The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MScOT) program prepares students in advanced academic and professional knowledge and applied research skills for leadership in occupational therapy practice. The program emphasizes the application of theory and research evidence to clinical practice through rigorous studies in occupational therapy and research production and utilization.
Graduates are eligible to write the certification examination of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists, a requirement for registration with the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario and most other professional regulatory colleges in Canada. Practice in another country generally requires the graduate to pass the licensing requirement specific to that country. Graduates are eligible to:
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practise independently in a variety of roles, such as consultants and case managers, and in a range of settings, such as acute care, interdisciplinary programs, private practice, and primary health care;
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supervise rehabilitation assistants, OT aides, or other support workers;
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use principles of research-based practice to guide and evaluate service delivery;
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contribute to research that will advance the knowledge base of the discipline;
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assume management roles;
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take leadership roles in the profession;
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take leadership roles in health care and other sectors including social services, education, and labour;
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fill academic-practitioner positions; and
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pursue doctoral studies and careers in academia or clinical research.
The MScOT program is offered as a two-year full-time program. Admissions to the one-year, advanced-standing part-time option have been suspended.
MScOT Program (24-Month Full-Time)
Minimum Admission Requirements
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Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy's additional admission requirements stated below.
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An appropriate bachelor's degree from a recognized university with high academic standing and a mid-B average or better in the final year of study.
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To determine initial ranking only, the department will review the last 10.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) completed at the undergraduate level by the application deadline.
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Applicants must complete the Casper test online. Casper is an online open-response situational judgement test designed to evaluate problem-solving skills as well as personal and professional characteristics such as communication, ethics, and empathy. Applicants must register to take the test and have their results sent to the MScOT program ahead of the application deadline. Find the set dates to write for different programs. Applicants can submit for disability-related testing accommodations and fee assistance.
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Apply online using the Ontario Rehabilitation Sciences Programs Application Service (ORPAS). Applications are accepted around October each year, with a deadline near the end of December or early January. Exact deadlines are posted on the ORPAS website and in the ORPAS Instruction Booklet.
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Applicants whose primary language is not English and who graduated from a university where the language of instruction is not English must provide proof of English proficiency by March 1 of the year of application. See General Regulations, section 4.3 English-Language Proficiency in this calendar for general information and acceptable tests. The department strongly prefers the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and requires a minimum score of:
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600 on the paper-based test, accompanied by a minimum score of 5 on the Test of Written English (TWE)
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100/120 on the Internet-based test with 22/30 on the speaking section and 22/30 on the writing section.
TOEFL candidates should request that results be sent to institution code 0982.
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Visit the Occupational Therapy and ORPAS websites for additional information regarding application document submissions (e.g., confidential assessment forms, resumé, personal statement submission).
Completion Requirements
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The MScOT is a two-year, 24-course (19.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs)) program of continuous, full-time study.
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Students begin their studies in September and complete six consecutive sessions, with a range of four to six concurrent courses in each session.
- There are four full-time block fieldwork components within the program of study.
Program Length: 6 sessions full-time (typical registration sequence: FWS-FWS)
Time Limit: 3 years full-time
MScOT Program (12-Month, Advanced-Standing Part-Time Option)
Minimum Admission Requirements
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Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy's additional admission requirements stated below.
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A bachelor's degree in occupational therapy from a recognized university with high academic standing and a mid-B average or better in the final year of study.
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Applicants must be registered, or eligible for registration, for independent practice as an occupational therapist in Canada with a provincial regulating body.
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Apply online using the SGS online application system. Applications are accepted approximately in mid-February each year, with a deadline approximately at the end of March (subject to change).
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Applicants whose primary language is not English and who graduated from a university where the language of instruction is not English must provide proof of English proficiency by March 1 of the year of application. See General Regulations, section 4.3 English-Language Proficiency in this calendar for general information and acceptable tests. The department strongly prefers the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and requires a minimum score of:
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600 on the paper-based test, accompanied by a minimum score of 5 on the Test of Written English (TWE)
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100/120 on the Internet-based test with 22/30 on the speaking section and 22/30 on the writing section.
TOEFL candidates should request that results be sent to institution code 0982.
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- Visit the Occupational Therapy website for additional information regarding application document submissions (e.g., reference letters, resumé, personal statement submission).
Completion Requirements
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The advanced-standing option is a three-consecutive-session, part-time program of study beginning in September. Students must complete 3.5 full-course equivalents (FCEs): OCT1111Y, OCT1122Y, and OCT1220Y.
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Students complete the advanced-standing option in an online environment with a mandatory one-week, on-campus residency.
- For more information about the application process, tuition, and supervision, etc., please visit the Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy website.
Program Length: 3 sessions part-time (typical registration sequence: FWS)
Time Limit: 3 years part-time