Pre-OT to Occupational Therapy 3+2 Program

Earn your Bachelor of Science in Occupational Studies and Master of Science in Occupational Therapy in only five years.

Fast Track Your Occupational Therapy Career

Now you can become a working occupational therapist in as little as five years through the Accelerated Occupational Studies/Master of Science in Occupational Therapy 3+2. This accelerated M.S.O.T. pathway at UNE combines a bachelor of science with a master of science degree, saving you both time and money. This accelerated program will fully prepare you to begin a rewarding career in Occupational Therapy and help others experience the transformative power of everyday activities. 

As a successful student in the 3+2 model, you will earn a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Studies after year four of the program, and a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (M.S.O.T.) after year five of the program.

Bachelor of Science in Occupational Studies

An Occupational Therapy student molds a wrist splint

In this accelerated pathway, you’ll study for three years on UNE’s coastal Biddeford campus with your undergraduate Occupational Studies cohort. In year four, you’ll begin earning credits towards your master’s while completing your B.S.

UNE’s Occupational Studies program will teach you how to work with a range of individuals to assess their wellness and guide them toward healthier lives. Combining health sciences, wellness promotion, and human occupation, this major is a perfect foundation for your graduate OT degree.

Discover UNE’s Occupational Studies Program

Master of Science in Occupational Therapy

An Occupational Therapy student wearing blue scrubs assists a patient wearing a neck brace with a foot sling

UNE’s M.S.O.T. degree program will prepare you in client-centered critical thinking and clinical excellence for a fulfilling and successful occupational therapy practice.

Learn to meet the needs of pediatric, adult, and geriatric patients in state-of-the-art facilities on our Portland, Maine, campus. You can also practice exciting fieldwork in locations across the country. Our leading faculty, who are engaged in important occupational therapy research, will teach you everything you need to know to excel in this rapidly growing field.

Explore UNE’s Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Program

Why UNE for Your Occupational Therapy Education

  • The 3+2 pathway removes one year from your undergraduate-to-graduate OT education, saving you time and money.
  • This accelerated process allows you to begin your career earlier.
  • UNE OT students have a track record of success: The licensure exam pass rate is 98.5% for UNE M.S.O.T. grads (2020–2023).
  • Within your 3+2 cohort, you’ll build connections and community with others who share your passion for OT. 
  • As part of the Occupational Studies curriculum, you’ll study on our beautiful coastal campus in Biddeford, Maine. You’ll complete service learning projects, participate in meaningful undergraduate research and internships, and have access to an optional Assistive Technology specialization.
  • As an OT student, you’ll learn in state-of-the-art facilities on our Portland, Maine, Campus for the Health Sciences, home to 11 different health disciplines. 
  • You’ll experience all areas of OT practice including pediatric, adult, and geriatric care, to develop diverse career options.
  • You’ll have the opportunity to do fieldwork in locations across the country, from Atlanta to Honolulu.
  • You will be taught by leading faculty who are performing important research and shaping the way OT is taught, and practiced. 

Tour Our Occupational Therapy Facilities

Team-Based Learning in Occupational Therapy

As a student in UNE's Occupational Therapy program, you have the unique opportunity to collaborate with students from other health professions and apply this participation toward your Interprofessional Honors Distinction. You will continue to use these interprofessional team-based learning skills in your clinical workplace after you graduate.

Hear what our alumni have to say about Interprofessional Education at UNE

UNE Occupational Therapy In Action

Meet Nadia, M.S.O.T. ’24

Meet Emily, M.S.O.T. ’24

Meet Bailey, M.S.O.T. ’24

The Pre-Occupational Therapy 3+2 Experience

Internships for Pre-OT to Occupational Therapy 3+2 Program Students

As a student in the accelerated OT program, you are required to complete the Occupational Studies Internship course. The goal of the requirement is to provide you the opportunity to gain additional skills that will make you successful in the M.S.O.T. program.

Fieldwork

In your final year during the Fall and Spring semesters, you complete required fieldwork in two 12-week experiences.

An occupational therapy student wraps the wrist of a patient

Careers Paths for Occupational Therapy Majors

A career in occupational therapy will improve the lives of your clients in clearly tangible ways. By helping clients assess and overcome physical challenges, you can improve their ability to succeed at home, school, work, and in the community.

Among the many job opportunities you will find:

  • Care manager
  • Health improvement practitioner
  • Occupational therapist

Jobs where your degree would be useful include:

  • Case Management
  • Hand Therapy
  • Driving Rehab Specialist
  • Adaptive Sports Programming
  • Community Mental Health
  • Durable Medical Equipment Specialist
  • Early Intervention Specialist

Typical employers include:

  • Hospitals
  • Housing associations
  • Schools
  • Businesses
  • Community centers
  • Charities
  • Prisons
  • Job centers
  • Home health agencies
  • Private practice 
  • Skilled nursing facilities

Make Your OT Educational Journey in Maine

Students in the UNE accelerated M.S.O.T. degree program will begin their studies on our beautiful oceanside Biddeford campus as part of the Occupational Studies cohort. You’ll learn within UNE’s supportive undergraduate community even as you begin to build momentum toward your master’s.

As you progress, your graduate study will move to our Portland Campus for the Health Sciences, home to 11 different health professions programs. The campus, a classic New England quad with brick buildings and tall trees is the perfect place for your advanced studies. 

Portland, named “America’s Most Livable City” by Forbes and “Foodiest Small Town in America” by Bon Appetit, is the city on every list. A rustic port hosts a vibrant cultural scene — with outdoor adventure all around. UNE’s campus is just 10 minutes from downtown. 

Take a Virtual Tour of Our Biddeford Campus

 

Take a Virtual Tour of Our Portland Campus

Global Opportunities for Occupational Therapy Majors

UNE strives to empower students to become global citizens, and in our occupational therapy program, you’ll have unique, fascinating opportunities to travel internationally and gain a wider perspective of OT. This might be on UNE's Morocco campus or on short-term, faculty-led experiences in Guatemala, Ghana, and more.

Accreditation

The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy at UNE was initially accredited in 1985 and has been continuously accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) since that time. Our next accreditation visit will occur in the 2024/2025 academic year. ACOTE is located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, North Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number, C/O AOTA is (301) 652-6611 and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.

NBCOT Exam Pass Rates

M.S. program graduates are eligible to take the certification examination administered by the National Board Certification in Occupational Therapy. Learn more about the exam and UNE pass rates