Master of Science Occupational Therapy

Tuition: $962/credit*

View the estimated cost of attendance for the 2025-2027 tuition and fees by year and total program costs.

* Tuition rates are for the 2025-26 academic year. Additional fees and costs for course materials may apply. Total program cost and completion time varies depending on transfer credits and individual program plans. Tuition rates are subject to change. View 2024-25 rates.

The following information provides additional details about the MS in OT program. You will find Pass and Graduation rates as required by ACOTE, NBCOT Examination and Fieldwork Experience information.

Degree Pathways

St. Scholastica offers two degrees to become an occupational therapist: the MS in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) and the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD). Both programs will help you develop a strong foundation while supporting your individual goals.

The MSOT at St. Scholastica is a cost-effective, academically rigorous path to becoming a practitioner. If you want to help people through everyday practice, this may be a good option for you. Alternatively, if you’re also interested in advocacy, policy and program development, our doctoral program will help you develop those advanced skills. The doctorate may be the right path if you see yourself shaping the future of occupational therapy.

Explore your options today and choose the path that best aligns with your career goals.

Program Delivery

The MS in OT program is located at the Health Science Center and delivered primarily in person, allowing students to engage in hands-on experiential activities. Select didactic courses between the Level II fieldworks are delivered in a hybrid format. The courses focus on student skill refinement and clinical reasoning in specialty areas prior to the final Level II Fieldwork. The courses are delivered with synchronous and asynchronous content for seven weeks as well as in-person course delivery for one week. Fees associated with hybrid course delivery are the responsibility of the student and include the costs of travel to campus for the one-week intensive (e.g. travel, lodging).

Graduation Rates

National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) Examination

Upon completion of all academic and fieldwork requirements of the Occupational Therapy program, students are awarded a Master of Science (MS) degree. Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the national certification examination for certification as occupational therapists. All states require licensure to practice. The exam is administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy. After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a registered occupational therapist (OTR) and become eligible to practice occupational therapy.

All states require licensure to practice. 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.

Exam Pass Rates

St. Scholastica graduates have a 99% NBCOT exam pass rate (3-year average), the highest in Minnesota. For test data by school and state, visit NBCOT.

View Requirements

View Learning Outcomes

Schema

Scope and Sequence of the Occupational Therapy Curriculum

We aim to give students a solid foundation for implementing the occupational therapy process so they are prepared to enter a variety of practice settings. The scope of the occupational therapy curriculum is intentionally broad in order to prepare students to work with diverse client populations across the lifespan in a wide range of environments.

Moreover, the curriculum is designed to familiarize students with traditional practice areas, including: children and youth, health and wellness, work and industry, productive aging, rehabilitation and disability, and mental health. Areas of practice introduced include low vision, driving, consultation, transitions for older youths, mental health, private practice and technology for rehabilitation.

Experiential Learning

The MS in Occupational Therapy program’s courses offer depth of content that immediately immerses the student in hands-on learning experiences and progresses from understanding fundamental concepts to application in dynamic clinic scenarios and fieldwork experiences. The curriculum is designed to prepare students by providing the depth of knowledge and skill to be competent entry-level practitioners.

The MS in OT program’s courses are sequenced in a way that allows for the integration of course content with experiential application in each semester. Each Level I fieldwork is integrated with content in courses that are occurring simultaneously and allow for the application of learned information and the progression of knowledge translation, skill development and independent clinical thinking. With the exception of summer sessions, semesters have been divided into session I and session II to allow students to focus on fewer courses at one time allowing for reflection about the complexities of clinical practice. Please see the curriculum schema for specific courses and when they appear in the curriculum.

More information about curriculum design.

Fieldwork is an opportunity for Occupational Therapy (OT) students to integrate theory and conceptual practice models in practice settings with individuals, groups and populations. You will be able to integrate OT knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are acquired during the didactic phase of the program into occupational therapy practice in a structured and supervised environment. Fieldwork prepares you for entry-level practice as a generalist occupational therapy practitioner.

Level I Fieldwork

Level I Fieldwork is integrated into the academic portion of the program through experiential learning. You will participate in three required Level I experiences during the OT program with opportunities for additional elective Level I fieldwork. These experiences occur in the on-campus maurices Community Clinic, which includes partner sites in the community and enriched simulated experiences. Students are encouraged to volunteer beyond the required fieldwork experiences to gain as much variety as possible through student or program organized events. Students find that this allows them to expand their knowledge and practice skills and to develop a comfort level with clients from all practice areas.

Level II Fieldwork

Level II Fieldwork occurs in the second year of the program. You will complete two 12-week rotations reflective of two different setting types. This level of fieldwork allows you, under the supervision of a registered and licensed occupational therapist, to apply clinical reasoning for occupation-based practice, engage in professionalism through various practice settings and participate in evidence-based practice. You may complete you occupational therapy Level II Fieldwork in traditional, community-based or emerging practice settings. You will be expected to develop reflective practice and to transition from the role of a student into the role of an entry-level OT practitioner.

You have the opportunity to complete a Level II Fieldwork rotation focusing on mental health in school-based settings. This Level II Fieldwork opportunity is a federally funded grant from the U.S. Department of Education. The focus of this project is to address student mental health needs by increasing the number of school-based mental health service providers in high-need education agencies, increasing the number of service providers from diverse backgrounds or from the communities they serve, and ensuring that all service providers are trained in inclusive practices. Occupational therapy practitioners have the unique ability to work with students on mental health-related concerns within the context of their daily lives, experiences, and the school structure and environment.

Growth Projections

Occupational Therapy is consistently ranked as one of the best jobs across the nation. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for occupational therapists is expected to grow by 11% over the next decade, a rate much faster than average.

Where do Occupational Therapists work?

• General, psychiatric, and pediatric hospitals
• Public and private schools
• Rehabilitation hospitals or centers
• Colleges and universities
• Home health agencies
• Skilled nursing homes
• Private practice

Outcomes

Because of the one-on-one attention students receive and the “early and often” approach to hands-on learning, our graduates are in high demand. Graduate surveys indicate between 97% and 100% of graduates are employed as occupational therapists after one year. Many students have employment offers before graduation.

The Occupational Therapy Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).

Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)
7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E
Bethesda, MD 20814.
301-652-AOTA (2682)
www.acoteonline.org

Visit our admissions page for information about transcripts, online application, international admissions, financing and the Center for Equal Access.

Application Deadline

Start term: Summer
Application priority deadline: Nov. 15
Application final deadline: May 15

Application Process

St. Scholastica uses the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS) for its OT programs. The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy and the entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy have separate applications in OTCAS. Although you may apply to both programs, we recommend you select the degree that best fits your educational goals. If you apply to both programs, the St. Scholastica OT Admissions Committee will determine your acceptance and place you into one of the programs.

Visit the OTCAS website to learn more about the application process and schedule. Information specific to our programs is listed under the Participating Programs link on the left side of the page. Then select College of St. Scholastica.

Eligibility

The MS Occupational Therapy program uses an inclusive and equitable admissions process to grow a diverse occupational therapy profession with cohorts that represent a wide range of educational, personal and professional experiences. Applicants are evaluated on the following criteria:

Degree

• Bachelor’s degree (any major) from a regionally accredited institution

GPA Requirement

• Cumulative or most recent 64 credit GPA of 3.0 is preferred. The College will consider whichever is higher: GPA as calculated by OTCAS. Admissions committee members do not see GPA when reviewing applications. Applicants will also have an opportunity in OTCAS to explain whether their academic record accurately reflects their capabilities.

Understanding of occupational therapy profession

• Through an OTCAS question, you will show you have sufficiently researched the profession to demonstrate that you are making a career choice based on a sound understanding of the profession of occupational therapy. Options that demonstrate understanding of the profession:
  • Observation hours
  • Successful completion of an introduction to occupational therapy course or healthcare careers course.
  • Completion of an online shadowing experience
  • Personal experience

Personal Experience

• The experiences that each individual has enrich the profession. This information allows you to highlight your important accomplishments. Enter information in OTCAS for any of the following:
  • Work history
  • Community service
  • Honors/recognitions
  • Leadership
  • Teaching
  • Participation in research activities
  • Research activities
  • Certifications or licenses

Essays

• Essays should be written with clear expression of ideas and good organization. Specific prompts for the essays are found in OTCAS.
  • OTCAS Personal Essay/ Statement
    • This allows you to show why you selected OT as a career and how your personal, educational and professional background will achieve your professional goals
• Why you selected the MS degree path for entry-level practice
• Hardship Statement (optional)

Additional Information about Becoming an Occupational Therapy Student

• A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. An individual, who has a felony background and is considering entering an occupational therapy program, can have their background reviewed prior to actually applying for the exam by requesting an Early Determination Review.
• Students who apply to the MS in OT program will be expected to perform Technical Standards and Essential Requirements.

Prerequisites

1. Complete all prerequisite courses with a grade of 2.0 or better
2. Complete prerequisite courses no later than two weeks prior to the start of classes in June
3. AP credit accepted for General Psychology. To verify results, applicants must submit official CollegeBoard scores directly to The College of St. Scholastica (not OTCAS) using the code 6107.
   • A score of 3 or better is required to qualify; scores must be within 10 years from date of application.
4. Prerequisite courses must be within the past 10 years.
5. The College of St. Scholastica MS OT program does not give credit for work experience or credits taken in another occupational therapy program toward prerequisite or in-program courses.
6. The following prerequisites (or their approved transfer equivalents) are required for admission:
   • Human Anatomy and Physiology I
   • Human Anatomy and Physiology II
   • One of the following:
     • Lifespan Development Psychology
     • General Psychology
     • General Sociology

The Office of Graduate Admissions does not review unofficial transcripts to determine the completion of prerequisite coursework. In most cases, course titles match. If you have specific questions about a particular course, please reference Transferology to determine if the course meets the stated requirement.

Any student may request a waiver of admission requirements through a written request to the Graduate Admissions Office. Waiver requests are reviewed by the admissions committee and the applicant will be notified of the decision by email.

Submit the completed Occupational Therapy Centralized Admission System (OTCAS) application by the mid-November priority deadline.

Note: meeting minimum entrance requirements does not guarantee admission. Exceptions to minimum criteria may be made at the discretion of the admissions committee. The College of St. Scholastica follows the OTCAS method of calculating GPA.

Transcripts

Official transcripts from every post-secondary institution attended or where credit was earned must be sent to OTCAS. Instructions are indicated on the OTCAS application.

Online Application

1. Submit an OTCAS application (reference OTCAS for application instructions/requirements)
2. Interviews are not typically part of the admission process, but may be requested

Accepted Students

• After you are emailed a decision regarding your application, please inform us of your decision (accept or decline the offer, if one is made) via the Intent to Enroll form linked in the email
• Submit $500 non-refundable deposit