Utica College

What you'll study

Coursework and clinical experiences center on preparing students to enable clients to engage in meaningful everyday occupations. The program highlights critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and skill development and makes use of campus facilities such as a multi-sensory Sensory Room. Utica provides full curricula for both the B.S.-to-M.S. pathway and the graduate-level OT program; students and faculty also pursue scholarly activity and conference presentations.

Entry requirements

Applicants to the MSOT must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and normally have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. The program requires completion (minimum grade C) of 11 prerequisite courses:

• Anatomy & Physiology I with lab (4 credits) or equivalent
• Anatomy & Physiology II with lab (4 credits) or equivalent
• An applied anatomy course (gross anatomy, neuroanatomy, or equivalent)*
• Kinesiology or Biomechanics
• Introductory Sociology or Anthropology
• General or Introductory Psychology
• Abnormal Psychology
• Lifespan Psychology/Human Development/Developmental Psychology (covering birth through adult)
• Medical Conditions and Implications/Pathophysiology or a three-credit Medical Terminology course
• Statistics
• Research Methods (psychology or sociology-based)

Prerequisite coursework must be finished by July 1 of the intended entry year. Certain prerequisites must have been completed within seven years of application: an applied anatomy course, Abnormal Psychology, Research Methods, and Medical Conditions/Pathophysiology/Medical Terminology; otherwise they must be retaken. Utica offers limited-seat courses (e.g., gross anatomy, neuroanatomy, kinesiology) across weekend formats—contact graduate admissions for availability.

Career prospects

Graduates work across health-care settings such as hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, schools, community programs and private practice. The page cites a median occupational therapist salary of $93,000 and projects 12% job growth by 2032. Students and alumni have presented at state and national conferences and published in occupational therapy and health-related journals.

Scholarships & funding angle

The program page does not list specific scholarships. Prospective applicants should contact Utica’s Office of Graduate Admissions and review university financial-aid resources for merit awards, graduate assistantships, loans, and external OT-focused scholarships. Early contact with admissions can clarify funding timelines and eligibility.