Occupational Therapy

Our Program

The need for skilled occupational therapists has never been greater. Occupational therapists (OTs) are on the front lines of healthcare providing critical services. OTs are in high demand across a wide range of settings – traditional and emerging, hospital- and community-based. They are indispensable members of interprofessional/integrated healthcare teams for their role in enabling people to lead healthy, meaningful lives regardless of ability, illness or age.

The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MScOT), hosted by the Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy, creates graduates with advanced academic and professional knowledge and applied research skills for leadership positions in occupational therapy practice.

The two-year program combines courses and field work. Students can choose to take the program at either the St. George downtown campus or at University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM).

Graduates of the program 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 other professional regulatory colleges in Canada. They may also be eligible to practice occupational therapy elsewhere by passing the licensing requirements specific to that state or country.

Courses

Master of Science in Occupational Therapy

Students in this program complete:

Applied Skills and Technology
Assessment in Occupational Therapy
Enabling Occupation Across the Life Course
Enabling Occupation with Adults Parts I & II
Enabling Occupation with Children Parts I & II
Enabling Occupation with Older Adults Parts I & II
Graduate Research Project
Mental Health Foundations
Mentorship and Interprofessional Education
Musculoskeletal Foundations
Neurological Foundations
Occupational Science Foundations
Occupational Therapy Fieldwork Parts I, II, III, IV
Occupational Therapy Practice Parts I, II, III
Research Foundations
Transition to Occupational Therapy Practice

Alumni Profile

Meera Premnazeer, MScOT

Based on my own experience, I would say three things are important. One, take part in extracurricular opportunities throughout the OT program. This includes applying to work-study positions or volunteering with professors to assist in their research. Having taken part in multiple work-study opportunities throughout the MScOT program, I found them to be a great opportunity to participate in research by the department’s faculty members. This research experience helped me to gain more clinical skills and evidence-based strategies. Volunteering is another great opportunity to make connections with faculty and current OTs in meaningful ways.

Two, make time for yourself, friends and family to enjoy your two years in the program as much as possible. After being in a pandemic while in this program, I see the value of self-care and making time for those whom you are close to more than ever. Having that in-person interaction and connection with others has helped me get through the past two years. Three, research your area of interest and try to plan for your third or fourth placement accordingly, as many OTs end up getting jobs through the connections they make while on placement.

By the Numbers

90

Number of incoming students at the St. George campus

40

Number of incoming students at UTM

400

Number of clinical faculty

100+

Number of placement sites