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Occupational Therapy (M.S.)

Occupational therapists help people live their lives to the fullest by providing therapy and support to help them take part in daily activities.

They help people recover from injuries, live with disabilities, or adapt to physical and cognitive changes.

Kean’s master's degree program in occupational therapy provides a broad education in the field for students who hold a bachelor's degree in another field. Approximately 30 students are admitted to the program each September. Each student completes five semesters of required academic courses and a minimum of six months of supervised fieldwork in an approved clinical setting. 

The program offers a rich array of hands-on clinical experiences and fieldwork, beginning in the student's first semester. Kean also operates a clinic on campus, where students have an opportunity to work with clients, to develop and master their skills in occupational therapy.

With an excellent outlooks for jobs and career growth, the future for occupational therapy students is bright.

The program is offered at Kean’s East Campus in Union.

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Kean's Occupational Therapy master's program prepares students for success.

Kean 's master's degree in occupational therapy prepares students for success.

What You Learn

Kean’s 73-credit master's program in occupational therapy welcomes students with different interests, diverse backgrounds and a variety of bachelor’s degrees to apply. You receive the training you need to work in occupational therapy:

  • Develop skills to work with children and adults, including senior citizens

  • Study gross anatomy, kinesiology, neuroscience, research methods and more

  • Complete at least six months of supervised fieldwork

Students who successfully complete the program can take the national certification examination administered by the National Board for Certification of Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be able to identify him- or herself as an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). Most states, including New Jersey, require licensure in order to practice. However, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Exam.*

*Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

Admission Requirements

Tuition and Fees

If you have admissions questions, contact Graduate Admissions at gradadmissions@kean.edu or (908) 737-4723.

Program Information

M.S. in Occupational Therapy


Application Deadline
Summer II: January 15
No spring admission

Department Chair:
Mariann E. Moran, OTD, OTR, CHT
(908) 737-5850
ot@kean.edu

Other programs you might be interested in

Progression, Retention and Graduation

Once qualified applicants enter the program, the faculty is committed to seeing that students successfully complete the program in a timely manner. During the 2017 – 2019 academic years, of the 109 admitted students, 104 students or 95 % have successfully completed the two and one-half year sequence and graduated. When students are unable to meet the demands of a full-time program, a part-time schedule can be negotiated as part of a retention plan. During those same three academic years, 3 of our students took longer than two and one-half years (the part-time sequence is three and one-half years). Occasionally, for a variety of reasons, students are unable to complete the program. During those three years, approximately 5 % of our students left the program for various reasons and did not graduate.

Admission Year  Total Admitted  Graduation Year  Total Graduated  Total Percentage 
2015 39 2018 38 97%
2016 35 2019 33 94%
2017 34 2020 34 100%
  108     96%
Students in building studying

Every day that I'm here, I feel more and more that I made the right choice. Working here I get an inside view; it's nice to know the faculty is so involved and concerned about the education of the students."

Maureen Grainger '20 M.S.
Graduate assistant, Occupational Therapy Department

The Classroom and Beyond

At Kean, we believe learning and professional growth extend far beyond the walls of our classrooms. That's why we encourage you to take advantage of a variety of research opportunities, internships and more that we offer to advance your career and set the stage for continued success.

Occupational therapy students working with clients

Fieldwork

Students complete at least six months of fieldwork in an approved clinical setting.
OT students take part in fieldwork and research.

Research

Opportunities for research are an important part of an education at Kean.
Occupational therapy placement settings include schools

Community

Beginning in their first semester, students gain clinical experience in community settings such as schools, senior centers, hospitals, nursing homes and camps.

After Kean

Occupational Therapy master's grads have found rewarding positions in a wide range of settings:

  • Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation
  • JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute
  • FOX Rehabilitation
  • Encore Rehabilitation Services
  • Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital
  • HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital
  • University Hospital
  • Intensive Therapeutics
  • Abilities In Action
  • Children's Specialized Hospital
  • Woodbridge Township School District
  • P.G. Chambers School

1.3%

Unemployment rate for occupational therapists

$80,150

Median salary of occupational therapists

Accreditation

The Occupational Therapy Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). Correspondence should be directed to: ACOTE, c/o Accreditation Department, American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. Their phone number is (301) 652-AOTA. Website: www.acoteonline.org.

Upon successful completion of academic preparation and level II fieldwork experiences, students are eligible to take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT) exam. Kean has had a 100% pass rate for the past several years. The past year's pass rate on the certification exam is available here. For more information please see NBCOT website.

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