Our priority is always the health and safety of every member of our campus community as well as the patients we serve today and in the future. Click here for more information.
Click here for messages from our President
The College of Health Sciences' Occupational Therapy Program is designed to help you build a career as a thoughtful, self-directed, and caring professional therapist. You will be providing important therapy services to clients to help them regain their independence in home, community, and clinical practice settings, and our faculty will work with you to develop the independent judgment, leadership, and self-directed practical skills to provide patient-focused, compassionate care. We will help you make meaningful, ongoing contributions to society as a member of tomorrow's healthcare team.
Program
Master's
Location
Glendale, AZ
Duration
27 months, full-time
Intake
August
Class Size
40
The Occupational Therapy Program offers a curriculum leading to the Master of Occupational Therapy (M.O.T.) degree for qualified students. The full-time, continuous, entry-level master’s curriculum is designed to deliver the academic and clinical education required to prepare students for their professional role as key members for the healthcare team and as integral practitioners in the healthcare delivery system. The curriculum for the Master of Occupational Therapy degree is a continuous, full-time program, extending 27 months from matriculation to graduation. The maximum allotted time for completion of this program is 40.5 months. It is also required that all Level II fieldwork must be completed within 18 months of completion of the didactic portion of the program. The general education, professional training, experience, and personal character development of occupational therapists uniquely prepare them to respond to the needs of individuals who face challenges participating in their daily lives.
The Master of Occupational Therapy Program offers a balanced combination of foundational, clinical, and research coursework designed to foster therapists who are self-directed, thoughtful, and caring professionals. The program provides students with a balanced complement of coursework. Approximately half of the course credits are obtained from foundational courses in the sciences, occupational therapy theory, and research. The remaining credits focus on courses related to client evaluation and interventions appropriate for various client populations (e.g., children, the elderly, etc.), specialized coursework in upper extremity intervention, and many opportunities for experiential (hands-on) learning. The practice courses facilitate students' application of content related to client evaluation and intervention using community-based and case-based learning opportunities. In addition to such preclinical learning opportunities, the fieldwork program is extensive and rich in the types of experiences offered to students. Such a strong curricular framework succeeds in preparing graduates who are ready - and able - to enter the profession of occupational therapy and to make a difference in the world.
Upon completion of the Master of Occupational Therapy Program, graduates are expected to:
These outcomes are accomplished through a curriculum model that is based on:
The Midwestern University 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 Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE's telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its Web address is www.acoteonline.org.
Midwestern University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission/A Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (HLC/NCA), 230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604-1413.
Individuals applying for admission to the College of Health Sciences Occupational Therapy Program must submit documentation for the following minimum requirements before the academic year commences for the incoming class:
Students must complete these courses with a grade of C or higher (Grades of C- are not acceptable).
Course | Sem Hrs | Qtr Hrs |
Human Anatomy*# | 3 | 4 |
Physiology* | 3 | 4 |
Statistics | 3 | 4 |
Human Development | 3 | 4 |
Abnormal Psychology | 3 | 4 |
Social and Behavioral Science | 3 | 4 |
*The Anatomy and Physiology requirements may also be fulfilled by taking Anatomy and Physiology I and Anatomy and Physiology II, as some universities offer combined courses. |
||
#Human Anatomy must be completed successfully within 5 years of admission to the Program. The lab component with cadaver experience is strongly recommended. |
Additional courses in the sciences and mathematics are also recommended, including chemistry, physiology, physics, and biology.
General education electives are also recommended to demonstrate competency in English composition, oral communication, problem-solving behavior, logic, and ethical theories.
Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis. Students are advised to complete their application files as early as possible to ensure timely consideration. Applicants are required to submit their applications to OTCAS by February 1st.
Occupational Therapy is a registered and/or licensed profession in all 50 states. To become licensed to practice as an occupational therapist in most states (including Arizona), a student must graduate from an ACOTE-accredited or approved educational program and pass the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by NBCOT. Most states require status as an occupational therapist registered (OTR) to become a licensed occupational therapist (OTR/L). Most states require licensure in order to practice. A prior felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts occupational therapy jobs grow to be 16% (much faster than average) between 2019-2029. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/occupational-therapists.htm, accessed 1/8/2021.
According to the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)*, the top ten areas of practice for primary OT employment are:
*NBCOT. (2017). Practice Analysis of the Occupational Therapist Registered Executive Summary. https://www.nbcot.org/-/media/NBCOT/PDFs/2017-Practice-Analysis-Executive-OTR.ashx?la=en, accessed 1/8/2021.