What will I study as an occupational therapy student?

Biola's M.S. in Occupational Therapy program spans six continuous trimesters of classes, labs and fieldwork designed to broaden your knowledge in the OT field and give you valuable field experience working with licensed occupational therapists. Course topics and learning highlights include:

• Advocacy and leadership in occupational therapy
• Occupational therapy preventative care and wellness
• Pediatric, adult-geriatric and mental health occupational therapy courses
• Faith integration and introduction to occupational therapy practice framework
• Patient care foundations
• Theology of disability
• Quantitative and qualitative research methods

The first four trimesters are focused on online coursework with monthly on-campus labs with the final two trimesters dedicated primarily to in-person fieldwork at placement sites. For the in-person fieldwork segment, please note the following:

• Students do not need to be California residents
• Fieldwork does not need to be completed within California
• Fieldwork placements are coordinated by the occupational therapy academic fieldwork coordinator
• Students may need to relocate for each placement (one in trimester 5 and one in trimester 6)
• Students are responsible for living expenses during fieldwork placement

Certification

Upon completion of the program, graduates will qualify to sit for the National Certification Examination for Occupational Therapists, administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT®). Upon successful completion of this exam, graduates will earn the title of Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). Additionally, licensure is required in all states to practice occupational therapy. Typically, state licenses are granted based on the results of the NBCOT® certification examination. It's important to note that felony convictions may impact a graduate's eligibility to sit for the NBCOT® certification examination or obtain state licensure.

ACOTE Accreditation Status

The entry-level occupational therapy master’s degree program has applied for accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. The program must be granted Candidacy Status, have a pre-accreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates 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 an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT® Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT® certification examination or attain state licensure. In addition, students must complete 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork within six months following completion of the didactic portion of the program.

ACOTE Accreditation Timeline:

• Pre-applicant: Current as of April 2024
• Pre-candidacy: After application is submitted on September 2024
• Pre-accredited: After ACOTE approves application in December 2024 (students can be notified of acceptance into the program)
• Full accreditation: Awarded after ACOTE on-site evaluation in November 2026 (achieved before first cohort graduates)

As a Christian institution, Biola seeks to admit applicants whose backgrounds clearly demonstrate scholarly aptitude, a commitment to the historic Christian faith, personal character and integrity, and a positive service-oriented motivation toward their field of study. Biola does not discriminate on the basis of the applicant's race, color, sex, socio-economic status, disability, or national or ethnic origin.

1. Complete and submit the online application

2. Submit a non-refundable $65 application fee

3. Submit supplemental application materials through your online application portal:

Official Transcripts

• Submit all official transcripts from previous academic institutions.
  • Request official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. In addition, transcripts with prerequisites, leveling courses, advanced standing, and any other courses relevant to your desired program should be submitted.
  • If enrolled at the time the application is filed, be sure to request transcripts of work finished to date and final transcripts upon completion of your course of study.
  • Transcripts will be considered official only when a) mailed directly from the institution to Biola, b) sent electronically through an approved vendor or c) physically delivered in an untampered envelope sealed by the institution. Final approval for admission is contingent on receiving an official transcript.
    
    • Mail transcripts to:
      Biola University Office of Graduate Admissions
      13800 Biola Avenue, La Mirada, CA 90639

Two Reference Letters

• Spiritual mentor or leader recommendation
• Academic, character or employer recommendation

Resume or CV

• A copy of your resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)

English Proficiency (required for non-native English speakers)

• Evidence of English proficiency is required for all students to support student success. Proficiency must be shown through one of the methods described below:
  • Minimum test score on a qualifying standardized test
    • TOEFL: minimum score of 100 iBT
    • IELTS: minimum score of 7.5
    • Duolingo: minimum score of 125
  • A degree (bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral) issued by an institution where English is the medium of instruction.
    • Official written communication from the institution (Registrar, Controller of Examinations Office, or Undergraduate College)
    • Official degree statements or transcripts may be accepted given English is stated as the medium of instruction
    • Official catalog verification
    • Note: For universities from non-Anglophone countries, further language assessment may be required.
  • Completion of the English Language Scholars (ELS) with passing status on the ELS's final exit exam, which must be approved by the ELS Director in collaboration with the academic program committee. An updated TOEFL or IELTS score may be used at the end of a term to test directly into the graduate program for the following term.
  • Qualify for English Language Scholars (ELS), which allows students who do not meet the minimum TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo scores to still enroll in their graduate degree program. Students would be taking academic English courses concurrently with the graduate degree program courses. 
    • Students eligible for ELS will be assessed by the ELS Director to determine the total number of academic English courses to take while enrolled in their graduate program courses. The following are the scores needed to qualify for ELS: TOEFL iBT 90 / IELTS 7.0 / Duolingo 110–124.
    • Note: Students must be admitted to the graduate program first to be considered for ELS.

4. Interview with a faculty member

• After your application and supplemental application requirements are submitted and approved, a select number of qualified applicants will be scheduled to have an interview with a faculty member.

 

Things to Note

• Track your application status at any time. You do not have to complete the application in one sitting. You can complete a portion and finish at a later time. Your information will be saved. When you apply, to guarantee confidentiality, you will be asked to create a user name and a password, and will receive a personalized identification number. Track your application status by logging in to the online application.
• Official documents presented for admission or evaluation become part of the student’s academic file and normally cannot be returned or copied for distribution.

Biola is committed to help make your studies affordable — each school offers different scholarship, grant and loan opportunities to help finance your education. Note that the tuition is subject to change.