Occupational Therapy

Admission Requirements

Because occupational therapists are found in a wide variety of settings, a background in the liberal arts, fine arts, education, engineering, computer science or business can be an excellent building block for an individual who would like to work with people and help them have more satisfying lives. Occupational therapy has often been a career choice for individuals who have been out of the academic environment for a long time and are seeking a high level of job satisfaction.

What are the educational requirements for the Master’s in Occupational Therapy?
Ninety (90) semester credits must be completed prior to matriculation. To be competitive, a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is recommended. Applicants must have a 2.5 GPA to be considered and have completed the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) Writing Assessment within the previous five years. Science courses must also be completed within seven years of application. Grades of D in required courses are not acceptable. If a required course is repeated, both grade are calculated into the cumulative GPA, but the credit hours assigned to the course, may be counted only once toward the fulfillment of the required number of hours. A bachelor’s degree is not required for admission to the program; all that is required is 90 hours of prerequisites. Required Prerequisite Course Numbers

Check here to make sure you are taking prerequisites courses for the Master’s in Occupational Therapy

*Must include laboratory experiences and must be completed within the five years prior to application. Upper level courses will be accepted to meet the lower level science requirements if taken within seven years prior to application. Candidates wishing to request a waiver of this limitation must write a letter to the OT chair documenting the current level of knowledge. Each case will be considered on an individual basis.

**Course content MUST cover conception to death. Two courses may be required if taken in the psychology department. If one lifespan course is offered in another department, submit a copy of the course syllabus with admission application to request substitution.

***Recommended courses to complete the required semester hours include political science, government, and economics.

****Recommended courses to complete the nine semester hours include foreign language (Spanish preferred), philosophy, logic, ethics, literature, and/or fine arts.

*****Recommended courses include: computer/technology skills, kinesiology, education, technical or critical writing, fine and performing arts, language and communication systems, philosophy, and industrial arts or activity-based courses (e.g., woodworking, ceramics, photography).

No more than four credits in activity-based courses are acceptable.

Proof of one year of American history at the high school or college level is a requirement for graduation from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.

Applicants must demonstrate good physical and mental health consistent with the demands of the educational program.

Application Process
Application Deadline for the Master’s in Occupational Therapy is May 1, 2006 for January 2007. Online applications may be completed; however, application materials below must be sent to:

Office of Enrollment Services
UTHSC
910 Madison Suite 525
Memphis, TN 38163

Click here for Enrollment Services

• Completed application and application fee
  The information provided on the Application for Admission, including the applicant’s essay helps the committee to assess knowledge, motivation, and essential writing skills. Involvement in extracurricular school and community activities are considered as a part of the applicant’s history of experiences dealing with people and activities.
• Official transcript from each college and university attended
• Projected plan for completion of remaining required courses
• Pre-professional/Composite evaluation form(s)
  The applicant must submit a minimum of two pre-professional evaluations or a Pre-Professional Composite evaluation completed by a minimum of two members of the applicant’s academic advisory committee. The form must be completed by individuals who know the applicant well and have served as the applicant’s teacher, employer, mentor, etc.
• Observation/volunteer verification form or letter
  Verified volunteer, observations, and/or work experiences in a variety of occupational therapy settings are required. Observation of and reading about occupational therapy are recommended.
• Scores from the GRE Writing Assessment
  GRE - Educational Testing Service · P. O. Box 6000 · Princeton, NJ 08541-6000 · 609.771.7670
• Criminal Background Checks (CBC)
  The applicant must receive a GREEN (passing) on a Criminal Background Check before being admitted into the Master’s in Occupational Therapy Program. Access the Tennessee Hospital Association (THA) website www.tha.com.
• GRE
  Applicants MUST take the GRE and receive a minimum score of 3.5 on the Analytical Writing portion. A combined score of 1000 is recommended on the Verbal and Quantitative Reasoning Sections. If we don’t have your scores by May 1, you cannot be unconditionally accepted. All scores MUST be in NO LATER THAN October 1st prior to Jan 1 entry.
  
  
  

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