Admissions
Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) Admission Requirements
Please note: These requirements are effective for students applying to enter the program in Summer 2027 or later.
Applications are accepted online only and must be received via the OTCAS application system by October 1 of the year that precedes enrollment. The online application is available beginning Mid-July until the application deadline.
Admission into the occupational therapy doctoral program (OTD) is competitive and selective due to a limited class size.
Applicants accepted into the program will be assessed a $300 nonrefundable enrollment fee, which will be applied to the first-year tuition.
The program does not accept outside course work, work experience or experiential learning in place of any OTD curriculum course. The program does not offer advanced placement or admission based on ability to benefit.
In addition to the general admission requirements for UMMC and SHRP, candidates seeking admission into the occupational therapy doctoral program must also meet the following minimum requirements:
- Applicants must have completed at least 90 academic credit hours from a regionally accredited college or university (if a baccalaureate degree has not been completed). There is no specific major required.
- At the time of application, students must have completed a minimum of 60 credit hours, with a documented plan to complete the remaining 30 credit hours prior to the start of the program (if no baccalaureate degree has been completed).
- Earn a minimum overall cumulative grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale;
- Provide evidence of 24 hours of observation under an occupational therapist or an occupational therapy assistant in at least three (3) varied occupational therapy clinical departments (i.e., practice settings) within the two (2) calendar years preceding the application deadline. A maximum of eight (8) observation hours can be obtained from completion of an internship, employment in a setting (i.e. working as a rehab technician), and/or volunteering in a setting. (click here for the form)
- Complete all prerequisite courses with the following stipulations. Students should have completed or be enrolled in atleast four (4) of the seven (7) prerequisite courses by the application deadline. Students must achieve a grade of "C" or better on each prerequisite course with a minimum prerequisite average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale; and
- Upon request, complete an interview with representatives from the Occupational Therapy Admissions Committee.
| Prerequisite Courses* | Number of Courses | Semester Hours |
| Statistics1 | 1 | 3 |
| General Psychology | 1 | 3 |
| Human Growth and Development or Developmental Psychology | 1 | 3 |
| Anatomy and Physiology with Lab2 | 2 | 8 |
| Physics with Lab or Advanced Kinesiology Course (300 level or above) 3 | 1 | 3-4 |
| Biological or Physical Science (300 level or above) | 1 | 3-5 |
| Total prerequisites | 24-26 |
1 Statistics may include courses such as Elementary, Behavioral or Introductory.
2 One course of pure human anatomy with lab AND one course of pure physiology with lab is equivalent to two combined anatomy and physiology with lab courses.
3Introduction to Kinesiology is not acceptable for this prerequisite requirement
* Survey and Technical courses are not acceptable for any prerequisite course requirement.
* Courses beyond the required prerequisites (above) which may be helpful to the student in the OTD program include: medical terminology; advanced science courses; psychology courses and/or research courses.