Newly developed hybrid format blending in-person immersion weeks with remote online learning.
Help Improve the Lives of Others
Occupational therapy (OT) is a health profession focused on helping individuals of all ages perform everyday activities, or "occupations," that may be impacted by injury, illness, or disability. Occupational therapists work with individuals to improve their ability to engage in meaningful activities such as dressing, cooking, working, and socializing, promoting independence and improving quality of life.
Flexible Hybrid Format
Shawnee State University’s Master of Occupational Therapy program is delivered in a newly developed hybrid format that blends in-person immersion weeks with remote online learning. This approach combines flexibility with hands-on, high-impact instruction:
On-Campus Immersions: Students attend three in-person weeks each semester, focused on labs, simulations, and collaborative learning.
Online Coursework: Between immersions, classes are conducted both synchronously (live) and asynchronously (self-paced), providing structure and flexibility.
National & State Alignment: The curriculum meets licensure requirements in all 50 states and prepares graduates to sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam.
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.
Careers in Occupational Therapy cover all areas of life. Whether you’re interested in working with children, older adults, individuals recovering from injury, or communities in need, occupational therapy offers opportunities to make a meaningful impact.
OT is a growing profession with excellent job prospects, strong salaries, and the flexibility to work in hospitals, schools, rehabilitation centers, home health, and community programs. Most importantly, it’s a career that allows you to help people live life to its fullest.
High Demand: OT jobs are projected to grow 14% by 2034, creating over 10,000 openings each year.
Strong Salaries: Median annual pay for OTs is $98,340; OTAs earn about $68,340.
Flexibility: Work in hospitals, schools, clinics, homes, and community programs.
Impact: Help people of all ages live healthier, more independent, and meaningful lives.
Shawnee State’s MOT program equips you with the knowledge, skills, and real-world experience to thrive in this rewarding profession.
What does an Occupational Therapist do?
Occupational therapy helps people of all ages do the activities that are most important to them, from daily routines and self-care to school, work, leisure, and community life. An occupational therapist begins by evaluating your unique situation and, with input from you and often your family or care providers, develops individualized goals that reflect your needs and values. Together, you and your therapist create a personalized intervention plan designed to improve or maintain your ability to participate in meaningful daily activities, ultimately helping you return to or pursue the life you want to live.
Occupational therapists also extend their impact beyond individuals to focus on groups and communities. They may develop and implement programs that promote healthy behaviors, support older adults with safe driving and aging in place, assist military service members transitioning back to civilian life, or address broader challenges such as homelessness, youth development, mental health, and addiction recovery. Through this holistic and client-centered approach, occupational therapy empowers people and communities to live life to its fullest.
At Shawnee State University, our Master of Occupational Therapy program prepares students to take on these vital roles—equipping graduates with the knowledge, skills, and hands-on experiences needed to become compassionate, evidence-based practitioners ready to make a difference in the lives of individuals, families, and communities.
BSOT to MOT (Direct-Entry Pathway to MOT)
At Shawnee State University, students admitted into the Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy (BSOT) program are part of a direct-admit, concurrent pathway toward earning a Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) degree.
Graduate Program Information
A graduate degree in occupational therapy prepares students with advanced knowledge and skills needed for professional practice. Coursework emphasizes theoretical foundations and their application to clinical practice, development of research competencies, and growth as leaders in the profession.
The program requires six to nine months of full-time internships (typically 40 hours per week) in a variety of health care and community settings. These immersive fieldwork experiences provide students with the opportunity to apply academic concepts in real-world contexts. Students are responsible for their own transportation and any costs associated with clinical placements.
To ensure the seamless integration of academic learning with clinical application, all fieldwork must be completed within 24 months of finishing academic coursework and no later than two months prior to sitting for the NBCOT Certification Examination.
Ebenezer Asiaw
Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions
(740) 351-3258 easiaw@shawnee.edu
Accreditation
The Occupational Therapy 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.
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.
National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT®) program data results: School Performance
