Occupational Therapy

Master of Occupational Therapy

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.

What will I study?

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 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.

What are the degree entry options?

Eastern provides two methods for students seeking entry into the profession as an occupational therapist:

  • Option for Any Student with an Earned Bachelor Degree – Entry into graduate studies and the MOT course sequence upon admission into the program.
  • Option for Eastern Washington University Students in Approved Undergraduate Degree Programs – Students who are pursuing an approved bachelor degree program at Eastern Washington University can enter through a Combined Bachelors to Entry-Level Masters degree path. Currently, approved undergraduate programs participating in this path are: (1) Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Interdisciplinary Studies and (2) Bachelor of Science (BS) in Exercise Science and Bachelor of Science. In the junior year, students in these approved majors may apply to the Combined Bachelors to Entry-Level Masters. If accepted, the first year of the MOT course sequence counts towards completing the bachelor degree and the second year of the MOT course sequence and fieldwork level II experiences count towards the MOT degree.

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 iBTPBTPTEIELTS
95590657

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Advising

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 one of the Combined Bachelor to Masters of Occupational Therapy degree paths 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.

  • BS in Exercise Science Option
    Students who are interested in the Exercise Science degree with an emphasis in Occupational Therapy should contact Christi Brewer at 509.359.2485 or cbrewer7@ewu.edu.
  • BA in Interdisciplinary Studies Option
    Students who are interested in the Interdisciplinary Studies degree option with an emphasis in Occupational Therapy should contact John Neace at 509.359.6524 or jneace@ewu.edu.

Application Process

Eastern Washington University Occupational Therapy program accepts applications annually for a mid June start date.  Applications open up mid July and close at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on November 15.  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).

The following must be completed for acceptance to the Master of Occupational Therapy program:

  • Apply to the appropriate entry path by completing the online application in OTCAS by 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on November 15.
  • If accepted to the Occupational Therapy program applicants must complete all program entry requirements as outlined in the applicant’s offer letter from the Occupational Therapy department before the start of the summer semester of the application year (typically the third week in June).

The following items will be required to complete the OTCAS application:

Please note effective May 14, 2020 the EWU MOT Program no longer requires the Graduate Records Examination (GRE) in application to the program.

  • Meet the requirements for admission to EWU Graduate Studies.
  • Official transcripts from all higher education institutions attended received and verified by OTCAS by the application deadline.
  • Evidence of Undergraduate Bachelor’s degree completion
    • Direct MOT entry: Degree must be posted before the start of the summer semester of the application year.
    • Combined Bachelors to Masters entry: Upload a signed degree plan from the appropriate department adviser indicating BS/BA program specific requirements will be complete before the start of the summer semester of the application year.
  • Complete (at least 7 of the 11 by the deadline) the MOT specific prerequisites with a grade of 2.0 (C) or higher.  (Remaining prerequisites, if any, must be completed by the start of the summer semester of the application year.)
    • Demonstrate a 3.5 or higher cumulative GPA in all MOT specific prerequisite courses.
  • Demonstrated experiences with persons with disabilities or living with life challenges to include voluntary or work experience of 40 hours or more.
    • At least 10 of the 40 hours must be shadowing a licensed occupational therapy practitioner in at least two different practice settings.  Telehealth hours do count toward observation/shadowing.
  • Personal Statement completed in OTCAS.
  • Eastern Washington University-specific Essay Question completed in OTCAS.
  • Submission of 3 letters of recommendation as follows:
    • One from a licensed OT practitioner
    • One from a college professor/instructor or employer (of 6-months or more)
    • One as a character reference from someone not related to applicant
  • Pay application fee to EWU Graduate Studies by 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time November 15 (see Graduate Studies for more information).

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.

  • General Biology with lab
    This course must include chemistry of living systems and cell functions. A college chemistry for non-majors or chemistry for the health sciences course can be substituted.
  • Human Anatomy with lab
    This can be taken as a multi-term combined anatomy and physiology series of two terms or more. If the full Anatomy and Physiology series is completed at Eastern Washington University (BIOL 232/332, BIOL 233/333 and BIOL 234/334), the program-specific Medical Terminology prerequisite is waived. It is recommended to complete the full series of anatomy and physiology.
  • Human Physiology with lab
    This can be taken as a multi-term combined anatomy and physiology series of two terms or more. If the full Anatomy and Physiology series is completed at Eastern Washington University (BIOL 232/332, BIOL 233/333 and BIOL 234/334), the program-specific Medical Terminology prerequisite is waived. It is recommended to complete the full series of anatomy and physiology.
  • Intermediate English Composition/Technical Writing
    A course designated by a college/university or academic department as “writing intensive” can also fulfill this requirement. Applicants should submit course descriptions to ot@ewu.edu for review.  Candidates who have already earned a master’s degree in a different field are exempt from this requirement.
  • Introduction to Occupational Therapy
    This course may be difficult to find at colleges that do not have an Occupational Therapy program. The Introduction to Occupational Therapy (OCTH 101) course at Eastern Washington University is offered through Eastern Online. Candidates who are Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants (COTAs) are not required to take an Introduction to Occupational Therapy course.
  • Medical Terminology
    A college level medical terminology course from an accredited institution. The Medical Terminology (OCTH 292) course is offered through Eastern Online. Candidates who are Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants (COTAs) are not required to take a Medical Terminology course.
  • Introduction to Sociology/Anthropology
    Approved selected courses used to fulfill general graduation requirements for diversity or international studies may be substituted for an introductory level Sociology or Anthropology course. Contact ot@ewu.edu for a list of approved course substitutes.
  • Abnormal Psychology
  • General Psychology/Introduction to Psychology
    We will accept transcripted Advanced Placement credit in General Psychology from an accredited institution only for applicants who minored or majored in Psychology.
  • Human Development through the Life Span or Developmental Psychology through the Life Span
  • Statistics 

Go to: OTCAS Website.

  1. Create an OTCAS account and follow the prompts.
  2. Submit your documents as listed under General Requirements in step 2.
  3. Enter your completed Course Prerequisite as stated in step 3.
  4. Pay application fee to EWU Graduate Studies by 5 p.m. November 15, Pacific Standard Time.

All applications must be complete and submitted by 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time

For more information on tuition and fees for a specific Occupational Therapy program curriculum sheet, please visit EWU’s Student Financial Services website.

Program and course fees are added on top of tuition and mandatory fees.

Individual course fees for lab supplies etc. are posted on each course section in the schedule (go to the Course Search function in EagleNET). Input the required parameters, select the course and look for the amount listed under “base fees.”

WICHE STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM

Eastern Washington University Occupational Therapy program participates in the Professional Student Exchange Program (PSEP) through the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) Program. WICHE helps students to enroll in selected out-of-state professional programs not offered in their resident state. Outbound students and their families save money through reduced tuition arrangements.

Information about WICHE Program

If you are a resident of Alaska, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, Hawaii, Nevada, Montana, Nevada or Wyoming, you are encouraged to contact the certifying office in your state or the WICHE Office in Boulder, CO at the following address:

WICHE Student Exchange Program
P.O. Box 9752
Boulder, CO 80301-9752
303.541.0214
info-sep@wiche.edu

The following application elements are initially reviewed on all applications completed and verified by OTCAS by the deadline:

  • Prerequisites (number completed)
  • Personal Statement
  • Observation/Volunteer/Work Experience
  • Letters of Recommendation
  • Personal Essay

From the applicants who meet the minimums we pull approximately 70-75 to interview based on a primary scoring rubric using academic performance, the written statements, and writing proficiency.  Our current rubric is weighted as follows:

  • 30% last 60/90 attempted GPA
  • 30% Pre-requisite GPA
  • 40% Essay score (Personal statement and Essay question) scored by 2 faculty. The following factors are scored: self assessment of preparation for occupational therapy practice and formal writing skills

After the interview, a final selection of 32 individuals plus about 25 wait-listed individuals is based on a complete records review and the results of the interview’s three activities:

  • Group interview
  • Group challenge activity
  • Writing sample

Past Program Acceptance Statistics

  • 240+ applicants, 32 accepted each year
  • 2-year average GRE: writing score 4.1, verbal 153, quantitative 150
  • Past 3 years: Cumulative GPA (Last 60/90 credits): average 3.88, lowest GPA accepted to program 3.6
  • Past 3 years: Prerequisites GPA (at time of application): average 3.90, lowest GPA accepted to program 3.5

Thank you for your interest in the Master of Occupational Therapy Program at Eastern Washington University!

Options for visiting the Occupational Therapy Department at Eastern Washington University’s Spokane campus:

You must pay to park on campus lots (EWU Cheney passes do NOT work on the Spokane campus).

Monthly Information Sessions: We are anticipating starting monthly information sessions via Zoom in June 2020.

To apply, complete the Eastern Washington University Department of Occupational Therapy application for your path through OTCAS.