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Occupational Therapy (MSOT)

Graduate Program
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Application Deadlines

Fall Admission
January 1 (Application must be completed by January 15)

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Application Requirements

Entrance exam: Not required

Application requirements vary by program. Learn more

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Location

Boone campus

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Completion Time

2 years (full time)

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Costs and Aid

Help others live life to the fullest.

Walking the dog. Brushing your teeth. Simple activities for most. But for those with acquired or developmental challenges, the simple activities that many take for granted are monumental, if not impossible, tasks.

Occupational therapists assess the fit between the environment, a person’s abilities and the tasks the individual wants or needs to do, in order to optimize their participation in those tasks. Through App State’s Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) program, you will discover how science, creativity and compassion converge in this helping profession, which is in high demand across medical, educational and human service settings.

The program will provide you with a strong foundation in culturally competent and compassionate care, along with the knowledge and skills necessary to become a highly qualified and certified occupational therapist. Your studies will focus on working with people across the lifespan, helping them develop or reclaim the skills to do things they want, need or have to do through the therapeutic use of daily activities.

In addition to a robust curriculum, students will complete two 12-week fieldwork placements with regional occupational therapy providers, working under the supervision of faculty and staff in the Beaver College of Health Sciences.

App State’s MSOT program is currently in eligibility status for accreditation through the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education, with full accreditation expected by spring 2026. Students who graduate from accredited MSOT programs are eligible to take the national certification exam administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy. The program is accredited through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Visit the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences website for more information about the MSOT program and to learn about the admissions process and prerequisite coursework.

  • Department of Rehabilitation Sciences

  • Beaver College of Health Sciences

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$96,000+

Median annual salary of OT graduates nationwide, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

A 2025 Best

The Princeton Review named App State among the best schools in the U.S. and the Southeast for 2025.

Top 3

U.S. News & World Report has recognized App State as a top 3 university for innovation for 8 consecutive years.

Learn more about App State’s accolades

Concentrations and Courses

    • Occupational Therapy

      Explore occupation-based care for people of all ages and abilities, with a special focus on understanding rural service delivery.

      Graduate Bulletin & Course Catalog

Careers and Mountaineers

Where can an App State degree take you? Anywhere you want to go!

Careers

  • Occupational Therapist

Employers

  • Hospitals
  • School systems
  • Clinics
  • Skilled nursing agencies
  • Home health agencies
  • Rehabilitation centers
  • Public organizations
  • Private practice

Career information resource

App State’s Career Development Center
Services provided by the Career Development Center include resume reviews, career coaching, job and internship search assistance, and other tools for you to achieve life and professional success.

  • App State professor Jenny Womack
    App State professor Jenny Womack

    “App State has a devotion and commitment to student success, and our program will be built toward delivering a curriculum that fits App State’s mission of creating global citizens who have a regional impact — particularly on the rural areas around us, where there is a great need for additional occupational therapists.”

    — Dr. Jenny Womack, OTR/L, FAOTA, founding director of App State’s Occupational Therapy program

More to Explore at App State

International Experience

Work outside your cultural boundaries. Learn more

Professional Development

Invest in yourself with opportunities designed to stimulate career growth. Learn more

Graduate Assistantships

Earn some money while you earn your degree. Learn more

Hands-on Clinical Experience

Observe and assist faculty engaged in clinical service provision at App State’s Interprofessional Clinic. Learn more

Professional Licensure

App State programs that lead to a professional licensure or certificate are intended to prepare students for licensure or certification in North Carolina. Check the Professional Licensure webpage for information on licensure requirements in other states.

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Are you ready to become a Mountaineer? Take the next step, apply for admission to App State and elevate your future success.

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Admissions questions? Contact us.

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Program Contact

Dr. Jenny Womack
Program Director
[email protected]
828-262-7044

Beaver College of Health Sciences

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