Doctor of Occupational Therapy
OTD Admission Requirements
See all Doctor of Occupational Therapy admission requirements below.
Candidates must meet the following admission requirements in order to be considered for the occupational therapy doctorate program.
Doctor of Occupational Therapy Admissions Requirements
Bachelor’s Degree: Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with an overall cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. You can apply while you are still enrolled in an undergraduate degree program or while you are completing prerequisite coursework. You should submit a plan of study with your application that indicates all remaining courses that will be completed prior to program enrollment.
GRE: The GRE is no longer required for admission to USAHS Occupational Therapy Program.
Resume: Include a current resume with your application.
Statement of Purpose – Personal Essay: Your Personal Essay should address why you selected occupational therapy as a career and how this degree relates to your immediate and long-term professional goals. We invite you to share how your lived experiences (e.g., personal, professional, cultural, etc.) have influenced your interest in pursuing OT. This essay is an important part of your application and allows you to clearly and effectively express yourself.
OT Supplemental Questions: Provide five short answers to help us learn more about you.
- An Occupational Therapist enables people to engage in occupations they want to do, need to do, or are expected to do. What is an occupation you enjoy engaging in, and what positive impact does this have on you?
- Occupational Therapists enable people to do what they want to do. Can you explain when you have enabled others through occupation?
- Describe a volunteer or community service experience in which you demonstrated leadership, initiative, or made a meaningful contribution. Reflect on how this experience prepared you for graduate study in occupational therapy and how it relates to two areas of everyday functioning (e.g., daily activities, roles, routines, or participation).
- Describe your academic strengths and potential areas of needed support.
- To which program are you applying — MOT or OTD? Explain why you chose this program and provide examples of how it aligns with your current life circumstances and learning style, and how it will help you achieve your professional goals.
Observation Hours: The Occupational Therapy Department does not require observation hours to apply for our graduate programs, however, it is highly recommended that all applicants observe occupational therapy in at least two areas of practice. This will not only support your submission essays; it will also help to ensure that you are well suited for this field of study.
OTD Essay:
Submit an essay (800-1000 words, double spaced) that describes:
- A health relatedproblem or condition thatone population experiences and how occupational therapy can make a positive impact on their quality of life.
- Your exposure or experience with occupational therapy and how itshapedyour understanding of the profession.
Writing Quality, Grammar and Scholarly sources
- Be sure to support your answers with your sources(use at least 3 scholarly sources). Include proper citing of references, proper writing and formatting. Include reference list and active DOI links to research articles. Properly cite the use of AI in your document.
The essay will be evaluated by the Admissions Committee to assess preparedness for graduate studies and to identify the assistance needed for writing skills and success in the program.
Prerequisites: Admissions recommends that all prerequisite coursework be no more than 5 years old. This is a recommendation and is preferred, it is not a requirement to apply. You will be asked to provide official transcripts during the application process.
All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of “C” (2.0) or better. You can find our OT prerequisite form here. Evidence of successful completion of the following prerequisites is required:
| Required Prerequisite Courses | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester Hours | Quarter Hours | |
| Anatomy and Physiology with Lab Acceptable course titles to fulfill this requirement include: Human Anatomy and Physiology I & II-Topics covered are: cell physiology, histology, integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous and sensory systems. Emphasis is on the interaction of structure and function and the mechanisms which maintain homeostasis in the human body. General Human Anatomy-In its broadest sense, anatomy is the study of the structure of an object, in this case the human body. Human anatomy deals with the way the parts of humans, from molecules to bones, interact to form a functional unit. The study of anatomy is distinct from the study of physiology, although the two are often paired. General Human Physiology– is the study of how the human body functions. This includes the mechanical, physical, bioelectrical, and biochemical functions of humans in good health, from organs to the cells of which they are composed. | 8 | 12 |
| Sociology or Anthropology Acceptable course titles to fulfill this requirement include: Sociology – Sociology is the study of human social relationships and institutions. Sociology’s subject matter is diverse, ranging from crime to religion, from the family to the state, from the divisions of race and social class to the shared beliefs of a common culture, and from social stability to radical change in whole societies. Unifying the study of these diverse subjects is sociology’s purpose of understanding how human action and consciousness both shape and are shaped by surrounding cultural and social structures. Anthropology – Anthropology is the systematic study of humanity, with the goal of understanding our evolutionary origins, our distinctiveness as a species, and the great diversity in our forms of social existence across the world and through time. The focus of Anthropology is on understanding both our shared humanity and diversity and engaging with diverse ways of being in the world. Anthropology is divided into three subfields: sociocultural, biological, and archaeology. USAHS will accept sociocultural and biological anthropology subjects in fulfillment of their prerequisite, but not archeology. Sociocultural Anthropology – Sociocultural anthropologists interpret the content of particular cultures, explain variation among cultures, and study processes of cultural change and social transformation. Common topics include human ecology; gender relations; culture and ideology; demography and family systems; race, class and gender inequality; resistance movements; colonialism, neocolonialism, and development; and cultural politics. Biological Anthropology – Biological anthropologists study a variety of aspects of human evolutionary biology. Some examine fossils and apply their observations to understanding human evolution; others compare morphological, biochemical, genetic, and physiological adaptations of living humans to their environments; still others observe behavior of human and nonhuman primates (monkeys and apes) to understand the roots of human behavior. | 3 | 4.5 |
| Human Growth and Development (Lifespan) – This course must cover the life stages from birth to death, including the psychological aspect of growth and development. It must include both physical and biological development. Common Courses: Human Development and Developmental Psychology | 3 | 4.5 |
| Abnormal Psychology Abnormal psychology is a branch of psychology that studies unusual patterns of behavior, emotion and thought, which could possibly be understood as a mental disorder. It involves the study, assessment, treatment, and prevention of maladaptive behavior. | 3 | 4.5 |
| Statistics Statistics is the study of the collection, analysis, interpretation, presentation, and organization of data. This course includes measures of central tendency and variability, probability, random variables, normal and binomial distributions, confidence intervals, tests of hypotheses, correlation and simple linear regression, descriptive and inferential techniques and concepts which apply to sample data which has been gathered from a population. | 3 | 4.5 |
| Medical Terminology Medical terminology is language used to precisely describe the human body including its components, processes, conditions affecting it, and procedures performed upon it. Medical terminology is used in the field of medicine and other health professions. *Applicants may complete the requirement through CEU credit with certificate of completion or transcript, standard credit bearing course with transcript, CLEP with official score report or course completed through USAHS and provide evidence of completion. | * | * |
Misrepresentation of Academic Credentials
Misrepresentation of academic credentials includes presenting information known as false and with the intent of obtaining employment or admission to an educational program at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS). Statements made and documents supplied by USAHS’ applicants and students must be complete and accurate. The University will not tolerate any misrepresentation by a student or applicant of past or current academic programs, degrees, or professional accomplishments. If unexplained discrepancies appear between statements or documents provided to USAHS and information obtained otherwise, except in the case of misspellings and other such inadvertent errors, applicants may have their admission rescinded and enrolled students may be dismissed.
Additional Information
- A comprehensive background check, fingerprints and drug screen at the applicant’s expense must be completed upon acceptance into the program prior to matriculation. A felony charge and or conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or to attain state licensure.
- This is a hybrid program requiring both virtual (distance education) and face-to-face class participation. Online learners need access to/use of a computer/word processor and basic technical skills to succeed. These skills include the ability to create new documents, use a word processing program, navigate the Internet, and download software. Attendance requirements are enforced.
- Candidates holding a non-U.S. degree may be eligible to take University courses and/or be considered for admission to USAHS. Please refer to the “Additional Requirements for Domestic, International, and/or Foreign-Educated Students” section of the University Catalog/Handbook for further information.
- Students in the Residential OTD program continue to remain eligible for an F-1 student visa sponsored by USAHS. Applicants located in the United States on a non-F-1 student visa can be considered for admission. USAHS does not issue I-20s for F-1 student visa applications for the Hybrid Immersion Doctor of Occupational Therapy (Hybrid Immersion OTD) or the Flex Doctor of Occupational Therapy (Flex OTD). However, prospective students who already hold a valid, non-F-1 student visa may be eligible for admission to the Hybrid Immersion and Flex MOT, provided a copy of an unexpired visa and passport reflecting non-F1 student visa status is provided prior to admission and that the individual meets all other admission requirements. Students must keep their non-F-1 student visa in good standing throughout the duration of their studies with USAHS, as the University cannot sponsor those students for study now or at any point in the future for the Flex and Hybrid Immersion OT formats. Students holding a visa that is renewed during their course of study must provide a copy of the updated visa reflecting current eligibility to the Admissions office. Further, all programs that require an in-person clinical component require the student to reside in the United States while completing the program. Students are also required to provide proof of residency (e.g., current lease agreement in the student’s name). There may be additional requirements for students seeking federal financial aid. Students should contact the Office of Financial Aid prior to enrolling and provide any required documents.
International students and those applying for admission, as well as current students planning international travel, should monitor travel advisories frequently by visiting https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories.html. Conditions can change rapidly in a country at any time, including implementation of no-fly zones, so it is important to monitor any developments prior to travelling to the United States for educational purposes.
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