Occupational Therapy
Prerequisites
Admission to the Program
The academic phase of occupational therapy education begins in late May each year. A Bachelor's Degree is not required to apply to our program. A minimum of 90 semester hours of credit, including the courses listed below, is required prior to starting the program. Those hours may be completed in any regionally accredited college or University.
| English | 6 hours |
| Statistics | 3 hours |
| Anatomy and Physiology (with lab) | 6-8 hours |
| Physics or Biomechanics | 3 hours |
| Introductory Psychology | 3 hours |
| Abnormal Psychology | 3 hours |
| Introductory Sociology | 3 hours |
| Developmental Psychology (across the lifespan) | 3 hours |
| Total Prerequisites | 90 hours |
For electives: We recommend courses focusing on human behavior, biomechanics, developmental psychology, physical/cultural/social environment or human occupations and/or on the skills needed in contemporary healthcare practice.
GPA Requirements
An Overall GPA of 2.7 is required. A grade of no less than C is required in all pre-requisite courses. For persons with an existing baccalaureate or graduate degree, a minimum cumulative GPA of a 2.7 on a 4.0 scale is required for the last 90 semester hours.
The Application Process
Applications are considered twice a year for enrollment in the professional curriculum. Those applicants seeking early acceptance should submit their application by October 15th; all other applications must be submitted by January 15th. It is in the best interest of the applicant to apply as early as possible.
To be considered for admission, the applicant must complete and submit the online application and the required documentation. Documentation to be submitted includes: transcripts, verification of observation/experience hours in occupational therapy setting, two recommendation letters, verification of required immunizations, verification of current CPR certification, and personal essay.
Transcripts and coursework: Applicants must submit transcripts of all institutions attended. At the time of application, the student must demonstrate the ability to complete all pre-professional coursework prior to enrollment in the first semester the professional curriculum. At the time of application, all science coursework must be completed within the last seven years. Applicants whose science coursework is more than seven years old should contact the academic advisor in the Office of Admission and Student Affairs for decisions concerning course acceptability.
Experience. Applicants are expected to have some knowledge of the occupational therapy profession. This can be acquired in several ways: volunteer work, paid work and/or observation in occupational therapy settings/services. It is in the best interest of the applicant to have completed at least 40 clock hours, preferably in two different settings, prior to the application deadline for the program. Verification of observation/experience hours in occupational therapy settings must be submitted as a part of the application. Applicants are also encouraged to become familiar with the occupational therapy profession through exploring the professional literature and online sources.
Letters of Recommendation. Two letters of recommendation are required. Letters should be completed by professional personnel who have: (a) observed you during any related volunteer or paid work, (b) previous or present instructors and/or counselors, or (c) previous or present employers. Additionally, one letter should be completed by an occupational therapist.
Immunizations and CPR. Verification of required immunizations and CPR certification must be submitted prior to enrollment in professional curriculum OR application deadline. CPR certification must be maintained throughout the professional program.
Personal essay. The personal essay should be submitted with the application.
Personal interview. Eligible applicants will be invited for a personal, on-campus interview during the fall or spring semester. To be considered an eligible applicant, one must meet the admission criteria and complete the application process prior to the deadline. Submitting an application by the early admission deadline (October 15 th) does not guarantee an interview in the fall semester. Only a select number of eligible applicants will be invited to interview in the fall. All other eligible applicants will be scheduled to interview in the spring semester.
Transfer Process
Applicants wanting to transfer credit hours obtained from an occupational therapy program will be required to submit syllabi for all courses the applicant is seeking transfer credits. Each course will be reviewed on an individual basis to determine if the course is considered a course equivalent for a professional course within the TTUHSC MOT Program’s curriculum. Courses that are recognized as a course equivalent will be awarded transfer credit. For those courses that are not recognized as a course equivalent, the applicant will be required to take the course identified in TTUHSC MOT Program’s curriculum. Transfers must be approved by the Program Director and Department Chair.