Master of Science in Occupational Therapy

We accept a cohort of 45 students each year from a pool of applicants who are recent graduates of accredited undergraduate programs. All application materials must be filed through the Occupational Therapy Central Application Service (OTCAS). Each cohort’s students are selected according to their dedication to OT work and their fulfillment of the admission requirements.

To apply, students must:

• Complete an application for admission with a nonrefundable ACU Graduate application fee.
• Submit official transcript(s) in English (or translated to English) of all previous colleges attended. The transcript must indicate an earned bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university or equivalent. Without a bachelor’s degree by the time of matriculation, the graduate school admission is void.
• Have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
• Provide two letters of recommendation (forms are available through OTCAS). One letter must be written by an occupational therapist and the other by a professional who has observed the applicant’s work. This includes individuals who (a) have observed the applicant during any health care–related volunteer or paid work, (b) are previous or present instructors and/or advisors, (c) are previous or present employers, or (d) are healthcare professionals.
• Document a minimum of 40 hours of volunteer/observation activity in a professional occupational therapy setting. Applicants are encouraged to complete observation hours in more than one clinical setting. Procedures for documentation are outlined in the OTCAS system.
• Complete a Personal Statement and a supplemental question on spiritual or life experiences that influenced the applicant’s confidence in choosing an occupational therapy program, as well as clinical experiences or observations that evoked passion for occupational therapy.
• Demonstrate the ability to complete or have completed all prerequisite coursework within 7 years prior to enrollment in the first semester of the program. Advanced Placement (AP) or College Level Examination Program (CLEP) credit will not be accepted for any prerequisite course. All Occupational Therapy course prerequisites other than Medical Terminology must be taken at an accredited school and successfully completed with a grade no lower than C; Pass/Fail course evaluations are not accepted for prerequisite courses. Medical Terminology may be completed as a certificate or continuing education course. A maximum of 6 credit hours of prerequisites can be pending at the time of application, with the exception of Anatomy and Physiology I and II, which must be completed at the time of application. Required prerequisite coursework includes:
  • Anatomy and Physiology I and II – 6 credit hours (minimum)
  • Statistics – 3 credit hours (minimum)
  • Abnormal Psychology – 3 credit hours (minimum)
  • Life Span Development (or Developmental Psychology) – 3 credit hours (minimum)
  • Medical Terminology – certificate or CEC
• Submit verification of required immunizations prior to matriculation into the professional curriculum. In addition, Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training is required prior to fieldwork placements and is offered during the program for a separate fee.

The MSOT program uses numerous digital tools, including Canvas and other online applications for testing and learning activities, throughout the program. All students admitted to the program must have access to a laptop computer with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel and PowerPoint) capabilities and reliable internet access.