Occupational Therapy, M.S.
Occupational therapists (OTs) work with clients of all ages, who have physical, mental, or developmental difficulties to improve participation and engagement in daily activities.
Visit the program website for more information.
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Program Overview
Two curriculum options: traditional full-time, two year program or the hybrid full-time, three year program (for students who must maintain employment throughout the program due to life commitments.) Both lead to an entry-level Master of Science in occupational therapy. Completion of all prerequisite coursework; a minimum of 50 hours of work, volunteer, and/or job shadow experience with a licensed OT*; and the previous attainment of a bachelor's degree are required before starting either program.
*Due to COVID restrictions, the MSOT program is waiving/rescinding this requirement for the 2023 admissions cycle.
Why Study Occupational Therapy at Grand Valley?
- Accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education of the American Occupational Therapy Association, 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. Phone: (301) 652-AOTA. Web: acoteonline.org.
- One hundred percent of GVSU occupational therapy graduates are employed in the field.
- Over the past three years, Grand Valley has had an overall pass rate of 100 percent on the NBCOT Board Exam.
- OT is considered one of the top careers for the future with a growth rate of 26 percent in the next eight years.
- Named one of the top OT graduate programs in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
Career Insights
This tool shows an overview of potential career opportunities for this major. Actual salaries, employment opportunities, and job titles may change over time.
Accreditation
The entry-level master's degree Occupational Therapy Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at:
6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200
North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929
ACOTE's telephone number, c/o AOTA, is (301) 652-AOTA
Web address is www.acoteonline.org.
Location & Format
Classes for the program are a combination of online and in-seat on the GVSU Health Campus, near the Grand Rapids Medical Mile.
Formats:- Face To Face
- Hybrid
Coursework
OT students study a variety of topics that include:
- Developmental curriculum for pediatrics, adults, and older adults
- Group intensive therapy
- Mental health
- Practice based research project
Application Deadline
Deadline for fall semester is January 15. The $30 application fee is waived if the applicant has previously applied to GVSU. Application information is available at gvsu.edu/ot and otcas.liaisoncas.com.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the M.S.O.T. program requires:
- Completion of the Grand Valley State University graduate application, regardless of previous college attended.
- All prerequisite courses completed and a bachelor's degree earned prior to entering the program. There will be no waivers or exceptions to this policy.
- Completed applications and all application forms should be submitted and verified in OTCAS by January 15 for both the traditional program and the OT hybrid program.
The 50 volunteer hours requirement is waived for the 2022 cycle. Visit the OT website for detailed requirement information.
Helpful Links
For More Information
College of Health ProfessionsDepartment of Occupational Science and Therapy
Occupational Therapy
gvsu.edu/ot
500 Lafayette Ave.
NE, Suite 204, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 331-5500
Scott Truskowski, PH.D.,
OTRL
(616) 331-3128
To apply, please visit otcas.liaisoncas.com or contact the department chair.
“I think our program at GV did an excellent job at teaching us the core value of meaningful occupation. Overall, GVSU couldn't have prepared me better for thinking outside the box in some of the most challenging situations. I am so very grateful for our program.”
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