Occupational Therapy (MS)
Degree: Master of Science
Major: Occupational Therapy
Program Code: 8158
Program Description
The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) program prepares students to become qualified occupational therapists. Occupational therapy (OT) is a health care profession that focuses on helping people regain, develop, and master everyday skills to live independent, productive, and satisfying lives. Occupational therapists promote health and functioning through the therapeutic use of meaningful activities.
The MSOT program consists of four didactic semesters and two 12-week clinical fieldwork rotations. The didactic portion follows a cohort model where students enter the program together and progress as a group. Students complete their fieldwork rotations at a variety of clinical and community-based settings. The MSOT program was designed to meet all accreditation requirements set by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). In August of 2023, ACOTE granted the MSOT program a seven-year accreditation.
The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) is the credentialing agency responsible for certifying occupational therapy practitioners in the United States. The NBCOT’s certification process ensures that occupational therapists have the knowledge and skills necessary to practice safely and effectively. Graduates of the MSOT program will be eligible to take the NBCOT exam. Successful completion of the exam and state licensure are required to become an occupational therapist. The OTR/L credential indicates an occupational therapist is registered with the NBCOT and licensed to practice in their state.
For a complete list of program requirements, please visit the Occupational Therapy Program website.
Admission Requirements
A cumulative minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 in undergraduate coursework and prerequisite coursework from an accredited university. Evidence of completion of a bachelor's degree and all prerequisite courses must be received prior to the start of the program. Contact the MSOT program or the Occupational Therapist Centralized Application Service (OTCAS) for the complete list of admission requirements.
For a complete list of program requirements, please visit the Occupational Therapy Program website.
Contact Information
Occupational Therapy Program
St. Mary's Medical Education Center
970.248.1484
Accreditation
The profession's accrediting body, the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy (ACOTE), has granted accreditation for seven years to this program (2023-2029). Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for occupational therapists through the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) and will be able to apply for licensure through the professional licensure board in the state in which the graduate wishes to practice.
ACOTE can be contacted at:
Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE®)
7501 Wisconsin Ave, Suite 510E
Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 652-6611
All CMU masters-level graduates are expected to demonstrate proficiency in specialized knowledge/applied learning, quantitative fluency, communication fluency, critical thinking, information literacy, and ethical reasoning. In addition to these campus-wide student learning outcomes, a graduate of this program will be able to:
- Critically apply the latest research and knowledge bases that support occupational therapy practice and contribute to the growth and dissemination of research and knowledge. (Critical Thinking, Information Literacy)
- Articulate and apply therapeutic use of occupations with individuals or groups for the purpose of participation in roles and situations in home, school, workplace, community, and other settings. (Communication Fluency, Critical Thinking)
- Develop and implement client-centered care that is inclusive of cultural values, beliefs and needs. (Specialized Knowledge)
- Articulate and apply occupational therapy theory and evidence-based evaluations and interventions to achieve expected outcomes as related to occupation. (Specialized Knowledge, Communication Skills)
- Plan and apply evidence-based occupational therapy interventions to address the physical, cognitive, functional cognitive, psychosocial, sensory, and other aspects of performance in a variety of contexts and environments to support engagement in everyday life activities that affect health, well-being, and quality of life, as informed by the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework (OTPF). (Critical Thinking, Specialized Knowledge)
- Employ therapeutic use of self and science driven evidence in all practice areas and settings inclusive of: a direct care provider, consultant, educator, manager, researcher, and advocate for the profession and the consumer. (Specialized Knowledge, Quantitative Fluency)
Each section below contains details about the requirements for this program. Select a header to expand the information/requirements for that particular section of the program's requirements.
To print or save an overview of this program's information, including the program description, learning outcomes, requirements, suggested course sequencing (if applicable), and advising and graduation information, scroll to the bottom of the left-hand navigation menu and select "Print Options." This will give you the options to either "Send Page to Printer" or "Download PDF of This Page." The "Download PDF of This Page" option prepares a much more concise presentation of all program information. The PDF is also printable and may be preferable due to its brevity.
Institutional Degree Requirements
The following institutional requirements apply to all CMU graduate-level degrees. Specific programs may have different requirements that must be met in addition to institutional requirements.
- Graduate certificates consist of a minimum of 5 credit hours. Master’s degrees consist of a minimum of 30 credit hours. Doctoral degrees consist of a minimum of 60 credit hours.
- All credits in a graduate program must be minimally at the 500-level.
- At least fifty percent of the credit hours must be taken at CMU.
- Students must achieve a 3.00 cumulative GPA or higher in all CMU coursework.
- Students may not apply coursework with a grade lower than a “B” toward graduation requirements.
- A course may only be used to fulfill one requirement for each degree/certificate.
- Capstone exit assessment/projects (e.g., Major Field Achievement Test) requirements are identified under Program-Specific Requirements.
- The Catalog Year determines which program sheet and certificate requirements a student must fulfill in order to graduate. Visit with your advisor or academic department to determine which catalog year and program requirements you should follow.
- See “Graduate Degree Requirements” in this catalog for a complete list of graduation requirements.
- Additional policies for graduate degrees are outlined in the Graduate Policies and Procedures Manual and the Culminating Activities for Graduate Degrees: General Writing Guidelines, all of which are provided on the Graduate Studies website.
Specific to this degree:
- 76 semester hours required for the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy
Program Specific Requirements
Spring 2026 Cohort (76 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| OCCU 510 | Scholarship and Research | 2 |
| OCCU 511 | Lifespan and Occupational Performance | 2 |
| OCCU 512 | Professional Skills and Occupation-Based Practice I | 2 |
| OCCU 513 | Functional Anatomy and Movement | 4 |
| OCCU 514 | Wellness and Occupational Performance | 2 |
| OCCU 515 | Occupation-Based Practice and Theory for Older Adults | 4 |
| OCCU 516 | History and Theoretical Foundations of Occupational Therapy | 2 |
| OCCU 520 | Brain, Behavior and Occupation | 3 |
| OCCU 522 | Professional Skills and Occupation-Based Practice II | 2 |
| OCCU 523 | Occupation-Based Practice and Theory for Adults | 4 |
| OCCU 530 | Scholarship and Evidence-Based Practice I | 2 |
| OCCU 531 | Occupation-Based Practice and Theory for Children and Adolescents | 4 |
| OCCU 532 | Assistive Technology and Occupation | 3 |
| OCCU 533 | Telehealth, Occupation and Modalities | 3 |
| OCCU 534 | Occupational Therapy and Mental Health Practice | 3 |
| OCCU 540 | Scholarship and Evidence-Based Practice II | 2 |
| OCCU 541 | Leadership and Ethics in Occupational Therapy | 2 |
| OCCU 542 | Occupation-Based Practice and Theory for Populations | 4 |
| OCCU 543 | Professional Development Preparation | 2 |
| OCCU 550 | Fieldwork Level IA and Seminar | 1 |
| OCCU 551 | Fieldwork Level IB and Seminar | 1 |
| OCCU 552 | Fieldwork Level IC and Seminar | 1 |
| OCCU 553 | Fieldwork Level ID and Seminar with Inter-Professional Education | 1 |
| OCCU 554 | Fieldwork Level IIA | 9 |
| OCCU 555 | Fieldwork Level IIB | 9 |
| OCCU 593 | Occupational Therapy Culminating Experience | 1 |
| OCCU 594 | Fieldwork Seminar | 1 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 76 | |
Fall 2026 Cohort (76 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| OCTH 512 | Foundational Skills in Occupational Therapy | 3 |
| OCTH 513 | Functional Anatomy | 4 |
| OCTH 516 | Applied Theories in Occupational Therapy | 2 |
| OCTH 517 | Applied Kinesiology in Occupational Therapy | 2 |
| OCTH 518 | Creative Occupations | 2 |
| OCTH 519 | Evidence-Based Practice | 2 |
| OCTH 520 | Neuroanatomy | 2 |
| OCTH 521 | Occupational Therapy Assessment and Evaluation | 3 |
| OCTH 522 | Conditions in Occupational Therapy | 3 |
| OCTH 526 | Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics I | 3 |
| OCTH 528 | Research I | 3 |
| OCTH 535 | Physical Rehabilitation I | 4 |
| OCTH 536 | Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics II | 3 |
| OCTH 537 | Leadership and Management in Occupational Therapy | 2 |
| OCTH 538 | Research II | 3 |
| OCTH 542 | Community-Based Practice in Occupational Therapy | 3 |
| OCTH 544 | Mental Health in Occupational Therapy | 3 |
| OCTH 545 | Physical Rehabilitation II | 4 |
| OCTH 548 | Research III | 3 |
| OCTH 550 | Fieldwork Level IA and Seminar | 1 |
| OCTH 551 | Fieldwork Level IB and Seminar | 2 |
| OCTH 552 | Fieldwork Level IC and Seminar | 2 |
| OCTH 553 | Fieldwork Level ID and Seminar | 2 |
| OCTH 554 | Fieldwork Level IIA | 6 |
| OCTH 555 | Fieldwork Level IIB | 6 |
| OCTH 593 | Occupational Therapy Culminating Experience | 2 |
| OCTH 594 | Fieldwork Seminar | 1 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 76 | |
Spring Cohort Advising Sheet
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spring Semester | Semester Credit Hours | |
| OCCU 511 | Lifespan and Occupational Performance | 2 |
| OCCU 512 | Professional Skills and Occupation-Based Practice I | 2 |
| OCCU 513 | Functional Anatomy and Movement | 4 |
| OCCU 514 | Wellness and Occupational Performance | 2 |
| OCCU 515 | Occupation-Based Practice and Theory for Older Adults | 4 |
| OCCU 516 | History and Theoretical Foundations of Occupational Therapy | 2 |
| OCCU 550 | Fieldwork Level IA and Seminar | 1 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| OCCU 510 | Scholarship and Research | 2 |
| OCCU 520 | Brain, Behavior and Occupation | 3 |
| OCCU 522 | Professional Skills and Occupation-Based Practice II | 2 |
| OCCU 523 | Occupation-Based Practice and Theory for Adults | 4 |
| OCCU 551 | Fieldwork Level IB and Seminar | 1 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Fall Semester | ||
| OCCU 530 | Scholarship and Evidence-Based Practice I | 2 |
| OCCU 531 | Occupation-Based Practice and Theory for Children and Adolescents | 4 |
| OCCU 532 | Assistive Technology and Occupation | 3 |
| OCCU 533 | Telehealth, Occupation and Modalities | 3 |
| OCCU 534 | Occupational Therapy and Mental Health Practice | 3 |
| OCCU 552 | Fieldwork Level IC and Seminar | 1 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Spring Semester | ||
| OCCU 540 | Scholarship and Evidence-Based Practice II | 2 |
| OCCU 541 | Leadership and Ethics in Occupational Therapy | 2 |
| OCCU 542 | Occupation-Based Practice and Theory for Populations | 4 |
| OCCU 543 | Professional Development Preparation | 2 |
| OCCU 553 | Fieldwork Level ID and Seminar with Inter-Professional Education | 1 |
| OCCU 593 | Occupational Therapy Culminating Experience | 1 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 12 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| OCCU 554 | Fieldwork Level IIA | 9 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 9 | |
| Fall Semester | ||
| OCCU 555 | Fieldwork Level IIB | 9 |
| OCCU 594 | Fieldwork Seminar | 1 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 10 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 76 | |
Fall Cohort Advising Sheet
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Semester Credit Hours | |
| OCTH 512 | Foundational Skills in Occupational Therapy | 3 |
| OCTH 513 | Functional Anatomy | 4 |
| OCTH 516 | Applied Theories in Occupational Therapy | 2 |
| OCTH 517 | Applied Kinesiology in Occupational Therapy | 2 |
| OCTH 518 | Creative Occupations | 2 |
| OCTH 519 | Evidence-Based Practice | 2 |
| OCTH 550 | Fieldwork Level IA and Seminar | 1 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| OCTH 520 | Neuroanatomy | 2 |
| OCTH 521 | Occupational Therapy Assessment and Evaluation | 3 |
| OCTH 522 | Conditions in Occupational Therapy | 3 |
| OCTH 526 | Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics I | 3 |
| OCTH 528 | Research I | 3 |
| OCTH 551 | Fieldwork Level IB and Seminar | 2 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| OCTH 535 | Physical Rehabilitation I | 4 |
| OCTH 536 | Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics II | 3 |
| OCTH 537 | Leadership and Management in Occupational Therapy | 2 |
| OCTH 538 | Research II | 3 |
| OCTH 552 | Fieldwork Level IC and Seminar | 2 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| OCTH 542 | Community-Based Practice in Occupational Therapy | 3 |
| OCTH 544 | Mental Health in Occupational Therapy | 3 |
| OCTH 545 | Physical Rehabilitation II | 4 |
| OCTH 548 | Research III | 3 |
| OCTH 553 | Fieldwork Level ID and Seminar | 2 |
| OCTH 593 | Occupational Therapy Culminating Experience | 2 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 17 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| OCTH 554 | Fieldwork Level IIA | 6 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 6 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| OCTH 555 | Fieldwork Level IIB | 6 |
| OCTH 594 | Fieldwork Seminar | 1 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 7 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 76 | |
Advising Process and DegreeWorks
Documentation on the pages related to this program is intended for informational purposes to help determine what courses and associated requirements are needed to earn a degree. Some courses are critical to complete in specific semesters while others may be moved around. Meeting with an academic advisor is essential in planning courses and discussing the suggested course sequencing. It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to understand and fulfill the requirements for their intended degree.
DegreeWorks is an online degree audit tool available in MAVzone. It is the official record used by the Registrar’s Office to evaluate progress towards a certificate and determine eligibility for graduation. Students are responsible for reviewing their DegreeWorks audit on a regular basis and should discuss questions or concerns with their advisor or academic department head. Discrepancies in requirements should be reported to the Registrar’s Office.
Graduation Process
Students must complete the following in the first two months of the semester prior to completing their degree requirements:
- Review their DegreeWorks audit and create a plan that outlines how unmet requirements will be met in the final semester.
- Meet with their advisor and modify their plan as needed. The advisor must approve the final plan.
- Submit the “Intent to Graduate” form to the Registrar’s Office to officially declare the intended graduation date and commencement ceremony plans.
- Register for all needed courses and complete all requirements for each degree sought.
Submission deadlines and commencement details can be found on the Graduation web page.
If a student's petition for graduation is denied, it will be their responsibility to apply for graduation in a subsequent semester. A student's “Intent to Graduate” does not automatically move to a later graduation date.