Occupational Therapy Master’s Degree

Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT)

Occupational therapy (OT) is a healthcare profession that helps individuals of all ages develop, recover, or maintain the skills needed for daily living and meaningful activities (often referred to as "occupations"). These activities can include self-care, work, school, play, and leisure.

Shawnee State University’s Master of Occupational Therapy program was approved Summer of 2024 for hybrid design of teaching/learning. This method of delivery is able to combine online and in-person learning, offering students the flexibility to complete coursework remotely while also participating in in-persons sessions. Courses online are taught both synchronized and asynchronized. Three weeks of intense learning on campus occurs during week 1, 7, and 14 each semester until Level II fieldwork.

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Scholarships Available

Apply to receive a $1500 scholarship up to full-tuition when you apply and are accepted into SSU's Occupational Therapy program.

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Program News

SSU Doctoral Student Presents at Ohio Occupational Therapy Association Annual Conference

Kelly Neal, a student in the SSU Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) Program, is set to graduate this December.

Occupational Therapy Student Finds Trustee Position Rewarding on Many Levels

Hannah Blythe of West Union, Ohio has found community among young leaders throughout the state of Ohio through Shawnee State’s student trustee program.

SSU’s Master of Occupational Therapy program teams up with AAA7 to Present Award-Winning “Fall-Free Fridays” Livestream

Shawnee State University’s Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) program and the Area Agency on Aging District 7 (AAA7) are once again joining together to provide falls prevention education to the community through a Facebook livestream series, “Fall-Free Fridays.”

SSU Master of Occupational Therapy program recognized with Aging Achievement Award for partnership with AAA7

Shawnee State University’s Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) program has been recognized with a 2024 Aging Achievement Award from USAging for its partnership with the Area Agency on Aging District 7 (AAA7).

SSU OTA Students doing activities with seniors

Shawnee State OTA students partner with USSA Adult Day Center to provide senior activities

Students enrolled in the Shawnee State University Occupational Therapy Assistant program (OTA) recently partnered with the USSA Adult Day Center located on Market Street in Portsmouth, Ohio to provide occupational learning and engage in therapeutic activities with the seniors in attendance.

Finding a wealth of experience in SSU’s Master of Occupational Therapy program

A native of Rockwood, Michigan, Zayden Rinehart is pursuing a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy at Shawnee State University.

Application Information

The application deadline is December 1, with rolling admission until the class is full.

Admission requirements and application information can be found under the Admission Process link on this page.

Please call the Graduate School at (740) 351-3177 for more information.

Why Choose OT?

Careers in Occupational Therapy Cover All Areas of Life. What interests you?

Learn more about why Choosing OT is a great career path

What do occupational therapists do?

Occupational therapists help disabled people of all ages acquire or regain the skills they need to live independent, productive, and satisfying lives. They work in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, public and private schools, and home health agencies.

Occupational therapists are responsible for evaluating clients and developing treatment plans to assist clients in achieving their goals. They provide functional treatment activities for clients individually and in groups, and they choose or fabricate equipment that helps people function more independently. Occupational therapists supervise certified occupational therapy assistants in carrying out treatment plans and possess skills to work with a variety of allied health professionals. Money Magazine names the Occupational Therapist as one of 50 top jobs. For more information please see the AOTA press release (PDF).

Bachelor’s to Master’s 3+2 Program Now Offered

This specialty 3+2 degree offers a baccalaureate in the study of health and occupation and upon successful completion in three years you will be admitted into the Master of Occupational Therapy program.

3+2 Program information

Graduate Program Information

A graduate degree in occupational therapy includes coursework focusing on theoretical constructs and their application to clinical practice, research competencies, and professional leadership skills. The occupational therapy program requires six to nine months of full-time (usually 40 hours per week) internships in a variety of health care settings. Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from clinical facilities as well as any other costs associated with clinical placements.

To ensure continuity of application of academic concepts, all fieldwork must be completed within 24 months following academic preparation and 2 months prior to the NBCOT Certification Examination date.

Student Handbook (PDF)

Accreditation

The Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) Program has been 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
(301) 652-6611
accred@aota.org

ACOTE's phone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-6611 and its web address is acoteonline.org.

Graduates are able to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT), located at One Bank Street, Suite 300, Gaithersburg, MD 20878. Our curriculum meets the educational requirements for licensure in all 50 states. NBCOT sets its own criteria for taking the exam, which may include questions on the applicant's criminal history. A felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT Certification examination or attain state licensure.

For more information on these limitations, you can contact NBCOT at (301) 990-7979. After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). Most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination.

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