Occupational Therapy (Advanced Standing) (M.S.)

UNH students who are in the BS program in occupational therapy enter into the Advanced Standing MS Program to complete a MS Degree in Occupational Therapy to be eligible to enter the profession of occupational therapy. Having already completed select professional coursework, students earn the MS in Occupational Therapy in just two semesters, including fieldwork.

The Advanced Standing MS degree in occupational therapy prepares you for a rewarding career helping people of all ages live life to the fullest. Occupational therapists work with individuals to build or restore the skills they need for everyday living—whether that means returning to work after an injury, adapting to life after a stroke, or supporting a child’s participation in school and play. Our accredited MS program combines hands-on learning, clinical experience, and strong professional mentorship to prepare you for this in-demand and growing field. You’ll learn to evaluate and treat clients using meaningful daily activities or “occupations” to promote health, independence, and well-being.

Most classes will be scheduled during weekdays during the day and into early evening. Some courses require experiential, off-campus learning in addition to required off-campus level II fieldwork experiences. The level II fieldwork experiences are full­ time for a total of 24 weeks and are planned collaboratively with the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator.

Students are eligible to take the National Board Certification Examination in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam within three years after graduation. A felony conviction may affect your ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination and/or obtain state licensure.

The Occupational Therapy Master's Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Ave. Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. Tel. 301- 652-6611, Website: www.acoteonline.org

Admissions Information

Only students who graduate with a BS in Occupational Therapy from UNH are eligible for admission into the Advanced Standing MS in OT degree program. Students officially apply to the Graduate School in the spring semester of their senior year, using an abbreviated process. Students should speak with their academic advisor regarding specific application requirements for writing a personal statement and letters of recommendation.

• An overall minimum grade point of B (3.0) is required for admission.
• Students must earn grades of B-­ or above in all OT courses at 700 level, with no more than 8 credits of B- or lower in OT courses (700 level or above).
• Students must pass all competency (practical) exams and all level I fieldwork experiences as part oftheir bachelor’s degree program.

Degree Requirements

Complete a minimum 32 credits. 

Sample Degree Plan

This sample degree plan serves as a general guide; students collaborate with their academic advisor to develop a personalized degree plan to meet their academic goals and program requirements.

Advanced-Standing M.S.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate professional attitudes and behaviors in their work and interactions with clients, and others with whom they work. Our graduates will be dedicated to ethical, client-driven, OT practice, demonstrating integrity, honesty, compassion, and fairness. They will demonstrate respect for all clients with whom they work, which is grounded in an appreciation and consideration of individual priorities and life experience. Our graduates will be life-long learners, and innovative thinkers committed to ongoing professional development, and state-of-the-art, evidence-based practices. They will be able to collaborate well with other professionals as committed team players and have a solid understanding of the many roles and expertise of other professionals with whom they commonly work, along with clarity of their roles as occupational therapists. They will aspire to and be prepared to assume leadership roles in their professional lives as practitioners, researchers, advocates, and educators.
• Understand that engagement in meaningful occupations is essential to one’s health and well-being, and be prepared and committed to promote occupation-based occupational therapy practice. Our curriculum emphasizes the idea that engagement in everyday activities to fulfill social roles and give meaning to life is essential to the development, adaptation, and well being of individuals, societies and populations. Our graduates are ready and committed to apply occupation-based evaluation and intervention techniques, and to share and expand authentic occupational therapy practices.
• Be competent entry-level OT practitioners across diverse practice settings, skilled in the delivery occupation–based evaluation and intervention techniques. Our graduates will have developed critical thinking skills, and the capacity for high-level clinical reasoning preparing them to deliver client-centered, occupation-based, services in traditional and emerging practice areas. Graduates will know a variety of evaluation methods for understanding a person’s occupational history, abilities, challenges and goals. They will apply occupation-based intervention approaches, and assistive technologies to address the needs of individuals, and populations in traditional and emerging medical, education, and other community-based practice arenas.
• Apply evidence-based practices in their work. Our graduates will be skilled in identifying and interpreting relevant research and other data sources for delivering evidence-based, clinical services for promoting occupational participation and life satisfaction. Furthermore, they will have research skills for contributing to the body of knowledge that supports and advances occupational science, and occupational therapy.
• Demonstrate skills necessary to advance occupational justice so that all persons can fully participate in desired occupations. Our graduates will apply critical thinking skills, ethics, policy, and awareness of the context in which occupational therapy may be of benefit, to help advance the OT profession’s goal of meeting the occupational needs of individuals, populations and societies. Our graduates will also be able to generate new ideas to support and promote occupational justice for individuals, populations, and societies.

Occupational Therapy Advanced Standing (M.S.)

Location/Delivery: College of Health and Human Services, Durham Campus [In Person Program]

This program is designed to prepare graduates for professional licensure/certification as follows:

Registered Occupational Therapist

National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy Certification Examination

The University of New Hampshire has determined this program meets the educational requirements for licensure/certification in:¹
Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Federated States of Micronesia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Republic of Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

Additional information and related resources are available on the Office of the Registrar's website.

¹

State specific post-education requirements are subject to change. Students are responsible for confirming these requirements in their state of residence and intended practice.