Master of Science in Occupational Therapy
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Ready to lead in healthcare?
UNA’s Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) program equips you to help people of all ages live fuller lives through meaningful daily activities—called ‘occupations.’ With real-world experience and expert support, you’ll learn how to promote independence, well-being, and purpose in every setting across the lifespan.
Occupational Therapists empower individuals to overcome physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges through therapeutic strategies such as:
- Supporting independence in self-care and daily routines
- Promoting mental health and emotion regulation
- Adapting home, school, or work environments to increase independence
- Enhancing participation in leisure and social roles
- Facilitating recovery after injury or illness
UNA OT students will learn to assess and treat individuals facing:
- Developmental delay
- Physical disabilities or post-injury challenges
- Cognitive impairments (e.g., stroke, brain injury)
- Age-related functional decline
- Emotional or mental health disorders
The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy at UNA is anticipated to launch in August 2026. The program is designed to be completed in two years after the completion of a bachelor's degree and required prerequisite coursework. Students will participate in hands-on fieldwork experiences that provide practical knowledge in real-world healthcare settings. The program’s emphasis on evidence-based practice ensures that graduates are prepared to meet the demands of modern healthcare environments.
Time to Complete:
2 years (after Bachelor's Degree)
Modality Offered:
On-Campus
Credentials:
Master of Science in Occupational Therapy
What can I do with a Master's in Occupational Therapy?
Earning a degree in Occupational Therapy will prepare you for a rewarding career that offers variety and flexibility. OTs can work in settings such as:
- Hospitals – Assisting patients in regaining basic functional skills for daily activities like showering, feeding themselves, toileting, and getting dressed following surgeries, injuries, or illnesses.
- Skilled Nursing Facilities – Helping individuals regain skills lost after a hospital stay so they can have enough independence to return home. This can include practicing functional transfers, dressing, strengthening, cognition, home management, etc.
- Schools – Helping children with developmental, sensory, or behavioral challenges participate fully in classroom and school activities.
- Home Health – Providing customized interventions to help individuals safely and effectively manage daily tasks in their home environment.
- Outpatient Clinics – Addressing functional deficits through tailored interventions to improve participation in meaningful activities after injuries or illnesses.
- Mental Health Facilities – Facilitating coping skills, sensory integration, emotional regulation, and engagement in daily routines for individuals with mental health needs.
- Community-Based Programs – Empowering individuals and groups to enhance wellness, prevent injury, and promote independence in everyday life.
- Rehab or Acute Rehab -Intensive rehabilitation to regain skills lost through illness or injury to return home independently. This can include learning compensatory skills to promote participation in activities of daily living (ADLs), safety with functional transfers, remediation of lost movement, strengthening, home management, cognitive strategies, etc.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) Program is competitive; therefore, meeting the following minimal requirements does not guarantee admission into the program.
- Completion of a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university
- Admission to the University of North Alabama
- Submission of an application through the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS)
- Applicants are expected to have a minimum overall cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (based on a 4.0 scale) for their undergraduate degree
- Completion of prerequisite courses (with a minimum grade of “C”) prior to enrollment in the program
- Completion of all prerequisite courses is not required prior to applying to the program. You may have no more than 3 outstanding prerequisites at the time that you apply, and you must report a plan regarding when you will complete the remaining courses.
- Prerequisite Course Credits
- PY 302: Abnormal Psychology (3)
- CH 101: Chemistry (4)
- ED 299: Human Growth and Development (3)
- BI 241: Human Anatomy and Physiology I (4)
- BI 242: Human Anatomy and Physiology II (4)
- MA 147: Statistics (3)
- Applicants need to have at least 30 documented OT observation hours under the supervision of a licensed occupational therapist or occupational therapists. The Observation form will need to be completed by each supervising occupational therapist to verify contact hours. A total of 30 hours is required for admission; however, more hours are always desirable. These hours and the observation form will be uploaded into the OTCAS System
- Applicants must secure at least 3 professional references to complete an evaluation on their behalf through the OTCAS system
- Completed criminal background check and negative drug screen and must be in good standing with the University Student Conduct
Note: A felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) examination and obtain state licensure. NBCOT and state licensure boards can deny certification or licensure based on a criminal record. Applicants are encouraged to review NBCOT's guidelines and consult with academic advisors to discuss any potential concerns regarding certification eligibility before applying for the program.
Curriculum
|
Fall 1 Semester 1: |
|
|
|
OT 500 |
Foundations and Framework for Advanced Occupational Therapy |
3 |
|
OT 501 |
Occupational Performance Across the Lifespan |
3 |
|
OT 502 |
Advanced Clinical Pathophysiology for OT |
3 |
|
OT 503 |
Advanced Human Anatomy and Kinesiology (with lab) |
4 |
|
Total Hours |
|
13 |
|
Spring 1 Semester 2: |
|
|
|
OT 504 |
Neuro Anatomy |
3 |
|
OT 505 |
OT for Neurological Conditions (with lab) |
4 |
|
OT 506 |
Medical Documentation and Informatics |
3 |
|
OT 507 |
Principles of Practice: Early Life (with lab) |
4 |
|
OT 508 |
Fieldwork Experience: IA |
1 |
|
Total Hours |
|
15 |
|
Summer 1, Semester 3: |
|
|
|
OT 509 |
Occupational Measurement and Analysis |
3 |
|
OT 510 |
OT for Mental Health Conditions (with Lab) |
4 |
|
OT 511 |
Assistive Technology (with lab) |
2 |
|
OT 512 |
Fieldwork Experience IB |
1 |
|
Total Hours |
|
10 |
|
Fall 2, Semester 4: |
|
|
|
OT 600 |
OT for Ortho Conditions (with lab) |
3 |
|
OT 601 |
Community-Based and Specialized Practice |
3 |
|
OT 602 |
OT with the Older Adult (with lab) |
4 |
|
OT 603 |
Management in OT |
3 |
|
OT 604 |
Fieldwork Experience IC |
1 |
|
Total Hours |
|
14 |
|
Spring 2, Semester 5: |
|
|
|
OT 605 |
Evidence Based Practice (online) |
3 |
|
OT 606 |
Fieldwork Experience II A
|
6
|
|
Total Hours: |
|
9 |
|
Summer 2, Semester 6:
|
|
|
|
OT 607
|
Fieldwork Experience II B
|
6
|
|
Total Hours:
|
|
6
|
Accreditation
The entry-level occupational therapy master’s degree program has applied for accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number is (301) 652-6611, and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. The program must be granted Candidacy Status, have a preaccreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates will be eligible 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). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT®) [Click here]
Graduation Requirements
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Satisfaction of the minimum credit hour, course, and other requirements prescribed for the MSOT program.
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All graduate students are expected to maintain a consistently high quality of academic performance. Satisfaction of degree and program requirements includes an overall grade average of B or better (3.00) on all work attempted. No more than two courses with a C grade may be applied towards the degree. No grade below C may be applied towards the degree; however, all grades are included in the calculation of the cumulative GPA.
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Students must complete and pass all Level II fieldwork within 18 months, following completion of the didactic portion of the program.
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Graduating students must submit a degree application by the deadline for the particular term in which they plan to graduate.