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 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 69 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 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 and specialized courses, unique to the student. The timeframe for completion of the postprofessional student is typically one-academic year for full-time students, and may vary depending on the student’s part-time or full-time status.

Those enrolled in this program of study select a major clinical emphasis in a specialized area of either pediatrics or geriatrics, as well as electives in one of three areas: 1) education, 2) research, or 3) administration. A non-thesis or thesis scholarly project is required for graduation.

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

Upon completion of the Entry-level MSOT degree program at Howard University, each graduate student will be prepared to:

1. Sit for the National Certification Board Examination in Occupational Therapy to become registered occupational therapist and to use the initials OTR (Occupational Therapist, Registered).
   
   
2. Practice as an entry-level occupational therapist in settings that encompass traditional and emerging models of health and wellness service delivery in program development and leadership, and within contexts that shape current and future healthcare policy.
   
   
3. Participate in scholarly activities including publications, presentations, scientific research and grant projects as a knowledgeable contributor to evidenced-based research design, data collection, and the literature review process.
   
   
4. Actively participate in professional and consumer organizations and advocate for underserved populations to improve health disparities, by promoting the role of occupation in the solution to human and social problems locally, nationally, and internationally.
   
   
5. Employ occupation-based theory and cutting-edge therapeutic strategies in assessment and service delivery to clients and consumers across the developmental spectrum as a critical thinker, problem-solver, and leader in the field of occupational therapy.
   
   
6. Give back to the profession and university through service and financial support.
   
   
7. Utilize effective and adaptive interpersonal, written and oral communication skills and strategies, reflective of cultural sensitivity and cultural competence, in interactions with clients, caregivers and colleagues.
   
   
8. Recognize practice-related ethical challenges, generate and implement strategies for resolution of ethical challenges that demonstrate understanding of and adherence to the Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics.
   

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.