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 the only provider of 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.

Occupational Therapy is the study of human behavior and performance in the everyday pursuit of human occupations. The term “Occupation” refers to meaningful activity that engages a person’s resources of time and energy, including cognitive and physical abilities, as persons perform in their daily life roles. Occupational Therapists are employed at hospitals, rehabilitation centers, outpatient care centers, school settings, community care facilities, and government agencies; and primarily focus on providing treatment to improve independence in everyday life to individuals who might be faced with disease, illness, or injury.

The Howard University Occupational Therapy Program, founded in 1974, offers a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT). The entry-level Master of Science degree consists of research, theory, and concentrated skill-based course work, a thesis or non-thesis scholarly project, and a six-month fieldwork as requirements for graduation. Upon successful completion of all course work 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 Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy is also offered to Registered Occupational Therapists, (OTRs) who have completed a baccalaureate degree in occupational therapy. The Master of Science for the OTR provides courses unique to the post-professional student and is designed to further develop the skills and competencies of a baccalaureate prepared occupational therapist. The post-professional Master of Science curriculum consists of 30 credit hours of core courses and specialized courses unique to the student. Students in this program of study select a major clinical emphasis in a specialized area of practice, as well as electives in one of three areas: 1) education, 2) research, or 3) administration. A non-thesis scholarly project is required for graduation.

The Master of Science program in Occupational Therapy emphasizes the biological, psychological, and sociocultural aspects of an individual and how dysfunction in any of these impact one’s occupational performance in the areas of self-care, productivity, and leisure. Students are expected to demonstrate competence in the biological and social sciences, occupational therapy theory, principles and concepts, professional and ethical behavior, cultural sensitivity, problem-solving and reasoning, and research. This curriculum has been designed to reflect graduate level demands in the areas of research, technological advances, advanced level theory and fieldwork demands. Affectively, the Department recognizes the importance of creating a student environment in which there is enthusiasm for life-long learning, exploration, and knowledge expansion of self and others. Therefore, the design of the entry-level master’s degree curriculum is based on five central themes:

• Occupation and Human Performance
• Critical Thinking and Clinical Reasoning
• Diversity and the Underserved
• Research and Scholarship
• Professionalism and Leadership

Candidates seeking a Master of Science degree may be admitted from one of three sources: 1) Howard University graduates with the BS degree in Occupational Therapy; 2) students who have a Baccalaureate degree from any program and who complete the required prerequisites; and 3) graduates of any OT program who are registered occupational therapists (OTR) with a Bachelors degree. Undergraduate students enrolled at Howard University can complete a Bachelors of Science (BSHS) in Health Sciences and complete the prerequisites for the Master of Science degree in occupational therapy. Health Science students enrolled at Howard University have the opportunity to also complete credit hours toward the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy. Acceptance to the Health Science program does not automatically guarantee acceptance to the Master of Science program. Health Science students must apply to the MSOT program for early admissions.

The Occupational Therapy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220. AOTA's phone number is (301) 652-AOTA (2682). The Howard University Occupational Therapy program was fully reaccredited on December 1, 2000 for ten (10) years.

The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) is the independent national credentialing agency that certifies eligible persons as Occupational Therapists, Registered (OTR's). NBCOT, formally known as American Occupational Therapy Certification Board (AOTCB, until 1996) is not affiliated with the American Occupational Therapy Association. Upon successful completion of all academic and level II fieldwork, the graduate must be verified as eligible to sit for the certification examination. After successful completion of the examination, the graduate will be recognized as an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). Most states, including Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually issued on the basis of NBCOT certification and verification that all academic and fieldwork requirements have been successfully completed from an accredited occupational therapy program. A felony conviction must be disclosed and may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT exam or attain state licensure.