Occupational Therapy (M.S.)
Husson University’s Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) major is an engaging and career-oriented entry-level graduate degree program that prepares you for a fulfilling career in a quickly growing healthcare field.
As you prepare for a career as an occupational therapist, you’ll:
- Learn from expert faculty. Our faculty have advanced degrees and a wide range of clinical expertise.
- Hone your skills in cutting-edge facilities. You’ll have access to state-of-the-art facilities, including the newly designed Occupational Therapy Lab that reflects a modern OT workplace; and Dahl Anatomy Lab, a cadaver lab where you’ll study functional anatomy and dissection.
- Attend an ACOTE-accredited university. Husson’s MSOT program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).
- Benefit from Husson’s hands-on approach and close-knit communities. You’ll be part of a supportive community where professors provide individualized attention as you practice your skills in a structured environment.
- Gain experience beginning your first year. You’ll participate in community-based clinical experiences and simulation opportunities in your first year of study. You’ll graduate from our MSOT program with the skills and confidence needed to succeed as an occupational therapist.
Husson’s MSOT program takes seven semesters to complete (inclusive of fieldwork) and focuses on experiential learning in a wide range of clinical areas such as physical rehabilitation, mental health and pediatric practice.. You’ll learn how to help people of all ages maintain their independence and complete everyday tasks with a creative, problem-solving approach.
CurriculumLearn More About Our MSOT Degree Program
The Master’s in OT program is a graduate-level program with two points of entry:
1. Entering MSOT students who have earned bachelor’s degree with the following pre-requisites:
- General Psychology (3 credits)
- Anatomy and Physiology with Lab I and II (or comparable) (8 credits)
- Lifespan Development (3 credits)
- Statistics (3 credits)
- Social Science (3 credits)
- Total: 20 credits
2. Transfer students who will only earn an MSOT (not a baccalaureate)
- English Composition and Literature (6 Credits)
- Math (college algebra, pre-calculus or calculus) (3 credits)
- Statistics (3 Credits)
- Anatomy and Physiology with Lab I and II (or comparable) (8 credits)
- General Psychology (3 Credits)
- Lifespan Development (3 Credits)
- General Education Core Social Science (6 Credits)
- General Education Core Humanities (3 credits)
- Creative Arts (3 credits)
- Ethics (3 credits)
- Electives (19 credits)
- Total: 60 credits
It's strongly recommended that students in either category earn 20 hours of volunteering or “shadowing” an occupational therapist in at least two specialty areas of occupational therapy.
To progress in the MSOT program, students need to maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher. Your Master’s in Occupational Therapy degree will be awarded after you have successfully completed the third year of study in the program and supervised clinical fieldwork.
The career outlook for occupational therapists and OT students is excellent.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that employment for occupational therapists will increase by 14 percent from 2021 to 2031. This is considered to be much faster than the average growth rate of all other occupations.
Once you graduate from Husson University with a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, you’ll become eligible to take the National Board Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam. NBCOT’s address is One Bank Street, Suite 300, Gaithersburg, MD 20877-4150 and can be contacted at 301.990.7979. After successful completion of this exam, you will be an Occupational Therapist Registered (OTR). Husson's NBCOT exam pass rate can be found on the NBCOT webpage. All states require licensure to practice, however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT examination. Please be aware that a felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT examination or attain state licensure.
Husson’s OT degree programs are accredited by 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 number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA. For more information about ACOTE, visit the ACOTE website.