FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY

FLORIDA(A&M(UNIVERSITY

(

SCHOOL&OF&ALLIED&HEALTH&SCIENCES

DIVISION&OF&OCCUPATIONAL&THERAPY

Master'of'Science'in'Occupational'Therapy

APPLICATION)PROCESS

)

Revised 2023

Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University

School of Allied Health Sciences

Division of Occupational Therapy

Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT)

APPLICATION PROCESS

Thank you for your interest in the Florida A&M University’s School of Allied Health Sciences’ Master of

Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) Program, accredited through the Accreditation Council of

Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)

www.acoteonline.org.

Applying to the MSOT Program is a Two-Step process in which applicants must:

1. Applying to the Occupational Therapist Centralized Application Service (OTCAS). Go to

https://otcas.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login, Select the “Create New Account” button to begin your

application or enter your username and password to log back into your current OTCAS application. There

is a non-refundable OTCAS Application fee (the fee is based on a graduated scale that varies according to

the number of institutions you designate to receive your OTCAS application.) Be sure to read all OTCAS

and program-specific instructions in order to properly complete the application process, including the

submission of transcripts, references, test scores, OT observation hours, essay, supplemental materials, and

other important items the Florida A&M University MSOT Program requires.

- Allow up to 4 weeks for OTCAS to process and verify your application once your application, official

transcripts, and fee are received. Applying early is a good way to avoid mishaps with missing

information and deadlines OTCAS has in place.

- You a re e ncou rage d to pay th e OTCAS Appl icat ion fee on line by cred it c ard (O TCAS acce pts VISA

and MASTERCARD credit cards ONLY.)

2. Florida A&M University’s School of Graduate Studies & Research requires applicants have a Graduate

Studies & Research Application completed and submitted online

(https://graduateschool.famu.edu/students/prospective.php) with a $30.00 non-refundable application fee.

Only the application is required. All other documents, including the official transcripts(s), are obtained

through OTCAS.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MSOT PROGRAM

The procedures and requirements for admission into the University and the MSOT Program are outlined within

this packet. The information given must be complete and submitted by ALL applicants. The Admission

Committee will only consider candidates whose applications are “Complete,” therefore it is your responsibility

Revised 2023

to ensure all your materials have been received by OTCAS (ww.otcas.org) and by the School of Graduate

Studies & Research. Eligible candidates may be interviewed by the Admissions Committee.

The MSOT Program selects applicants based on the completion of all requirements within the packet.

1. The candidate MUST meet the following minimum requirements identified by the University and send

scores to OTCAS and the School of Graduate Studies & Research.

A. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university or an equivalent degree from an

institution of recognized standing in another country. No particular undergraduate degree or

concentration is required. Diversity of backgrounds in encouraged.

B. A GPA of 3.0 or better in the last 60 semester hours (or equivalent) of completed undergraduate

coursework.

C. Completion of ALL prerequisite coursework by Spring of the admission year with a GPA of 3.0

better.

D. An official score of 300 or better on the combined Quantitative and Verbal sections of the

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and a GRE Analytical Writing score of 3.5 or better.

2. Official scores should be submitted to OTCAS and the School of Graduate Studies & Research by the

application deadline (Institution Code: FAMU #5215) The GRE is optional for the fall 2022 admission

process.

E. Students from countries where English is not the official and primary language must also take and

receive a score of at least 250 on the computer version or 500 on the written version of the

Test of En glish as a Foreign Langua g e (TOE FL).

3. Official scores should be submitted to OTCAS and the School of Graduate Studies & Research by the

application deadline (Institution Code: FAMU #5215)

F. Be sure that your GRE score is not more than 5 years old.

4. Transcripts: Applicants must submit OFFICIAL copies of all transcripts from ALL colleges and/or

universities attended to OTCAS. Transcripts from foreign colleges and universities must be evaluated by

an accepted international credentialing agency before being sent to OTCAS. Course Description: You

may be contacted to submit a syllabus or course description to the Division if there is a question.

5. Clinical Observation (Volunteer)/Work Hours: Candidates for admission to graduate level coursework

must provide documentation of significant inquiry into the practice of Occupational Therapy.

Documentation must reflect completion of a minimum of forty (40) hours of clinical observation and/or

work experience in at least two (2) Occupational Therapy settings (i.e. Hospital, Outpatient Clinic, Skilled

Nursing Facility, or School System). Documented evidence must be submitted to OTCAS signed by a

licensed/registered occupational therapist. This is optional for fall 2022 admissions.

6. Letters of Recommendation: Applicants MUST submit three (3) letters of recommendation (using the

Reference Information Form provided by OTCAS) from:

A. The first recommendation letter from an instructor.

B. The second recommendation letter from a supervisor in a professional or work capacity.

C. The third recommendation letter from a health care or related profession.

**Letters of Recommendation CANNOT be from any of the FAMU OT Faculty members.**

PREREQUISITE COURSES

The following prerequisite courses must have been taken within the past 10 years, and the overall GPA for these

courses must be a 3.0 or better. Indicate where and when these courses were taken, and the grades received for

each course (the information is listed on OTCAS):

Revised 2023

Course Title

Credits

Date Taken

Institution

Grade

Human Growth and Development/Lifespan

Introduction to Anthropology or Sociology

Introduction to Psychology

Abnormal Psychology or equivalent

General Biology Lecture

General Biology Lab

College Physics I and lab (substitute:

Kinesiology w/out Lab)

3 or 4

Anatomy and Physiology I

Anatomy and Physiology I Lab

Anatomy and Physiology II

Anatomy and Physiology II Lab

Introduction to Statistics

Total Required Prerequisite Credits

**The School of Graduate Studies & Research does NOT recognize Plus (+)/Minus (-) grade

categorization at this time.** **Any course not completed will delay a definitive answer regarding

admission to the MSOT Program. All prerequisite courses must be completed prior to the start of the

program.**

Visit our website: https://ahealth.famu.edu/departments-and-centers/occupational-therapy/msot-program.php

ADDITIONAL IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Scholarships and Financial Funding

https://www.famu.edu/students/scholarships/index.php https://graduateschool.famu.edu/funding-

opportunities/index.php https://www.famu.edu/administration/foundation/index.php

Financial Aid is a limited source in Graduate School. You must be admitted as a full-time student to receive

funding. You may visit the School of Graduate Studies & Research website and the FAMU Foundation to

search for funding options.

Assistantships

Applicants may seek work-study positions in Occupational Therapy after their first semester of graduate school.

Students will be expected to complete 10 hours of work per week. Please contact Dr. Debora Oliveira, Director

for the Division of Occupation Therapy (Debora.ol[email protected]) with the following information: name,

address, email address, GPA, and a one-page statement of need for assistantship.