Master of Science in Occupational Therapy

College of Nursing and Health Sciences

About the Program Occupational Therapy, MS

The Occupational Therapy Program at Barry University offers an innovative curriculum that leads to a Master of Science degree and prepares you for certification as a registered occupational therapist. On-campus occupational therapy courses are scheduled on two weekends each month in the fall, spring, and summer semesters, so that adults may continue to work or raise their families while preparing for a professional career.

  • The program integrates face to face and distance education.
  • Students complete a 12-week full-time fieldwork placement in a general rehabilitation or skilled nursing center after the first year of study, and another full-time fieldwork placement after the second year. The program can be completed in two and a half years.
  • No credit is awarded for experiential learning or work experience.
  • Students are required to have computer access and web cam.
  • The faculty at Barry University work as occupational therapists, while teaching on weekends. Their dedication to alternative education for adult learners makes them unique.
View Curriculum Student Responsibilities

Frequently Asked Questions

  • We do require candidates to submit their GRE scores, although no minimum scores is required.

  • We do not accept on-line kinesiology courses. A course that allows you to perform the skills hands-on in the classroom will provide you a better foundation for the program’s coursework.

  • All pre-requisites for admission must be completed prior to the start of the program in the fall. However, you may apply to the program if a course is in progress and expected to be completed before the deadline. The Kinesiology pre-requisite course is required to have been taken within 5 years of application date.

  • There are two levels of fieldwork required in the program (level I and level II). Level I fieldwork experiences involve 3 x five days of observation at clinical sites. Level II fieldwork experiences consist of 2 x12 weeks of full time practice at designated placements. Both types of fieldwork experiences are completed during regular week days business hours.

  • The university has housing available. You would need to contact the office of Housing and Residence Life to discuss availability.

  • Only degrees from national or international accredited institutions are accepted.

  • Barry offers Anatomy and Physiology courses. Check the Barry University Undergraduate Catalog for course offerings.

  • The required pre-requisite observation hours should be equivalent of a one week observation period (~ 40 hrs). Hours do not necessarily have to be consecutive or at the same facility.

Outcomes NBCOT Certification Exam Outcomes 2017-2019 graduates

Year of graduation
# of graduates
# of test takers
# of test takers who passed exam
% of test takers who passed exam
2017 28 23 21 91%
2018 39 39 38 97%
2019 39 42 39 93%
Total 106 104 98 94%
Year of graduation
# of graduates
# of test takers
# of test takers who passed exam
% of test takers who passed exam
2017
# of graduates 28 # of test takers 23 # of test takers who passed exam 21 % of test takers who passed exam 91%
2018
# of graduates 39 # of test takers 39 # of test takers who passed exam 38 % of test takers who passed exam 97%
2019
# of graduates 39 # of test takers 42 # of test takers who passed exam 39 % of test takers who passed exam 93%
Total 106 Total 104 Total 98 Total 94%
Retention rate of 2019: 98% Graduation rate of 2019: 98%
NBCOT.org

Barry University is dedicated to your success! Information Sessions

We offer convenience virtual info sessions customized to your needs, walking you through our admission process and providing additional program information.
Learn about the application process and admission requirements for all Occupational Therapy programs.
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Experiential Learning Fieldwork

National accreditation standards require Level I and Level II Fieldwork experiences for all entry-level occupational therapy students.

Level I Fieldwork (FWI) experiences are integrated within academic courses throughout the program. They are designed to introduce students to the values and traditions of the profession, and to provide opportunities to build skills in observation, interview, activity analysis, and critical thinking. The academic fieldwork coordinator places each student in a variety of settings for five days during each of the first fall, spring and summer semesters. Students work alongside professional personnel who provide services to children with special needs, adults with psychosocial or cognitive limitations, and/or aged persons. .

Level II Fieldwork (FWII) experiences are a fundamental component of students’ overall education. Placements are arranged by the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator. The goal of Level II Fieldwork is to develop competent, entry-level, generalist occupational therapists. Level II Fieldwork promotes clinical reasoning and reflective practice, transmits the values and beliefs that enable ethical practice, and develops professionalism and competence as career responsibilities. These experiences are a commitment commensurate to a full-time job. Entry-level students are required to complete two separate full-time equivalent 12 weeks placements in a general rehabilitation setting and in a practice area of interest. All Level II Fieldwork must be successfully completed within 24 months after academic coursework is completed.

View Fieldwork Requirements

National accreditation standards require Level I and Level II Fieldwork experiences for all entry-level occupational therapy students.

Admissions Overview Getting Started

Congratulations on taking the first step to pursue your passion, advance your career, and make a difference in your community. We are committed to assist each student through the admission process.

Whether you transition straight from undergraduate studies to a graduate program or have been out of school for some time, we offer a welcoming and professional environment for graduate study.

With small class sizes, there is a considerable amount of personalized attention from your faculty and opportunities to build strong relationships with fellow classmates.

Apply Now Admissions Requirements

The Masters in Occupational Therapy Program only accepts students once a year to begin in the Fall term. Application dateline is March 1st.

Financial Aid Affordable for you.

At BarryU, our tuition is competitive, affordable and still promises all the perks of a private school education. Our cost per credit is in-line with other institutions, but we offer a mission-driven educational experience and provide our students with small class sizes, personalized attention, and academic excellence. Scholarships, graduate assistantships, and financial aid can also be explored to help offset overall costs.

Barry University participates in the full array of federal and state financial aid programs. At Barry, we are committed to doing all we can to help you finance your education.

Barry University's Financial Aid staff will assist you through the financial aid application process.

Financial Aid Programs Tuition and Fees

You can use the Barry University Scholarship System to find other scholarship opportunities that you may be eligible to receive:

  • Answer as many questions as you like—the more questions answered, the more scholarships you’re matched to
  • Be automatically considered for many of the scholarships available at Barry University
  • Do a keyword search for scholarships and review the criteria to see if your qualifications are a match
The scholarships are funded through contributions from private donors, alumni, faculty, staff, parents, campus organizations, and corporations.
Barry University Scholarships

Occupational Therapy, MS Faculty

The odds are definitely in your favor at Barry University. Our student-faculty ratio is only 15:1. That means you get personal attention and guidance, and nobody gets lost in the shuffle. Even more impressive, over 80 percent of our faculty hold a PhD or the highest degree available in their field of expertise.
We seek out professors who are not only great teachers, but who love what they do. Their passion, enthusiasm, and inspiration are contagious, and there's no better way to keep young minds excited about learning and discovering. Beyond each teacher's area of expertise, our faculty is committed to promoting equality, social justice, altruism, diversity, and humility. Through education, everyone can have a voice.

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