Occupational Therapy, Master of Science (M.S.)
General Information
The Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy offers the Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy. There are two admission concentrations in the program (Professional Concentration, and Post-Professional Concentration). The Professional Concentration is intended for students who do not currently hold a baccalaureate degree or post-baccalaureate certificate in occupational therapy. Permission to enter via the Professional Concentration is highly dependent on the applicant’s prior education and therefore the admission criteria should be reviewed carefully. The BS OS Entrance is for the individual with a baccalaureate degree in occupational science. The Post-Professional Concentration is for students who currently hold a baccalaureate degree or post-baccalaureate certificate in occupational therapy from an accredited occupational therapy program.
The MS program is being phased out and no new applicants will be accepted. The last class will graduate in 2024
The graduates of the Master of Science degree program in Occupational Therapy will demonstrate the ability to:
- Design, provide and analyze evidence-based occupational therapy services that engage people in occupation to support their participation in context.
- Collaborate with others to promote the health and well-being of diverse persons and communities.
- Contribute to occupational therapy practice, education and research through the ethical application of reasoning abilities.
- Reflect the profession’s values, principles and beliefs in carrying out professional responsibilities.
- Inform, negotiate, advocate, and consult with diverse persons, disciplines, and communities to facilitate and promote health.
Admission Requirements
This program is no longer admitting students; please refer to the Occupational Therapy Doctorate for current degree options.
Professional Pathway
To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the general admission requirements of the Graduate School. Additional requirements established by the program are as follows:
BS OS Entrance
- Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Science
- “C” or better in all prerequisite coursework.
- 3.0 GPA on the most recent 60 hours of coursework (program prerequisites not included in the most recent 60 hours will be added in the calculation of GPA) or a 3.0 overall undergraduate GPA (all hours attempted in the semester in which the 60th hour occurs will be counted) determined by the February 1st program application deadline.
- Health Science Reasoning Test (HSRT) Overall Target Score of 15.
- Three letters of recommendation.
Specific Criteria
Students with a baccalaureate degree in occupational science should apply to the Graduate School by February 1 of their senior year for admission into the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy. Students will be admitted on a competitive basis using a weighted matrix.
Post-Professional Pathway
(For Licensed, Registered, Practicing Occupational Therapists)
Students interested in pursuing a Master’s in route to an OTD, should refer to the OTD program in the catalog.
Progression Requirements
In addition to the Graduate School progression policy, the MS OT students must achieve a grade of ‘B’ or higher in all OTS courses to progress in the program. If a student receives a “C” or lower or an Unsatisfactory grade in an OTS course twice or receives a “C” or lower or an Unsatisfactory grade in two separate courses, they will be dismissed from the program. Refer to the Occupational Therapy Graduate Student Handbook for further information on progression and retention.
Program Requirements
This program is no longer admitting students; please refer to the Occupational Therapy Doctorate for current degree options.
CIP Code 51.2306
Professional Pathway (for B.S. OS Entrants)
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | ||
| OTS 820 | OBP: Fundamentals | 4 |
| OTS 822 | OBP: Health Care Practice 1 | 4 |
| OTS 824 | OBP: Health Care Practice 2 | 4 |
| OTS 830 | OBP: Education Communities | 4 |
| OTS 832 | OBP: Community-Based Practice | 4 |
| OTS 836 | OBP: Optimizing Occupation | 3 |
| OTS 850 | Management Principles for OT | 3 |
| OTS 880 | Res in Occupational Therapy | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Choose from one of the following: | 3 | |
| Provid Hlth Serv in Appalachia | ||
| technology and Rehabilitation | ||
| OT Intervention in Workplace | ||
| UE Evaluation & Intervention | ||
| Strategic Communication in OT | ||
| OT Serv in Mental Hlth Setting | ||
| Leadership in Human Services | ||
| Role of OT & the Aging Adult | ||
or OTS 855S | Role of OT & the Aging Adult | |
| Thera. Modalities in OT Pract | ||
| Occupation & Sensory Process | ||
| Early Childhood Practice | ||
| School-based Practice | ||
| OT & Behavior Disorder in Sch | ||
| Profess Trends & Issues in OT | ||
| Special Topics: ______________ | ||
| Advanced Occupational Science | ||
| Change and Complexity in OBP | ||
| Qualitative Inquiry Approaches | ||
| Occupational Perform. Measures | ||
| Independent Study in OT | ||
| The Autism Spectrum | ||
| Advanced Topics in Psy:_______ | ||
| Advanced Language Disorders | ||
SED 790 | ||
| Research | ||
| Choose from one of the following: | 6 | |
| Non-thesis | ||
| Research Project II | ||
One elective | ||
| Thesis | ||
| Thesis I | ||
or OTS 884 | Qualitative Inquiry Approaches | |
| Thesis II | ||
| MS Occ Therapy Thesis Denfense (Oral Defense of Thesis) | ||
| Field Work Experiences | ||
| Practice Seminars | ||
| OTS 821 | Level I OT Experience | 2 |
| OTS 831 | Practice Seminar II | 2 |
| OTS 871 | Practice Seminar III | 2 |
| Capstone Courses | ||
| OTS 845 | Health Care Practice Fieldwork | 6 |
| OTS 846 | Community Practice Fieldwork | 5 |
| OTS 847 | Emerging Practice Fieldwork | 1 |
| Total Hours | 56 | |
Exit Requirements
Thesis
A thesis is optional in this program. If thesis option is selected, an oral defense of the thesis is required (GRD 888C MS Occ Therapy Thesis Denfense).
Comprehensive Examination
A comprehensive examination will be required of all post-professional Master of Science students who are non-thesis candidates (GRD 887D MS Occupational Therapy Written Comprehensive Exam).
Capstone Courses
All entry-level Master of Science students must successfully complete the following capstone classes with a “Satisfactory” grade, OTS 845 Health Care Practice Fieldwork, OTS 846 Community Practice Fieldwork and OTS 847 Emerging Practice Fieldwork.
The professional course work for the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE):
Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)
6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200
North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929
(301) 652-2682
Following successful completion of the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, the graduate is eligible to sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification examination. For additional information on the examination, contact
NBCOT
One Bank Street, Suite 300
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
www.nbcot.org
Professional level graduates must apply for licensure and/ or certification prior to practicing in any state. A criminal record (excluding minor traffic violations) may make a person ineligible for national certification examination and/or licensure or state certification for practice. Students with such a history should contact NBCOT and relevant licensing or certifying bodies prior to enrollment to determine their situation. For more information regarding the profession, contact the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA):
American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200
North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929
www.aota.org
Program changes may occur in response to accrediting agencies. Students should contact the department to verify program requirements.