Master of Occupational Therapy

The OT program at Concordia University Wisconsin prepares students to obtain employment in a variety of settings. The didactic coursework, community-based experiences, and clinical education come together to prepare students as entry-level occupational therapists. Students participate in clinical experiences which include individual and group treatment sessions in pediatric and adult populations. At CUW, we prepare uncommon OTs who are ready to serve their communities and clients.

Mission Statement

The mission of Concordia University’s Master of Occupational Therapy program is to positively impact communities by developing Christ-centered occupational therapists who empower others to reach their highest potential through leadership, best practice, advocacy, and innovation.

Accreditation

The Master of Occupational Therapy program is accredited 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) 652-6611 and its Web address is www.acoteonline.org.

Students must complete 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork within 24 months following the completion of the didactic portion of the program.

Licensure/Certifications

Graduates of the program may sit for the National Certification Examination for the Occupational Therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) located at One Bank St., Suite 300, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, (301)-990-7979. Graduates who successfully complete the exam will receive the credentials: Occupational Therapist Registered OTR®. Please note that most states require additional licensure/certification to practice. Be forewarned that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. Program data specific to Concordia University Wisconsin on the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) Exam can be found on the NBCOT website

General Academic Information

Our occupational therapy curriculum offers you exposure to many real-world scenarios that will test your knowledge. You’ll have multiple opportunities for client contact, ranging from children to older adults, schools to acute care to community wellness programs. Some of these experiences are clinical fieldwork placements, while others are client evaluation and consultation in a classroom or community setting. In your first year, you’ll begin working with clients in the community to put theory into practice.

This is a full time graduate professional program taught in a blended format. Students interact with their classmates and professors online before and after in person classes, which focus on active learning and/or lab activities. Students apply to and enroll in one of three tracks, as determined by their educational background:

  • Accelerated
    • High school students looking to earn a bachelor's and master's degree in under 5 years
    • High school students should apply through undergraduate admissions for the BSRS program
       
  • Bridge
    • COTAs looking to further their education and opportunities as an OTR
      • Candidates holding an associate's degree must apply through the Bridge BSRS 
      • Direct entry for those holding a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution
  • Post-baccalaureate
    • Applicants holding a bachelor's degree looking to earn a master's degree

Students should expect to pay the tuition and fees as noted on the website

Program Learning Outcomes 

Occupational Therapy graduates will: 

  • Demonstrate the skills to be effective change-makers in surrounding communities.
  • Facilitate the health and wellbeing of individuals of all ages in various community settings.
  • Combine theory, evidence, and clinical reasoning in a reflective process of evaluation, intervention, and targeting of outcomes.
  • Effectively and efficiently solve occupation-based problems. 
  • Be competently prepared for direct access.
  • Intentionally make clinical decisions using Christ-centered values. 
  • Develop leadership skills.
  • Effectively communicate and collaborate in a variety of communities.
  • Demonstrate professional behaviors while using knowledge based skills for the effective practice of occupational therapy.

Curriculum

Please contact the Occupational Therapy Department for the course progression by track.

OT 5520Concepts of Occupation3
OT 5530Functional Anatomy4
OT 5540Introduction to Advocacy and Leadership2
OT 5550Research in Practice I4
OT 5560Occupations Across the Lifespan3
OT 5570Explore Community Clinic3
OT 5580Facilitated Community Clinic3
OT 5590Functional Neuroscience and Neurorehabilitation I4
OT 5600Research in Practice II3
OT 5610Personal Advocacy & Leadership1
OT 5620Clinical Reasoning: Behavioral Health3
OT 5630Occupational Kinesiology and Orthopedic Rehabilitation I4
OT 6520Clinical Reasoning: Pediatrics3
OT 6540Pediatric Summer Camp1
OT 6560Behavioral Health Fieldwork1
OT 6580Clinical Reasoning: Adult Practice Areas3
OT 6610Clinical Reasoning: Orthopedic Rehabilitation II3
OT 6620Community Advocacy and Leadership3
OT 6630Occupations of Health and Wellness3
OT 6650Community Clinic: Leading the OT Process3
OT 6710Research in Practice III3
OT 6740Community Clinic Administration4
OT 6760Professional Advocacy & Leadership2
OT 6800Clinical Reasoning: Gerontology3
OT 6850Clinical Reasoning: Neurorehabilitation II3
OT 6870Clinical Reasoning: Work/Ergo3
OT 7550Level II Fieldwork A6
OT 7580Level II Fieldwork B6
Total Hours87

Admission Requirements

All applicants to the Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) Program must meet the following criteria:

  • Earned bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution -OR- current enrollment in a BSRS degree program at Concordia University Wisconsin
  • Cumulative GPA, from all attended institutions, of 3.0 or higher
  • 8 semester credits of Human Anatomy & Physiology, from a Biology, Anatomy, or Physiology department with a lab component, completed with a grade of B or better in each course
  • 3 semester credits of Statistics, completed with a grade of B or better
  • Ability to perform the essential functions of an occupational therapy student

Applicants will also be required to submit the following:

  • Official college transcripts from all previously attended institutions
  • Three (3) letters of recommendation, which address potential for academic success and as an occupational therapist
  • Essays as designated per track

International applicants

  • International applicants who would attend on a student visa and whose native language is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (iBT TOEFL) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System). The test score cannot be more than two years old at the time of application. 
  • The minimum TOEFL score is 94 (iBT) with no less than 22 reading, 22 listening, 26 speaking, and 24 writing. 
  • The minimum IELTS score is 7.0, with no less than 6.5 on each band score. 
  • There are no exceptions to the TOEFL or IELTS requirement for the OT program.   International applicants will be admitted through the International Admissions and are subject to International Office policies, in coordination with graduate admissions.

Additional application requirements and details can be found on the MOT website at: www.cuw.edu/mot. 

All accepted students will be required to submit a $500 tuition deposit within four (4) weeks of acceptance to hold their spot in the program.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester 1Hours
OT 5520 Concepts of Occupation 3
OT 5530 Functional Anatomy 4
 Hours7
Semester 2
OT 5540 Introduction to Advocacy and Leadership 2
OT 5550 Research in Practice I 4
OT 5560 Occupations Across the Lifespan 3
OT 5570 Explore Community Clinic 3
OT 5590 Functional Neuroscience and Neurorehabilitation I 4
 Hours16
Semester 3
OT 5580 Facilitated Community Clinic 3
OT 5600 Research in Practice II 3
OT 5610 Personal Advocacy & Leadership 1
OT 5620 Clinical Reasoning: Behavioral Health 3
OT 5630 Occupational Kinesiology and Orthopedic Rehabilitation I 4
 Hours14
Semester 4
OT 6520 Clinical Reasoning: Pediatrics 3
OT 6540 Pediatric Summer Camp 1
OT 6560 Behavioral Health Fieldwork 1
 Hours5
Semester 5
OT 6580 Clinical Reasoning: Adult Practice Areas 3
OT 6610 Clinical Reasoning: Orthopedic Rehabilitation II 3
OT 6620 Community Advocacy and Leadership 3
OT 6630 Occupations of Health and Wellness 3
OT 6650 Community Clinic: Leading the OT Process 3
OT 6710 Research in Practice III 3
 Hours18
Semester 6
OT 6740 Community Clinic Administration 4
OT 6760 Professional Advocacy & Leadership 2
OT 6850 Clinical Reasoning: Neurorehabilitation II 3
OT 6800 Clinical Reasoning: Gerontology 3
OT 6870 Clinical Reasoning: Work/Ergo 3
 Hours15
Semester 7
OT 7550 Level II Fieldwork A 6
 Hours6
Semester 8
OT 7580 Level II Fieldwork B 6
 Hours6
 Total Hours87

Course options and schedule are subject to change.