Master of Occupational Therapy
Master of Occupational Therapy Program Information Sessions
The following is a list of the upcoming virtual and
in-person information sessions to learn about the Master of Occupational
Therapy Program at Governors State University.
Use this link for virtual
sessions:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83330143995?pwd=RDVCS3pVc1V2dnBxdC95T0RiMDh2QT09
Zoom Meeting ID: 833 3014 3995
Passcode: 282377
Date | Time | Location |
June 7, 2023 | 5:30 pm | In-person - G157 & Virtual |
July 5, 2023 | 5:30 pm | In-person - G157 & Virtual |
August 2,2023 | 5:30 pm | In-person - G157 & Virtual |
September 6, 2023 | 5:30 pm | In-person - G157 & Virtual |
October 4, 2023 | 5:30 pm | In-person - G157 & Virtual |
November 1, 2023 | 5 :30 pm | In-person - G157 & Virtual |
December 6, 2023 | 5 :30 pm | In-person - G157 & Virtual |
Occupational Therapy as a Career
Governors State University’s Master of Occupational
Therapy (MOT) program prepares the Occupational Therapist to build a career
as a caring and thoughtful professional therapist. You will guide clients and
help them regain their independence in everyday life activities at home, work,
school, and in the community through responsive, evidence-based treatments. Through
education and mentorship, the expert, caring, supportive faculty will help
guide you along the way. The MOT program and faculty places a strong emphasis
on advocacy, communication, critical reasoning, leadership, and lifelong
learning—skills and activities that distinguish our graduates and empower them
to become highly effective professionals.
Occupational therapists come from a variety of
backgrounds, but they all have one thing in common: a mission to help change
lives. You must hold an undergraduate degree for admission to the MOT program,
and while no specific undergraduate major degree is required, certain course
prerequisites must be acquired prior to admission.
Reach your career
goals.
Occupational
Therapy is consistently ranked among the top professions in the United States. In
2017 alone, it was included in rankings by Forbes, U.S. News and World Report, MSN Money, and Glassdoor, among others. Data collected in 2020 reflected the median annual salary of Occupational Therapists at $84,290 with an average range of $67,140 -$99,300 (Bureau of Labor Statistics). Employment of occupational therapists is projected to grow 16 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Why get a Master’s
Degree in Occupational Therapy?
As a graduate student of the MOT program, you will gain an
appreciation for the individual and gain an understanding of cultural
identities and the role they play in shaping therapy. Our graduates work to
make the profession and its services available to all and to eliminate the
health disparities that exclude many from the level of care and participation
they deserve.
About the Program
The Master of Occupational Therapy degree is an entry-level ready program that provides students with the comprehensive
knowledge and skills they need to become licensed, practicing members of the
profession who help clients master the tasks of daily living. Admittance to the
program takes place once a year, with courses beginning in the Fall semester.
The MOT curriculum is sequential with 78 credit hours
completed in 27 months for graduation. During the first year, coursework
lays a strong foundation in the sciences, ethics, and the processes of
Occupational Therapy. Students gain a thorough understanding of anatomy,
physiology, movement analysis, and neuroscience. Second year coursework
builds on the first year’s foundational courses and teaches students to apply
their skills in increasingly complex environments. Several clinical experiences
are integrated into second year coursework, and students learn through case
method learning and evidence-based research. The final year is primarily
fieldwork that bridges the theoretical with real-life practice.
MOT Program Tuition and Fees
Tuition:
$505.00 per 1 credit hour = $39,390
Fees:
(Student Center, Technology, Facilities, Health and Wellness, Instructional
Support, Student Support and Services, and Strategic Initiative): $12,360
Books and
Supplies: $4000
Total Cost of Attendance for the entire program: $55,750
All United States residents
pay the same amount as Illinois residents
* Tuition and fees
are subject to change.
Accreditation
The
Governors State University Master of Occupational Therapy program is accredited
by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the
American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive
Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number
c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is acoteonline.org In May 2019, received accreditation for 10 years until
2028.
Program Outcomes
MOT HRSA Grant
The MOT program was recently awarded a Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students grant through the Health Resources & Services Administration. The award of $2.688 million will be dispersed over five years, beginning with the incoming Fall 2020 semester. Qualifying students will receive financial awards every semester through the year 2025.
For questions regarding the application process, please contact Dr. Caren Schranz at cschranz@govst.edu.

Lauren Green, Occupational Therapy Student Alumni
My experience in the MOT program at GSU has been amazing and incomparable. Our small class sizes ensure a quality learning experience, and the professors are truly invested in us—they go to great lengths to make sure we understand and are competent with the information needed to succeed and grow. We take part in community experiences where we apply our skills and knowledge in the community. The experiences are eye opening and rewarding, as well as allow a learning experience that could never be simulated in a classroom.

Caren Schranz, Chair of Occupational Therapy and Associate Professor
Our well-established Occupational Therapy program is fueled by faculty members who are passionate about OT, invested in student learning and connected to the community; their strong research agendas and collaborative research with students is integrated with community partners. In addition, our facilities, including our state-of-the-art ADL (Activities of Daily Life) lab provides students with opportunities to practice providing care for clients in a setting that is authentic to their future careers.