The Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) and the Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (OTD) programs both offer an Accelerated Graduate Pathway for current USM students majoring in Social and Behavioral Sciences or Health Sciences. These degrees often cover the majority of the MOT and OTD prerequisites as part of the undergraduate degree program.
Students interested in pursuing the MOT or OTD Accelerated Graduate Pathway complete approximately 85-90 undergraduate credits, usually through the course of approximately three (3) years of full time study. During the third year, the student would then apply and potentially gain conditional acceptance into the MOT/OTD program. The student’s final undergraduate year would then overlap with their first year of the master’s or doctoral program, with some credits counting toward both degrees.
Required prerequisites for the MOT and OTD Accelerated Pathway:
Student must declare either the Social and Behavioral Sciences major or the Health Sciences major.
- Medical Terminology 1-3 credits
- Multicultural Human Development (or Developmental Psychology) 3 credits
- Abnormal Psychology (or Psychopathology) 3 credits*
- Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab 4 credits**
- Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab 4 credits**
Prerequisite courses must be completed at a regionally accredited college or university.
- All prerequisite courses are available through the University of Southern Maine.
- Straighterline courses are unacceptable for prerequisite courses.
- Prerequisite courses must be passed with a grade of B- or higher.
- For grades lower than a B-, students may opt to retake the course, complete an equivalency exam (specific subjects only), or petition the faculty to substitute an appropriate course or work/life experience.
If using AP credit to fulfill a prerequisite course, the credit must have been completed within 6 years of applying to the program, and applicants must complete a petition form for the Program Director to review. Acceptance of AP credits for prerequisite courses will be given at the discretion of the Program Director. An AP credit score of 4 is equivalent to a B grade at the college level.
Additional Recommended Courses
- Neuroscience 3 credits
- Introduction to Sociology (or an upper level SOC/SBS course) 3 credits
- Statistics 3-4 credits**
- Introduction to Physics with Lab 5 credits**
APPLICATION TO THE MOT or OTD PROGRAM IS REQUIRED. Participation in the accelerated pathway option DOES NOT guarantee admission to the MOT or OTD program. Each applicant joins the overall applicant pool for consideration for admission.
If interested in pursuing the MOT or OTD accelerated pathway option, students should talk to their faculty or professional advisor. Students also can call (207) 780-5167 to set up an advising appointment for the SBS degree path, or (207) 780-4555 to set up an advising appointment for the Health Sciences degree path. Transfer of any previously earned college credits will also be discussed.
*Abnormal Psychology, Anatomy and Physiology I, and Anatomy and Physiology II must have been taken within six years prior to applying to the MOT or OTD programs. Courses taken outside of this date range will need to be retaken, or an equivalency exam may be used in its place. Alternatively, students with appopriate coursework or work/life experience may petition the OT department for a substitution.
**Online or simulated labs will be assessed for equivalency at the discretion of the Program Director.
