Welcome to the Master of Occupational Therapy Program at SMC!

Established in 1994, the graduate program in Occupational Therapy graduated its first class in August, 1996. Graduates are prepared for entry-level positions in occupational therapy and often progress rapidly to leadership positions in the field. The program offers a rigorous education in both the basic sciences and in the art of therapy. Occupational therapists must learn to participate collaboratively with other health care professionals. For this reason, core courses are shared with students in the nursing and physical therapy programs. Learning to communicate with other health care providers is important in preparation of building teamwork.

Top: Students in Anatomy Lab. Bottom: Students presenting their assistive device project.

Why Choose Occupational Therapy at Samuel Merritt College…

The faculty to student ratio is 1:9.
Master of occupational therapy students at SMC are enrolled in a full year of human anatomy with cadaver dissection.
The majority of program faculty continue to practice in the field, have diverse backgrounds, have numerous publications and have presented nationally and internationally.
Samuel Merritt College is located in Oakland, California, close to San Francisco, Berkeley and the Wine Country of Napa and Sonoma.
All students participate in three clinics that provide free OT services to individuals in the community.
Clinicians and employers in the field consistently rate graduates of the Master of Occupational Therapy Program at Samuel Merritt College as outstanding contributors to their professional staff.

Pass Rate

Of the 60 students who have completed the Master of Occupational Therapy Program between 2004 - 2006, 90% have passed the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy's certification exam on the their first attempt (60 eligible students, 60 first time takers, 54 passed).

Contact Information

Please review this website for details regarding admission to the MOT program at Samuel Merritt College. If you have specific questions about prerequisites or applying for admission, please contact us and we will be happy to help you. The Admission Counselor who works most closely with the MOT program is:

Che Abram, Assistant Director of Admission
Phone: 510-869-8984
Email:cabram@samuelmerritt.edu

If you have questions regarding the MOT curriculum at Samuel Merritt College or the profession of occupational therapy, you are welcome to contact the department chairperson:

Dr, Kate Hayner.
Phone: 510-869-6511 ext. 4780
Fax: 510-869-6951
Email:khayner@samuelmerritt.edu

Application Deadline:

The application filing period extends from November 1 through July 31 for the next fall entering class. Applications received prior to February 1 will receive early consideration and review. Applications are processed on an on-going basis.

The intense coursework and clinical experiences at Samuel Merritt College enhanced my development as a confident, holistic, and competent entry-level practitioner. Most specifically, the hands-on cadaver dissection provided me with a visual representation of the human body, which fostered my understanding and application of occupational therapy theory and treatment techniques. - Amber Brose

One of best decisions I made in recent years was to attend Samuel Merritt College (SMC) for my professional preparation to become an occupational therapist. Coming from a business background and lacking any health care experience (except as a consumer!), I needed a program with a strong science base as well as having lots of patient interaction. SMC’s clinical experience was invaluable to me. With the professors’ encouragement, I learned to apply the art of occupational therapy while understanding the science behind patient diagnoses and my treatment decisions.

I remember having difficulty my first semester conducting an activity analysis. By my Level II fieldwork, I realized that I automatically integrated this process into my clinical thinking. Being well-prepared for my fieldwork experiences was the validation I needed to know I picked the best occupational therapy program for me. It isn’t that difficult to do well in the classroom; being successful in the field is where it counts. Thanks to my SMC academic preparation, I have a solid base of generalist skills and can add value to my patients from day one. - Kate Lenschau