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2025-2026 Graduate Catalog
Occupational Therapy (OTH) MS
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Overview
Program Coordinator: Dr. Cathy Felmlee Shanholtz Program Delivery Format: Year 1 On campus with face-to-face, online and hybrid coursework, Year 2 in fieldwork placements with on campus residency ) Total Credits: 79 Average Completion Time: 24 months Admission Start Term: Summer Priority Application Deadlines: - Application Opens: July 15
- Priority Deadline: October 15
- Final Deadline: Applications remain open until the cohort is filled.
Admissions Contacts: - Crystal Perry, Assistant Director, Graduate Enrollment Management (cperry@mcdaniel.edu | 410-386-4833)
- Colin Hoover, Admissions Counselor, Graduate Enrollment Management (choover@mcdaniel.edu | 410-871-3139)
GPS Student Support Liaisons: gpsadvising@mcdaniel.edu | 410-857-2500
McDaniel College’s Occupational Therapy graduate program is a 24-month holistic immersive learning program that combines in-person, online, community-based engagement, and interdisciplinary collaboration to provide students with a comprehensive, occupation-centered educational experience and prepare them to advocate, lead, and serve through the occupational therapy profession. Through a balanced application of innovative pedagogy, scholarly and experiential learning, McDaniel Occupational Therapy graduates will acquire skills necessary for evidence-based inquiry, professional reasoning, and collaborative engagement, while promoting health equity and community service. The professional course of study immerses students in the study of occupational therapy practice through academics, integrated labs, research, practicums, and concentrated clinicals fieldwork. Program Design and Delivery The MS in Occupational Therapy program is designed to be completed in two years, including summer, and utilizes online, hybrid and face-to-face instruction. The first summer is a hybrid semester, where students come to campus for a three-day orientation in late May followed by 9 weeks of online learning. Students return to campus in mid-August for the final two weeks of the summer term. The first fall and spring term will require students to be on campus regularly for face-to-face classes and lab; however, some online and hybrid courses will be offered to help provide flexibility and balance in the student schedule. The first Jan. term will be online. The second summer session will be a hybrid semester. Students will be expected to be on campus 3 to 4 times during the summer for 3 to 5 days during each campus residency. In the second year beginning with the fall semester, students will be placed in community-based internships which can be local, regional or nationwide. International placements are approved on a case-by-case basis. Students will return at least once per semester for a 3-to-5-day residency. Students should expect to live near or on campus during the first year of the program beginning in mid-August when regular attendance on campus will be required. In the second year, students will be placed in internships at sites within 90 miles of the campus, unless students otherwise request a site outside of this geographical region. Admission Requirements
Students are required to apply through OTCAS. The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MS in OT) program at McDaniel College does not accept transfer credits from other institutions toward the completion of the degree. Additionally, the program does not offer advanced standing based on prior coursework, academic experience, or professional experience. All students must complete the full MS in OT curriculum at McDaniel College to be eligible for graduation. Our admissions policies and processes ensure the integrity, consistency, and quality of the educational experience provided, and supports the program’s commitment to preparing competent, entry-level occupational therapy practitioners according to the standards set by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE®). In alignment with Standard A.3.2, admissions practices are designed to be equitable and holistic, evaluating applicants based on a broad range of academic, professional, and personal experiences that reflect the program’s mission and commitment to fostering an inclusive learning environment. Five-Year Accelerated BA /MS in Occupational Therapy
McDaniel’s five-year acclerated Bachelor of Arts/Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program is designed for academically qualified first-year students or current McDaniel students who are confident they want to become occupational therapists. Students who are admitted to this program will earn both a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree and a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MS in OT) degree in five years from McDaniel when completing the requirements of both degrees. Currently, students who major in Kinesiology or Health Science (with an OT specialization) as an undergraduate student are eligible for the BA/MS in OT five-year program. Admission Requirements for First-Year Entry Students
First year college students interested in enrolling at McDaniel and who are interested in admission to the five-year accelerated program will apply to McDaniel using McDaniel’s online application. Students should indicate interest in the Five-year Accelerated program and choose an undergraudate major of Health Science with an OT Specialization or Kinesiology. Admission to the fFve-year Accelerated BA/MS in OT program as a first-year college student is a competitive process and students must meet the following admission requirements: - High school degree with a minimum 3.00 GPA or higher (unweighted) with the following recommended courses with an earned grade of B or better in all high school science and math courses.
- 4 years of English
- 3 years of math
- 3 years of natural sciences - including a course in biology
- 3 years of social sciences
- The following courses are not required but are highly recommended: psychology, statistics, and anatomy. AP courses are also considered favorably.
- CLEP exam and AP courses will not be accepted unless credited by a previously attended college or university. Outstanding credits must be “in progress” or “planned” and must be completed prior to enrollment.
- Two letters of recommendation
- A professor, teacher, counselor, academic advisor, or a person of your choice other than a relative or family friend, who can speak objectively about your strengths, such as a work supervisor or employer.
- A person who can speak to your potential as an occupational therapist, such as someone who supervised you during an OT-related experience or worked with you in a setting related to health care or populations related to OT.
- Evidence of life experience and leadership and/or strong leadership in school or community activities. Please submit a resume highlighting these activities and any work history.
- Personal statement describing your understanding of occupational therapy and reasons for interest in the profession. It is encouraged that all written personal statements be completed without the assistance of an AI tool since the statement should provide information related to the individual’s personal and professional goals and aspirations as an occupational therapist.
- Completion of admission interview. Please note that not all qualified students are invited for an interview. Admission is competitive.
Admission Requirements for Current McDaniel Students
The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MS in OT) program offers a five-year program for current McDaniel students majoring in Kinesiology or Health Science (OT specialization). Current McDaniel students interested in pursuing the MS in OT five-year acclerated program should apply by the fall of their third year of study. To be considered for admission, students must: - McDaniel Students interested in the Five-year acclerated BA/MS in OT program should apply before the spring of the third year of study. Students must have a cumulative 3.00 GPA or higher and must have a “C” or better in any of the following completed prerequisites. Admission into the program is competitive and will be based on available seats. Students may not repeat more than one prerequisite course.
- Prerequisites for the MS in OT:
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Abnormal Psychology or Psychopathology -
Developmental Psychology (infancy through lifespan - students may have taken more than one course to meet this content) -
Anatomy and Physiology (8 credits with lab) -
Medical Terminology (1 credit or more) -
Statistics - Options include behavioral, educational, psychological, or mathematical statistics. Business statistics does not fulfill this requirement. -
Social Science - Options include sociology, anthropology, public health, epidemiology, gerontology, philosophy, cultural or gender studies - Submit two letters of recommendation from a professor, teacher, counselor, academic advisor, or a person of your choice (other than a relative or family friend) who can speak objectively about your strengths, such as a work supervisor or employer.
- Provide evidence of life experience and leadership. Please submit a resume highlighting these activities and any work history.
- Personal statement describing your understanding of occupational therapy and reasons for interest in the profession. It is encouraged that all written personal statements be completed without the assistance of an AI tool since the statement should provide information related to the individual’s personal and professional goals and aspirations as an occupational therapist.
- Completion of admission interview. Please note that not all qualified McDaniel students will be invited for an interview. Admission is competitive.
Progression Requirements for Students Admitted to the Five-Year Program
Students admitted into the Five-year accelerated BA/MS in OT program must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA and a grade of “C” or better in all prerequisite courses. Students may not repeat more than one prerequisite course. Prerequisite Courses: - Introduction to Psychology
- Abnormal Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Human Anatomy with Lab
- Human Physiology with Lab
- Medical Terminology
- Sociology
- Statistics
Students will be required to follow a prescriptive program of study and will be required to begin in the MS in OT professional phase, taking graduate courses in the summer following the third year of study. Students may not receive more than one grade below a “B” in any graduate course taken while an undergraduate student to remain in the program and to matriculate to the MS in OT program. Students will complete 28 graduate credits while an undergraduate student, which will be used toward completion of the 128 credits required for the bachelor’s degree. Students will be awarded the bachelor’s degree after completing all requirements for the degree following completion of the fall semester in the fourth year of study and will matriculate into the MS in OT program to complete the remaining 51 graduate credits with continuous enrollment in the following 1.5 years, to include January and summer terms. All graduate credits taken as an undergraduate student will be transferred to the master’s transcript for completion of the required 79 credits required for the MS in OT degree. Students in the Five-year Accelerated BA/MS in OT program who do not meet the progression requirements for the program or who choose to leave the program for any reason will be required to complete the requirements of the BA in Kinesiology or BA in Health Science (OT specialization) in order to be awarded the Bachelor of Arts degree (all graduate courses taken with a grade of C or higher will be applied to the undergraduate degree). Students may later apply for entry to the MS in OT program but will be required to meet all admission requirements and will be considered for admission through the traditional, competitive master’s entry admission process. In accordance with ACOTE Standard A.5.2 (2023), the McDaniel College Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MS in OT) degree is awarded only after the student has successfully completed all program requirements in no more than six full-time academic years. The Five-Year Accelerated BA/MS in Occupational Therapy Program fulfills this standard through a clearly defined sequence that includes: · Pre-professional phase: Three full-time academic years (six fall/spring semesters) at the undergraduate level. · Professional phase: Two full-time academic years (eight terms - Summer/Fall/Jan term/Spring semester over two full years) at the graduate level. This Five-year accelerated BA to MS in OT program sequence results in a total of 14 semesters inclusive of two Summer and Jan terms, totaling no more than six full-time academic years and encompassing both the pre-professional and professional phases of the OT program. Background Check, Child Abuse and Drug Screen
- Drug, Criminal Background & Child Abuse: All students who are offered admission are required to have a criminal background check and child abuse clearance. Some clinical sites may require students to be fingerprinted and/or undergo a drug test or other health clearances.
Fieldwork sites that require a criminal background check, child abuse clearance and/or fingerprinting may deny a student’s participation in the clinical experience, rotation or fieldwork because of a felony or misdemeanor conviction or a record of child abuse. Clinical sites may also deny participation in clinical experiences for other reasons, such as failure of a required drug test, or inability to produce an appropriate health clearance. As participation in fieldwork is a required part of the curriculum and a requirement for graduation, denial of participation by a clinical site may result in delay of graduation or the inability to graduate from the Program.
Regardless of whether or not a student graduates from McDaniel College, individuals who have been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor may be denied certification or licensure as a health professional.
Potential students considering entering (or who have already entered) an occupational therapy educational program can utilize NBCOT’s Early Determination Review Process to determine his/her eligibility if they are concerned of an issue in their background that may prevent them from being eligible to sit for the certification exam.
International Student Admission
McDaniel College is currently not approved to offer F1 study to international students. We are in the process of application to SEVP for approval to offer admission to this new program. Students who are permanent residents whose first language is not English and who received their undergraduate degree outside of the US are welcome applicants to the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program. To ensure a fair and comprehensive evaluation process, the following additional admission requirements apply. 1. English language proficiency. If English is not your first language, you are required to demonstrate proficiency through one of the following: TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): Minimum score of 100 on the Internet-based test (iBT) IELTS (International English Language Testing System): Minimum overall band score of 7 Duolingo English Test: Minimum score of 115 Official test results should be sent to the admissions office directly from the testing center and must be received to be considered for an admissions interview. A copy of score reports will not be considered. All tests must be taken within 12 months prior to the application deadline. EXCEPTIONS: Please note that the English language requirement may only be waived for students who have completed at least three years of an undergraduate program in the U.S. If more than two years have passed since completing the three or more years of undergraduate studies, English proficiency test scores will be required. - English language proficiency. If English is not your first language, you are required to demonstrate proficiency through one of the tests listed below. Official test results should be sent to the McDaniel College admissions department directly from the testing center and must be received to be considered for an admissions interview. A copy of score reports will not be considered. All tests must be taken within 12 months prior to the application deadline. Acceptable tests and scores are as follows:
- TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): minimum score of 100 on the Internet-based Test (IBT)
- IELTS (International English Language Testing System): minimum overall band score of 7
- Duolingo English Test: minimum score of 115
- EXCEPTIONS: Please note that the English language requirement may only be waived for students who have completed at least three years of an undergraduate program in the U.S. If more than two years have passed since completing the three or more years of undergraduate studies, English proficiency test scores will be required.
- Transcript Evaluation
- Applicants with transcripts from outside the United States are required to have them evaluated by a credentialing agency, such as Global Credential Evaluators, Inc. or Educational Credentialing Evaluators. This evaluation must include a course-by-course evaluation with GPA. The credentialing agency also must verify that the student possesses a four-year baccalaureate degree equivalent. Unevaluated international transcripts will not be accepted. Official transcripts for all courses taken must be sent from all colleges attended or included in the transcript evaluation.
International students who are admitted to the program must also provide all other documents required to study under an F1 visa in the U.S., including financial verification of funds. Total Required Credits: 79
Progression Requirements
Students must have advisor approval to progress each semester. All of the previous semester’s coursework must be successfully completed prior to the start of the next semester. To remain in the program, students may not receive more than two grades of “C” throughout the program. Fieldwork Requirements
Students must be approved by their advisor and the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator to take all Fieldwork I and II courses. All students are required to complete one credit of Fieldwork I simultaneously with the following courses: - OTH-512: Immersive Practice: Psychosocial
- OTH-611: Immersive Practice: Adult
- OTH-620: Immersive Practice: Developmental
Additionally, students will be given the choice to complete a one-credit Fieldwork I course in an area of their choice and can take this course anytime after the first semester of study. All students will be reviewed by the OT faculty upon completion of didactic coursework and must be approved to progress to the Fieldwork II phase of the program. Students who are not approved to progress to Fieldwork II will meet with the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator to develop an appropriate plan for consideration of progression. Fieldwork II coursework is taken in the second year of the program and students will be at the site full-time each semester for a minimum of 12 weeks. Level I Fieldwork experiences cannot be used to satisfy any requirements of Level II Fieldwork. Students must complete all Level II Fieldwork within 18 months following the completion of the didactic portion of the program. Exit Requirements
- Cumulative 3.0 GPA
- No more than two “C” grades
- Successful completion of all Level I and II Fieldwork
- Successful demonstration of all clinical competencies and professional behaviors
- Review and approval for final degree award by OT faculty
ACOTE Accreditation, NBCOT and Professional Licensure
McDaniel College has applied for accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. The program must be granted Candidacy Status, have a preaccreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates 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 graduate will be an occupational therapist, registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. Professional Licensure
Requirements for professional licensure in occupational therapy vary by state. McDaniel College’s occupational therapy program is structured to align with the NBCOT licensure requirements. Before beginning any academic program that leads to licensure, McDaniel highly recommends that you contact the appropriate licensing board where you wish to seek licensure to determine whether the program you are considering will meet your state’s licensing requirements. You may also contact McDaniel’s Professional Licensure Representative at gps@mcdaniel.edu to inquire. For more important information regarding professional licensure, please review our Professional Licensure webpage. Students who complete this program and are seeking Maryland licensure must meet all Maryland-specific requirements in addition to completing this master’s program. The requirements may include but are not limited to the following: - Passing required examinations
- Application or processing fees
More information about Maryland state requirements can be found on the Maryland Department of Health Board of Occupational Therapy Practice website: https://health.maryland.gov/botp/Pages/home.aspx State Authorization
McDaniel is an approved institutional member of the National Council of State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA). Membership in SARA is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses/programs offered by postsecondary institutions based in another state. For more information about SARA, including the states currently participating in the agreement, visit http://www.nc-sara.org. SARA membership allows McDaniel to accept and deliver our programs/courses online to students in 49 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Students who reside in California, currently the only state not a member of SARA, should contact the admissions office prior to application to verify if you are eligible to participate in the online program of interest. For more information about state authorization requirements and complaint resolution, visit https://www.mcdaniel.edu/academics/graduate-professional-studies/state-authorization-requirements-complaints-resolution Transfer Credit and Advanced Standing
The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MS in OT) program at McDaniel College does not accept transfer credits from other institutions toward the completion of the degree. Additionally, the program does not offer advanced standing based on prior coursework, academic experience, or professional experience. All students must complete the full MS in OT curriculum at McDaniel College to be eligible for graduation. This policy ensures the integrity, consistency, and quality of the educational experience provided, and supports the program’s commitment to preparing competent, entry-level occupational therapy practitioners according to the standards set by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE®). |
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