Graduate College
Entry-Level
Occupational Therapy
About the Programs
There is no greater reward than helping people regain the ability to do the things in life that make them happy. With a Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy (MAOT) or Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD-EL) from St. Catherine University, you lay the foundation for a meaningful career as a caring, creative and knowledgeable occupational therapy professional.
In our graduate Entry-Level OT programs, you learn the science of occupation while cultivating your ability to listen and develop trusted relationships with clients. Individual interests, age, culture and religion, along with physical abilities, all affect care decisions. As an occupational therapist, your influence goes beyond rehabilitation you develop the capacity to understand clients holistically, as individuals who are influenced by their environment and motivated by what gives them meaning.
At St. Catherine, academic rigor is combined with a strong social justice mission. Your graduate education prepares you to address disparities in the quality of healthcare available to diverse members of our community. You’ll enhance your understanding of populations and cultures, and have opportunities to share caring strategies with health professionals here and abroad. You gain a deep appreciation for delivering care that makes all lives meaningful.
Our Curriculum
The 72-credit MAOT degree is offered in a 2.5-year weekday format, with classes held on our St. Paul, MN campus. The 100-credit OTD-EL degree is offered in a 3.5-year weekday format, with classes meeting on our St. Paul campus and online.
At St. Catherine, you are educated in evidence-based practice so you use the best information available to make professional decisions and employ optimal practices for the clients you serve.
The Entry-Level OT science-based curriculum is interwoven with the University’s liberal arts education, inspiring you to inquire, critique, make ethical decisions and lead the profession.
You will gain a foundation in the four major populations and practice areas pediatrics, geriatrics, mental health and rehabilitation and hone your ability to practice in multiple areas through coursework, critical research and fieldwork. Opportunities abound for fieldwork in diverse settings through St. Catherine’s vast network of partnerships locally, across the United States and around the world. Your field experiences allow you to develop diverse cultural perspectives and greater competencies. They also foster equitable delivery of healthcare, in keeping with St. Catherine’s social justice mission and the ethical values of the OT profession.
Accreditation
Both the MAOT and OTD Entry-Level programs at St. Catherine University are fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA): ACOTE
7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E Bethesda, MD 20814
301-652-6611 accred@aota.org
Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR).
All states require licensure in order to practice; state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Please note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
Sample Plan of Study: MAOT Entry-Level program
YEAR 1
SUMMER
Human Occupation
Neuroscience
FALL
Foundational Skills for Occupational Therapy Practice
Children, Adolescents & Families
Evidence Based Practice
Older Adults in Context
Seminar A: Entering the Profession
SPRING
Foundations of Research
Mental & Behavioral Health
Rehabilitation Concepts
Kinesiology for Rehabilitation
FW & Seminar B: Psychological and Social Factors that Impact Performance
YEAR 2
SUMMER
Community and Advocacy
FW & Seminar C: Practice Reflection
FALL
Mental & Behavioral Health: The OT Process
Children, Adolescents & Families: The OT Process
Ethical Management
Physical Assessment & Intervention Planning
Master's Project Seminar
SPRING
Older Adults: The OT Process
Rehabilitation Practices
Participation and Technology
Seminar D: Readiness for Level II Fieldwork
Master’s Project
YEAR 3
SUMMER
Level II Fieldwork
FALL
Level II Fieldwork
Sample Plan of Study: OTD Entry-Level program
YEAR 1
SUMMER
Doctoral Orientation Camp
Human Occupation
Neuroscience
FALL
Foundational Skills for Occupational Therapy Practice
Children, Adolescents & Families
Evidence Based Practice
Older Adults in Context
Seminar A: Entering the Profession
J-TERM
Social Determinants of Health
SPRING
Foundations of Research
Mental & Behavioral Health
Rehabilitation Concepts
Kinesiology for Rehabilitation
FW & Seminar B: Psychological and Social Factors that Impact Performance
YEAR 2
SUMMER
Evolution of Ideas
Educational Methods
FW & Seminar C: Practice Reflection
FALL
Mental & Behavioral Health: The OT Process
Children, Adolescents & Families: The OT Process
Essential Knowledge and Competencies
Ethical Management
Physical Assessment & Intervention Planning
J-TERM
Critical Issues
SPRING
Program Evaluation
Organizations and Systems
Older Adults: The OT Process
Rehabilitation Practices
Participation and Technology
Seminar D: Readiness for Level II Fieldwork
YEAR 3
SUMMER
Advanced Practice
Scoping Review Project
FALL
Level II Fieldwork
J-TERM
Level II Fieldwork
SPRING
Doctoral Capstone Project Proposal
Doctoral Capstone Experience A
YEAR 4
SUMMER
Doctoral Capstone Project
Doctoral Capstone Experience B
Capstone Footprint
Tuition and Fees
The 2024–25 tuition rate for the Entry-Level OT degree is $995 per credit. Additional fees include student services and technology ($330 per term), and books (vary by course).
How to Apply
The application deadlines for Summer enrollment are October 1 (priority) and December 1 (final).
To be eligible for admission, applicants must have:
• A bachelor’s or graduate degree from an institution accredited by a nationally recognized, regional accrediting association, or an approved dualdegree plan for completing the bachelor’s degree during the Entry-Level OT program
• A cumulative and prerequisite GPA of 3.2 or higher
• A minimum of 50 cumulative hours of work or volunteer experience in two or more settings
• Eight prerequisite courses:
o Human Anatomy
o Human Physiology
o General Psychology
o Lifespan Developmental Psychology
o Abnormal Psychology
o Introductory Sociology or Anthropology
o Medical Terminology
o Statistics
The Entry-Level OT application requires the following materials:
• Personal statement
• Current résumé
• Three recommendations
• Official transcript from all post-secondary institutions
• Official scores from TOEFL or IELTS (if native language is not English)
• Credential evaluation from World Education Services (if college/university coursework was completed outside the U.S.)
Visit our website for detailed application information, or to learn more about the Entry-Level OT program: stkate.edu/graduate