About our M.S.O.T.
The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Program (M.S.O.T.) is a full-time 2-year program beginning in late May (summer term) each year, requiring completion of the bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university prior to enrollment.
apply for the UNE Master of Science in Occupational Therapy at OTCAS
Important Application Dates
- For Program Starting: Summer 2023
- All applicants must apply through the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS)
- OTCAS Application Portal Opens: July 22, 2022
- Application Deadline: Priority Deadline is October 30. After this date, we will be reviewing applications on a rolling space-available basis until our cohort is full.
Application Process
- All verified applications undergo a preliminary review for minimum requirements, after which select applicants will be invited to interview.
- Interviews are a required part of the application process and are by invitation only.
- Following the required interview, a final decision will be made for select applicants.
- UNE communicates all status updates, notifications, and admission decisions via email.
For specific academic dates, please view the UNE Academic Calendar.
Events
Event | Description | Date and Time | Registration |
---|---|---|---|
In-Person Campus Tours | Visit campus and take a tour with a current student and meet with a faculty member. Admissions personnel will also be available if requested. | See a list of available dates | Register for a campus tour |
Admissions
Admissions Requirements
Application
The University of New England Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program participates in the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS). All applicants are required to apply online through this service.
Degree Requirement
- Completion of Bachelor’s Degree from a U.S. regionally accredited institution, or international equivalent, prior to matriculation.
- All applicants are required to submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Official transcripts should be sent directly to OTCAS. Please see the OTCAS application for additional information and instructions.
GPA Requirement
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is preferred, as calculated by OTCAS (inclusive of all coursework taken with no forgiveness for retakes).
- A minimum prerequisite GPA of 3.0 is preferred, as calculated by UNE using the highest grade received for repeated coursework; calculated using the OTCAS universal computation scale for quality points.
Prerequisite Coursework Requirements
Course Subject | Course Details | Course Credits |
---|---|---|
Anatomy & Physiology I or Human Anatomy |
Lab Required | 4 semester or 6 quarter credits |
Anatomy & Physiology II or Human Physiology |
Lab Required | 4 semester or 6 quarter credits |
Science |
College-level science course with lab is required to fulfill this requirement. Any course subject listed in the attached UNE OT Subject List (PDF) is acceptable to fulfill this requirement. Survey courses will not satisfy this requirement. |
3 semester or 4.5 quarter credits |
Statistics | Biology, Math or Psychology-based statistics are all acceptable to fulfill this requirement. | 3 semester or 4.5 quarter credits |
Introduction to Psychology | College-level course is required. | 3 semester or 4.5 quarter credits |
Abnormal Psychology | College-level course is required. | 3 semester or 4.5 quarter credits |
Human Development | Human Development course that covers the entire lifespan is required to fulfill this requirement.
Course must cover the entire lifespan from birth to death. Applicants wishing to use Developmental Psychology to fulfill this prerequisite must contact the program for approval prior to application submission. |
3 semester or 4.5 quarter credits |
Social Science | Sociology is acceptable to fulfill this requirement.
Anthropology is acceptable to fulfill this requirement. Acceptable courses should be focused on the study of society, human interactions/relationships, the structure and function of social institutions or organized groups, and culture. |
3 semester or 4.5 quarter credits |
English | English Composition is acceptable to fulfill this requirement.
This requirement can also be met by taking a course identified as a Writing-Intensive. Please note that if a writing-intensive course is being used to satisfy this requirement, the course description must clearly indicate that it is considered a writing-intensive course. |
3 semester or 4.5 quarter credits |
Other Important Prerequisite Coursework Notes:
- Courses in or familiarity with Medical Terminology, Introduction to Occupational Therapy, and APA 7th Edition formatting are not required but highly recommended.
- All prerequisite courses must be successfully completed with a grade of “C” or better (“C minus” grades not acceptable).
- All science prerequisite coursework must be completed no more than seven (7) years prior to UNE’s OTCAS application deadline.
- A maximum of 6 Advanced Placement (AP) or equivalent International Baccalaureate (IB) credits may be accepted as a substitute for Introduction to Psychology and English Composition prerequisite courses only.
- All prerequisite courses must be completed at a regionally accredited U.S. college or university.
- Prerequisite coursework may be in-progress or planned at the time of application.
- Official transcripts for coursework and/or degrees completed in the summer/fall term should be submitted and verified by OTCAS during the Academic Update period.
- Official transcripts for coursework and/or degrees completed after the Academic Update period should be submitted directly to UNE’s Office of Graduate Admissions.
All planned or in-progress prerequisite coursework must be listed on the OTCAS application at the time of application submission. Not doing so may lead to the applicant being deemed ineligible for admission review.
Online courses offered through UNE’s Online Science Prerequisites as well as online courses from other regionally accredited U.S. colleges or universities may be acceptable (with program approval).
Standardized Tests
The GRE test is not required for admission.
Letters of Evaluation
Two (2) letters of evaluation are required* – submitted via OTCAS
- Letters should come from individuals who can speak to the applicant’s academic abilities and/or professional experiences.
*Letters from friends or family members are not permitted.
Observation Hours
- Volunteer and/or work experience in a health or human service-related setting is recommended but not required due to continuing uncertainty with COVID-19 and evolving safety recommendations.
- Volunteer hours and/or work experiences should be documented directly within the OTCAS application.
Personal Statement
- Please refer to the OTCAS application for specific writing prompts and additional information.
Interviews
- Qualified applicants will be invited by email to complete a virtual interview assessment via Kira Talent.
- Interviews are done by invitation only.
International Applicants
International applicants and those with foreign degrees and coursework are required to satisfy the following additional requirements:
- Official credential evaluation by World Education Service (WES), confirming degree and grade equivalency to that of a U.S. bachelor’s degree. The completed credential evaluation should be submitted directly to OTCAS. Please refer to the International Admissions section of the UNE website for more information on the type of credential evaluation required for admission review.
- Applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate written and spoken fluency through the successful completion of a UNE-approved English language proficiency test.
- Applicants should refer to the English Language Proficiency page on the UNE website for specific information and minimum score requirements.
- Please refer to the OTCAS application for test score submission instructions.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Prior to matriculation, accepted and deposited students will be required to complete the following compliance requirements:
- Admitted and deposited students must arrange for the submission of all outstanding documents, including transcripts and baccalaureate degree conferral via an official transcript submitted to the UNE Office of Graduate Admission prior to the start of the program.
- Completion of physical examination with proof of up-to-date immunization status. Please refer to UNE’s Student Health Center for detailed information.
- Satisfactory completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen prior to matriculation, as well as periodically throughout the program (as required by clinical affiliations).
- All students must have the ability to meet the Academic and Technical Standards of the Occupational Therapy profession.
Note: All materials submitted as part of the application become the property of UNE and will not be returned or released to anyone, including the applicant. This policy includes letters of reference, primary and secondary applications, personal statements, transcripts, and other supporting materials.
Due to continuing developments with the COVID-19 pandemic, some application requirements and processes may change during the cycle for the health and safety of the university, its employees, and prospective students/applicants. We appreciate your flexibility and consideration.
Policy Exceptions
- Policies have been established to ensure fair and consistent admissions practice for all applicants to the university and its programs.
- All criteria presented in this summary are subject to change per professional accreditation requirements, changes in curriculum and/or other institutional standards, and clinical affiliation requirements.
- Exceptions to existing admission policies are rare and made only when it is deemed necessary and appropriate to maintain fair and consistent practice for all candidates, not individual candidates.
Transfer Credit
- Transfer credits are rarely awarded to students who transfer from another Occupational Therapy program
- Transfer credits will be reviewed and awarded on a case by case basis
Advanced STANDING
- No advanced standing available
Experiential Learning
- No credit awarded for experiential learning