The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) at the University of Hartford’s College of Education, Nursing and Health Professionals (ENHP) has been accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) for the maximum amount of 7 years. The recognition comes after a robust review process that found the program expertly prepares students for the highly demanding field of occupational therapy.
Degree programs that achieve ACOTE accreditation must demonstrate and meet rigorous global standards, which include an assessment of the program’s curriculum, objectives and outcomes, faculty and student evaluations, onsite evaluation, and proof of continuous improvements in the area of occupational therapy education.
ACOTE accreditation ensures graduates of the program have entry-level competence and will be 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 a registered Occupational Therapist (OTR).
ACOTE requires the first cohort of students complete the full curriculum prior to granting full accreditation. As such, the program has been in development for over four years. The program will officially graduate its first cohort this May, providing the local and national community with additional excellent practitioners to serve clients in need.
About our OT Program
The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) prepares students for OT careers through a series of foundational science courses, clinical skills laboratories, and current theories in practice. Our expert faculty, curriculum, and supervised learning experiences assure that students are educationally prepared and clinically competent to provide optimal care, as well as implement therapeutic approaches to improve quality of life of their patients/clients.
During the program, students will have several integrated experiences with specific populations from children to older adults. There will be integrated fieldwork experiences in the first spring, second summer, and second fall semester. The culminating fieldwork experiences are full-time fieldwork during the last semester of the professional program.
Accreditation process and meaning:
“Throughout the past four years, I have developed the University of Hartford MSOT program (with our other amazing faculty and staff) to best prepare future clinicians to work in the diverse workforce. The program has had to complete multiple steps in the accreditation process, including earning candidacy, preaccreditation, and finally accreditation. The amount of time and dedication this has taken is noteworthy and I could not be more proud of our amazing team and students.”
- Sarah Psillas, Program Director and Clinical/Applied Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy
What accreditation means to our students:
"I personally witnessed the hard work that went into earning accreditation by faculty, staff, and peers. With their amazing efforts, I’m proud to be part of the first cohort to graduate from the University of Hartford OT Master’s program with full accreditation and can now pursue the next steps to achieve my future career in occupational therapy."
- Monica, Class of 2024
"I am incredibly honored to be a part of the first OT cohort at UHART since the original class of (I forget the year and can’t find it anywhere, help!). This program is extremely deserving of accreditation and I look forward to witnessing its continued growth and development of compassionate occupational therapists."
- Fiona, Class of 2024
"Full accreditation validates the quality of our occupational therapy program and ensures that I am gaining essential skills and knowledge needed to excel in the profession. It gives me immense pride to be a part of a program that not only strives for excellence but also places a strong emphasis on the success of its student."
- Allie, Class of 2025