Graduate Students
The graduate programs at the University of Puget Sound are designed to build on the baccalaureate liberal arts experience. The graduate program's distinctiveness lies in its continuation and application of liberal learning within graduate professional training in the fields of Education, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Therapy.
Master of Arts in Teaching
The Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree offers professional preparation in teaching to students who hold baccalaureate degrees in the arts or sciences. Students completing the program will meet all requirements for Washington state teacher certification.
Master of Education in Counseling
The Master of Education Degree (MEd) in Counseling is designed for those wishing to enter the counseling profession in one or more settings. The school-counseling track leads to the K-12 certificate in Washington State. Coursework in both the agency- and pastoral-counseling tracks can be used to pursue certification as a mental health counselor in Washington State. The pastoral-counseling track is also specifically designed for individuals who wish to include a spiritual focus in their work and is offered in conjunction with Northwest Pastoral Counseling.
Master of Occupational Therapy
The Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) track emphasizes health policy, advocacy, and leadership. Students in this track must complete a two-course sequence on these topics and a capstone project that describes how occupational therapy services could be delivered to under-served clients.
Master of Science in Occupational Therapy
The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) emphasizes research. Students in the MSOT program must complete a three-course sequence in research methods and a research project of publishable quality.
Post-Professional Master of Science in Occupational Therapy
The Occupational Therapy program also offers a year-long program designed to provide occupational therapists who have a bachelor’s level degree the opportunity to earn a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (Post-Professional) degree.
Doctor of Physical Therapy
The mission of the Physical Therapy program at the University of Puget Sound is to build on a broad foundation in the liberal arts to educate the student for entry into the physical therapy profession. The Physical Therapy program is a three-year program leading to a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree and provides a strong grounding in the fundamental tenets of physical therapy as a point of beginning for entry-level practice. The program also exposes the students to new and specialized knowledge with an emphasis on building the student’s capacity for independent critical analysis to fuel a lifelong habit of spirited inquiry and a potential to generate new knowledge. All courses provide opportunities to continuously develop articulate written and oral communication skills appropriate to the profession. Through a careful blending of rigorous academic work and mentored clinical practice, the program seeks to prepare graduates for informed, ethical, and efficacious practice.
