University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) logo.

Residential Graduate Occupational Therapy (OT) Programs 

BUILD CONFIDENCE, INSPIRE CHANGE, TRANSFORM LIVES

Our Residential pathway—for Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) or Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)—offers an immersive, on-campus experience designed for hands-on learning and collaboration on an accelerated timeline.

 

Join a dynamic community and connect through live sessions with faculty and like-minded, aspiring OTs—collaborate, build connections and grow together. Guided by faculty mentorship and practice-ready learning, you’ll sharpen critical thinking, spark creative problem-solving and develop real clinical expertise.

 

With a curriculum tailored to your goals and faculty support at every step, you’ll graduate ready to make a real difference.

 
 
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REQUEST INFORMATION
 
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Shorter and Enhanced Curriculum

Join us on The Journey to Clinical ExcellenceTM.

Now, you can earn your Residential MOT in as few as 1.7 years and your Residential OTD in as little as 2 years and start your career sooner.1

1-ON-1

Faculty support and mentorship2

175+

Faculty with 30+ OT specialties3

5,000+

Largest community of practicing OT alumni4

25+

Year legacy of OT education

 

WHAT SETS US APART

PRACTICE-READY LEARNING MODEL

Benefit from a hybrid approach that features in-person coursework and immersive weekday lab experiences complemented by online learning. Leveraging cutting-edge tools and innovative technology, you'll turn theory into practice from day one.

ON-CAMPUS HANDS-ON PRACTICE

Engage in high-impact clinical experiences such as simulations with real and mock clients, Pro Bono Clinics and interprofessional collaboration throughout the program to develop competence and confidence and ensure you are practice-ready.

ONE-ON-ONE MENTORSHIP

You’ll thrive in a supportive learning environment where students and faculty actively uplift each other, share resources and celebrate different perspectives. You’ll receive dedicated, guided mentorship2 throughout your OT journey—from enrollment advisors and the financial aid team at the start to personalized coaching from faculty mentors and career and student services. 

EXPERT FACULTY-PRACTITIONERS

USAHS faculty are dedicated educators, researchers and practicing clinicians with experience in more than 30 specialty areas. They provide expert guidance, mentorship and support to help students explore OT career paths and prepare for licensure and career readiness.

3 STARTS PER YEAR

September, January and May5

 

(Varies by Campus and Program)3

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2 YEARS OR LESS
Earn your MOT in 1.7 years, OTD in 2 years1

 

 

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5 CAMPUSES

Choose from five destinations in California, Florida and Texas. 
(Varies by Program)

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NO GRE

Required for admission

 

 

 

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USAHS has a RESIDENTIAL OT program TO FIT YOUR LIFESTYLE AND YOUR SCHEDULE.

 
 

Residential Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT)

If your main goal is to engage in clinical practice and help individuals reach their full potential, the MOT may be the ideal path for you. Our Residential MOT prepares you to launch your career and make a difference.

 

You may have the opportunity to be employed in a variety of locations, including: 

  • Schools 

     

  • Clinics 

     

  • Hospitals 

     

  • Government agencies 

     

  • Home healthcare 

     

  • Nursing homes

Residential MOT 

  • Weekly Classes and Labs On-Campus and Online

     

  • Campuses: San Marcos, CA | St. Augustine, FL | Miami, FL | Austin, TX | Dallas, TX 

     

  • Start Dates: September, January and May (Varies by Campus)3 

     

  • 5 Trimesters, 1.7 Years1

 
 

Residential Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) 

The Residential OTD curriculum combines coursework from our Residential MOT program with additional coursework focused on leadership, advocacy and policymaking, along with a capstone project on your OT area of interest. 

 

With an OTD, you work in expanded roles in: 

  • Leadership Administration 

     

  • Research 

     

  • Advocacy and policy development 

     

  • OT education 

     

  • Theory development

Residential OTD

  • Weekly Classes and Labs On-Campus and Online

     

  • Campuses: San Marcos, CA | St. Augustine, FL | Miami, FL | Austin, TX | Dallas, TX 

     

  • Start Dates: September, January and May (Varies by Campus)3 

     

  • 6 Trimesters, 2 Years1

 
 

OT IS GROWING FAST

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT

 
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14% GROWTH RATE

Predicted from 2024-34 with 22,100 new OT jobs added.

$98,340 SALARY

Median annual pay in 2024 for currently practicing OTs.

Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Occupational Therapists," Occupational Outlook Handbook, last modified August 2025: www.bls.gov/ooh

 

This data represents national figures and is not based on school-specific data and represents national median annual wages, not starting pay for recent grads. Conditions in your area may vary. USAHS does not guarantee salary levels.

 
 

OTA TO MOT PATHWAY:

Learn more about our OTA entry to our MOT program and earn your Master of Occupational Therapy degree in as little as 1.7 years without a bachelor’s degree.1

 
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FROM TOMORROW'S LEADERS

STUDENT TESTIMONIALS

 
 
 
 

Testimonial

STRAIGHT FROM THE SOURCE

"One of the things I like about the OT program is the advanced technology and the resources available across all campuses.” 

— Aron W., USAHS OT

 
 

WE ARE ACCREDITED

 
 
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The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree (OTD) programs at the San Marcos, California; St. Augustine and Miami, Florida; and Austin and Dallas, Texas, campuses are 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.

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USAHS is institutionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), 1080 Marina Village Parkway, Suite 500, Alameda, CA 94501, (510) 748-9001, www.wscuc.org.

 

1  Time to completion may vary by student, depending on individual progress, credits transferred and other factors. Sooner indicates sooner than if you took our curriculum prior to fall 2025.

 

2 Each student is assigned a faculty mentor when they start the program. On-demand appointments with the faculty mentor and/or course instructors are available.

 

3 Data current as of August 2025

 

4 Based on total MOT and OTD degrees conferred during 2020-2023 as reported by the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Data is captured by IPEDS through interrelated surveys conducted annually by the Department of Education’s National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) and from USAHS’ internal graduation data.

 

5 Three start dates are available for most programs. Start dates differ by program and campus combination.

 
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