Master of Occupational Therapy

The entry-level occupational therapy master’s degree program is accredited 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.

Accreditation through this national professional organization ensures that our graduates meet the national standards to become highly skilled occupational therapists. Our program received a 10-year re-accreditation in 2022. Annual written reports for the program are submitted to ACOTE every year. The next full accreditation self-study report and on-site accreditation visit will be held in 2031-32.

The University of Washington Division of Occupational Therapy is currently in Applicant status with ACOTE for an entry-level doctorate (OTD) degree. The OTD program is also in the UW proposal stage and will be launched Autumn 2027 pending review and approval by the UW Board of Regents and NWCCU.

Our faculty are conducting impactful research to promote health and participation across the lifespan for a variety of populations. Our innovative research programs have been funded by the National Institutes of Health, Health Resources and Services Administration, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Occupational Therapy Foundation, Retirement Research Foundation, and Washington State. We are also training the next generation of rehabilitation researchers through our involvement with the PhD Program in Rehabilitation Sciences.

Tracy Jirikowic’s research focuses on the development of an early intervention model for children with prenatal alcohol exposure and understanding the developmental outcomes of children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. She is also interested in community-based interventions that promote social participation, health, and well-being for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Dr. Jirikowic is a research affiliate with the UW Institute on Human Development and Disability.

Danbi Lee’s research focuses on evaluating ecologically-centered, telehealth self-management interventions to support community transition and participation for individuals who have had a stroke. As an investigator with the UW Center for Health Workforce Studies and co-founder of the Occupational Therapy and Disability Studies Network, she also leads research on addressing disability-related diversity, inclusion, and equity concerns within healthcare and health workforce education.

Donald Fogelberg’s research has primarily focused on the understanding sleep and sleep-related difficulties in clinical populations, with a focus on people who have experienced significant central nervous system dysfunction such as spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson Disease. Since 2014, he has contributed his expertise in qualitative research methodologies to an interdisciplinary group that successfully developed a novel prosthetic foot. He is the co-founder of Ellipses, an interdisciplinary special interest group supporting scholars working at the intersection of applied health sciences and the humanities.

Tracy Mroz is a health services researcher and co-director of the Advancing Health Services & Policy In Rehabilitation (ASPIRe) Lab. Her research agenda focuses on the impact of policy and delivery systems on access to and quality of post-acute care. As an investigator with the WWAMI Rural Health Research Center and the UW Center for Health Workforce Studies, she is also leading research on home health care in rural communities and the rehabilitation workforce.

Britt St. John is a translational researcher focused on effectively bridging the gap between research and occupational therapy practice to address critical clinical needs and promote thriving for people with neurodevelopmental disabilities across the lifespan. Her current research is focused on understanding and addressing selective eating in autistic children, theoretical and contextual factors impacting family mealtime, and promoting the health and wellbeing for individuals with intellectual and developmental disability.

Lauren Butler has expertise in emotional regulation, trauma-informed care, and neurodiversity-affirming practices. She is passionate about exploring and implementing new technologies in education. Her current scholarship involves surveying students across the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine programs about their use of Generative Artificial Intelligence tools in academic and clinical settings.

Keri DeGroot is an expert in adult physical rehabilitation, geriatrics, and neurorehabilitation. Her research interests include supporting OT students with disabilities and integration of Artificial Intelligence tools into OT education.

Community Fieldwork Educators offer our students the benefit of their expertise and the opportunity to receive supervised hands-on training. In return, the experience of supervising a future occupational therapist offers Fieldwork Educators access to current practice trends and cutting edge research. Read more about the value and purpose of fieldwork from the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).

Fieldwork I Educator Resources

• Level I Fieldwork (AOTA) describes the experience, offers guidelines, and sample evaluation forms for educators
• UW Level I Fieldwork Sequence and Objectives describes how we prepare our students for their Level I fieldwork experience and outlines the responsibility of the Fieldwork Educators

Fieldwork II Educator Resources

• Level II Fieldwork (AOTA) describes the experience, offers guidelines, sample evaluation forms for educators, and an official position paper
• UW Fieldwork II Roles and Responsibilities describes in detail the responsibilities of the Fieldwork Educator, the Academic Coordinator, and the student
• OTA and OT Aide Supervision Overview
• UW Level II Fieldwork Objectives

The Occupational Therapy Program Advisory Board ensures that our program continues to offer students the most relevant coursework informed by current best practices in occupational therapy. Each member contributes a unique perspective on the evolving trends and challenges in clinical practice. They assess program effectiveness, guide quality improvement, and strengthen ties between our program and the broader occupational therapy community.

• Carlos Alaniz, OTR/L
  • Retired
• Heidi Brislin, MS, OTR/L
  • Assistive Technology Specialist, Edmonds School District
• Katie Coddington, MOT, OTR/L
  • Occupational Therapist, Mary Bridge Children's Hospital
• Abigail Cooper, MS, OTR/L
  • Occupational Therapist, Downtown Emergency Services Center
• Vanessa Igelsrud, MOT, OTR/L
  • Occupational Therapist, Muckleshoot Early Learning Programs
• Melissa Porras-Monroe, MA, OTR/L
  • Program Director, Occupational Therapy Assistant Program, Green River College
• Teresa Quinlan, COTA/L, CLT
  • Occupational Therapist, Providence Home Health, Snohomish County
• Alice Ragan, OTR/L
  • Occupational Therapist, University of Washington Medical Center
• Will Shaw, Student
  • University of Washington
• Madelaine Stoer, MS, OTR/L
  • Inpatient Cancer Care Therapies Supervisor, Occupational Therapist and OT Clinical Fieldwork Coordinator, Seattle Children’s Hospital
• Lauri Warfield-Larson, OTR/L
  • NHA Chief Operating Officer, Horizon House
• Mollie Yates, OTR/L
  • Occupational Therapist, Swedish Edmonds

The Janet M. Powell Alumnus/a of the Year Award recognizes outstanding alumni from one or more of the University of Washington Division of Occupational Therapy entry-level and advanced degree programs who have made significant contributions to the field of occupational therapy.

To nominate someone for this award, please fill out this nomination form by Sep 30th. Nominations remain confidential and the recipient is selected by the Advisory Board each year. The recipient speaks (in person or virtually) at the annual symposium and pinning ceremony.

Laura Crooks (BS, 1992)

Laura graduated as a COTA from Green River Community College in 1983, with her OT degree from the University of Washington in 1992, received her MHA from UW in 2012 and her FACHE in 2022. She has authored several articles and co-authored the textbook Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics. Laura worked for 25 years at Seattle Children’s Hospital overseeing many divisions within the organization before taking the position as CEO at Yakima Children’s Village, a center providing over 30 different subspecialties in central Washington. In 2016, Laura lost her oldest son, Chad, to suicide following a diagnosis of Schizophrenia. She and her husband subsequently founded Chad’s Legacy Project, a non-profit dedicated to stigma reduction, increased access to care and future cures for serious mental illness. Along with the UW Department of Psychiatry, they founded the Washington State Mental Health Summit, creating ripples of change throughout the state and the nation. She serves on several boards throughout Washington and has spoken locally and nationally about her experiences.

Previous Recipients

2025 - Beth Osten

For her dedication to supporting individuals with autism; research and promoting developmental relationship-based services for autistic children and co-authoring the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP).

2024 - Yvonne Swinth

For her accomplishments in academia, promoting the welfare of children in schools and the foster system, and for founding the Journal of Occupational Therapy: Schools and Early Intervention.

2023 - Carlos Alaniz

For his achievements and contributions to advancing OT clinical practice in hospice care and advocacy for OT's role in end of life care.

2022 - Beverly Bell

For her many years of public health service and co-authoring the Klein Bell Activities of Daily Living Scale.

2021 - Todd Lefkowicz

For his international work and service in relation to wheelchair technology access, occupational justice, and for founding Mobility Builders.

Each year, we are able to award several partial scholarships to students through the generous gifts made by alumni and friends. These awards are made on a competitive basis.

Elizabeth M. Kanny Endowed Student Support Fund for Occupational Therapy Students

• Congratulations, Nouci Ha, 2025-26 recipient!

Patricia A. Folsom Endowed Fund for Occupational Therapy Students

• Congratulations, Allison Tsai, 2025-26 recipient!

Fallon Endowed Scholarship Fund

• Congratulations to our four 2025-26 recipients!
• Emily Hancock, Maria Madero, Will Shaw, Natalie VanDevanter

Hiranaka Scholar of the Nishimura Hiranaka Endowed Fellowship in Occupational Therapy

• Congratulations, Lauren Graham, 2025-26 recipient!

Our students have also been recognized by external scholarship programs.

UW GSEE Graduate Tuition Awards

• Congratulations to Dana Beltran who is a 2025-26 recipient!

American Occupational Therapy Foundation

• Congratulations to Andrenika Slade and Erika Reinhardt who are the Washington 2025 recipients!

Lisa Wong Legacy Endowed Fund for Stroke Rehabilitation Research

• Congratulations to Natalie VanDevanter who is the 2025 recipient!

Learn more about the program

Tour (In person)

These quarterly tours are led by current students and cover locations most frequented by OT students. The next tour will be during Spring Quarter and capped at 12 spots.

Applicant Q&A Sessions (Virtual)

These sessions are an opportunity to meet with the academic counselor and ask questions about the OT Program and admissions.

Register here for Feb 26, 2026 | 8:00 AM (PST)

Holistic admissions

In our holistic admissions process, we consider a balance of an applicant’s experiences and academic history. Our admissions reviews are conducted entirely online and do not include an interview. Please review all application instructions and requirements carefully, ask us for clarification, and prepare and submit the complete application by the deadline. We do not grant exceptions or extensions for submitting application materials, and we require complete applications for review.

2026-27 Application Cycle

The two required applications will open in mid-July 2026 for entry to Autumn 2027. More details to come.

Eligibility Criteria

Before applying, applicants must meet all the requirements listed below. 

Technical Standards

• Read our Technical Standards Policy for students. Technical standards can be met with or without accommodations. For more information about accommodations, visit the Disability Resources for Students office.

English Language Requirements

• Demonstration of English proficiency is required of all non-native English speakers by the UW Graduate School and Division of OT. Please visit the UW Graduate School website for more information. Applicants should submit their test scores directly to the UW Graduate School by the application deadline. The Division of OT requires applicants to meet the UW Graduate School’s recommended scores where ELP is satisfied.

Education

• A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university in the US (or equivalent from a foreign institution). Degree conferral must occur before starting the OT program.
• All majors are accepted.

Grade Point Average (GPA)

• Competitive applicants will have at least a Cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. We will consider applicants with less than a Cumulative GPA of 3.0 if their last 90 graded quarter credits or 60 graded semester credits average to at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

OT Exposure

• A minimum of 20 hours of exposure to OT is required. This exposure can be from the following list of options. It is important for applicants to understand the breadth and depth of occupational therapy therefore a variety of experiences is recommended.
  • Direct OT observations (i.e., caregiving, clinical site, shadowing, interviewing)
  • Intro to OT course at the college-level
  • Completion of online OT module designed by a university
  • Rehabilitation-related research participation
  • Work or volunteer with persons with disabilities

Prerequisite Coursework

• 7 required prerequisite courses:
  • Priority consideration will be given to applicants who submit grades for all seven required prerequisites at the time of application submission. Applicants missing one or more prerequisites will be considered for “conditional admission” and missing grades will be required to be submitted by August 1st prior to the start of the OT program.
  • Courses must be taken at a regionally accredited institution of higher education which may include traditional or online courses at universities, community colleges, or AP scores/CLEP posted as earned college credit on an official college transcript.
  • Courses do not expire but we do expect applicants to be knowledgeable and comfortable with the material.
  • Download this prerequisite checklist to help organize your coursework.
    • Prerequisite courses must be graded 3.0 (B) or higher.
    • One prerequisite course can be graded as low as 2.7 (B-).

This handout outlines OTD application requirements.