The College of Health and Human Services graduate professional degree in Occupational Therapy (Master of Occupational Therapy-M.O.T.) prepares students to assume general practice positions in occupational therapy in a variety of health, education, and social service delivery systems. This is an entry-level graduate degree. This curriculum is designed for the student who has a bachelor’s degree (any major), required prerequisite course work, and a strong commitment to pursuing a rigorous program of study in Occupational Therapy.
Addendum Add: The MOT Program is a continuous, full-time, entry-level program designed to be completed over 7 consecutive semesters in 28 months.
Accreditation
The Occupational Therapy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Blvd., Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is 301.652.AOTA. Web address is www.acoteonline.org.
Graduates of the program are able to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). All states, including Illinois, require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Caution: a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination and/or attain state licensure.
Addendum Add:
Description of Special Admission Requirements and Program Prerequisites
In addition to meeting university admission criteria, applicants must have successfully completed the following prerequisites in addition to, or in conjunction with, a baccalaureate degree:
• Prerequisite coursework with a minimal prerequisite GPA of 3.00. A grade of “B” or above in the following subjects is highly recommended:
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (9 credits)
- Abnormal Psychology (3 credits)
- Developmental Psychology or other related lifespan course (3 credits)
- General psychology, or other related sociology or anthropology courses (3 credits)
- Natural Sciences (8 credit hours total) to include:
- Human anatomy and physiology with lab
- Other course work: (6 credit hours total) to include:
- Medical Terminology (1 credit hour)
- Orientation to Occupational Therapy (2 credit hours)
Additional Admission Requirements include:
- Minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 2.75
- Minimum prerequisite GPA of 3.00 (a grade of “B” or higher is recommended)
- A personal statement essay
- Three Letters of Recommendation. Two must be from an academic person (academic advisor/instructor) or healthcare professional; one from a mentor, employer, volunteer experience supervisor
Application to the MOT program is through an occupational therapy centralized application service: OTCAS (www.otcas.org) Admission is by application and is competitive.
Review the program website (www.govst.edu/mot) for current information regarding application procedures and timelines.
A $750 seat deposit is due within two weeks of notification of acceptance in the MOT program.
Advanced Placement and Transfer Credit
The Occupational Therapy Program does accept advanced placement credit to meet prerequisite courses but is subject to review by the OT Admission Coordinator.
The Occupational Therapy Program does not allow transfer of credit from other institutions to meet the MOT graduation requirements. Academic credit is not provided for applicants’ work, experiential, or volunteer experience.
International Students
International students are required to meet the University and Program’s admission requirements.
Recommended Preparation
Students planning to pursue application to the MOT program should complete a baccalaureate degree in any field of study and complete the above-stated prerequisite courses.
Admission to Candidacy
Following acceptance and progression in the MOT program, a student must apply for candidacy. Application must be made when a student has completed 61 credit hours (didactic portion of program) and maintained a G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher for all courses in the MOT program. Candidacy is required prior to completing Level II fieldwork.
Graduation Requirements
To complete the MOT in Occupational Therapy degree, a student must earn a minimum of 78 credit hours in the MOT program of study. Occupational Therapy Level II Fieldwork A and B are graduate practicums that provide students with the opportunity to evaluate the relevance of theoretical and academic perspectives in the profession and meet entry-level competence and, therefore, meet the requirement of the master’s final project. Students must complete Level II fieldwork within 24 months following completion of the didactic portion of the program.
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