Julia Varela
Assistant Director of Enrollment, Graduate & Professional Studies
Advance your career goals with Messiah University's graduate program in occupational therapy
We are committed to guiding you through the admissions process every step of the way.
Messiah University’s Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) program is designed to successfully prepare you for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) licensing exam.
MOT post-baccalaureate program: applicants with a bachelor's degree in any subject may pursue the MOT program if prerequisites have been fulfilled.
B.S./MOT accelerated program: qualified high school applicants may complete a B.S. degree* and MOT degree in five years, preparing for a rewarding career in occupational therapy while saving time and tuition.
*choice of applied health science with a pre-occupational therapy concentration major, psychology major, or human development and family science major.
MOT early assurance program (EAP): up to ten qualified Messiah University junior pre-OT students, or students of any major who fulfill the programs admissions requirements, may obtain early acceptance to the MOT program.
Before completing an application for any of Messiah University’s graduate and certificate programs, please read our admissions requirements to ensure that you are eligible for enrollment and to receive a helpful checklist of the supporting documentation that you will need to provide to complete your application.
There are prerequisite requirements for the MOT.
Applicants must earn a C or better from an accredited institution in the following prerequisite courses:
- Anatomy and Physiology I with lab (3 or 4 credits)
- Anatomy and Physiology II with lab (3 or 4 credits)
- Abnormal Psychology (3 credits)
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Life Span Development* or Developmental Psychology (3 credits)*Life Span Development can be substituted by taking three courses: Child Development; Adolescent Development; and Adult Development: (9 credits)
- Statistics: Mathematics, Sociology, or Psychology Department (3 credits)
- Medical Terminology (1-3 credits)
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Submitted OTCAS application or Messiah University application which includes a personal statement
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Official transcript(s) indicating completion (or anticipated completion) of a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university. OTCAS applicants must request their transcript(s) be sent directly from all institution(s) attended through OTCAS to be official. Applicants submitting the Messiah application may have their transcript(s) sent directly to gradprograms@messiah.edu.
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Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (grade of C or better in prerequisite courses)
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Contact information for three references: please select references who can address your professional experience and/or academic performance (excluding relatives); a recommendation from an OT is encouraged but not required
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Observation hours: twenty (20) hours are encouraged but not required
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Documentation of community service, leadership experiences and work experience is preferred
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Completion of an interview: qualified applicants will be invited to interview with faculty
Submitted Messiah University application
The 5-year, accelerated B.S./MOT program will admit no more than 20 total new students each fall. New admits will be accepted directly from high school.First year students who are eligible for admission to the University are eligible for the Accelerated MOT program. You can review the undergraduate admissions process and criteria on our website.
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Submitted Messiah University application (by December 1 of Messiah junior year)
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Official transcript(s) from Messiah University indicating completion (or anticipated completion) of a bachelor’s degree. Graduate admissions will request your transcripts from the registrar.
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Cumulative GPA of 3.3 or higher (grade of C or better for prerequisite courses)
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Observation hours: twenty (20) hours are encouraged but not required
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Documentation of community service, leadership experiences and work experience is preferred
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Completion of an interview: qualified applicants will be invited to interview with faculty
The MOT is a full-time, residential program. Students applying for the MOT may be eligible to obtain an F-1 student visa from Messiah University.
In addition to the admissions requirements above, international students interested in the MOT must submit:
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a course-by-course evaluation of all international transcripts
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English proficiency exam: only TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo are accepted
Further information about these requirements is available on the graduate international student page. Please contact the enrollment counselor for occupational therapy to determine eligibility.*
*If admitted to Messiah University, information on how to apply for the F-1 visa may be found on the graduate international student page.