Master of Science in Occupational Therapy

A faculty member instructs occupational therapy students

Help people in your community get back to living the lives they deserve by pursuing a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy at Brenau. Our professors, all of whom are experienced occupational therapists, will teach you to analyze your clients capabilities and help them recover and live their best life. Whether you know your desired area of specialization or not, we will equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to succeed and thrive as an occupational therapist. 

Choose the best MSOT program for you

On-ground option

Duration: 6 semesters
Start term: Fall
Location: Gainesville 
Tuition: $16,790/sem.*

Hybrid weekend option

Duration: 7 semesters
Start term: Spring
Location: North Atlanta
Tuition: $13,104/sem.*

* Rate is current for the 2023-24 academic year.  Rates are subject to change.  See the main Tuition and Fees page for current information on all Tuition and Fees.

Student opportunities

  • Have access to state-of-the-art labs and facilities 
  • Complete a group thesis project under the guidance of a thesis professor 
  • Provide occupational therapy services to medically underserved adults and children at Brenau’s Center for Productive Living 
  • Work with the court system and/or local nonprofits as a part of fieldwork experience 
  • Learn from accomplished professors committed to helping you excel in practice, inquiry and advocacy

Potential OT career options

  • Pediatrics (clinics, specialty hospital, vision center) 
  • Animal-assisted therapy 
  • Physical rehabilitation
  • Mental health
  • Gerontology (skilled nursing facility, hospital, elder care consultant)
  • Acute care 
  • Home health

Start your application today

To apply to Brenau’s School of Occupational Therapy, you must start your application in the Centralized Application Service for Occupational Therapy programs (OTCAS). Create your account at otcas.liaisoncas.com

To learn more about OTCAS, visit help.liaisonedu.com/OTCAS_Applicant_Help_Center.

Learn more about us

Brenau’s School of Occupational Therapy offers virtual info sessions from 5:30-7 p.m., on the first Tuesday of each month. Register for an info session. 

Admissions requirements for on-ground Gainesville option:

To be considered for this program the applicant must meet all of the following requirements:

Within the OTCAS application are the following requirements:

  • Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, or receive a bachelor’s degree by June 1 for a fall start or Sept. 1 for a spring start. Overall GPA of 3.0 or greater as calculated by OTCAS
  • Complete the eight prerequisite courses within the last eight years, from an accredited college or university, with a grade of “C” or better, no later than June 1 of the admission year. Prerequisite GPA of 3.0 is preferred.
  • Recommend a total of 40 hours of observation in at least two different occupational therapy practice settings
  • Three professional references (at least one from an OT practitioner) submitted through OTCAS using OTCAS form only
  • Attend an in-person or virtual group interview by invitation only
  • Writing sample will be collected at the time of the interview. Applicants who have submitted GRE scores as part of their application (the GRE is not required for the MSOT) will not be required to submit a writing sample.
  • Any coursework completed internationally (except for official study abroad) requires a NACES-approved foreign evaluation sent directly to Brenau. 
  • If the applicant’s first language is not English, the following is required — TOEFL scores: Paper 550; Computer 213; Internet 79; IELTS Score: 6.5.

Admissions requirements for hybrid North Atlanta option:

To be considered for this program the applicant must meet all of the following requirements:

  • Experienced in online learning and in possession of a reliable computer with stable internet access
  • Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, or receive a bachelor’s degree by June 1 of the admission year
  • Overall GPA of 3.0 or greater as calculated by OTCAS
  • Complete the eight prerequisite courses within the last eight years, from an accredited college or university, with a grade of “C” or better, no later than Sept. 1 of the admission year (Prerequisite GPA of 3.0 is preferred)
  • Recommend a total of 40 hours of observation in at least two different occupational therapy practice settings
  • Three professional references (at least one from an OT practitioner) submitted through OTCAS using OTCAS form only
  • Attend an in-person or virtual group interview by invitation only
  • Writing sample will be collected at the time of the interview (Applicants who have submitted GRE scores as part of their application will not be required to submit a writing sample)
  • Any coursework completed internationally (except for official study abroad) requires a NACES- approved foreign evaluation sent directly to Brenau University
  • If the applicant’s first language is not English, the following is required — TOEFL scores:
    Paper 550; Computer 213; Internet 79; IELTS Score: 6.5

Required of International Applicants: Applicants with F-1 Visa must complete the following by the program deadline

Instructions for International Students

  • Course-by-course NACES-approved transcript evaluation for any non-US courses to be sent directly to Brenau University
  • If the applicant’s first language is not English, one of the following is required:
  • IELTS score of 6.5
  • TOEFL Paper-based: score of 550
  • TOEFL Computer-based: score of 213
  • TOEFL Internet-based: score of 79

Prerequisite courses

Required prerequisites for the MSOT and ELOTD programs.

  1. PY 202 – Human Growth & Development (lifespan) (3 hrs.)
  2. PY 309 – Abnormal Psychology (3 hrs.)
  3. SY 101 – Intro to Sociology OR Social Issues OR AY 101 Intro to Anthropology OR Cultural Anthropology (3 hrs.)
  4. MS 205 – Introduction to Statistics (3 hrs.)
  5. BY 209 – Human Anatomy & Physiology I (4 hrs. with lab)
  6. BY 210 – Human Anatomy & Physiology II (4 hrs. with lab)
  7. PS 121 – General Physics OR EX 301 Biomechanics OR EX 300/300 L Kinesiology + lab OR other movement sciences (3-4 hrs).
  8. HS 200 – Medical Terminology (1 hr.)

Accreditation 

The Brenau University Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) degree program has maintained accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). ACOTE is located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number, 301-652-6611 x2042, email is accred@aota.org and the web address is www.acoteonline.org.

Have questions?

Contact Nancy Fowler, OT admissions counselor, at 678-707-5001 or nfowler1@brenau.edu

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