WHAT IS THE M.S. OT PROGRAM?

A student admitted to this program will earn a Master of Science in occupational therapy in just 2 ½ full-time years of study.  Approximately 30 to 35 students are admitted to the program each September. The program is a 73-credit course sequence designed to provide education for entry-level occupational therapists. Four semesters of required academic courses and a minimum of six months of supervised fieldwork in approved clinical settings are required.

The Occupational Therapy Program at Kean University is accredited by the Accreditation

Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220.  Their phone number is (301) 652-AOTA.

HOW IT WORKS

A student who has earned a baccalaureate degree from Kean University or another accredited institution is welcome to apply to our program. The application process takes place through the Nathan Weiss Graduate College at Kean University.  Official applications are available to throughout the year either online or at the graduate admissions office.  The application deadline is February 1st of each year for admission the following September. Admission may not be deferred to the following year. Part-time study is not currently available.

VERSATILITY: IT’S YOUR CHOICE

At Kean, we understand that students have varied interests and we welcome applicants with various baccalaureate degrees. Students from diverse educational and experiential backgrounds create our unique program. However, each accepted student must complete the program prerequisites PRIOR TO beginning the occupational therapy program in September.

Students lacking the prerequisite courses may complete these courses at any accredited institution. If you wish to complete these prerequisites at Kean University, you may apply to the University as an undergraduate second-degree, non-matriculated student.

A WISE INVESTMENT

Kean University is renown for its excellent value, the highest quality education with the lowest tuition rates. Our tuition is among the lowest of New Jersey’s fine state colleges and universities.

ADMISSIONS CRITERIA

Admission to the program is competitive. The Admissions Committee carefully reviews each application and considers the following when determining eligibility for an interview:

• Personal statement or essay questions on the application including content, organization, spelling, and grammar

• General appearance of your completed application, i.e. typed, neatness, professionalism, attention to detail

If you qualify for an interview, admission to the program is based on the interview and the following results:

• Cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 from all colleges attended 
• A grade of B or better in each prerequisite course
• Three letters of reference
• Documented observation of occupational therapy services for a minimum of 40 hour

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Details of our admission requirements are available through the Nathan Weiss Graduate College and are listed on the admissions requirements page. Each student must have:

• Completed application including personal statement
• Cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 from all colleges attended
• A minimum GPA of 3.0 in prerequisite courses
• Three letter of reference waiver forms
• Documented observation of occupational therapy services for a minimum of 40 hours

DEADLINE

Completed applications must be returned to Nathan Weiss Graduate College, postmarked no later than February 1st.

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

It is the responsibility of each individual applicant to provide all supporting documentation for the application. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Supporting documentation must be received by February 15th.

INTERVIEWS

Eligible candidates will be scheduled for interviews by early March. Determination of eligibility for an interview will be based on overall application, overall GPA, and prerequisite GPA.

QUESTIONS

If you have questions about the application process, please contact us via email at ot@kean.edu.