Master of Science in Occupational Therapy

Careers in Occupational Therapy

According to U.S. New Best Jobs, Occupational Therapists rank #20 in Best Health Care Jobs and recieved high marks in terms of salary, future growth, and work life balance. The field of occupational therapy is the ideal fit for individuals who enjoy working with people, strive to engage in meaningful work, and are creative problem solvers.

kinesiology Occupational therapists work in:

Rehabilitation facilities
Hospitals
Schools
Mental health settings
Community settings
Military
Preschools & Daycares
Skilled nursing facilities

About Our Program

UNCP’s MSOT program is a 24 month (six semesters) 78 credit program designed to prepare students for practice. Students will graduate with the knowledge, clinical reasoning skills, and hand-on experience needed to sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) and obtain licensure. ➊

The MSOT program offers students a wide variety of learning opportunities including site visits, fieldwork placements, various clinical, and simulation experiences.

Admissions Requirements

Information for Prospective Students

Mission and Vision

Application and Acceptance Timeline

The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program will accept applications through the OT CAS platform between January 1, 2024, through April 30, 2024. Accepted applicants will be informed the week of July 8 through 12, 2024.

Virtual Information Sessions will be provided the third week of each month until April 2024. Be sure to sign up for a slot today!

Click the link below to register to attend one of our upcoming virtual information sessions

Prerequisites

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Prerequisite coursework: Applicants should provide transcripts documenting the successful completion of the following courses. Refer to the table below for a list of the prerequisite courses and the grading and timeline criteria.

Course	Credit Hours	Minimum Grade Requirement	Time Limit
Developmental Psychology	3	B	Within 10 years prior to the date of enrollment
Any lifespan development course that includes learning, motor, language, cognitive, emotional, and social development fulfills this requirement. Course content must cover the lifespan. If needed 2 different psychology courses can fulfill this requirement to ensure that the lifespan is covered. If this prerequisite is taken on UNCP’s campus both PSY 2050 Childhood and Adolescence (3 credits) and PSY 3050 Psychology of Adult Development and Aging (3 credits) courses are needed to fulfill this requirement.
Abnormal Psychology	3	B	Within 10 years prior to the date of enrollment
An abnormal psychology or a psychopathology course fulfills this requirement. If this prerequisite is taken on UNCP’s campus the PSY 3600 Abnormal course fulfills this requirement.
Anatomy & Physiology (2 semesters, with lab)	8	C	Within 6 years of the date of enrollment
Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II or individual courses of Human Anatomy and Human Physiology with a lab in each.
Statistics	3	B	Within 10 years prior to the date of enrollment
You may choose behavioral, educational, psychological, or mathematical statistics.

Recommended Coursework
Notes:

Medical Terminology Starting in Fall ’25 will be a required prerequisite.
Kinesiology course suggested but not required.
The above admission requirements are intended for preliminary information purposes and are subject to change upon final institutional approval.
These courses can be taken at UNCP or other accredited higher education institutions.
Criminal Background Check- Completed in the first semester of enrollment. A positive background check may prohibit a student from progressing in the program and from becoming licensed to work in the field. Criminal background checks may be conducted annually or at the discretion of fieldwork affiliates. Students need to be aware that felony related charges and convictions may prevent participation in fieldwork experiences. In addition, a criminal record may prevent the student from taking the National Board Certification of Occupational Therapists (NBCOT) exam and also from becoming licensed. A student should contact NBCOT if there is a prior criminal record that might interfere with eligibility to sit for the national exam.

Few Important Dates:

MSOT Program Begins: Fall 2024
MSOT Application Deadline: April 30, 2024
MSOT Decision Notifications: June 2024

In-Person MSOT Program Orientation: July 29, 2024
Background check and health clearance to be completed by September 30, 2024

MSOT Curriculum

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	YEAR 1
Fall Semester
OCCT 5000	Theories and Foundations in Occupational Therapy	3
OCCT 5100	Functional Anatomy and Physiology	4
OCCT 5150	Clinical Kinesiology	3
OCCT 6600	Clinical Pathophysiology	3
	TOTAL	13
Spring Semester
OCCT5400	Clinical Neuroscience	3
OCCT5450	Pediatrics in Occupational Therapy I	3
OCCT5475	Assessment in Adult Physical Dysfunction	3
OCCT5200	Psychosocial Approaches & Mental Health	3
OCCT5350	Clinical Decision Making I	3
	TOTAL	15
Summer Semester
OCCT5680	Health Promotion and Aging	3
OCCT5600	Assistive Technology	3
OCCT5500	Research Methods	3
OCCT5650	Management, Advocacy, and Leadership	3
OCCT6500	Professional Ethics in Clinical Practice	2
	TOTAL	14

	YEAR 2
Fall Semester
OCCT5005	Special Topics in Occupational Science	2
OCCT6490	Pediatrics in Occupational Therapy II	3
OCCT6480	Interventions in Adult Physical Dysfunction	3
OCCT6000	Hand Therapy and Upper Extremity Disorders	3
OCCT6351	Clinical Decision Making II	3
	TOTAL	14
Spring Semester
OCCT6800	Senior Seminar 1	2
OCCT6850	Fieldwork Level II-a	9
	TOTAL	11

COMP Exam

Summer Semester
OCCT6880	Senior Seminar 2	2
OCCT6870	Fieldwork Level II-b	9
	TOTAL	11


	Total Program	78

University of North Carolina Pembroke's entry-level occupational therapy master’s degree program has applied for accreditation and has been granted Candidacy Status 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. UNCP's occupational therapy program must 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.