Occupational Therapy Degree Program Highlights
Take your skills to the next level with our master’s degree in occupational therapy.
As a student in our occupational therapist degree, you’ll take classes led by experienced occupational therapists. With small class sizes, you’ll get individualized attention as you learn how to develop and implement treatment plans for your patients. Through a combination of classroom learning and hands-on experience in clinical rotations, you’ll be able to take what you’ve learned and apply it in real-world situations. This occupational therapy master’s reinforces clinical reasoning and critical thinking skills based on research and theory to develop client-centered treatment choices.
- Our occupational therapy degree is full-time and can be completed in two years.
- With occupational therapy courses led by OTs, you will be learning in interactive environments that include hands-on training and classroom debate and discussions.
- By the time you graduate, you will be able to sit for the national certification examination, apply for state licensure, and be prepared for entry-level practice.
- The estimated total cost for completing the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy is $48,170.00. This includes books and fees. The total cost can be lower if the student has transfer credit. Experiential/work experience cannot be used for occupational therapy course credit.
- The master’s in occupational therapy at Baker College is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) www.acoteonline.org, located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814; Phone: 301-652-6611. Graduates are eligible to take the national certification examination.
- This program is offered at the Royal Oak Campus.
Learn Your Way
Occupational Therapy classes will be taught exclusively at the Royal Oak campus. Plus, for increased flexibility, some program courses are taught using online delivery.
Learn MoreWhy Earn an Occupational Therapy Degree?
The delivery of the master's of occupational therapy online revolves around instructors facilitating learning through problem-based case management. Students in the MSOT will be required to utilize theory, logic, clinical reasoning and pragmatic skills in an interactive learning environment. It is expected that students will participate in discussions and debates and develop treatment choices based on sound research and theoretical assumptions. The master’s degree in occupational therapy curriculum emphasizes mastery of the skills required for entry-level practice. The MSOT curriculum is designed so that graduates can review, understand, conduct and interpret research activities. Evidence-based practice initiatives make it essential that practitioners’ research skills are well developed.
Occupational Therapy Curriculum
The Baker College master's in occupational therapy is a two-year, ACOTE-accredited program consisting of 74 credit hours of major requirements. Our curriculum includes evidence-based practice and scholarship in occupational therapy, leadership and management, professional responsibilities in occupational therapy practice, and two three-month clinical experiences.
Sample Courses
Mental Health Practice in Occupational Therapy
Pediatric Practice in Occupational Therapy
Dysfunction of Occupational Performance
Functional Neuroanatomy
Functional Kinesiology
Upper Extremity Rehabilitation
Additional MSOT Requirements
The master of occupational therapy is a graduate degree program. Graduates of the occupational therapy masters 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 graduate will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. A FELONY CONVICTION MAY AFFECT A GRADUATE’S ABILITY TO SIT FOR THE NBCOT CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION OR ATTAIN STATE LICENSURE.
Frequently Asked Questions
An occupational therapist (OT) helps people of all ages overcome physical, cognitive, emotional, or social challenges so they can engage in everyday life activities. They evaluate a person's strengths, limitations, goals, and environments, then design personalized intervention plans to improve or restore function.
OTs may remediate skills lost due to illness or injury, teach adaptive techniques, recommend assistive devices, or suggest environmental modifications to support independence. They work in many settings — hospitals, schools, rehab centers, clients’ homes, and community facilities.
In our master’s in occupational therapy, you’ll develop a broad and deep set of clinical, analytical, and professional skills through coursework and fieldwork.
Some of the key skills you’ll gain include:
- Clinical Reasoning & Assessment Skills — learning to evaluate clients’ functional abilities, identify needs, and choose appropriate interventions
- Evidence-Based Practice & Research Literacy — analyzing and applying scientific literature to inform treatment decisions
- Intervention Planning & Implementation — designing and carrying out client-centered therapy plans, including the use of adaptive techniques, assistive devices, or environmental modifications
- Leadership, Management & Professional Roles — skills in program development, ethics, advocacy, supervision, and managing OT services
- Communication & Collaboration — working with clients, families, interdisciplinary teams, and stakeholders to support holistic, client-centered care
To become an occupational therapist, you must complete a graduate-level occupational therapy program that is accredited by the appropriate accrediting body. Before entering the occupational therapy master’s, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree (in any major) and have completed prerequisite coursework such as anatomy, physiology, and psychology.
In graduate school, you’ll gain clinical experience through supervised fieldwork and complete coursework in OT theory, practice, and research. After finishing your MSOT degree, you must pass a licensure or certification exam and meet any state or regional licensing requirements.
MSOT Outcomes & Performance
View the master of occupational therapy outcomes and performance information.
Accreditation
The occupational therapy program at Baker College is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) www.acoteonline.org, located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814; Phone: 301-652-6611. Graduates are eligible to take the national certification examination. 
Program Handbook
The handbook for this program is available in the latest edition of the Catalog/Student Handbook.
On Campus Available
View campus locationsUnavailable on Baker Online
Core courses for this degree program are not offered through Baker Online.
For those interested, a selection of general education and prerequisite courses are available through Baker Online each semester.
Baker OnlineUnavailable on Online Live
Core courses for this degree program are not offered through Online Live.
For those interested, a selection of general education and prerequisite courses are available through Online Live each semester.
Online Live