This is an entry-level master’s degree program. Our mission is to prepare entry-level graduates to provide occupational therapy services with distinctiveness and compassion, in a variety of professional practice environments.
Eastern provides two methods for students seeking entry into the profession as an occupational therapist:
International students must be admitted to Graduate Studies. Information can be found on the International Graduate web page. Specific Official English Proficiency Test Scores for admission to the MOT program:
| TOEFL iBT | PBT | PTE | IELTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 92 | 580 | 63 | 7.0 |
The program provides a foundation of skills in general practice competencies, leadership, and creative and critical thinking processes, to facilitate the development of a respected, entry-level occupational therapist. Additionally, graduates demonstrate a commitment to the common good, creative life-long learning, and high ethical standards for professional practice.
Our graduates come from a wide variety of backgrounds. Common undergraduate degrees include psychology, biology, exercise science, and interdisciplinary studies but the program has had students from a wide variety of majors.
• Every year roughly 250 people apply for 32 spots.
Once accepted into the program, you will enroll as a full-time, on-site student at the Eastern Washington University Spokane campus. The Master of Occupational Therapy program is a two-plus year lock-step, full-time in person program that begins in the summer term each year. After completion of the course work for the MOT program, you must complete 24 weeks of full-time fieldwork with a licensed occupational therapist to be eligible to graduate and sit for the national certification examination.
Potential applicants for the Master of Occupational Therapy degree are encouraged to contact the Occupational Therapy Department at ot@ewu.edu to discuss the degree requirements and application process and to ask your questions.
Eastern Washington University undergraduate students interested in pursuing the MOT via the Combined Bachelor to Masters of Occupational Therapy route should contact one of the following advisers by the end of their freshman year to ensure they have an approved degree plan in place to meet the requirements for applying to the MOT Program in their junior year.
2022-23 Application Cycle Deadlines (7/19/22 – 11/15/22)
Eastern Washington University Occupational Therapy program accepts applications annually for a mid-June class start date. Applications open up in mid-July and typically close at 5 p.m. Eastern time on November 15. For the 2022-23 application cycle the application cycle has now been extended to close at 5 p.m. Eastern time on November 20. All applications are reviewed as they come in. No priority is given to applications received earlier in the cycle. During the open period, applications are available on the Occupational Therapist Centralized Application Service (OTCAS).
2022-23 Application Cycle General Requirements (7/19/22 – 11/15/22)
The following are required for acceptance to the Master of Occupational Therapy program:
The following items are required to be completed at the time of submission of the OTCAS application:
2022-23 Application Cycle Prerequisites (7/19/22 – 11/15/22)
All prerequisite coursework must be taken at a regionally accredited college or university for a letter/number grade (not through certificate programs). Courses taken with a narrative grading system must be evaluated by the granting institution and a letter grade assigned. International courses must be evaluated by World Education Services or another credential evaluation service recognized by National Association of Credential Evaluation Services.
REQUIRED:
Go to: OTCAS Website.
2022-23 Application Review Criteria (7/19/22 – 11/15/22)
The following application elements are initially reviewed on all OTCAS applications received by the submission deadline:
From the applicants who meet the minimums we pull approximately 70-75 to interview based on the following criteria for the 2022-23 application cycle. Interviews for the 2022-23 application cycle are tentatively set for January 14, 2023.
After the interview, a final selection of 32 individuals plus about 25 wait-listed individuals is compiled based on a complete records review and the results of the interview’s two activities:
Past Program Acceptance Statistics
During the progression of occupational therapy coursework, development of a high level of professionalism is a focus. Students are expected to demonstrate professional behaviors in classes, fieldwork experiences, and interactions with other students, instructors, clients, staff, faculty, and other University personnel. Professional behaviors include: responsibility, competence, communication, integrity, cooperation/teamwork, respect and initiative. Students will be expected to use good judgment regarding appropriate dress and grooming for classes and Fieldwork I and II placements. Emotional maturity is expected in all professional matters throughout the OT Program. Students in the program are assessed as they progress using an assessment tool (see Appendix 2 Professional Behaviors Assessment in the OT Student Handbook 2022-23 for details.)
Professionalism is expected by those who are trained to do a job well and is demonstrated when that professional uses skill, good judgment, and polite behavior expected from a professional. There are also guidelines, rules and laws that govern the professional conduct expected of an Occupational Therapist. It is critical that you review these documents and fully understand them.
Please reference the MOT program homepage for additional program resources and information:
Thank you for your interest in the Master of Occupational Therapy Program at Eastern Washington University!
Options for Visiting: EWU’s Spokane campus does not offer formal campus tours. You are welcome to come to campus and tour on your own (make sure to follow all signage regarding Covid-19 protocols). Typically campus buildings are open Monday-Friday 8am-5pm.
Information Sessions: We hold periodic information sessions via Zoom during the application cycle. There are no more information sessions for the 2022-23 cycle. Please check back for a list of our 2023-24 application cycle information sessions. Choose the session you want to attend below and click the link to register. After you register you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Application
To apply to the program complete the Eastern Washington University Department of Occupational Therapy application for your MOT path through OTCAS. Effective with the 2022-23 application cycle EWU will charge a program application fee payable through a link in OTCAS. This is in addition to the OTCAS application fee.
Occupational Therapy, Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT)
All courses are required for the award of a Master of Occupational Therapy degree. For students entering through the Combined Bachelor's and Master of Occupational Therapy degree options, the first three semesters' credits (37 credits) will be assigned towards their Bachelor's degree plan and the remaining 50 credits will be assigned towards the Master of Occupational Therapy degree plan. For questions, please contact Graduate Studies.
| Required Courses | ||
| OCTH 501S | APPLIED HUMAN ANATOMY FOR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY | 4 |
| OCTH 502S | CLINICAL KINESIOLOGY AND BIOMECHANICS | 3 |
| OCTH 503S | APPLIED NEUROLOGY FOR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY | 3 |
| OCTH 504S | OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY THEORY AND FOUNDATIONS | 4 |
| OCTH 505S | IMPACT OF HUMAN DISEASE ON OCCUPATIONAL PERFORMANCE | 1 |
| OCTH 506S | PRACTICE SKILLS AND ETHICS | 2 |
| OCTH 507S | ANALYSIS AND SYNTHESIS OF OCCUPATIONAL PERFORMANCE | 3 |
| OCTH 510S | GROUP PROCESS | 3 |
| OCTH 512S | FIELDWORK II SEMINAR | 1 |
| OCTH 515S | INTER-PROFESSIONAL AND CROSS-CULTURAL LEARNING FOR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY | 1 |
| OCTH 517S | GRP PROCESS: FIELD APPLICATION | 1 |
| OCTH 520S | PRINCIPLES OF EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE | 2 |
| OCTH 522S | RESEARCH METHODS IN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY | 3 |
| OCTH 523S | ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION OF OCCUPATIONAL PERFORMANCE | 3 |
| OCTH 530S | OCCUPATIONAL PERFORMANCE AND MENTAL HEALTH: LPD | 3 |
| OCTH 531S | OCCUPATIONAL PERFORMANCE AND ADULTS: LPD | 3 |
| OCTH 532S | OCCUPATIONAL PERFORMANCE OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS | 3 |
| OCTH 533S | OCCUPATIONAL PERFORMANCE AND OLDER ADULTS | 3 |
| OCTH 535S | OCCUPATIONAL PERFORMANCE AND MENTAL HEALTH: PAS | 3 |
| OCTH 536S | OCCUPATIONAL PERFORMANCE IN ADULTS: PAS | 3 |
| OCTH 537S | OCCUPATIONAL PERFORMANCE OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS: PAS | 3 |
| OCTH 538S | OCCUPATIONAL PERFORMANCE AND OLDER ADULTS: FIE | 1 |
| OCTH 540S | HEALTH AND WELLNESS | 3 |
| OCTH 541S | TECHNOLOGIES FOR ENABLING OCCUPATIONAL PERFORMANCE | 3 |
| OCTH 542S | LEADERSHIP IN ENABLING OCCUPATION IN DIVERSE SETTINGS | 4 |
| OCTH 595S | CLINICAL FIELDWORK I (must be repeated three times for a total of 3 credits.) | 3 |
| OCTH 601S | PROFESSIONAL PROJECT I | 3 |
| OCTH 602S | PROFESSIONAL PROJECT II | 2 |
| OCTH 695S | CLINICAL FIELDWORK LEVEL II (variable credit–must be repeated twice for a total of 16 credits) | 16 |
| Total Credits | 90 | |