Occupational Therapy, M.S.
Program Description
The Master of Science program is a 73 credit program designed to provide entry level education in occupational therapy for individuals who have a baccalaureate degree in another field. Approximately thirty students are admitted into the program each September. Each student accepted into the program completes five semesters of required academic courses and a minimum of six months of supervised fieldwork in an approved clinical setting. Clinical fieldwork must be completed within 24 months of academic courses. Students successfully completing the program will be eligible to take the national certification examination administered by the National Board for Certification of Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be able to identify him or herself as an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). Most states, including New Jersey, require licensure in order to practice. However, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Exam.*
The Occupational Therapy Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). Correspondence should be directed to: ACOTE, c/o Accreditation Department, American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), 4720 Montgomery Lane, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814-3449. Their phone number is (301) 652-AOTA. Website: www.acoteonline.org.
* Please note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to take the cert-ification examination and/or attain state licensure.
Prerequisites Coursework (B or better required)
| General Psychology |
3 |
| Life Span Developmental Psychology1 |
3 |
| Psychological Statistics |
3 |
| Introduction to Occupational Therapy2 |
3 |
| Abnormal Psychology |
3 |
| Introduction to Sociology |
3 |
| or |
| Cultural Anthropology |
3 |
| Anatomy & Physiology I & II (w/lab)1 |
8 |
1These courses must be taken within 5 years of application to the program.
2Must be completed at Kean University
Students may complete the required prerequisite at any accredited institution. If you intend to complete these prerequisites at Kean University, you may apply to the University as an undergraduate second-degree, non-matriculated student.
Degree Requirements
- 73 credits including full time academic course work as described below
- Six months required fieldwork
- Scholarly project
Required Coursework
Semester One 17
| BIO 5405 | HUMAN GROSS ANATOMY | 4 |
| OT 5002 | FOUNDATIONS OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY | 1 |
| OT 5500 | APPLIED KINESIOLOGY FOR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY | 3 |
| OT 5400 | THEORETICAL GUIDELINES TO PRACTICE I | 4 |
| OT 5210 | CONDITIONS ACROSS THE LIFESPAN I | 2 |
| OT 5612 | GROUP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE LIFESPAN | 3 |
Semester Two 15
| BIO 5406 | ADVANCED NEUROSCIENCE (M) | 4 |
| OT 5401 | THEORETICAL GUIDELINES TO PRACTICE II | 4 |
| OT 5223 | CONDITIONS ACROSS THE LIFESPAN II | 3 |
| OT 5303 | OCCUPATIONS ACROSS THE LIFESPAN | 3 |
| OT 5611 | COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND SERVICE | 1 |
Summer Session 3
| OT 5520 | REASEARCH METHODS IN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY I | 3 |
Semester Three- Track A 15
| OT 6521 | RESRCH METHODS IN OCCUPATIONAL THERP II | 3 |
| OT 6920 | PSYCHOSOCIAL PRACTICE | 6 |
| OT 6923 | SEMINAR IN PEDIATRIC PRACTICE | 6 |
Semester Three- Track B 15
| OT 5550 | ADMIN. SUPERVISION ADVOCACY | 3 |
| OT 6921 | SEMINAR IN ADULT REHABILITATION PRACTICE | 6 |
| OT 6521 | RESRCH METHODS IN OCCUPATIONAL THERP II | 3 |
| OT 6610 | ORTHOTICS AND PROSTHETICS | 3 |
Semester Four- Track A 15
| OT 5550 | ADMIN. SUPERVISION ADVOCACY | 3 |
| OT 6525 | ADVANCED RESEARCH IN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY | 3 |
| OT 6610 | ORTHOTICS AND PROSTHETICS | 3 |
| OT 6921 | SEMINAR IN ADULT REHABILITATION PRACTICE | 6 |
Semester Four- Track B 15
| OT 6525 | ADVANCED RESEARCH IN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY | 3 |
| OT 6920 | PSYCHOSOCIAL PRACTICE | 6 |
| OT 6923 | SEMINAR IN PEDIATRIC PRACTICE | 6 |
Semester Five 8
Total Credit Hours: 73