Frequently Asked Questions
Admissions
What is the application due date?
May 1 for January admission.
If I get my application in early, will I have a better chance
of being admitted?
No. However, it is very important that we receive ALL your application
materials by the deadline of May 1. We do not look at
any applications until after that date. Be sure you allow plenty of time
for your transcript, preprofessional evaluations, etc. to arrive. Request
that your spring transcripts be sent as soon as they are available. Check
with Enrollment Services to be SURE they have been received.
What if I decide in July that I want to enter in January and
have missed the deadline?
Email anolen@utmem.edu
to see if there are still openings. With a small graduate class size of
20 and the market demand for occupational therapists at the highest level
in ten years, it is expected to fill.
What “counts” in admission?
- Overall GPA
- Prescribed GPA
- GRE Writing Assessment
The graduate student will need a foundation in general knowledge and
evidence of critical writing and thinking skills. We look very carefully
at your essay for evidence of knowledge of and motivation for the field
and mastery of writing skills Related work or volunteer experience and
observations in OT programs act in your favor and help you to be more
certain that you are making the right choice. Good preprofessional evaluations
give you an edge. Extracurricular activities also help you, especially
if they are related to health care or if they demonstrate leadership.
What kind of GPA do I need to have?
To be competitive you will need a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale; to be considered,
a 2.5. Since some
universities calculate GPA differently, check with enrollment services
once your transcripts have
been received, if your GPA is in question.
Is a bachelor’s degree required for admission?
No. Applicants with a degree, however, are encouraged to apply. All applicants
must complete the 90 hours of prerequisites.
Do the 90 hours of prerequisites have to be completed by the
May 1 deadline?
No. However, you must submit a proposed course plan and demonstrate
how the remaining requirements will be accomplished by the Jan. 1 matriculation
date.
 Is
an interview required?
No. However, you are encouraged to visit the campus and schedule
an advising appointment. If that’s not possible, email a faculty
member with your questions. Since the curriculum is very intense, it is
extremely important that the graduate candidate is fully committed to
the level of academic excellence expected.
How much volunteer or observation experience do you expect?
There is no magic number. What is important is that the graduate
candidate has visited a variety of settings and observed occupational
therapists who work with children and adults representing different age
groups. Occupational therapists are MOST often employed
outside of hospitals—in schools, private practice, or in the community.
To demonstrate a commanding knowledge of the profession in the essay,
it is strongly advised that the applicant spend as much time as needed
to reflect this.
I am a student at UTK. Can’t I just transfer into your
program?
Everyone must file an application to be considered for admission
to the program.
I am an out-of-state resident. What are my chances of being admitted?
Priority is given to Tennessee residents; however, your chances
for admission might still be very good. Please indicate if one of your
parents is an alumnus.
How do I establish residency in Tennessee?
You need to contact the Office of Enrollment Services for that information.
Their telephone
number is (901) 448-5560.
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants
Can COTA’s enter the MOT program without further coursework?
COTA’s are strongly urged to apply, however, evidence of meeting
the 90 hours of prerequisite courses is required.
Will courses from my COTA academic institution transfer?
It depends. For example, there are two courses at Nashville Tech that
meet the psychology requirement. Each applicant’s transcript must
be reviewed and a determination made. Course descriptions may be requested,
if needed.
Would it be to my advantage to complete an OTA program first?
No. The only exceptions would be if you wish to work for a time as a COTA
or if you wish to have it as a fall-back plan. To do that plus get all
the prerequisites for our program probably would take you three years.
The best reason for completing a COTA program is that you have chosen
that as your career. Certain individuals who are COTAs do decide to return
to school to become OTRs, but that is the exception rather that the rule.
Like volunteer experience, work experience as a COTA or PTA may give you
a slight edge in admission, but you will have to weigh for yourself the
costs and benefits of taking this route.
Prerequisite Courses
It’s been more than 7 years since I took some of my science
courses. Will I have to take them over? Yes, our objective is
to ensure that once admitted to this program, you will be able to complete
it. You need to be sure that you have a very solid foundation. Higher-level
science courses may be substituted; however, only if they were taken within
the last 5 years.
 I
had to retake some of my science courses because I got D’s the first
time. Will this hurt
my chances?
It will be a disadvantage for you, although it won’t eliminate
you from consideration if the majority of your science grades, especially
the most recent ones, are excellent. Repeated course grades are averaged,
not dropped.
Would it be to my advantage to take more science courses than
the minimum required?
Yes, especially elective courses in Anatomy, Kinesiology, comparative
vertebrate and human physiology. Even if you have A’s and B’s
in your required science courses, you could benefit from additional coursework.
If you have all C’s in your science courses, you definitely should
take additional science coursework. The advanced science courses at the
UT Health Science Center are difficult. Students must have a very strong
background to be successful in completing these courses.
I never took general biology, but my grades are okay in higher-numbered
biology courses. Do I have to take general biology?
Higher-level biology courses may substitute if the lab requirement
is met.
Does it matter whether my science courses have a laboratory?
Yes, experience in science laboratories is very important in preparing
students for the gross anatomy laboratory experience in the OT Curriculum.
What physics and chemistry courses should I take?
Check with your advisor. You need general chemistry and a physics
course that includes mechanics.
My school’s developmental psychology course does not cover
the lifespan. Will it fulfill the prerequisite?
No. Students need an understanding of development from conception
to death. Discuss with your advisor the possibility of other departments,
such as education, offering this course. If there is a question, you may
submit a copy of the course syllabus with your application. You may also
take the psychology sequence, which is two courses in some institutions.
What should I take for electives?
Remember that not more than four semester credits in activity-based courses
may be accepted for transfer. Also, remember this is your chance for a
liberal arts education. Take courses that are of interest to you. That’s
the meaning of ‘elective’. Nothing will be wasted if you decide
to become an occupational therapist. An engineering course could assist
in the development of technology. You may own your own private practice
one day, so business courses would come in handy. If you have a penchant
for languages, remember occupational therapists work all over the globe.
Spanish speaking individuals, in any career, will be in great demand.
So, enjoy the freedom to choose electives while you can.
The Occupational Therapy Graduate Program: Time, Work, Costs
Can I go part-time?
No. At this time we only have a full-time program.
Will I be able to work while attending your program?
“No” is the best advice we can give you. This is a very demanding
program. Although we cannot prohibit your working while in school, most
students find it difficult if not impossible to do so. Experience points
to a high correlation between working and difficulty in progressing through
the program.
Do you provide scholarships?
The Office of Financial Aid is very helpful in identifying alternative
resources. That office may be contacted at (901) 448-5568. Scholarships
are also awarded to students once they have entered the program.
Will I be responsible for fieldwork expenses?
Yes. Room and board are not covered in tuition costs for either Level
I (two weeks) or Level II (nine months). The student must secure and pay
all room and board and travel expenses. Some fieldwork settings offer
stipends or student lodging, but that is the exception. One three-month
fieldwork outside of the Memphis area is strongly encouraged.
If I start in January, how many months until I can actually work?
From beginning to end the program is 27 months. You do not have to graduate
or to have taken the licensure exam to enter the work force. However,
now that the licensure exam is computerized, the licensure process is
expedited. Many of our students are hired during or immediately upon completion
of fieldwork and go through the ‘temporary licensure’ process,
until their exam scores are received by the state licensure board and
they are recognized as certified occupational therapists.
How long does it take to find employment?
The average time for the UTHSC graduates of 2002 was two weeks after the
completion of their academic and fieldwork experiences.
What salary can I expect as a certified occupational therapist
with a Master’s in Occupational Therapy?
This varies according to setting or geographic area. The most
recent graduates’ salaries were between 45K and 50K. Experienced
therapists are generally much higher.
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