Dominican’s occupational therapy curriculum builds on the knowledge and experience students gain each year. Students progress from exploration to competence to achievement to mastery.
Our OT program prepares you to become a professional licensed occupational therapist. You will complete fieldwork at top rehabilitation, mental health, and education facilities, and build your network in the Bay Area. You will have ample opportunities for capstone projects, international experiences, and creative program development—all in a close community setting.
Admission is selective and our program requires full-time, weekday attendance at our San Rafael campus.
Program Highlights
- Experienced, professional faculty
- Small class sizes and student-centered learning
- More than 200+ fieldwork partners
- A strong community engagement focus
- Integrated research experience
- Accreditation with Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)
Career Paths
Occupational Therapy is a fast-growing and rewarding field that will allow you to work in hospitals, clinics, schools, business, industry, and community settings, serving persons of all ages with developmental, physical, psychiatric, or behavioral disabilities. OTs also promote health and help prevent disease and disability through occupation-centered interventions and environmental adaptations.
I recently had two job offers, and accepted one with a geriatric transitional care facility in San Luis Obispo. One great thing is that I met my employer at the Dominican Career Fair. Having access to OT opportunities at the fair was important and successful for me!
— Amanda Harness, MS, OTR/L
Admissions and Aid
A degree from a top-ranked, private University like Dominican is deliberately affordable and accessible! More than 99 percent of our first-year incoming students receive significant financial aid through merit- and need-based scholarships as well as state and federal aid. Additionally, for most students, there is no application fee, and we don't ask for test scores. Get in touch with a counselor to learn more about your path to an exceptional college experience at Dominican!
Requirements and Track Progression
- Upon application, students must indicate their interest as a psychology major with a pathway to pre-allied health occupational therapy.
- Students are admitted into the BS Psychology program and follow a pre-OT track in their first and second years.
- Students apply to the MSOT program in their second year. Transfer students may be accepted into the BS Psych / MSOT in their sophomore year.
- Complete all the following prerequisites by sophomore year.
- Human Anatomy with lab - 4 units
- Human Physiology with lab - 4 units
- Lifespan Development - (either a lifespan development course or courses on both child and adolescent development and adult development)
- Introduction to Psychology - 4 units
- Abnormal Psychology - 4 units
- Functional Neuroscience - 3 units
- Statistics for Health/Behavior Sciences - 4 units
- Medical Terminology - 1 unit
- Occupation and Others - 1 unit
- Occupation and Community 1- unit
- Occupation as Therapy - 1 unit
- Complete your psychology major and begin the MSOT program simultaneously starting junior year.
- Observation/Volunteer Experience
Applicants to the Occupational Therapy program are required to complete a total of 40 hours of observation/volunteering in human services, and 20 of those hours must be with an OTR. The 40 hours of volunteer work can include service-learning hours, if applicable.Observation/Volunteer hours require 40 hours of OT Relevant experience within two years of the program's start date. Observation hours can be conducted in a virtual environment. Your supervisor(s) will fill out your volunteer form and return it to you to submit with your application. If you do not complete all of your volunteer work experience at one location, a separate form is needed for each location. Time sheets or other facility forms cannot be submitted as proof of volunteer work
GPA
Recommended minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 at time of application.
Recommended minimum 3.0 GPA on prerequisite courses.Personal Statement
Please provide a brief essay describing your professional and personal goals, as well as your reasons for pursuing this degree.
At Dominican University of California (DUOC), information regarding a student's criminal background and the results of criminal background checks are not considered during the admissions process for the Occupational Therapy program. However, it is important for applicants to understand that a criminal background could affect their ability to take the National Certification Examination for Occupational Therapists, which is overseen by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). Additionally, a felony conviction might restrict access to necessary clinical fieldwork experiences, impact eligibility for the NBCOT certification exam, and influence the ability to obtain state licensure. Applicants with concerns about how a criminal background might affect their program participation are encouraged to consult with an OT Academic Advisor at DUOC. They can provide guidance on the requirements for completing the degree and obtaining licensure or certification.
Undergraduate Tuition
Learn about tuition per unit, additional fees and total undergraduate tuition.
We'll also show you how a Dominican education is more affordable than you might think with support from financial aid, scholarships and loans.
MSOT Graduate Tuition
| Tuition Rate Per Unit | Number of Units | Format |
| $1,210 Tuition and Financial Aid information coming soon. | 37 Units | In-person |
Program Accreditation
Our Master’s in Occupational Therapy Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE).
7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E
Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 652-AOTA
The national certification examination for eligible candidates is administered by The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT).
One Bank Street, Suite 300
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
(301) 990-7979
The total number of graduates from the Dominican University of California Master of Occupational Therapy program during the 3-year period of 2021-2023 was 150, with an overall graduation rate of 95%.
| Graduation Year | Master-Entry-Level Program Students Entering/Graduating | Undergraduate-Graduate Program Students Entering/Graduating | Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 30/28 | 26/24 | 93% |
| 2022 | 27/27 | 25/23 | 96% |
| 2023 | 30/30 | 20/18 | 96% |
| Total | 87/85 | 71/65 | 95% |
The following policies have been available to all prospects.
Degrees Offered
BS, MS
Office Hours
Mon.–Fri., 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
