Occupational Therapy, MS
| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2024-09-01 | - |
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 Fall.
Application Deadlines
- Application deadlines vary by program.
- Other important dates and deadlines can be found by using the One Stop calendars.
Application Process
Applications for the MS OT are handled annually using the OT Centralized Application Service (OTCAS). OTCAS provides a full-service, web-based application and admissions process for prospective occupational therapy program applicants.
Timelines for OTCAS Application Cycle
- Mid July: OTCAS applications cycle opens.
- Mid January (December 1 if international): Deadline for submission of all application material to OTCAS.
Admission Criteria
In addition to Graduate School requirements, applicants must meet these departmental requirements to be considered for admission to the program:
- An undergraduate degree completed by the end of the Spring semester of the year 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 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
- Introduction to Psychology
- Statistics
- Select one of the following natural science courses: Physics, Biology, Chemistry, Psychology
- Completed OTCAS application.
- 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. Limit 250 words.
Credits and Courses
The program is a tracked curriculum of 75 credits over 28 months, including a minimum of 24 weeks of full-time fieldwork during the program. OCCTHPY 810 serves as the capstone requirement for the degree. 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 75 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.
Related Certificates
- Certificate in Assistive Technology and Accessible Design
- Certificate in Trauma-Informed Care
- Graduate Certificate in Applied Gerontology