Occupational Therapy

MS

• Our occupational therapy master’s program is one of the largest in Wisconsin, and as the only public OT Program in the Greater Milwaukee area, we offer a top-notch academic experience at a fraction of the cost of private schools.
• Our urban location and deep community ties ensure ample options for your required fieldwork experience. We partner with more than 300 clinic sites in Milwaukee and across the United States.
• We’re known for our unique specialization in assistive technology and offer a certificate in Assistive Technology and Accessible Design. Our Assistive Technology Laboratory features state-of-the-art equipment that is unmatched in the state.
• We’re home of the Rehabilitation Design and Disability (R₂D₂) Center, a multidisciplinary research center where occupational therapy, assistive technology, communication sciences and disorders, engineering, and universal design experts support discovery and application of new knowledge.
• You can add specialized skills by choosing electives such as acute care, modalities, hand therapy, low vision, and trauma counseling.

Employment Outlook

Earnings

The median annual wage for occupational therapists was $84,950 in May 2019. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $56,800, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $121,490.

In May 2019 the median annual wages for occupational therapists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Expected Growth

Employment of occupational therapists is projected to grow 16 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. Occupational therapy will continue to be an important part of treatment for people with various illnesses and disabilities, such as Alzheimer’s disease, cerebral palsy, autism, or the loss of a limb.

The need for occupational therapists is expected to increase as the large baby-boom generation ages and people remain active later in life. Occupational therapists can help senior citizens maintain their independence by recommending home modifications and strategies that make daily activities easier. Therapists also play a large role in the treatment of many conditions and ailments commonly associated with aging, such as arthritis and stroke.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Occupational Therapists.

Professional Certification

The National Board Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) is a not-for-profit credentialing agency that serves the public interest by developing, administering, and continually reviewing the certification process for the occupational therapy profession. You are required to pass the certification exam after completion of your coursework and field experience.  See the passing rates of the new OT Masters-Level graduates taking the NBCOT certification exam.

Related Programs

• Occupational Science & Technology, BS
• Doctor of Occupational Therapy, OTD
• Health Sciences, PhD
• Assistive Technology & Accessible Design, Graduate Certificate
• Pre-Occupational Therapy

You must first meet the admission requirements of the UWM Graduate School. In addition to UWM Graduate School requirements, you must be prepared to meet the Degree Program requirements found under the Admission section in the UWM Academic Catalog, and below.

1. An undergraduate degree completed by the end of the Spring semester prior to beginning the OT Program, from an accredited institution, with an overall cumulative grade point average (GPA) of a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
2. Six prerequisite courses, required to be completed by end of Fall semester prior to beginning the MSOT Degree Program, with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
   1. Human Anatomy with a lab (3-4 cr)*
   2. Human Physiology with a lab (3-4 cr)*
   3. Human Development (3 cr)
   4. Abnormal Psychology (3cr)
   5. Statistics (3cr)
   6. One of the following natural science courses that includes lab-based data analysis
   (3-4 cr.):
   Physics
   Biology
   Chemistry
   Psychology
   
   Additional Recommended Coursework: While not required as prerequisite courses for our MS OT application, we do recommend that applicants have successfully taken 3 credit courses in a) reliability and validity of assessments such as, “Measurement Theory”, and UW-Milwaukee’s OCCTHPY 542 Evidence for Practice II, b) research methods such as UW-Milwaukee’s OCCTHPY 540 Evidence for Practice I, PSYCH 325 Research Methods in Psychology, or PSYCH 610 Experimental Design, and c) implications of diversity issues in health care practice.
3. Obtain and submit three letters of recommendation.
   7. One from an academic source.
   8. One from from a clinical/health-related source.
   9. The third letter can be either from an academic or clinical / health-related source.
4. Reasons Statement or Personal Essay: This is the same as the OTCAS essay. Address why you selected occupational therapy as a career and how an occupational therapy degree relates to your immediate and long-term professional goals.
5. Additional Question: Answer why the Occupational Therapy Program in the School of Rehabilitation Sciences & Technology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is a good fit for you. Limit 250 words.

Students from outside UW-Milwaukee

Students who did not complete an undergraduate degree at UW-Milwaukee should apply to the occupational therapy master’s program through the OT Centralized Application Service (OTCAS). OTCAS provides a full-service, web-based application and admissions process for prospective occupational therapy program applicants.

Once recommended for acceptance to the program, you will need to apply to and be accepted by the UWM Graduate School.

Current UWM Students

Applications for UW-Milwaukee Pre-OT students to the MS OT are handled annually using the internal Graduate School application system. UW-Milwaukee Undergraduate students should contact MacKenzie Kougl about obtaining a Pre-Occupational Therapy designation, and to learn about more admission opportunities.

Questions about applying to the MS in Occupational Therapy Degree Program can be sent to ot-program@uwm.edu. Additionally, applicants can look through our Frequently Asked Questions document.

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Our occupational therapy master’s degree curriculum prepares the generalist occupational therapist for entry-level practice in a variety of environments and practice settings, including health care delivery systems, educational institutions, public health, and social service organizations.

Since no single theoretical model adequately prepares the generalist occupational therapy practitioner, theories and conceptual practice models from social, natural, and physical sciences, combined with theories of occupation and sensitivity to culture and diversity, provide the building blocks of our curriculum.

It is organized by foundational concepts of occupation and occupational therapy, and will build on your culture, life experiences, and prior knowledge. You will have the opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills in assistive technology, accessible design, professionalism, and leadership through coursework, fieldwork, and service-learning experiences.

Graduates are prepared to assess the quality of information upon which evaluation and intervention decisions are based, evaluate intervention outcomes, and improve practice as scholarly practitioners focused on client-centered care.

For information regarding the curriculum and for course descriptions, see the UWM Academic Catalog.

Curriculum for students entering the Degree Program starting in 2025:

Year 1: Summer

Year 1: Fall

Year 1: Spring

Year 2: Summer

Year 2: Fall

Year 2: Spring

Curriculum for students who entered the Degree Program prior to 2025:

Year 1: Fall

1st Level I Fieldwork (January-April)

Year 1: Spring

Year 1: Summer

2nd Level I Fieldwork (after summer courses – August, or third semester – Fall)

Year 2: Fall

2nd Level I Fieldwork (Sept-Nov, unless completed in Summer)

Year 2: Spring

Year 2: Summer

Year 3: Fall

There are many great thing happening in MSOT’s Labs.

You may find your mentor or do research…

• Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Laboratory
• Assistive Technology and Universal Access (ATUA) Laboratory
• Behavioral Health and Human Occupation Laboratory
• Campus Ergonomic Services
• Ergonomics Laboratory for Independent Living Environment & Occupation
• Mobility Laboratory
• Occupational Ergonomics Laboratory
• Rehabilitation Research Design & Disability (R₂D₂) Center