Master of Arts in Faith-Based Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation Services

Program Overview

Degree abbreviation

M.A. in Faith-Based Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation Services

Total program length

60 graduate semester credit hours

Normal completion time

Two academic years of full-time study

Advanced Faith-Based Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation Services core

27 credit hours

Research, assessment, and program evaluation

12 credit hours

Professional application and field experience

12 credit hours

Graduate capstone requirement

9 credit hours

The Master of Arts in Faith-Based Occupational Therapy and Rehabilitation Services is a 60-credit graduate program designed to equip students with a comprehensive understanding of human occupation, functional wellness, and community-based rehabilitation. The curriculum synthesizes evidence-based practices in human development and physical rehabilitation with a commitment to the principles of servant leadership and stewardship. Students engage in rigorous academic study that examines the nexus between human functioning and the social systems that support independence and dignity within community settings. Through an interdisciplinary lens, learners investigate the challenges of physical and cognitive limitations while developing strategies to facilitate holistic engagement in daily life. The program emphasizes the role of the practitioner as a facilitator of wellness, promoting sustainable community health through ethical decision-making and professional excellence. By fostering an environment of critical inquiry, the program prepares graduates to navigate the complexities of contemporary rehabilitation services with a grounded, service-oriented perspective.

The 60-credit master's program provides advanced preparation in Faith-Based Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation Services theory, human behavior, ethics, assessment awareness, research, program evaluation, crisis response, leadership, referral, and faith-based occupational therapy, rehabilitation services-support services.

The graduate capstone may include: An applied research study; A community needs assessment; A faith-based occupational therapy, rehabilitation services-support program; A professional training manual; A program-development and evaluation project; Another faculty-approved scholarly project.

The program is designed for completion within two academic years by students maintaining the University's prescribed full-time course load. Part-time students may require additional time.

Florida establishes a minimum of 24 semester credits beyond the bachelor's degree for a master's program. The University's 60-credit requirement is an institutional academic standard that exceeds that minimum.

Program Details

• Total Credits: 60
• Duration: 2 years
• Degree Level: Master

Capstone Integration Project

• 4
• All Core Courses
• MGT620
• Strategic Planning for Community Services
• 4
• MGT525
• COU625
• Crisis Intervention and Support Systems
• 3
• COU530
• HIS630
• History of Social Service and Charity
• 3
• None
• CAP650 — Capstone Integration Project: This culminating project requires students to design and implement a comprehensive service initiative that reflects their professional and ethical development. The project includes a formal defense demonstrating mastery of program objectives. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• MGT620 — Strategic Planning for Community Services: This course provides students with tools to create long-term strategic plans for non-profit rehabilitation initiatives. It emphasizes forecasting, stakeholder collaboration, and mission fidelity. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• COU625 — Crisis Intervention and Support Systems: This course addresses the psychological and functional needs of individuals experiencing life transitions or community crisis. It focuses on fostering resilience through community-led support structures. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.
• HIS630 — History of Social Service and Charity: This course examines the historical development of community-based social service and the role of religious institutions in health and rehabilitation. It contextualizes current practices within a broader legacy of service. This course prepares students in supporting faith-based, nonprofit, community organizations' missions.

Thesis or Capstone Project

• The Master’s Capstone Project serves as the final, integrative milestone of the degree, requiring students to synthesize their coursework through the development of a substantive service-delivery initiative. Students must identify a specific challenge within a community or non-profit rehabilitation setting and propose a rigorous, evidence-based solution that aligns with institutional missions of stewardship and service. This project encompasses comprehensive research, needs assessment, and the design of a practical, sustainable intervention model.
• Weighting four credit hours, the capstone represents the culmination of academic rigor and character formation. Beyond demonstrating technical proficiency, students must articulate how their proposed interventions reflect a Christian worldview, emphasizing justice, mercy, and the intrinsic value of every individual. The final deliverable includes a formal project paper and a professional presentation, which together substantiate the student's readiness to apply high-level ethical reasoning and servant leadership in their future vocational service.

Career Opportunities

• Community Rehabilitation Coordinator
• Non-profit Program Administrator
• Health and Wellness Director for Faith-Based Organizations
• Adaptive Living Program Consultant
• Service Coordination Specialist
• Human Services Policy Advocate
• Rehabilitation Services Project Manager

Important Notices

• The program educates ethical professionals who demonstrate technical excellence, servant leadership, professional integrity, and a commitment to apply sound principles to advance faith-based organizations, strengthen communities, and contribute responsibly.
• HBIU is a lawfully operating nonpublic faith-based postsecondary institution that maintains its status under section 1005.06(1)(f), Florida Statutes. The University annually affirms its compliance with the requirements applicable to faith-based institutions in Florida through Commission for Independent Education.
• HBIU accreditation from QAHE (for quality assurance in pre-tertiary and higher education mechanisms). QAHE offers globally recognized accreditation and quality assurance for higher education, training providers, and professional institutions worldwide. Students should consider the nature and scope of this recognition in relation to their individual certification and professional goals.
• Transfer credit is evaluated individually based on course content, credit hours, grades, institutional documentation, program requirements, and applicable university policies. Although HBIU provides academically structured programs, no institution can guarantee that another college, university, employer, licensing board, or credential-evaluation service will accept its credits or credentials. Students are encouraged to obtain advance written confirmation from the intended receiving organization.
• The program develops academic knowledge and applied competencies for service in faith-based organizations, nonprofit institutions, community programs, and related professional environments. Some occupations associated with the subject area may be regulated by governmental or professional authorities. A degree from HBIU demonstrates completion of the University's academic requirements but does not, by itself, confer professional licensure or legal authority to perform regulated services.
• Where a program is related to an external certification, eligibility is determined exclusively by the applicable certifying organization. Certification bodies may establish additional requirements involving education, examinations, experience, background screening, continuing education, or membership. HBIU does not guarantee certification eligibility or examination approval unless a formal written agreement expressly provides otherwise.
• Career and occupational information is provided to help students make informed educational decisions. Employment outcomes depend on factors such as the graduate's experience, geographic location, professional qualifications, employer requirements, economic conditions, interviewing ability, and any applicable licensure or certification requirements. Completion of a program does not constitute a promise of employment, promotion, job placement, or a particular occupational title.
• This program is delivered through online instruction. Students must have access to the technology, equipment, internet service, software, and learning resources identified in the University's technology requirements.
• Internship or field-experience participation is subject to academic eligibility, site availability, supervisor approval, and the requirements of the participating organization. The University assists students with the placement process but cannot guarantee placement with a particular organization, supervisor, location, or schedule.
• Students are responsible for reviewing the catalog, understanding program requirements, providing accurate information, meeting academic and financial obligations, and verifying whether the program supports their intended educational or professional goals.
• Completion of a University program does not authorize a graduate to use a professional title that is protected or restricted by law. Graduates must use titles that accurately reflect their education, credentials, employment role, and current licensure or certification status.
• Degree abbreviation | M.A. in Faith-Based Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation Services
• Total program length | 60 graduate semester credit hours
• Normal completion time | Two academic years of full-time study
• Advanced Faith-Based Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation Services core | 27 credit hours
• Research, assessment, and program evaluation | 12 credit hours
• Professional application and field experience | 12 credit hours
• Graduate capstone requirement | 9 credit hours
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• RES500 | Advanced Research Methodology | 4 | None
• COU505 | Ethics in Rehabilitation Services | 3 | None
• SOC510 | Sociology of Disability and Community | 3 | None
• THE515 | Foundations of Servant Leadership | 4 | None
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• BIO520 | Human Anatomy and Functional Wellness | 4 | RES500
• MGT525 | Organizational Stewardship in Nonprofits | 3 | THE515
• COU530 | Psychosocial Aspects of Adaptation | 4 | SOC510
• RES535 | Program Evaluation and Data Analysis | 3 | RES500
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• EDU600 | Community Education and Advocacy | 4 | SOC510
• BUS605 | Grant Writing and Fundraising Ethics | 3 | MGT525
• COU610 | Principles of Assistive Support | 4 | BIO520
• COU615 | Professional Ethics and Reflective Practice | 3 | THE515
• Code | Title | Credits | Prerequisites
• CAP650 | Capstone Integration Project | 4 | All Core Courses
• MGT620 | Strategic Planning for Community Services | 4 | MGT525
• COU625 | Crisis Intervention and Support Systems | 3 | COU530
• HIS630 | History of Social Service and Charity | 3 | None