The Master of Science in Orthotics and Prosthetics program admits students by a selective admissions process to begin matriculation in the spring semester only. Students apply to the Master of Science in Orthotics and Prosthetics program through the Orthotics and Prosthetics Centralized Application Service (OPCAS).
The program begins in the spring term (January). The application deadline is September 1st.
***Special Note: Students applying for admission to the January 2025 application cycle will not be required to submit the OPCAS application. Students will need to submit an application to Graduate Studies.***
Students must also apply to ETSU College of Graduate and Continuing Studies.
Students seeking admission to the professional Master of Science in Orthotics and Prosthetics degree program (entry-level) must meet the requirements established by the School of Graduate Studies. International students must meet the same program-specific requirements for admission to the graduate program that apply to citizens of the United States as detailed in the ETSU College of Graduate and Continuing Studies Policies.
Students must also meet the following minimum program requirements:
- Have an overall GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in all undergraduate coursework (domestic students) and overall GPA of 3.0 (on 4.0 scale) (international students)
- Have a 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) in the prerequisite courses;
- Completion of prerequisite courses; no grade in a prerequisite course may be less than a “C” (2.0 on a 4.0 scale);
- Three (3) letters of recommendation with at least one (1) letter of recommendation preferred from a licensed orthotist/prosthetist professional;
- A positive evaluation after an interview with the Orthotics and Prosthetics Admissions Committee.
Prerequisite courses or equivalent for admission consideration by the program include the following:
- Statistics or Research Methods (3 credits)
- Chemistry (3 credits)
- Biology (3 credits)
- Physics with lab (4 credits)
- Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II with lab (8 credits) or Human Anatomy with lab (4 credits) and Human Physiology with lab (4 credits)
- Psychology (3 credits)
- Observation/clinical experience hours: There is no specific number of clinical hours required; however, each applicant is encouraged to have thoroughly investigated the scope and profession of Orthotics and Prosthetics. Applicants’ understanding of the profession will be considered in their interview.
Retention Requirements
The program will follow ETSU standards for Graduate Academic Retention Standards.
Students in the Master of Science in Orthotics and Prosthetics program must meet the retention standards as set forth for graduate students by the School of Graduate Studies and by the Orthotics and Prosthetics Faculty. Grades shall be issued based on the 4.0 scale as set forth in the Graduate Catalog.
A Master of Science in Orthotics and Prosthetics student will be considered deficient for any course grade less than a “C” (2.0) or when the overall grade point average per semester or for all semesters completed in the program is less than a “B” (3.0).
Traditional entry students will matriculate through a fixed, prescribed curriculum in a two-year, full-time Master of Science program.
The Orthotics and Prosthetics faculty will meet, at a minimum at the end of each semester to determine whether each student should be promoted to the next semester, be placed on probation, or be required to remediate any deficiencies before proceeding to the next semester of study. Promotion will be determined by the student’s didactic performance, clinical performance, and professional behavior.