Master of Occupational Therapy

Master of Occupational Therapy Overview

Are you passionate about making a positive difference in the lives of people and communities? If so, pursuing a master of occupational therapy (MOT) degree will equip you with the skills and knowledge required to help individuals improve activities of daily living and their overall function and well-being.

The dynamic and comprehensive master of occupational therapy program (MOT) prepares students for successful careers as occupational therapists such as in healthcare, mental health, rehabilitation, or community-based settings. Students are trained to become culturally conscious practitioners through an occupation-centered model that equips them to better serve their clients and communities. The occupational therapy curriculum combines hands-on academic instruction with the flexibility of an online format. Graduates leave with the knowledge and skills to be competent, innovative health professionals who meet the occupational needs of diverse individuals and support a variety of physical conditions through service and transformative healthcare.
 

Program Highlights

Integrated learning experience

The master's degree OT program delivers rigorous academic coursework online plus weekly, on-campus classes and labs in San Diego to provide flexibility and hands-on practice. Participating in fieldwork placements every trimester is a crucial component of the MOT program, allowing students to apply their theoretical knowledge in real-world settings.

Client-centered model

Students prioritize and adapt to individuals’ unique needs and goals, encouraging their active involvement in the therapy process. By emphasizing collaboration, this approach means moving away from treating patients toward client-centered therapy that values the person and their personal development and considerations.

Creative treatment options

The arrival of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences called for expanding and renovating our Scripps Ranch campus, which the university has called home since 1973. The goal is to create a modern, client-centered setting that caters to all ages and blends science with creativity. This meant designing a modern facility with unique features such as a pediatric lab with a rock-climbing wall and ball pit.

Competitive Tuition

The MOT on-campus and online program offers competitive tuition without sacrificing a quality, comprehensive education to help you achieve your professional goals. It covers foundational courses, advanced coursework, and supervised clinical hours for state licensure requirements.

University Tuition Details

Please click here to access the tuition and fees for this program.

Note: Tuition and fees are subject to change at any time.  Alliant will notify all students of any tuition/fee changes for the upcoming year or term.

Admissions

Learn about admissions requirements

ADMISSIONS

Admission Criteria Overview

• Cannot take international students at this time.
• Complete a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university that is recognized by a regional accreditation agency.
• Applicants must have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 and a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 for all required prerequisite courses.
  • Prerequisite courses may be repeated only once; the second-course grade will be used to calculate the average GPA.
  • Prerequisite courses must be completed within seven (7) years of the submitted application.
  • Prerequisite courses may be taken at any regionally accredited community college, public or private college or university.
• All applicants must meet the program’s health requirements.

All applicants must show proof of application or up-to-date clearances (drug screening, background screening, criminal check, and child abuse clearance), immunizations, and health screenings 30 days before the program starts.

Prerequisite Courses

The seven (7) prerequisite courses below are required before beginning the MOT curriculum. Alliant University is pleased to offer these general education courses for applicants who still need to complete one or more of the prerequisites. These 8-week courses are offered several times a year at a rate of $88/credit, plus applicable fees. Contact an admissions counselor for more information, including the course syllabi.

• Statistics (3 credits): ex. Elementary statistics, business statistics, social sciences statistics
• Social Science course (3 credits): ex: Sociology, cultural anthropology, public health
• Abnormal Psychology (3 credits)
• Human Growth and Development of the Lifespan (3 credits)
• Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab (4 credits)
• Human Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab (4 credits)
• Medical Terminology (1 credit)

Advanced Placement (AP) courses used for prerequisites may be accepted with a score of “4” or “5” if completed within seven (7) years of the submitted application. 

The Master of Occupational Therapy program follows Alliant International University’s Transfer Credit Policy found in the Student Handbook. For more information see: https://catalog.alliant.edu/content.php?catoid=44&navoid=1644#transfer-credit

Experimental learning credits will not be accepted as a prerequisite toward fulfilling the prerequisite requirements. 

GRE scores are not required.

Observation Hours

• All applicants must participate in 20 hours of observation shadowing an occupational therapist. This requirement may be completed in one of two ways:
  • Observation hours may be completed at multiple locations where the applicant may observe an occupational therapist. This requirement is for applicants to demonstrate that they understand the role of occupational therapy in healthcare. Applicants may upload proof of observation hours to the OTCAS, through they may also submit them to an admissions counselor.  For more information regarding sites allowing students to observe occupational therapy, contact the Program Director, adele.breenfranklin@alliant.edu.
  • Applicants may view the video from ClinEdWeb (https://www.clinedweb.com/) Intro to OT: 20 observation hours ($55.00). Applicants may upload a completion certificate to the OTCAS or share it with an admissions counselor.

Letters of Recommendation

Applicants must submit two (2) letters of recommendation.

• One academic letter of recommendation
• One letter of recommendation may be from a volunteer organization or professional supervisor, manager, or occupational therapist or additional academic reference. A reference from an occupational therapist is preferred.
• Letters from family and/or friends are not accepted.

Personal Essay

Applicants are required to submit a personal essay to the OTCAS or through the Alliant application platform. Essays should be no more than 500 words and answer the following questions:

• Explain why you selected occupational therapy as your career and how occupational therapy relates to your short-term and long-term professional goals.
• How has your academic and personal journey influenced your professional goals, and how it may influence your skills as a practitioner?

Resume

Applicants must submit their resume through the OTCAS or through the Alliant application platform.

Faculty

Learn more about the program's faculty

Faculty

Degree Information

The two-year, immersion-based program adheres to the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) philosophy of education in which students are viewed as occupational beings who are in a dynamic transaction with the learning context and the teaching-learning process. The interaction of the student’s knowledge, critical inquiry, and unique experiences with the learning environment results in a competent healthcare professional.

In addition to the robust academic curriculum and hands-on practice, students will apply the skills they’ve learned in a current course to fieldwork placements every trimester, which is more frequent than other schools. Certification courses are part of the curriculum to help students enter the field with confidence, critical training, and preparation for licensing requirements.

Student Learning Outcomes

As a graduate of the MOT program, you’ll be trained to:

• Utilize theoretical models of practice, clinical reasoning, and evidence-based decisions to guide client-centered care and occupation-based outcomes.
• Implement occupational therapy assessments and interventions with populations across the lifespan in traditional and emerging practice areas, demonstrating professional behaviors in all interactions.
• Practice ethical, equitable, and inclusive quality health care with all populations, respecting cultural factors, context, and occupational justice needs.
• Explain the processes of scientific inquiry that contribute to disseminating knowledge to support education, practice, and research in the field.
• Integrate leadership, management, and professional reasoning principles to facilitate individual, group, and organizational success, collaborating with the interprofessional healthcare team across the continuum of care.
• Formulate a professional development plan that includes role development, advocacy, and service.

National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT®) Exam Pass Rate

The Alliant International University Master of Occupational Therapy program will publish its National Certification Exam (NBCOT®) pass rates when this information becomes available. For more information about NBCOT see https://www.nbcot.org/

MOT Program Graduation Rates

The Alliant International University Master in Occupational Therapy program will publish its graduation rates when this information becomes available.

Accreditation

The entry-level occupational therapy master’s degree program has applied for accreditation and has been granted Candidacy Status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. The program must have a pre-accreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates 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 individual 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. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

Students must complete 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork within 12 months following completion of the didactic portion of the program.

Links and Downloads

School Performance Fact Sheet

FAQ