Fast Track Your Occupational Therapy Career
Now you can become a working occupational therapist in as little as five years through the Accelerated Occupational Studies/Master of Science in Occupational Therapy 3+2. This accelerated M.S.O.T. pathway at UNE combines a bachelor of science with a master of science degree, saving you both time and money. This accelerated program will fully prepare you to begin a rewarding career in Occupational Therapy and help others experience the transformative power of everyday activities.
As a successful student in the 3+2 model, you will earn a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Studies after year four of the program, and a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (M.S.O.T.) after year five of the program.
Bachelor of Science in Occupational Studies
In this accelerated pathway, you’ll study for three years on UNE’s coastal Biddeford campus with your undergraduate Occupational Studies cohort. In year four, you’ll begin earning credits towards your master’s while completing your B.S.
UNE’s Occupational Studies program will teach you how to work with a range of individuals to assess their wellness and guide them toward healthier lives. Combining health sciences, wellness promotion, and human occupation, this major is a perfect foundation for your graduate OT degree.
Master of Science in Occupational Therapy
UNE’s M.S.O.T. degree program will prepare you in client-centered critical thinking and clinical excellence for a fulfilling and successful occupational therapy practice.
Learn to meet the needs of pediatric, adult, and geriatric patients in state-of-the-art facilities on our Portland, Maine, campus. You can also practice exciting fieldwork in locations across the country. Our leading faculty, who are engaged in important occupational therapy research, will teach you everything you need to know to excel in this rapidly growing field.
Explore UNE’s Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Program
Why UNE for Your Occupational Therapy Education
- The 3+2 pathway removes one year from your undergraduate-to-graduate OT education, saving you time and money.
- This accelerated process allows you to begin your career earlier.
- UNE OT students have a track record of success: The licensure exam pass rate is 98.5% for UNE M.S.O.T. grads (2020–2023).
- Within your 3+2 cohort, you’ll build connections and community with others who share your passion for OT.
- As part of the Occupational Studies curriculum, you’ll study on our beautiful coastal campus in Biddeford, Maine. You’ll complete service learning projects, participate in meaningful undergraduate research and internships, and have access to an optional Assistive Technology specialization.
- As an OT student, you’ll learn in state-of-the-art facilities on our Portland, Maine, Campus for the Health Sciences, home to 11 different health disciplines.
- You’ll experience all areas of OT practice including pediatric, adult, and geriatric care, to develop diverse career options.
- You’ll have the opportunity to do fieldwork in locations across the country, from Atlanta to Honolulu.
- You will be taught by leading faculty who are performing important research and shaping the way OT is taught, and practiced.
Tour Our Occupational Therapy Facilities
Team-Based Learning in Occupational Therapy
As a student in UNE's Occupational Therapy program, you have the unique opportunity to collaborate with students from other health professions and apply this participation toward your Interprofessional Honors Distinction. You will continue to use these interprofessional team-based learning skills in your clinical workplace after you graduate.
Hear what our alumni have to say about Interprofessional Education at UNE
UNE Occupational Therapy In Action
The Pre-Occupational Therapy 3+2 Experience
Internships for Pre-OT to Occupational Therapy 3+2 Program Students
As a student in the accelerated OT program, you are required to complete the Occupational Studies Internship course. The goal of the requirement is to provide you the opportunity to gain additional skills that will make you successful in the M.S.O.T. program.
Fieldwork
In your final year during the Fall and Spring semesters, you complete required fieldwork in two 12-week experiences.
Curriculum
| WCHP Common Courses* | Credits |
|---|---|
| BIO 104 – General Biology w/Lab | 4 |
| BIO 208 – Anatomy and Phyisology I w/Lab | 4 |
| BIO 209 – Anatomy and Physiology II w/Lab | 4 |
| BIO 309 – Pathophysiology | 3 |
| ENG 110 – English Composition | 4 |
| IHS 130 – Interprofessional Health Care First Year Experience | 3 |
| IHS 310 – Interprofessional Ethics | 3 |
| MAT 120 –Statistics | 3 |
| PHY 125 – Introduction to Biomechanics w/Lab or PHY 110/110L – General Physics w/Lab | 4 |
| PSY 105 – Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 250 – Lifespan Development | 3 |
| SOC 150 –Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| One (1) Advanced Study Course (ADV) | 3 |
| One (1) Creative Arts Course (with prefix ARH, ART, or MUS) | 3 |
| One (1) Explorations Course (EXP) | 3 |
| One (1) Social Global Awareness Course (SGA) | 3 |
| Total Credits | 53 |
| Program Required Courses for Bachelor of Science Portion of Program* | Credits |
|---|---|
| EXS 180 – Motor Learning | 3 |
| IHS 150 – Health Promotion Studies Seminar | 1 |
| OS 201 – Foundations of Assistive Technology | 3 |
| OS 305 – Introduction to Occupational Therapy | 3 |
| OS 310 – Junior Seminar | 1 |
| OS 315 – Assessment for Wellness Consultation | 3 |
| OS 316 – Research Methods or PUB 305 – Research Methods in Public Health | 3 |
| OS 405 –Occupational Science | 3 |
| OS 432 –Disability Studies | 3 |
| OS 490 –Internship | 1 |
| OTR 502 – Occupational Analysis | 3 |
| OTR 505 – Foundations in OT | 3 |
| OTR 520/520L – Funtional Movement Analysis w/Lab | 4 |
| OTR 521 – Biopsychosocial Dimensions of Mental Health & Wellness | 3 |
| OTR 531 – Health Conditions and Occupational Therapy | 3 |
| OTR 532 – Therapeutic Use of Self and Group Process | 3 |
| OTR 628 – Research Methods & Design | 3 |
| OTR 640 – Neuro-occupation | 3 |
| OTR 650 – Leadership/Advocacy within Delivery Systems | 3 |
| PSY 205 – Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| PUB 200 – Foundations of Public Health | 3 |
| Three (3) OS Electives | 9 |
| Total Credits | 67 |
| Program Required Courses for Master of Science Portion of Program* | Credits |
|---|---|
| OTR 521L – OT Interventions in Mental Health & Wellness (includes level I fieldwork) | 2 |
| OTR 527 – Rehabilitation, Disability and Participation | 4 |
| OTR 527L – OT Interventions in Adulthood | 2 |
| OTR 528 – Fieldwork Seminar Mental Health | 1 |
| OTR 529 – Integrative Practice – Adults | 2 |
| OTR 601 – Fieldwork IIA | 6 |
| OTR 602 – Fieldwork IIB | 6 |
| OTR 604 – Fieldwork Seminar RDP | 1 |
| OTR 605 – Fieldwork Seminar Pediatrics | 1 |
| OTR 606 – Occupational Enagagement in Communities and Contexts | 3 |
| OTR 611 – Biopsychosocial Dimensions of Children & Youth | 3 |
| OTR 611L – OT Interventions with Children & Youth (includes level I fieldwork) | 2 |
| OTR 619 – Evidence Based Research Seminar | 3 |
| OTR 621 – Health Care Management & Delivery | 3 |
| OTR 630 – Essentials for Practice | 3 |
| Total Credits | 42 |
| Minimum Total Required Credits | 162 |
|---|
*The purpose of the catalog is to provide a comprehensive list of required courses. The Department of Health Promotion Studies can provide a degree map listing which courses should be taken in each stage of this timeline.
The M.S.O.T. degree is directly linked to the professional career as an Occupational Therapist.
FIELDWORK EXPERIENCES
Level I Fieldwork
Students complete Level I Fieldwork experiences as part of instructional courses, reinforcing course concepts. Students are supervised by qualified personnel, which may include occupational therapists, teachers, social workers, public health nurses, and physical therapists.
Level II Fieldwork
Emphasizes the application of knowledge by providing the student with in-depth experience in delivery of occupational therapy service to patients/clients. Students complete two (2) full-time level II fieldwork experiences; each is twelve (12) weeks long.
The expenses incurred for room and board during these internships, and travel to and from the fieldwork sites, are the responsibility of each student.
Students may complete fieldwork at any approved location.
The requirements for Level II fieldwork include:
- A minimum of twenty-four (24) weeks, full time of Level II Fieldwork experience, preferably with at least twelve (12) weeks on a full-time sustained basis
- Completion of all fieldwork experience no later than eighteen (18) months following completion of the didactic portion of the curriculum
- Supervision provided by a licensed occupational therapist with at least one (1) year of experience
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Students must successfully complete all courses prior to graduation and fulfill all curriculum requirements.
Careers Paths for Occupational Therapy Majors
A career in occupational therapy will improve the lives of your clients in clearly tangible ways. By helping clients assess and overcome physical challenges, you can improve their ability to succeed at home, school, work, and in the community.
Among the many job opportunities you will find:
- Care manager
- Health improvement practitioner
- Occupational therapist
Jobs where your degree would be useful include:
- Case Management
- Hand Therapy
- Driving Rehab Specialist
- Adaptive Sports Programming
- Community Mental Health
- Durable Medical Equipment Specialist
- Early Intervention Specialist
Typical employers include:
- Hospitals
- Housing associations
- Schools
- Businesses
- Community centers
- Charities
- Prisons
- Job centers
- Home health agencies
- Private practice
- Skilled nursing facilities
Make Your OT Educational Journey in Maine
Students in the UNE accelerated M.S.O.T. degree program will begin their studies on our beautiful oceanside Biddeford campus as part of the Occupational Studies cohort. You’ll learn within UNE’s supportive undergraduate community even as you begin to build momentum toward your master’s.
As you progress, your graduate study will move to our Portland Campus for the Health Sciences, home to 11 different health professions programs. The campus, a classic New England quad with brick buildings and tall trees is the perfect place for your advanced studies.
Portland, named “America’s Most Livable City” by Forbes and “Foodiest Small Town in America” by Bon Appetit, is the city on every list. A rustic port hosts a vibrant cultural scene — with outdoor adventure all around. UNE’s campus is just 10 minutes from downtown.
Take a Virtual Tour of Our Biddeford Campus
Take a Virtual Tour of Our Portland Campus
Global Opportunities for Occupational Therapy Majors
UNE strives to empower students to become global citizens, and in our occupational therapy program, you’ll have unique, fascinating opportunities to travel internationally and gain a wider perspective of OT. This might be on UNE's Morocco campus or on short-term, faculty-led experiences in Guatemala, Ghana, and more.
Guatemala
OTR 699: Occupational Science in Guatemala
- Open to: Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Students
- Faculty: Kristin Winston, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA
- Application Deadline: January 1, 2023
Course Description
This spring course will provide you with knowledge regarding cultural competency and sensitivity through classroom learning and clinical observations in Guatemala. You will begin by researching and examining some of the differences between the US and Guatemala in the areas of OT education, health care, and culture while on campus in Portland. As the course progresses, it will move the study of cultural competence beyond the classroom into the world around you. You will travel to Guatemala for 12 days in late April and early May to visit hospitals, rehab settings, and non-governmental healthcare-related organizations and local OT programs. These experiences will provide you with opportunities to demonstrate cultural sensitivity with a variety of populations.
Morocco
OTR 699: Occupational Science In Morocco
- Open to: Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Students
- Faculty: Kristin Winston, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA
Morocco, Occupational Therapy Course Description
This spring semester elective course for second-year Occupational Therapy (OT) graduate students provides advanced study in occupational science, occupational therapy without borders, and interprofessional practice with emphasis on the cultural context of occupation. Students will explore the transaction of place, objects, and people as they engage in everyday occupation and service to expand occupational participation in Morocco. Occupational experiences with agencies and organizations in Morocco will provide population-based reflection and hands-on experiences. This course includes the development of a sustainable project with outcome measurement based in ecological theory. This course, designed to immerse the student in a new culture, will facilitate renewed perspectives of occupation, occupational therapy, interprofessional practice, and global understanding of the value of occupation in society. Students will travel to the University of New England campus in Tangier, Morocco in early to mid-January.
Accreditation
The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy at UNE was initially accredited in 1985 and has been continuously accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) since that time. Our next accreditation visit will occur in the 2024/2025 academic year. ACOTE is located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number, C/O AOTA is (301) 652-6611 and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.
NBCOT Exam Pass Rates
M.S. program graduates are eligible to take the certification examination administered by the National Board Certification in Occupational Therapy. Learn more about the exam and UNE pass rates