Master of Science in Occupational Therapy
The OT program at Howard has a rich history of excellence in leadership, graduating highly sought-after therapists, and developing national and international health professionals.
The Howard University Occupational Therapy faculty is committed to teaching, research, and community service directed toward the reduction of barriers that prevent individuals from achieving a mastery of occupation. The faculty is dedicated to addressing emerging health and health-related needs of blacks and underserved populations by promoting the role of occupation in the solution to human and social problems in local, national, and international communities.
The Howard University Occupational Therapy Program is proud to offer an accredited Occupational Therapy program leading to a Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy (MSOT). The Department is uniquely privileged to be among the few providers of entry-level occupational therapy graduates in the Nation’s capital. The program has a rich history of excellence in leadership, graduating highly sought-after therapists, and developing national and international health professionals.
The entry-level Master of Science degree consists of research, theory, and concentrated didactic coursework; a thesis or non-thesis scholarly project; and a six-month fieldwork as requirements for graduation. Upon successful completion of 77 credit hours, including all didactic and fieldwork experiences, candidates can sit for the national certification examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) in order to become an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). This designation is necessary to practice as an occupational therapist. The timeframe for completion of the entry-level program is 2.5 years, which includes all didactic coursework, examinations, thesis or non-thesis requirements and fieldwork experiences. Students are required to complete all didactic coursework before beginning their fieldwork experience.
The entry-level Master of Science curriculum is designed to reflect graduate level demands in content, educational outcomes, and experiences. The curriculum follows a developmental progression where the organization of the learning experiences build on knowledge gained and mastery of educational outcomes. Throughout the curriculum students are exposed to five core themes:
- Occupation and Human Performance
- Critical Thinking and Clinical Reasoning
- Diversity and the Underserved
- Research and Scholarship
- Professionalism and Leadership
The Howard University Occupational Therapy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). The MSOT program received a 10-year accreditation. The next accreditation self-study and onsite visit for the MSOT program is scheduled in 2025/2026.
6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200
North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929
(301) 652-AOTA or (301) 652-2682
The Howard University Occupational Therapy program was granted Preaccreditation Status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) to transition the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Degree program to a Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree program. The MSOT program is currently transitioning to an OTD degree program.
Board Passage Rates: program results from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) can be found online at: https://www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance
The Howard University Occupational Therapy program subscribes to the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service, known as OTCAS. The last MSOT class was accepted in August 2020. High school and undergraduate students wishing to enroll in an entry-level program should complete an undergraduate degree at an accredited university with required prerequisites and apply to the OTD program. Students can pursue a BS degree in Health Sciences at Howard University and complete the prerequisites for entry to the OTD program. All students seeking a OTD degree must apply for graduate admissions consideration to the entry-level doctorate of occupational therapy program. Please refer to the entry-level OTD website for more information.
Contact #: 202-806-7617
Email Contact: OTAdmissions@howard.edu