Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) Entry-Level

The Department of Occupational Therapy at Wayne State University (WSU) was founded in 1944 and is one of the first programs established in the country. Beyond the department's rich history, an exciting transformation of the program has been completed. The entry-level Masters of Occupational Therapy (MOT) program began in the Spring semester of 2003. The new program provides many exciting opportunities. In this "2+3" MOT curriculum model, the full-time student can complete the program within a minimum of five years. Each student will meet with a faculty advisor for a customized plan of work to ensure a smooth transition.

Department Philosophy

The department's philosophy is centered upon a holistic view of human beings, integrating the mind, body and spirit within society, while engaging in meaningful occupations. Students will develop skills in clinical practice, research, entrepreneurship, technology, and advocacy, resulting in culturally competent practitioners who will provide services in traditional and emerging practice areas. Opportunities will be available for students to utilize leading edge equipment, be mentored by experts in the field with "hands on" assignments, and engage in computing and communication technologies, and dynamic group experiences in diverse social, economic, cultural and urban environments.

Program Admission Criteria

• Complete a College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Occupational Therapy application.  If you are not a Wayne State University Student, complete a Wayne State University application
• Complete a minimum of 20 contact hours under the supervision of a Registered Occupational Therapist (OTR), or equivalent, prior to your admission to the program. The documentation for contact hours is provided in the application packet. The packet can be downloaded from the Office of Student and Alumni Affairs.
• Complete a one-page personal/professional statement
• Submit two letters of recommendation from current or former employers or instructors using the form provided in the packet. The OTR who supervised your 20 contact hours is not eligible to complete this form
• You must have a grade point average of at least 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale). All prerequisite courses may be repeated to improve grades
• If you are transferring from another institution, it is highly recommended that you attend a Monthly Information Meeting, held on the first Tuesday of each month.   Please register for this free event at: http://cphs.wayne.edu/meetings.php
• After you attend a Monthly Information Meeting, if you have transcripts from any Michigan educational institutions, please visit the Self Service Transcript Evaluation Guide web site http://cphs.wayne.edu/program/Transcriptguide.php  and complete an evaluation of your  prerequisite coursework.  If you have any questions, following the completion of your self service transcript evaluation or if you are transferring from a non-Michigan institution, please contact the "Advisor of the Day" in the Office of Student and Alumni Affairs at (313) 577-1716  or cphsinfo@wayne.edu for assistance.

Prerequisite Coursework

• Science Prerequisites

  • BIO 1510 Basic Life Mechanisms
  • BIO 2870 Anatomy & Physiology (with lab)
  • PHY 2130 & 2131 General Physics
  • Mort Sci 4050 Human Anatomy and Physiology (for applicants beginning 2012) *This is no longer a required pre-requisite course effective 5/10/11!
  • Please check back routinely for other possible prerequisite changes

• Non-Science Prerequisites

  • ENG 1020 Introduction to College Writing
  • ENG 3010 Intermediate Writing
  • PSY 1010 or 1020 Introductory Psychology
  • PSY 2400 Developmental Psychology
  • STA 1020 or PSY 3010 Introduction to Statistics
  • COM 1010 Introduction to Oral Communication
  • PS 1010 Introduction to American Government
  • SS (Social Science) course of your choice

Please note:

• If you have been convicted of a felony, you will not be admitted to the program.
• If a student is convicted of a felony during the program, such conviction may impede the graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination and/or attain state licensure.
• If you have questions or concerns about this issue please contact NBCOT at 800 South Frederick Avenue, Suite 200 - Gaithersburg, MD, 20877 - (301) 990-7979 www.nbcot.org

Click here to access the 2011 MOT Student Handbook. Please check back annually for updates.

For more information please contact:

Regina Parnell PhD, OTR
Assistant Professor and Graduate Coordinator for the Master of Occupational Therapy Program
Department of Health Care Sciences
Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan 48202
(313) 577-6794
Occupational Therapy Program: (313) 577-1435
(313) 577-5822 FAX
ad9049@wayne.edu

Visit Advance for Occupational Therapy Practitioners Website Discover our OT articles to assist your future or current OT career at www.advanceweb.com/OT.