Master of Occupational Therapy

All applicants to the Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) Program must meet the following requirements:

• Admission requirements
• Essential Functions
• Technology Requirements

All applicants to the Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) Program must meet the following criteria:

• Earned bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution -OR- current enrollment in a BSRS degree program at Concordia University Wisconsin
• Cumulative GPA, from all attended institutions, of 3.0 or higher
• 8-semester credits of Human Anatomy & Physiology, from a Biology, Anatomy, or Physiology department with a lab component, completed with a grade of B or better in each course
• 3-semester credits of Statistics, completed with a grade of B or better
• Ability to perform the essential functions of an occupational therapy student as found here: Essential Functions

Applicants will also be required to submit the following:

• Official college transcripts from all previously attended institutions
• Three (3) letters of recommendation, which address potential for academic success as an occupational therapist

All accepted students will be required to submit a $500 tuition deposit within four (4) weeks of acceptance to hold their spot in the program. Learn more about our expected OT tuition and fees here.

Please contact Graduate Admissions for the current admissions deadline.

• Cumulative OT GPA of 3.0 or better
• Semester GPA of 3.0 or better in all completed semesters
• Current enrollment in the Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) program
• No current or past professional or academic probation (students may still apply if they have received a warning)
• Completion and timely submission of all application documents

International applicants who would attend on a student visa and whose native language is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (iBT TOEFL) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System). The test score cannot be more than two years old at the time of application.  The minimum TOEFL score is 94 (iBT) with no less than 22 reading, 22 listening, 26 speaking, and 24 writing.  The minimum IELTS score is 7.0, with no less than 6.5 on each band score.  There are no exceptions to the TOEFL or IELTS requirement for the OT program.   International applicants will be admitted through the CUW International Office and are subject to International Office policies, in coordination with graduate admissions.

Concordia University Wisconsin’s Occupational Therapy Program Student Essential Functions are the aptitudes and abilities required to participate in the program. These essential functions are consistent with occupational therapy practice as outlined by the AOTA’s Guide to Occupational Therapy Practice. Essential Functions apply in the classroom, tutorial, laboratory, and clinical settings including fieldwork. Prior to beginning coursework, students must identify whether they can complete the essential functions with or without accommodations. 

OT Program Essential Functions:

Cognitive Skills:

• learn independently from written materials for 30-40 hours a week
• actively attend to classroom activities (lecture, labs, etc.) for 8 hours a day
• remember and process multiple pieces of information simultaneously to make clinical judgements
• manage and prioritize multiple competing demands on one's time and effort in both the short and long term
• identify and solve complex problems independently using multiple sources of information
• analyze and evaluate abstract concepts to make judgements and reach conclusions
• remember and accurately follow multi-step written and/or verbal directions
• attend to task completion
• exercise good judgment and adhere to all safety precautions during lecture, lab, and clinical experiences
• maintain confidentiality of client/patient information
• apply academic learning to clinical situations
• acknowledge limitations and obtain appropriate assistance to provide safe client care
• interpret, integrate, and analyze complex information, perform clinical problem-solving, and synthesize and apply information from the discipline of occupational therapy and related disciplines to formulate accurate diagnostic and treatment judgments.
• reliably and critically self-evaluate professional, technical, and personal skills that contribute to positive patient/client outcomes.
• accept constructive criticism and respond by appropriate modification of behavior
• manage one’s own time and others’ effectively and efficiently
• determine when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, and then be able to act before there is a negative consequence
• accurately describe changes in other’s facial expression, mood, activity, and posture
• ensure client safety during all therapeutic interactions
• monitor patient/client vital signs (e.g. BP, HR, respiration, pulse O2 monitors)

Motor Skills:

• maintain and assume a variety of positions including sitting and standing for up to 3 hours continuously, frequent walking, bending, squatting, kneeling, stair climbing, reaching forward, reaching overhead, turning and movement of the trunk and neck in all directions
• perform manual material handling and manipulation of various sizes and weights including lifting and transferring patients, guarding patients during functional mobility training on level surfaces/uneven surfaces/ramps/stairs, pushing and pulling to provide resistance and to assist in maneuvering patients; specific requirements include:
  • safely lift up to 50 lbs. independently when transferring and or performing manual patient handling
  • safely lift up to 50 lbs. independently when handling materials
  • safely push and pull with up to 100 lbs of force
  • safely carry items of at least 50 pounds with both hands for 25 feet
• manually palpate various body structures during examination and intervention procedures
• balance self and provide support and balance to patients on a variety of surfaces including level and uneven ground, ramps, curbs, and stairs
• perform a variety of exertional activities for up to 10 hours with occasional rest breaks
• respond quickly to emergency situations by lifting/pushing/pulling patients, applying force to perform CPR, assist with transporting patients
• manipulate objects/equipment of various sizes, shapes, temperatures, smells, and textures (e.g. dials, knobs, testing instruments, therapy balls, scissors, clamps, kitchen equipment, bathroom equipment, raw foods, etc.)
• use appropriate manual pressure when touching clients
• perceive touch information adequately (palpation, MMT, sensory testing, mobilization, facilitation, orthoses, tone, temperature, depth, etc.)
• perceive gradients of temperature for safe application of client applications with orthoses, bathing, and cooking activities.

Auditory Skills:

• hear and react to alarms, emergency signals, timers, cries for help, phones, pagers, overhead page
• engage in conversation.
• hear heart rate and BP

Vestibular Skills:

• monitor one’s own position in space to maintain balance and posture
• tolerate changes in head position during intervention
• tolerate changes in elevation such elevators, escalators

Social and Emotional Skills:

• maintain composure and emotional stability during periods of high stress and emergency situations
• demonstrate affective skills and appropriate demeanor and rapport that relate to professional education and quality client/patient care
• demonstrate the flexibility to perform in stressful or rapidly changing, unpredictable, or emergency situations, such as an intensive academic program and a variety of clinical situations, which may involve pain, grief, death, stress, communicable diseases, blood and body fluids, and or toxic substances
• tolerate physically, emotionally, and mentally taxing workloads, proactively making use of available resources to help maintain both physical and mental health
• function effectively under time constraints while remaining calm and composed
• manage stress associated with completing timed written, oral, and laboratory practical exams
• display professionalism through appropriate presentation of oneself
• interact effectively with individuals, families, and groups from diverse social, emotional, cultural, and intellectual backgrounds in a variety of settings
• demonstrate attributes that include compassion, empathy, altruism, integrity, honesty, caring, fairness, responsibility, concern for others, accountability, interest, tolerance and motivation
• maintain general good health, self-care, and hygiene in order not to jeopardize the health and safety of self and individuals with which one interacts
• recognize and promptly respond to emotional communications such as sadness, worry, agitation, pain and lack of comprehension of therapist communication
• demonstrate honesty, integrity, professionalism, and ethical behavior according to the standards set forth by the American Occupational Therapy Association

Communication Skills:

• use computers to obtain professional literature, and complete classroom and clinical documentation
• communicate in English effectively and sensitively with peers, faculty, clinical supervisors, clients, and client families
• produce and interpret written communication
• use therapeutic communication, such as attending, clarifying, coaching, facilitating, and touching in appropriate ways
• advocate for one’s role and delegate responsibilities when appropriate and collaborate within an interprofessional team
• listen attentively and actively in order to receive and interpret oral communication
• recognize when others (i.e., students, faculty clients, family members) do or do not understand his/her written and/or oral communication
• modify her/his communication style to meet diverse communicative needs
• Thank you to the Sacred Heart University Occupational Therapy program, and the East Carolina University Occupational Therapy program.

Students entering the Occupational Therapy program will need access to a computer that meets the following requirements. We highly recommend purchasing a laptop for portability. 

Optional, but recommended:

• USB Flash Memory Storage Device or External USB hard drive for data daily backup
• Antivirus and Malwarebytes (Windows does come with free Anti-virus)

Software required and supplied by Concordia University:

• Microsoft Office 365 (download / instructions)
• Zoom (download / instructions)
• Respondus Lock Down Browser (download / instructions)

Please Note:

• Chrome Books, iPads, tablets or similar units are useful tools, but do NOT meet all course requirements
• For Mac users that need access to Windows, click here for BootCamp setup instructions

If you have related questions or have concerns about the affordability of this requirement, please contact Assistant Vice President of Academics for Student Success, Dr. Elizabeth Polzin at Elizabeth.Polzin@cuw.edu. 

OTA to OT Bridge

The Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) Program - Bridge track is designed for the Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) with at least one year of experience.

Students in the MOT program - Bridge track can expect to complete coursework in a blended format. Starting with the 2024 Cohort, coursework will start in mid-May with three classes. Students should expect to complete coursework independently and collaboratively online every week. Select courses throughout the program will be offered solely online in which students are expected to learn collaboratively. Upon completion of the didactic coursework, students will complete two 12-week Level II Fieldwork placements. 

Students should anticipate traveling to CUW's Mequon campus approximately once a month (22 times) for in-person learning experiences. Classes run Friday 12 pm-9 pm and Saturday 8 am-5 pm with a one-hour break each day. Students will be responsible for transportation to all off-campus community locations. Students are responsible for all costs associated with traveling to campus, including housing and meals.

During the second summer of the MOT program, students in the bridge track will complete a one-week, full-time residency on campus for Level I Fieldwork. During this week, students will participate in a pediatrics camp/fieldwork experience, as well as a behavioral health fieldwork experience. Students are responsible for all costs associated with traveling to campus, including housing and meals. Some class requirements may be completed off-campus at designated community locations. Students will be responsible for transportation to all off-campus community locations. 

Students in the MOT program explore the entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) degree during the second semester. At that time, students are given the choice to continue in the MOT program or apply to the OTD program.

Due to the courseload of the MOT program, it is not recommended for students to work full-time.

Students are assigned a faculty advisor. Starting in the first fall semester, students will be introduced to our interprofessional Community Clinic, which serves clients across the lifespan. As students progress through the program, their involvement and autonomy in evaluation and treatment of clients will increase.

The OT program has embedded a student mentorship model for students to work with others in their track as both mentors and mentees. CUW OT students have the opportunity to be involved in student and professional organizations, the Pi Theta OT honor society, and faculty-mentored research opportunities.

OTA with Bachelor's to MOT

Applicants holding a completed bachelor's degree must apply for direct admission to the MOT program - Bridge track as noted on the admissions tab. 

• Bridge Track
  • Proof of 1 year of employment as a COTA
  • Earned bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution
  • Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher including:
    • 8-semester credits of Human Anatomy & Physiology, from a Biology, Anatomy, or Physiology department with a lab component, completed with a grade of B or better in each course
    • 3-semester credits of Statistics, completed with a grade of B or better
  • Ability to perform the essential functions of an occupational therapy student as listed on teh admis: Essential Functions
  • Applicants for the Bridge Track must submit an online application through the CUW website and choose Graduate

OTA with associate to BSRS to MOT

Applicants whose highest degree is an associate degree must apply for the BSRS Bridge program.

Post-Baccalaureate OT program

The post-baccalaureate occupational therapy program is designed for students who hold a bachelor's degree in any subject area and are prepared to complete their MOT or OTD in less than 3 years. 

Students in the MOT program - Post-Baccalaureate track can expect to complete coursework in a blended format. The first class is completed online at the beginning of January. Full-time coursework then begins in late January, according to the university academic calendar. Students in the post-baccalaureate track should anticipate having class Thursday & Friday 7:30am - 5:00pm on CUW's Mequon campus. Wednesdays may have required participation in school activities, such as Interprofessional Education and cross-cohort mentorship, and must maintain a level of flexibility in scheduling. Some class requirements may be completed off-campus at designated community locations. Students will be responsible for transportation to all off-campus community locations. Students should expect to complete coursework independently and collaboratively online during the remainder of the week. Select courses throughout the program will be offered solely online in which students are expected to learn collaboratively.

Students in the MOT program will have the opportunity to explore the entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTDe) degree while in the Personal Advocacy & Leadership course. Upon completion of the second semester, students will be given the choice to continue in the MOT program or apply to the OTDe program. 

During the second summer of the MOT program, students in the post-baccalaureate track will complete a one-week, full-time residency on campus. During this week, students will participate in a pediatrics camp/fieldwork experience, as well as a behavioral health fieldwork experience. Upon completion of the 4 semesters of didactic coursework, students will complete two 12-week Level II Fieldwork placements.

Students are assigned a faculty advisor. Starting in the first semester, students will be introduced to our interprofessional Community Clinic, which serves clients across the lifespan. As students progress through the program, their involvement and autonomy in evaluation and treatment of clients will increase. The OT program has embedded a student mentorship model for students to work with others in their track as both mentor and mentee. CUW OT students have the opportunity to be involved in student and professional organizations, the Pi Theta OT honor society, and faculty-mentored research opportunities. CUW’s Interprofessional Education (IPE) events encourage students to work through real-world scenarios with a team of future health professionals. 

Accelerated occupational therapy program

This fast-track occupational therapy program is designed for high school graduates eager to pursue both their bachelor’s and graduate degrees (MOT or OTD) in occupational therapy in less than 5 years. It is a full-time program offered in a hybrid format.

Students in the MOT program - Accelerated track can expect to complete coursework in a blended format. The first class is completed online during the first summer. Full-time coursework then begins in late August, according to the university academic calendar. Students in the accelerated track should anticipate having class Monday & Tuesday 7:30am - 5:00pm on CUW's Mequon campus. Wednesdays may have required participation in school activities, such as Interprofessional Education and cross-cohort mentorship, and must maintain a level of flexibility in scheduling. Some class requirements may be completed off-campus at designated community locations. Students will be responsible for transportation to all off-campus community locations. Students should expect to complete coursework independently and collaboratively online during the remainder of the week. Select courses throughout the program will be offered solely online in which students are expected to learn collaboratively. During the second summer of the MOT program, students in the accelerated track will complete a one week, full-time residency on campus. During this week, students will participate in a pediatrics camp/fieldwork experience, as well as a behavioral health fieldwork experience. Upon completion of the 4 semesters of didactic coursework, students will complete two 12-week Level II Fieldwork placements.

Students are assigned a faculty advisor. Starting in the first semester, students will be introduced to our interprofessional Community Clinic, which serves clients across the lifespan. As students progress through the program, their involvement and autonomy in evaluation and treatment of clients will increase. The OT program has embedded a student mentorship model for students to work with others in their track as both mentor and mentee. CUW OT students have the opportunity to be involved in student and professional organizations, the Pi Theta OT honor society, and faculty-mentored research opportunities. CUW’s Interprofessional Education (IPE) events encourage students to work through real-world scenarios with a team of future health professionals. 

Students in the MOT program will have the opportunity to explore the entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) degree while in the Personal Advocacy & Leadership course. Upon completion of the second semester, students will be given the choice to continue in the MOT program or apply to the OTD program.

Additionally, students in the accelerated track have the unique opportunity to pursue the Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) certificate program. Students will receive information from the director of the AAT program and must apply directly to the program. The AAT program is an additional cost beyond the cost of the OT program tuition and may have additional time requirements.

Students who begin their undergraduate career as a freshman in Concordia University Wisconsin’s   Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Science (BSRS)  program may apply to the MOT program - Accelerated track during the fall of their sophomore year. 

Interested high school students will apply to CUW for the  BSRS program. Applicants must have a high school GPA of 3.2 and an ACT score of 21 and must apply and submit the tuition deposit prior to December 1st. Those who meet these requirements will be reviewed and ranked according to GPA and ACT scores. The top 30 applicants will receive guaranteed status for the MOT Program - Accelerated track. In order to maintain guaranteed status and to be accepted to the MOT program, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA, earn a grade of B or higher in 8 credits of Anatomy & Physiology (BIO 191, BIO 192 and/or RSC 302) taken at CUW, and earn a grade of B or higher in 3 credits of Statistics.

Students transferring into CUW’s   BSRS  program will not have guaranteed status for the MOT program - Accelerated track. Transfer students must complete at least 36 credits at CUW to be given priority in the MOT - Accelerated track admission process and must include the following courses taken at CUW, as well as meet all other admissions requirements:

• BIO 191 Anatomy and Physiology I
• BIO 192 Anatomy and Physiology II
• RSC 302 Advanced Anatomy

Students with a completed bachelor's degree may be eligible for admission to the MOT program - Accelerated track if there are available spots in the cohort. These students must meet all posted admissions requirements. At times, eligible students may be offered acceptance to the Post-Baccalaureate track of the MOT program if the Accelerated track cohort is full.

• Accelerated Track
  • Documentation of 40 hours of job shadowing
  • Please contact Graduate Admissions for the current admissions deadline 

Program data specific to Concordia University Wisconsin on the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) Exam can be found here.

*Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we had 21 students who had a delay in fieldwork placements. These students graduated in 2021, which has them completing the program within 150% of the published length of the program. This also increased the number of graduates in 2021.

**In 2022, we graduated our first entry-level OTD cohort. Nine students are counted as starting the MOT program with their cohort, but are not counted in the MOT graduation rate because they applied and were accepted to the OTD program. Our overall graduation rate for 2022

Graduates of the program may sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states required licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. Program data specific to the OTD program at Concordia University Wisconsin on the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) Exam can be found here.

The following table outlines the potential cost of attendance for a student in the MOT Program. These costs are subject to change based on cost of textbooks, change in textbooks, and/or change in fee amounts from the University. Students in the accelerated track may have additional fees while finishing the undergraduate degree. Information about these fees may be obtained from the undergraduate billing.

Please note all accepted students will be required to submit a $1000 tuition deposit within four (4) weeks of acceptance to hold their spot in the program.

*Tuition is based on the 2022-2023 Academic Year. Tuition increases each academic year, typically by 3-5% and is released for publication in June.

**The textbook & material cost is an estimate based upon current book needs. As book editions are often in process, textbook costs may change. Students are responsible for purchasing their textbooks on their own, which could increase or decrease the textbook and materials total. Students in the Bridge Track may have a slightly different breakdown by semester for textbook costs as their course sequence is laid out slightly different than that of the Accelerated Track & Post-Baccalaureate Track, but overall the total cost of books should be the same. 

Travel costs will vary from student to student within our tracks. All students will have a one-week residency during Summer 2, which could include transportation, housing and food costs. Students will also accrue travel costs for the Level II Fieldwork as placements can be located as much as an hour away via car. 

Students in the Bridge Track should plan for travel to campus 4 times during Semesters 1, 2, 3 & 4, as well as 2-3 times during the first and third summers. This travel will include, at minimum, one overnight stay and all travel-related costs, including gas, car rentals, airfare, and food. Students may need to plan for travel costs to get to our Community Clinic sites located off-campus.