Master of Occupational Therapy

Program Coordinator: Dr. Sarah DiMeo
Phone:  508-929-8893
Email: sdimeo@worcester.edu 

Program Description

The Occupational Therapy Department offers a Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) degree. Students with a baccalaureate degree in a field other than occupational therapy can complete the program of study in three years. The program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). Inquiries regarding accreditation may be made to: The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone, c/o AOTA, is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.

Upon successful completion of Level II Fieldwork (OT-920 and OT-921), graduates will be eligible to sit for the certification examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of the examination, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). Massachusetts and most other states require a license to practice occupational therapy. Eligibility for licensure is contingent on earning a passing score on the NBCOT examination. The Master of Occupational Therapy Program at Worcester State University is recognized by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (www.wfot.org).

Prerequisites for Entry

  • A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.2.
  • Grades of B– or better taken within six years of application in the following courses. Please note: prerequisite course syllabi may be requested for review by the Program Coordinator.
    • Introduction to Psychology
    • Developmental Psychology
    • Human Anatomy and Physiology I & II, with labs (8 credits)
    • Statistics
    • Neuroscience with lab (4 credits)
 

Items Needed to Apply:

  • Online application found at www.worcester.edu/apply
  • Essay explaining reason for pursuing this degree program
  • Application fee
  • Two letters of recommendation from professional or academic sources
  • Official transcripts from ALL colleges and universities attended showing a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.2
  • Official transcript evaluation for any transcript from outside the United States
  • An English language proficiency test if the student’s academic background is not in English
  • Prerequisite courses with grades of B- or better taken within six years of application: Intro to Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Human Anatomy and Physiology I & II, with labs (8 credits), Statistics, and Neuroscience with lab (4 credits)

Requirements of the Program

  • All OT undergraduate major courses must be completed with a C or better.
  • All graduate courses must be completed with a B- or better and students must maintain a graduate GPA of 3.0.
  • Courses must be taken in prescribed sequence or with Department Chair’s approval.
  • All coursework must be completed prior to beginning Level II Fieldwork.
  • The second Level II Fieldwork must be completed within 12 months of the academic preparation.
  • Any individual who has been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor, involving an act likely to affect professional practice, should meet with the Department Chair prior to applying to the Program. Prior incidents may affect eligibility for fieldwork, certification, and employment. A CORI check may be conducted prior to Level I and Level II Fieldwork.

Master's of Occupational Therapy Program (Students with a completed Bachelor's of Science in Occupational Studies from Worcester State University)

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
SummerCredits
OT-908 Community Health 3
OT-928 Thesis Seminar I 3
OT-931 Organizational and Professional Issues II 3
 Credits9
Fall
OT-903 Clinical Reasoning I 3
OT-929 Thesis Seminar II 3
OT-933 Assessment and Evaluation Across the Lifespan 3
 Credits9
Spring
OT-905 Clinical Reasoning II 3
OT-906 Global Health Issues 3
OT-930 Thesis Seminar III 3
 Credits9
Year Two
Summer or Fall
OT-920 Physical Disabilities Fieldwork II 3
OT-921 Psychosocial Fieldwork II 3
 Credits6
 Total Credits33

.

Post-Baccalaureate Master's of Occupational Therapy Program (Students with a completed Bachelor's Degree)

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
Summer ICredits
OT-101 Introduction of Occupational Studies of Wellness/Disability 3
BI-271 Basic Kinesiology 3
OT-211 Kinesiology Lab 1
 Credits7
Summer II
OT-102 Occupational Studies of Wellness/ Disability Groups 3
OT-203 Occupational Therapy Theories 3
 Credits6
Fall
OT-301 Psychosocial Wellness/Disability 2
OT-302 Psychosocial Therapeutic Approaches 3
OT-304 Psychosocial Therapeutic Approaches Lab 2
OT-317 Research I 3
 Credits10
Spring
OT-312 Physiological Wellness/Disability 2
OT-313 Physiological Therapeutic Approaches 3
OT-318 Physiological Therapeutic Approaches Lab 2
PS-322 Psychology of Aging 3
 Credits10
Year Two
Fall
OT-401 Occupational Performance & Context for Older Adults 2
OT-402 Therapeutic Approaches for Older Adults 3
OT-403 Ther App Lab for Older Adults 2
OT-404 Assistive Technology I 3
OT-407 Research II 3
 Credits13
Spring
OT-421 Occupational Performance and Context for Children/Adolescents 2
OT-423 Therapeutic Approaches Lab for Children/Adolescents 2
OT-424 Assistive Technology II 3
OT-426 Organizational and Professional Issues I 3
OT-427 Therapeutic Approaches for Children/Adolescents 3
OT-928 Thesis Seminar I 3
 Credits16
Year Three
Summer
OT-903 Clinical Reasoning I 3
OT-908 Community Health 3
OT-929 Thesis Seminar II 3
OT-931 Organizational and Professional Issues II 3
 Credits12
Fall
OT-905 Clinical Reasoning II 3
OT-906 Global Health Issues 3
OT-930 Thesis Seminar III 3
OT-933 Assessment and Evaluation Across the Lifespan 3
 Credits12
Spring
OT-920 Physical Disabilities Fieldwork II 3
OT-921 Psychosocial Fieldwork II 3
 Credits6
 Total Credits92

Postbaccalaureate Prerequisites for Entry

  • A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.2.
  • Grades of B– or better taken within six years of application in the following courses. Please note, prerequisite course syllabi may be requested for review by the Program Coordinator.
  • Introduction to Psychology
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology I & II, with labs (8 credits)
  • Statistics
  • Neuroscience with lab (4 credits)

Traditional Students Conditional Graduate Standing Prerequisites for Entry 

Bachelor of Science in Occupational Studies (BSOS) Class of 2025

By July 1, 2024, after completion of the junior year, undergraduate students will apply for conditional graduate standing through the Division of Graduate and Continuing Education (DGCE). Students can apply through one of the following options:

Option #1 - Students must have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 in the OT courses and prerequisites to be considered for conditional acceptance. The application process requires:

  1. An application form (obtained online),

  2. Two letters of reference (from sources outside the Occupational Therapy Department), and

  3. The scores submitted from all sections of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) at the 50th percentile for each of the three sections.

Once conditionally accepted, senior BSOS students must maintain a GPA of 3.0 in the OT major courses to receive full acceptance into the MOT program.

Option #2 - Students must have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.2 in the OT courses and prerequisites to be considered for conditional acceptance. The application process requires:

  1. An application form (obtained online), and

  2. Two letters of reference (from sources outside the Occupational Therapy Department).

Once conditionally accepted, senior BSOS students must maintain a GPA of 3.2 in the OT major courses to receive full acceptance into the MOT program.

 

Bachelor of Science in Occupational Studies (BSOS) Class of 2026 and Beyond

By July 1, 2025 (or beyond), after completion of the junior year, undergraduate students will apply for conditional graduate standing through the Division of Graduate and Continuing Education (DGCE). Students must have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.2 in the OT courses and prerequisites to be considered for conditional acceptance. The application process requires:

  1. An application form (obtained online), and

  2. Two letters of reference (from sources outside the Occupational Therapy Department).

Once conditionally accepted, senior BSOS students must maintain a GPA of 3.2 in the OT major courses to receive full acceptance into the MOT program.

Graduate Occupational Therapy Courses

OT-903 Clinical Reasoning I

Seminar to apply clinical reasoning skills to case studies integrating all aspects that influence therapeutic decision-making, including occupational performance areas, components, and contexts.

Every year. 3 Credits

OT-905 Clinical Reasoning II

Continuing seminar to apply clinical reasoning skills to case studies integrating all aspects that influence therapeutic decision-making, including occupational performance areas, components, and contexts.

Every year. 3 Credits

OT-906 Global Health Issues

Understanding health issues from a global perspective of the economic, political, social and cultural forces which impact on health and health services.

3 Credits

OT-908 Community Health

Community as a context for human functioning and occupational therapy intervention. Includes community placement.

3 Credits

OT-920 Physical Disabilities Fieldwork II

Prerequisites: OT-903 and OT-905 and OT-906 and OT-908 and OT-928 and OT-929 and OT-930 and OT-931 and OT-933

Twelve weeks of full-time (or equivalent part-time) fieldwork in approved physical disabilities setting with supervision that meets ACOTE Standards.

3 Credits

OT-921 Psychosocial Fieldwork II

Prerequisites: OT-903 and OT-905 and OT-908 and OT-928 and OT-929 and OT-930 and OT-931 and OT-933

Twelve weeks of full-time (or equivalent part-time) fieldwork in approved setting with supervision that meets ACOTE Standards.

3 Credits

OT-928 Thesis Seminar I

Seminar focusing of the development of thesis proposals.

3 Credits

OT-929 Thesis Seminar II

Seminar focusing on the collection and analysis of data.

3 Credits

OT-930 Thesis Seminar III

Seminar focusing on writing and disseminating a research report.

3 Credits

OT-931 Organizational and Professional Issues II

An advanced seminar exploring issues relevant to the changing roses and responsibilities of practitioners and to the rapidly evolving practice contexts.

3 Credits

OT-933 Assessment and Evaluation Across the Lifespan

This course provides an overview of the occupational therapy and evaluation process. Selection, interpretation and documentation of assessments will be examined.

3 Credits

Upon successful completion of this academic program, the student will be able to:

1.) Demonstrate entry-level clinical reasoning skills.

2.) Identify, evaluate and synthesize research for best clinical practice.

3.) Exhibit professional and ethical behaviors in a variety of settings (traditional, nontraditional and emerging practice) and with diverse populations.

4.) Design, implement and evaluate therapeutic interventions to increase occupational performance in accordance with the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework.

5.) Assume the responsibility for achieving and maintaining competence in lifelong learning by participating in professional development activities.