Program Overview

Occupational Therapy, MS

The School of Rehabilitation Sciences & Technology offers a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) Degree. The MSOT Degree Program prepares students to become scholarly, client-centered practitioners, educators, and scientists who will be able to enrich the health, well-being, quality of life, and occupational participation of the people, communities, and populations they will serve after graduating.

Overview of the Program

MSOT students engage in graduate-level instruction with a strong focus on theory, evidence-based research, interprofessional education, technology, community engagement, leadership, and clinical underpinnings. During their time in the program, students take required and elective courses. Students can use elective courses to help them complete graduate certificates alongside their MSOT Degree.

Accreditation

The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Degree Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).

Graduation and Certification

Graduates of the program are eligible to take the occupational therapist certification examination offered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy. After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, most states require licensure to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination.

Admission Requirements

The MS in Occupational Therapy Program admits students on the basis of a holistic, competitive application process. Students are accepted into the program once per year in Spring and begin professional coursework in the following Summer. To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the following departmental requirements:

• An undergraduate degree completed by the end of the Spring semester prior to beginning the OT Program, from an accredited institution, with an overall cumulative grade point average (GPA) of a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
• Six prerequisite courses, required to be completed by the end of the Fall semester of the year prior to beginning the OT Program, with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale):
  • Human Anatomy
  • Human Physiology
  • Human Development
  • Abnormal Psychology
  • Statistics
  • Select one of the following natural science courses: Physics, Biology, Chemistry, or Psychology
• Completed application through the OT Centralized Application Service (OTCAS) for students outside of UW-Milwaukee, or the UWM Graduate School Admission Application for current UWM Pre-OT students.
• Three letters of recommendation: One letter must be from an academic source and one from a clinical/health-related source. The third letter can be either from an academic or clinical/health-related source.
• Reasons Statement or Personal Essay: Address why you selected occupational therapy as a career and how an occupational therapy degree relates to your immediate and long-term professional goals.
• Additional Question: Answer why the Occupational Therapy Program in the School of Rehabilitation Sciences & Technology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is a good fit for you.

Credits and Courses

The program is a tracked curriculum of 69 credits over 24 months, including a minimum of 24 weeks of full-time fieldwork during the program. Students will enroll as full-time students for each term of study (Summer, Fall, Spring). There is no part-time option for students in the MS in OT program. Students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 and a grade of B- or better in all required courses.

Transcript-Designated Concentrations

Through judicious use of electives, students may also choose one of two transcript-designated concentrations. This may require completion of more than the minimum 69 credits.

Additional Requirements

• Major Professor as Advisor: The Graduate School requires that each student have a major professor to advise, supervise, and approve the program of study. Students are assigned faculty advisors in the MS in OT program upon acceptance into the program.
• Time Limit: The student must complete all degree requirements within four years of initial enrollment.
• Background Information Disclosure: All students admitted to the MS in Occupational Therapy degree program will be required to complete a Background Information Disclosure form. A background check, which identifies a past criminal record, does not necessarily preclude an individual from pursuing studies in occupational therapy or becoming a successful practitioner.