Master in Occupational Therapy/Therapist (Master's)

Rush University places education in a state-of-the-art medical center in Chicago, where students learn through small classes, hands-on instruction, and clinical settings focused on high-quality patient care. Faculty members are accomplished practitioners and researchers, giving students contact with people who work across clinical and research settings. The learning community promotes safety, support, self-expression, and diversity. The setting connects study with patient care, faculty practice, and research.

Academic opportunities are organized through the College of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, and Rush Medical College. The College of Nursing offers degree programs and uses a holistic admissions process. The College of Health Sciences prepares students for allied health careers. Rush Medical College includes the MD program and graduate study in research and biomedical sciences. Programs in nursing and health sciences have earned top-five national positions in the 2026 Best Graduate Schools rankings, while Rush Medical College received recognition for research.

International students can explore application requirements, deadlines, and financial aid through the admissions resources for their program. Rush offers on-campus and online information sessions for specific programs. Student support extends to basic needs, including food, housing, and financial security, through services and resources available to all students. Community engagement is part of student life: the annual MLK Day of Service connects students with volunteer opportunities and reflections on careers in health care.

Students study how to help people with physical, cognitive, psychosocial, mental, developmental, and learning disabilities, plus adverse environmental conditions, maintain independence and health. They learn basic medical sciences, psychology, sociology, assessment, tests and measurements, assistive and rehabilitative technologies, ergonomics, environmental health, special education, vocational counseling, health education, and ethics.

Graduates assist patients through planned skill-building, motivation, environmental adaptations, assistive technologies, and physical agents. Typical applications include patient assessment, rehabilitation, special education, vocational counseling, health education, and promoting independence and optimum health.

For international students, tuition is well above the median for US programmes.