MOT Traditional Track

FALL 2024 COHORT APPLICATION DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 1, 2023. 

One cohort is admitted to each campus location for the RU MOT program each year, with a fall semester start date. We have an MOT cohort at the Radford University Carilion location as well an MOT cohort at the RU Main campus. Radford University uses the OT centralized application service, OTCAS, for MOT application submissions.

All applications are screened for accuracy and completeness before being reviewed by the Department of Occupational Therapy Admissions Committee. The 2024 MOT OTCAS application portal will open for applications on July 21, 2023.

The next application deadline for submission is November 1, 2023. In addition to submitting the required application materials and meeting all prerequisite requirements by the end of Spring semester of the year you wish to begin the MOT program, you may be selected to participate in a mandatory virtual interview with the MOT Interview Panel. Final admission decisions will be announced before the end of March.

It is not possible to transfer into the MOT program if you have completed partial coursework for another occupational therapy graduate program. This is due to differences in curriculum and course structures between programs.

Please direct all MOT program questions to the MOT Graduate Program Coordinator, Dr. Jason Browning. OTCAS portal questions should be directed to the OTCAS staff.

Admission Requirements

  • A bachelor’s degree completed by the August start date of the fall semester classes;
  • A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 in all undergraduate and/or graduate coursework;
  • A grade of B- or better in all prerequisite courses, completed by May of the year you plan to begin the program (please see the list below).

Prerequisites For Admission to the MOT Program

Prerequisite requirements for admission to Radford University's Master of Occupational Therapy Program encompass a strong foundation of undergraduate course work in the liberal arts and sciences (e.g. anthropology or sociology, anatomy, psychology).

Earning a grade of B- or better is required in all prerequisite courses. We have no restrictions on the timeframe for when you took your prerequisite courses – there is no expiration date on the courses you’ve taken.

Prerequisite Course List:

  • Introductory Statistics (3 credits)
  • Introductory Sociology OR Cultural Anthropology (3 credits)
  • Human Anatomy (3-4 credits)
  • Human Physiology (3-4 credits)
  • Introductory Psychology (3 credits)
  • Lifespan Growth and Development (3 credits)
  • Abnormal Psychology (3 credits)

*Please note that we do not accept AP courses from high school to satisfy prerequisite requirements.

Required Application Materials

  • Your application materials must include the following:
  • A completed application in OTCAS, the OT common application service (portal opens in late July 2023).
  • A completed Supplemental Application to the MOT program, submitted to the Radford University College of Graduate Studies and Research.
  • Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate course work; transcripts are submitted to OTCAS.
  • A professional resume of your past and current educational and work/volunteer experiences;
  • A typed Statement of Purpose: This is your opportunity to tell us why you want to earn the Master of Occupational Therapy degree at Radford University. In a two-page (double-spaced) essay, discuss the development of your interest in occupational therapy, how your observation experiences have informed your understanding of occupational therapy as a profession and the people occupational therapists work with, and your aspirations and goals for a career as a healthcare professional;
  • Two letters of recommendation: Request letters from college professors, employers, or others who have worked with you in a professional capacity (no personal references, please). The letters should describe your academic skills, general work behaviors, and the personal qualities one needs to be a competent health-care professional;
  • A minimum of 20 hours with an occupational therapy practitioner (OTR or COTA), 40 hours preferred; in at least two different practice settings. Experience with diverse populations and programs is highly recommended. (Observation Hours Summary Form [DOCX]) We will accept alternative forms documenting your observation hours, as long as all information is present (please no forms from other OT programs). If your observation hours have been disrupted by COVID-19, contact the Graduate Program Coordinator for information on an alternative observation options. Dr. Jason Browning, 540-831-1672.
  • We do not require the GRE for application to our MOT program.
  • Application Timeline
  • Mid-July:
    Keep an eye out for the OTCAS Application Portal to open.
  • November 1:
    The MOT at Radford University Application Submission Deadline (Supplemental Application also due).
  • November 15:
    Deadline for all materials to be submitted to OTCAS (transcripts and letters of recommendation).
  • December:
    First round of interviews.
  • January:
    Final round of interviews.
  • Late February:
    Admission offers finalized.
  • March:
    Assignment of cohort location to Radford University Carilion or Radford University Main.

Campus Locations

We offer the MOT – Traditional Track Program at two campus locations, admitting one cohort to each location for a Fall start date. Full-time and part-time options are available at either location.

Applicants are asked to indicate a campus location preference upon submission of the OTCAS application, either the Roanoke location, the Radford location, or no preference. Every effort is made to assign admitted students to the location they have indicated as their preference.

Radford University Campus - Radford
Radford University’s main campus is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwest Virginia in the City of Radford alongside the beautiful New River.

Radford University Carilion Campus - Roanoke
The Radford University Carilion campus is located downtown in the City of Roanoke, in the Roanoke Valley, which is nestled between the Blue Ridge and the Appalachian Mountains. The two campuses are 46 miles apart and connected by the Interstate 81 corridor.