Occupational Therapy (M.O.T.)

Messiah is committed to preparing skilled and compassionate occupational therapy leaders and practitioners.  The MOT curriculum is designed to the highest academic standards in compliance with the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) and provides a practical education with a commitment to service and clinical excellence.

Program Learning Outcomes

1:  Apply theory and evidence to implement the occupational therapy process for safe and effective practice.

2:  Appraise and apply scholarly activities to support evidence-based practice and the profession’s body of knowledge.

3:  Articulate the unique, intrinsic worth of each client, designed in the image of God, and deserving of compassion and care.

4:  Explain the value of engagement in occupation as integral to the health and well-being of individuals, groups, and populations.

5:  Articulate the connection between personal faith to service and leadership essential for personal and professional growth.

6:  Apply ethical principles to complex problem-solving and decision making.

7: Utilize the skills of a safe and competent practitioner as defined by the standards of practice.

8: Develop and deliver equitable occupational therapy services that promote the wellbeing of all individuals, groups, and populations.

80 credits

Complete the following:

OCCU 501Foundations of Occupational Therapy

3
OCCU 505Applied Anatomy

3
OCCU 505LLab: Applied Anatomy

0
OCCU 509OT Process and Practice

2
OCCU 510Evidence-Based Inquiry

3
OCCU 524Theoretical Perspectives in OT

3
OCCU 526Analysis of Occupation

3
OCCU 530Research Methods and Design

3
OCCU 535OT Process: Psychosocial Practice

4
OCCU 535LLab: OT Process-Psychosocial Practice

0
OCCU 544Therapeutic Techniques

3
OCCU 544LLab: Therapeutic Techniques

0
OCCU 553Common Conditions in OT Practice

3
OCCU 555Neurological Conditions in OT Practice

4
OCCU 555LLab: Neurological Conditions in OT Practice

0
OCCU 562Level I Fieldwork: Pediatric Practice

1
OCCU 565OT Process: Pediatric Practice

4
OCCU 565LLab: OT Process-Pediatric Practice

0
OCCU 572Level I Fieldwork: Community Interventions

2
OCCU 573Health Promotion in OT: Community Interventions

2
OCCU 602Level I Fieldwork: Adult Practice

1
OCCU 605OT Process: Adult Practice

4
OCCU 605LLab: OT Process-Adult Practice

0
OCCU 615Adaptations and Assistive Technology

3
OCCU 615LLab: Adaptations & Assistive Technology

0
OCCU 620Global, Cultural, and Spirituality Factors in OT

2
OCCU 622Level II-A Fieldwork

6
OCCU 623Administration, Management & Leadership for Ethical OT Practice

3
OCCU 625OT Process: Older Adult Practice

4
OCCU 625LLab: OT Process-Older Adult Practice

0
OCCU 626Advocacy, Policy, and Practice Trends in OT

3
OCCU 630Research Seminar

3
OCCU 632Level II-B Fieldwork

6
OCCU 636Enrichment Seminar

2

Accreditation

The Messiah University entry-level occupational therapy master’s degree program is accredited 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. Phone: 301-652-6611. https://acoteonline.org/

Graduates of Messiah University's program are 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.

Messiah University is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Higher Education. It is the highest accrediting authority recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for degree-granting colleges and universities located in Pennsylvania, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and several other locations internationally.

Admissions Requirements

  • Completion or anticipated completion of a bachelor’s degree (must be completed prior to enrollment in the MOT) from a regionally accredited college or university
  • 3.0 GPA or higher; C or better earned for prerequisite course work
  • 20 Observation hours are encouraged.
  • Documentation of community service, leadership experiences and work experience is preferred.
  • Three letters of recommendation; ideally one from an OT
  • Completion of an admission interview; select students will be invited to interview
 

For students in an accelerated track, admissions requirements for the graduate level coursework can be found here.