Alumni Perceptions of Professional and Postprofessional Occupational Therapy Master's Programs

Abstract

This study investigated differences in academic characteristics of professional and postprofessional master's degree programs in occupational therapy as perceived by alumni who graduated between 1980 and 1985. The focus was on 10 composite indictors on the Graduate Program Self-Assessment: Master's Level Programs Alumni Questionnaire, Educational Testing Service. Seven of the 10 composite indicators demonstrated statistical differences. The postprofessional alumni perceived their program to be of higher quality in the indicators of environment for learning, scholarly excellence, quality of teaching, faculty concern for students, curriculum, and available resources. The professional master's alumni perceived their fieldwork experiences to be of higher quality than the postprofessional master's degree alumni.