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Occupational Science, B.S. to Master of Occupational Therapy Accelerated Program

Student Handbook

Saint Louis University's program in occupational therapy offers a Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) degree. For the early-assurance (freshman-entry) option, it is a five-year curriculum, including one summer. Students admitted as freshmen receive a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Science after successful completion of the first four years and the MOT degree after successful completion of the additional post-baccalaureate year.

Begin your journey toward SLU’s Master of Occupational Therapy in one of three ways:

  • Freshman-entry with early assurance in a 3+2 graduate professional program

  • Transfer from another program or university during undergraduate studies

  • Graduate-entry after earning another undergraduate degree

For additional information, see the catalog entries for the following SLU programs:

Occupational Science, B.S.

Master of Occupational Therapy

Bachelor of Science in Occupational Science

  1. Graduates will be able to describe the occupational nature of humans and their evolution as occupational beings across the lifespan.
  2. Graduates will be able to examine the contribution of occupational engagement to the health and well-being of people and populations.
  3. Graduates will be able to analyze environmental and contextual influences on occupational engagement and occupational justice.
  4. Graduates will be able to interpret research literature to support the role of occupational science as a foundation for occupational therapy.

Master of Occupational Therapy

  1. Graduates will be able to apply theories that underlie the practice of occupational therapy.
  2. Graduates will be able to demonstrate skills in assessment and intervention practice in the implementation of occupational therapy with clients across the lifespan.
  3. Graduates will be able to demonstrate skills in research design.
  4. Graduates will be able to effectively interact through written communication in a professionally acceptable manner.
  5. Graduates will be able to construct a professional sense of self as an occupational therapist.

Admission Requirements

Students interested in the Occupational Therapy accelerated program should select the M.O.T. program when they apply to SLU as incoming freshmen. Students applying to transfer to SLU with previous college credit should also select the M.O.T. program when they apply.

Current SLU students from other majors can apply to the M.O.T. program by petition. It is recommended that students apply no later than the spring of their sophomore year to stay on track and graduate with their cohort. 

Program Requirements

The required GPA minimum for freshmen is 2.70, for sophomores is 2.80 and for juniors is 2.90. All students must earn a grade of "C" or higher in all required program curriculum courses. Students who do not meet the GPA requirements will not be permitted into the M.O.T. program. 

Students in the Accelerated program can take up to 30 credits at the graduate level that will count for both the B.S. in Occupational Science and the Master of Occupational Therapy. Students must have a 3.00 cumulative GPA at the end of the B.S. to progress into the M.O.T. 

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.  

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

Plan of Study Grid
Year One
FallCredits
BIOL 1240 General Biology: Information Flow and Evolution 3
BIOL 1245 Principles of Biology I Laboratory 1
CORE 1500 Cura Personalis 1: Self in Community 1
CORE 1700 Ultimate Questions: Philosophy 3
ENGL 1900 Advanced Strategies of Rhetoric and Research 3
OCS 1000 Humans as Occupational Beings 2
PSY 1010 General Psychology 3
 Credits16
Spring
ANAT 1000 Basic Human Anatomy 3
CORE 3400 Ways of Thinking: Aesthetics, History, and Culture 3
HSCI 2500 Human Development across the Lifespan 3
IPE 2100 Interprofessional Collaboration and Healthcare in Global Context 3
MATH 1200 College Algebra 3
 Credits15
Year Two
Fall
CHEM 1080
CHEM 1085
Principles of Chemistry 1 Lecture
and Principles of Chemistry 1 Lab (satisfies CORE 3800)
4
OCS 1010 Doing, Being, Becoming, and Belonging: Exploration of Self Through Occupation (satisfies CORE 3500) 2
ORES 2320 Interprofessional Health Outcomes Research 2
PSY 3460 Abnormal Psychology 3
STAT 1300 Elementary Statistics with Computers (satisfies CORE 3200) 3
 Credits14
Spring
Participation in Study Abroad Optional  
CORE 1200 Eloquentia Perfecta 2: Oral and Visual Communication 3
CORE 1600 Ultimate Questions: Theology 3
CORE 2800 Eloquentia Perfecta 3: Creative Expression 3
HSCI 2200 Medical Terminology 3
PHIL 2050
or HCE 2010
Ethics
or Foundations in Clinical Health Care Ethics
3
 Credits15
Year Three
Fall
IPE 4200 Applied Decision-Making in Interprofessional Practice 3
OCS 3120 The Study of Occupation 3
OCS 3220 Contexts of Occupation 3
OCS 3320 Development of Humans as Occupational Beings 3
PPY 2540 Human Physiology 4
 Credits16
Spring
CORE 3500 Cura Personalis 3: Self in the World 1
HCE or PSY 3XXX/4XXXHealth Care Ethics or Psychology Elective 3
IPE 4900 Interprofessional Community Practicum (satisfies CORE 4000) 3
OCS 3520 Occupation and Health 3
OCS 3720 Occupational Justice 3
OCS 3820 Practical Applications in Occupational Science 3
 Credits16
Year Four
Summer
MOT 5100 Functional Anatomy for Occupational Therapy 3
MOT 5150 Kinesiology 3
 Credits6
Fall
MOT 5170 Neuroscience in Occupational Therapy 3
MOT 5200 Health Conditions and Occupational Implications 3
MOT 5300 Foundations of Occupational Therapy Practice 3
MOT 5350 Theoretical Perspectives of Occupational Therapy 3
MOT 5370 Occupational Therapy Assessments Throughout the Lifespan 3
MOT 5610 Quantitative Research Methods in Occupational Therapy 2
MOT 5611 Occupational Therapy Graduate Research Project 1 (Optional) 1
 Credits17-18
Spring
Bachelor of Occupational Science degree awarded upon completion of this semester  
MOT 5030 Application of Occupational Therapy Practice 3
MOT 5250 Administration & Leadership in Occupational Therapy 2
MOT 5400 Occupational Therapy Practice with Adults 1 3
MOT 5410 Occupational Therapy Practice in Mental Health 3
MOT 5450 Occupational Therapy Practice with Children and Youth 1 3
MOT 5620 Qualitative Research Methods in Occupational Therapy 2
MOT 5621 Occupational Therapy Graduate Research Project 2 (Optional) 1
 Credits16-17
Year Five
Fall
MOT 5040 Application of Occupational Therapy Practice 2 1
MOT 5550 Occupational Therapy Practice with Adults 2 3
MOT 5560 Occupational Therapy Practice in the Community 3
MOT 5570 Specialty Occupational Therapy Practice 2
MOT 5580 Emerging and Focused Practice in Occupational Therapy 3
MOT 5600 Occupational Therapy Practice with Children and Youth 2 4
MOT 5631 Occupational Therapy Graduate Research Project 3 (Optional) 1
 Credits16-17
Spring
MOT 5700 Advanced Fieldwork I 6
MOT 5750 Advanced Fieldwork II 3
MOT 5641 Occupational Therapy Graduate Research Project 4 (Optional) 1
 Credits9-10
 Total Credits156-160

Apply for Admission

Contact Doisy College of Health Sciences
Recruitment specialist
314-977-2570
dchs@health.slu.edu