Occupational Therapy

Watch these short videos: Occupational Therapists in Action and a Day in the Life of an Occupational Therapy Student.

OT Roles & Responsibilities

More about OT at WashU Medicine

The Program in Occupational Therapy at Washington School of Medicine is ranked as the number one occupational therapy program in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. We offer several entry-level professional and post-professional degrees:

  • Clinical Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (OTD): The clinical doctorate degree is for entry-level students and licensed occupational therapists who want to assume a leadership position in practice, management, teaching and/or clinical research. In addition to coursework, students complete the doctoral experiential component to prepare for a selected area of practice. This is a 40-month, full-time program.
  • OTD for Licensed Occupational Therapists: The OTD degree prepares experienced occupational therapists for important leadership roles in health care, academia and the community. An individualized learning plan is developed that reflects the student’s professional objectives and meets the degree requirements
  • Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT): A master’s degree is required for entry into the profession of occupational therapy. This is a 28-month, full-time program.
  • Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT)/Master of Public Health (MPH) Joint Degree: The MSOT/MPH joint degree prepares students to work in a diverse array of settings including academia, community agencies, government institutions, and nonprofit organizations, and assume leadership roles in public policy, urban planning and advocacy. This program of study requires 123 credit hours taken over three years.
  • Rehabilitation and Participation Science (RAPS) PhD Program: The RAPS PhD program provides rigorous training that produces ethical and independent scientists capable of conducting the interdisciplinary research necessary to advance the evidence-based clinical and community practices. This program is designed to be completed in four to five years of full-time study.