Department of Occupational Therapy

Department Chairperson: Dr. Luther King

Email: csu-ot@csu.edu

Phone: 773-995-2366

Location: DH 3008

* Program content updated as an addendum on 09.30.25.

Department Overview

Occupational therapy is a discipline that combines art and science to guide individuals in engaging with meaningful occupations & daily activities. Its goal is to restore, strengthen, and improve participation in occupational roles, support the acquisition of essential skills for adaptation and performance, address or correct underlying health issues, and promote overall health and well-being. The core focus is on maintaining the ability, across a person’s lifespan, to perform meaningful tasks and roles that contribute to holistic living and mastery over oneself and the environment.

The Occupational Therapy program holds accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), part of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). The accreditation body is located at ACOTE c/o Accreditation Department, American Occupational Therapy Association, 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814-6519. Contact number: (301) 652-6611. More information is available on their website: https://acoteonline.org/.

Graduates are eligible to take the national certification exam for occupational therapists, administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). Successful completion of this exam qualifies individuals to become Occupational Therapist Registered (OTR) and to apply for licensure in Illinois and other states requiring licensure. It is important to note that a felony conviction may impact a graduate’s eligibility to sit for the NBCOT exam or obtain licensure. An early eligibility determination process is available through NBCOT at One Bank Street, Suite 300, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, telephone: (301) 990-7979. Additional information can be found on https://www.nbcot.org/.

Vision Statement

To build and sustain intentional collaborative partnerships that co-create a culturally evolving community of occupational therapy practitioners who are change agents within communities affected by social determinants of health. We strive to continually collaborate locally and internationally to transform our communities and our profession. We will work within a thriving College and University to support restorative justice as we work to eliminate health disparities and promote occupational justice.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Chicago State University Occupational Therapy Program is to create and support a transformative, diverse community of lifelong learners. We work together to educate occupational therapists who create connections and address occupational needs of underserved communities with occupation-based, contextually relevant services. We encourage and embrace each other as we work to be agents of connection and transformation in our local, and international communities.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the MOT program, the graduates will:

Utilize the principles supporting the theories of occupation and human development in planning, evaluation, and intervention to achieve health and wellness and address health disparities.
Integrate evidence-based practice and ethical decision making into all aspects of the occupational therapy process to assist individuals and populations in achieving optimal occupational performance within diverse physical, social, and cultural environments.
Appraise opportunities to deliver best practice that meet the needs of individuals and groups through occupationally centered interventions within a variety of service delivery systems.
Defend the right to engage in occupations and intervene on behalf of diverse individuals, organizations, communities, and social systems through advocacy.
Appreciate and relate to the roles required by the profession through professional development planning and participation in and support of American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), Illinois Occupational Therapy Association (ILOTA) and other professional organizations.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the MOT degree program is based on the completion of a set of requirements that are reviewed and evaluated by the university and the department admission committee. The application process includes the following:

A completed Occupational Therapy Department application submitted through the Occupational Therapist Centralized Application Service (OTCAS):https://otcas.cas.myliaison.com/applicant-ux/#/login
- For combined BSHS/MOT program - Declare Health Sciences: Pre-Occupational Therapy as a major.
- For MOT and combined BHS/MOT students - Submit Application for admission through - OTCAS
- All students are strongly encouraged to review admission eligibility with an advisor before applying.
If-necessary - Successful completion of required university placement examinations and courses in English, mathematics, and reading.
Students applying to the MOT program must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better (on a 4.0 scale) within the last 60 semester credit hours of undergraduate and/or graduate courses.
A limited number of applicants with a GPA of 2.90-2.99 may be granted conditional admission. Conditional admission status is removed when the student achieves a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better.
Completion of prerequisite courses (anthropology or sociology, statistics, developmental psychology, abnormal psychology, medical terminology, human anatomy, and human physiology) with a grade of C or better before beginning professional course work. The anatomy and physiology courses must be taken within 7 years of admission to the program. A minimum of 3.0 in the above prerequisite courses is required for consideration of the application.
Prerequisite courses required for admission may be repeated only once to improve a grade.
Proof of a minimum of 40 hours of human service experience that demonstrates human service skills. Experience should be documented in OTCAS under Observation Hours. This experience is not limited to the field of occupational therapy. This experience can include but is not limited to work, personal, and/or community service experience.
A typed essay addressing why you selected occupational therapy as a career and how this degree relates to your immediate and long-term professional goals. This essay should be submitted through OTCAS.
Three professional and/or academic recommendations through the OTCAS portal. A typed essay addressing why you selected occupational therapy as a career and how this degree relates to your immediate and long-term professional goals.
Interview with the members of the Occupational Therapy admission committee. Applicants who are not accepted into the program can meet with an advisor to discuss options to strengthen their academic profile and prepare for re-application.

Application Deadline: March 31 (Deadline may be extended to May 1 if slots are available)

(Check OTCAS application portal for Deadlines) - https://otcas.cas.myliaison.com/applicant-ux/#/login

Students may enroll into the entry-level MOT program full time or part-time track in the fall semester. Pre-OT students have the option to enroll full-time in the combined BHS/MOT program after all prerequisite coursework is completed, and GPA requirements are met. Class size is limited, and admission is competitive. Depending on the number of qualified applicants, a waiting list may be created. Applicants placed on the waiting list will be notified of their status and of their rank on this list. If slots become available, applicants on the waiting list will be admitted in rank order. Applications are accepted and reviewed throughout the year, and students can obtain early acceptance.

Admission by Advanced Standing

Graduates who complete a Bachelor of Health Science/Pre-Occupational Therapy (Pre-OT) degree from CSU prior to their intended enrollment in the graduate program may apply for advanced standing in the MOT program.

Students granted advanced standing may apply up to 32 undergraduate credit hours of foundational OT coursework toward their degree requirements.

Transfer Credit

No transfer credit will be given for professional coursework in the MOT curriculum.

Programs

Master of Occuptational Therapy

Occupational Therapy, M.O.T.