Master of Science in Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy is a science-driven, evidence-based profession that enables people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them promote health and prevent — or live better with — illness, injury or disability. (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2010).

In-Demand Profession

Employment of occupational therapists is expected to increase much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The average annual salary for occupational therapists is over $76,000. Job opportunities include acute hospitals, rehabilitation, and orthopedic settings, and schools. Driver rehabilitation, training for the elderly, ergonomic consulting, and health and wellness are emerging practice areas for occupational therapy. Milligan MSOT graduates have a 100% job placement rate at the time of graduation.

Leadership & Practice

Our mission is to prepare occupational therapists as servant-leaders who engage in scholarship, contribute to the profession, and offer clinical expertise to the underserved local and global communities. To that end, Milligan’s MSOT program will prepare you with critical thinking and clinical skills to assume leadership roles in clinical practice, administration, research, and education. The program is holistic in nature and integrates both theory and practice in the art and science of occupational therapy. Partnerships with regional, state, and national health care systems, hospitals, clinics, and non-profit organizations provide a wide range of professional experiences for our MSOT students.

Caring Faculty

Teaching you is more than a job to our faculty — it’s a mission. The faculty are dedicated Christian professionals who go above and beyond to challenge you and stretch your mind. They bring real world experience into the classroom every day because they continue to work in the fields they teach. Small class sizes provide personal interaction, exceptional training, and hands-on lab experience that will prepare you for success as an occupational therapist.

Curriculum & Schedule

The program is a full-time two-and-a-half year program, including fieldwork experiences. Courses meet four days a week (Monday through Thursday). The 79-hour curriculum includes coursework in three essential components: basic skills, the occupational therapy process, and capstone experience.

View all details and course requirements for this program in the Milligan University Catalog (link below). The Milligan University academic catalog is the official, authoritative source for all academic requirements and policies. Any discrepancies in curricular requirements from other sources will default to the Catalog.

CATALOG »

Accreditation

Milligan’s MSOT program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). ACOTE Address: 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. Phone: 301.652.AOTA. Website: www.acoteonline.org

ACOTE® accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational programs satisfy the states’ educational requirements in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Students graduating from an ACOTE® accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational program are eligible to take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification exam and apply for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. For more information regarding state qualifications and licensure requirements, please refer to the AOTA State Licensure webpage.

Outcomes

The total number of graduates from the Milligan University Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program during the 3-year period of 2017-2019 was 89, with an overall graduation rate of 93%.

Year	Students Entering/ Graduating	Graduation Rate
2017	32/28	86%
2018	32/32	100%
2019	32/29	91%
Total 3-year	96/89	93%

Program performance data on the NBCOT certification examination is available for public viewing by state and program level by clicking on this link: https://secure.nbcot.org/data/schoolstats.aspx

As a graduate of our program, you will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination, administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, you will be an Occupational Therapist Registered (OTR). Passing the NBCOT Certification Examination is necessary, but each state may have additional requirements for state licensure. You can find information about state licensure here. A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

Curriculum

The 79-hour curriculum utilizes developmental course sequences, which includes coursework in three essential components: basic skills, the occupational therapy process, and capstone experiences. This program prepares students with a breadth and depth of information for practice as a generalist with a broad exposure to current practice settings (e.g., home health care, acute care, outpatient, school systems, skilled nursing, etc.) and emerging practice areas (e.g., wellness/injury prevention, low vision rehabilitation, universal design, ergonomics, etc.).The length of the program follows the typical progression and pattern of graduate course work for entry-level occupational therapy education in order to meet standards for graduate education and to meet the expected outcomes of our graduates. In addition, the length of the program is comparable to other institutions with graduate, entry-level occupational therapy programs.

All students are admitted to the occupational therapy program on a full-time basis. Completion of all degree requirements on a full-time basis will take a minimum of two and one-half years. In exceptional cases, part-time status may be granted by the program director. Part-time students must complete all degree requirements within a period defined by the program director and faculty council of the occupational therapy program. This time period must not exceed five years. Students must complete Level II fieldwork within 24 months following completion of the didactic portion of the program.

Developmental Course Sequence

Component I: Basic Skills

The basic skills component represents subject matter which serves as the foundation for the professional theories and practice methods. This component includes applied science courses, research methods and design, and an introduction to the profession of occupational therapy.

Component II: The Occupational Therapy Process

The core of this curriculum, the occupational therapy process, includes the study of occupation, typical life span development, and wellness with integration of the major theories and practice methods of occupational therapy. A developmental sequence (i.e., from pediatrics to geriatrics) is utilized to facilitate continuity and consistency from one course to another. Major topics dealing with disease processes, the physical and psychosocial impact of dysfunction, wellness, assessment, intervention, adaptation, emerging practice areas are incorporated. This sequence of courses promotes the development of critical thinking skills. An introduction to clinical experiences through Level I fieldwork is included.

Component III: Capstone Experiences

The capstone component of the curriculum is designed to move the student further toward the objective of integrated critical thinking. Topics covered in these courses include: administration and leadership, professional development, directed research, and Level II fieldwork. At the end of this component of the curriculum, the student should be prepared to sit for the NBCOT certification examination for the occupational therapist.

Financial Information

Our MSOT program is priced competitively, and we will work with you individually every step of the way to help investigate all the options available for financing your education. Financial aid is available for graduate students. Ask us how our costs compare to other similar institutions and programs!

Current Costs

	MSOT 2020-2021 Academic Year	MSOT 2021-2022 Academic Year	MSOT 2022 Field Work	Total Cost of Program (2.5 yr. program 2020-2022)
Tuition	28,440.00	26,070.00	7,900.00	62,410.00
Student Fee	620.00	165.00	0	785.00*
Estimated Books and Supplies	1,100.00	1,100.00	0	2,200.00
Estimated Loan Fees	220.00	220.00	110.00	550.00
Distance Ed Fees	0	0	0	0
Total	30,380.00	27,555.00	8,010.00	65,945.00

Tuition and Student Fees are subject to change

*Please note that this figure includes required liability insurance and background check expenses.

Estimated Off-Campus Living Expenses (per month)

Housing/Food	$ 900
Personal Expenses	$ 440
Total	$1,340

Read more about cost and financial aid here »

Admission

Milligan’s MSOT program is designed for students who have an earned bachelor’s degree and who have completed the prerequisite requirements for admissions to the program. Baccalaureate degrees can be in a variety of academic areas, some of which include human performance and exercise science, human relations, development, sociology, biology and psychology. Milligan’s MSOT program starts one class a year each August. Admission is very competitive in the MSOT program; therefore, it is highly recommended to have your completed application submitted to OTCAS by September 1 for verification. The application must be verified in OTCAS by October 1 in order for the application to be considered for admission.

Apply through OTCAS

To apply, submit an online application through OTCAS, an Occupational Therapy centralized application service. The application must be verified in OTCAS by October 1 in order for the application to be considered for admission.

Admission Requirements

The minimum requirements to be considered for admission to the MSOT program are as follows:

- A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution with overall grade point average of 3.0. (see info on pass/fail grades)
- Observation experience in at least two occupational therapy clinical settings with a minimum of 40 documented hours or a disability related work/volunteer experience with the proper documentation.
  - Due to limited observation opportunities related to COVID-19, applicants may complete up to 12 virtual observation hours. Click here to access the Occupational Therapy Online Shadowing Experience (password: LucasQU). Applicant must submit documentation of online shadowing experience (completion of related assignment/s) through OTCAS application.
- Recommended minimum composite score of 289 on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), submitted to Milligan using code 1469
- Three completed reference forms through OTCAS from persons who have adequate knowledge of the applicant’s Christian commitment, character, and professional qualities of potential for success as a graduate student.
- A completed baccalaureate degree that includes the following prerequisite courses:
  
  DISCOUNTED PRE-REQ COURSES
  
  You might be able to take some prerequisite courses at Milligan at a reduced rate. Learn more »
  - Math and Science: 9-12 semester hours
    - Math Course
    - Anatomy & Physiology I (4 hrs)
    - Anatomy & Physiology II (4 hrs)
  - Social Science: 9 semester hours
    - Intro to Psychology
    - Intro to Sociology OR Intro to Anthropology
    - Human Development OR Developmental Psychology
  - Communication: 6 semester hours
    - Writing/English
    - Public Speaking
  - Medical Terminology: 1-3 semester hours

Substitution or waiver of requirement for any of the above prerequisite courses may be granted by the occupational therapy program admissions committee on an individual basis.

Prospective students meeting the minimum admission criteria will be considered for a face-to-face on-site interview. However, meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee an invitation for a face-to-face on-site interview. Final selection of students will be made by the admissions committee of the occupational therapy program.

Matriculation of a cohort of new students is contingent upon an adequate number of admitted applicants.

International Students

International students must provide proof of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of at least 79. Please have your score sent directly from the Educational Testing Service to Milligan’s PA Admissions Office. All international applicants must have taken the TOEFL within the last two years. You cannot be exempted from this requirement unless English is your native language, you are a U.S. citizen, or you have received an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited U.S. college or university.

After a student is admitted, there is required documentation to submit BEFORE form I-20 can be issued. Students may begin gathering and submitting this information even prior to admission, but no I-20 will be issued until a prospect has been fully admitted AND has submitted the required documentation. International students should click here for information on the immigration/visa process »

COVID-19 Related Changes

Pass/Fail Grades

We know that many institutions have given students the option to receive pass/fail grades for courses affected by COVID-19. While we understand the reasoning for this, we encourage all students to receive a traditional letter grade in each of your courses, especially OT program prerequisites, if it is an option. This allows the program to evaluate each student’s academic performance in the most complete way possible. If you are required by your institution to receive a grade of pass or fail in all of your courses, we encourage you to provide an explanation for the OT program admissions committee in the part of your OTCAS application where you can discuss how you have been affected by COVID-19 on your personal statement.

Observation Hours

In addition, we recognize that some applicants may not be able to attain all the required observation hours due to COVID-19 restrictions at clinical sites. If you do not have an adequate number of hours (minimum 40 hours in at least two different clinical sites), you will need to submit a statement as part of your OTCAS application that addresses the following:

Why you were unable to complete the observation hours
Your original plan to complete observation hours
How you have researched and educated yourself about the profession of OT

Applicants may complete up to 12 virtual observation hours. Click here to access the Occupational Therapy Online Shadowing Experience (Password: LucasQU). Applicant must submit documentation of online shadowing experience (completion of related assignment/s) as part of OTCAS application.

Early Acceptance Program for Milligan Undergraduates

Current Milligan undergraduate students may be eligible for the early acceptance program. You may apply as early as your Junior year. Learn more »

Expectations and Responsibilities

All students at Milligan are expected to uphold the expectations and responsibilities for student lifestyles at Milligan University. Milligan University adopts specific rules on the basis of the belief that God’s Word, as the final rule of faith and practice, speaks on many matters pertaining to personal conduct. Therefore, behavior that conflicts with Scripture is unacceptable. Historically, communities also have developed guidelines that help put into practice basic moral and social principles. Such standards serve as a guide toward worthwhile goals relevant to one’s academic, spiritual, social, and physical well-being.

Students should consult the Student Handbook for further guidance regarding acceptable personal lifestyle and conduct while enrolled at Milligan University. A student’s matriculation and enrollment at Milligan University is their pledge to uphold the policies and expectations outlined in the Student Handbook and Catalog.