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Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy

Thank you for your interest in the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy graduate program at Indiana University South Bend. Currently, we are not accepting applications to the program for enrollment in fall 2025.

Our next application cycle for enrollment in fall 2026, will occur in summer 2025. The application cycle will open in mid-July and close the end of September 2025.

All applicants must apply through the Centralized Application Service for Occupational Therapy program also referred to as OTCAS. In mid-July 2025, you can establish your OTCAS account to apply.

You do not need to enroll as a graduate student at IU South Bend during the application cycle.

Your OTCAS application must be complete and in verified status by the end of September for admission consideration. OTCAS must receive all undergraduate transcripts. Do NOT send your transcripts to IU South Bend.

If you have questions about our application process or general program questions, please complete our online contact form.

If you have questions about the program, please send to iusbot@iu.edu. We look forward to hearing from you!

About Us

Meet the Faculty

Accreditation

The Program

Admission Requirements

IU South Bend Elkhart Center

Program Outcomes

Program Tuition, Fees and Refund Information

Occupational Therapy

Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT)

The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) at Indiana University South Bend is a graduate health professional program designed for students who do not have a degree in occupational therapy, but have a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution, and are seeking an entry-level graduate program in occupational therapy.

The purpose of the degree is to provide entry-level occupational therapy education for individuals who (upon completion of program and fieldwork)* will be eligible to take the required National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) examination.

Occupational therapists assist and support individuals across the lifespan to learn or regain skills that enable them to participate in meaningful and purposeful activities utilizing practices that are occupation-based and driven by science. Coffee OT

The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy degree program consists of didactic coursework, laboratory competencies and required fieldwork experiences designed to educate students to achieve competence as an entry-level generalist occupational therapy practitioner.

As an MSOT graduate student, you will study concepts, theories and clinical practice of occupational therapy with highly educated faculty and support from community occupational therapy practitioners.

* Students must complete 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork within 18 months following completion of the didactic portion of the program. The IUSB MSOT program is designed to allow this progression.

Accreditation Status Update - Effective August 2024

The Indiana University South Bend entry-level occupational therapy master's degree program received full accreditation in August 2023 by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE®) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), now located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda MD 20814. ACOTE's telephone number is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org

On August 8 2024, ACOTE® notified IU South Bend of a change in the accreditation status of the program to CONTINUING ACCREDITATION-PROBATIONARY.

While the MSOT program at IUSB is still recognized as an accredited program by ACOTE®, it was found to not meet ACOTE® standard A 5.3 (length of program). This standard requires master’s programs to be no longer than two full academic years, while the IU South Bend program currently is 2.5 years in length. Previously approved as a 2.5-year program, ACOTE® changed the interpretation of this standard in February 2022 and, therefore a probationary status has been invoked. A curricular plan aligned with the revised interpretation is currently going through university processes with the intent to implement in Fall 2025 and should resolve the program non-compliance issue.

Graduates of the program will remain eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the
National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR).

In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination.

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

Program Outcomes

Indiana University South Bend Occupational Therapy Student Outcomes
Graduation Year	Student Entering	Students Graduating	Graduation Rate
2023	14	14	100
2024	14	14	100
2025	20	TBD	TBD
Total (2023-2024)	28	28	100