APPLICATION DEADLINES FOR FALL ENROLLMENT

• October 31 for early decision or the date published by the Office of Graduate Admissions
• January 15th for regular admission or the date published by the Office of Graduate Admissions

If applying through OTCAS, please allow two months for the Graduate Admissions Office to receive your verified application.

EARLY APPLICATION OPTIONS

Early decision is for entering freshman and/or qualified Sacred Heart University junior or senior level students who have completed the following prerequisite courses with final grades entered with their College or University's Registrar to receive an early decision interview:

• Biology with Lab
• Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab
• Psychology
• Statistics
• At least one other pre-requisite

Sacred Heart University and external students who have not completed these prerequisites should apply regular decision.
 

Option One: Entering Freshman: EARLY PROGRAM DECISION
Early Program Decision Option requirements for entering freshman include successful completion of four years of Science, and two of the following three criteria:

• high school GPA of 3.2 or higher in academic courses (Math, Science, History, English and Language);
• SAT scores of 1100 or higher;
• rank in the top 30% of their high school class

Entering Freshman who meet Early Decision criteria will have a seat reserved in the graduate Occupational Therapy program contingent upon successful completion of all prerequisites and an undergraduate major, maintenance of a 3.0 GPA throughout Sacred Heart University tenure, successful completion of all prerequisite course work with a prerequisite GPA of 3.2 with no individual prerequisite course grade below a “C”, completion of a graduate admission application by October 31 of their Senior year, and an interview with the Occupational Therapy Admissions Committee.

Option Two: Senior Year, Fall Term: EARLY PROGRAM DECISION OPTION
For Sacred Heart University junior or senior level undergraduate students and for external students who meet specified criteria, there is an opportunity to apply for Early Program Decision. Early Decision applicants must have completed the following prerequisites with final grades entered with their College or University's Registrar to receive an early decision interview: 

• Biology with Lab
• Human Anatomy & Physiology I with Lab
• Statistics
• Psychology
• and one additional prerequisite course

The application deadline is October 31 or the deadline published by the Office of Graduate Admissions. Criteria for early decision application include all of the following:

• successful completion of all prerequisite courses with a GPA of 3.2 or better and no individual prerequisite course grade below a “C”;
• overall GPA of 3.0 or better;
• Science prerequisite GPA (Bio, A&P I and A&P II) of 3.0 or better
• submission of a completed graduate admission application and applicable fee;
• internal SHU students do the application online at www.sacredheart.edu
• external students do the National OT application online at www.OTCAS.org
• official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended; and, 
• essay
• relevant volunteer experience in the OT field; 
• Completion of baccalaureate degree
• successful interview with the Occupational Therapy Admissions Committee, which includes participation in a group problem-based learning experience, upon invitation.

Applicants who meet the Early Program Decision criteria will have a seat in the Occupational Therapy program reserved contingent upon maintenance of a 3.0 GPA throughout their University tenure, successful completion of all prerequisites and an undergraduate major, and an interview with the Occupational Therapy Admissions Committee.
 
 
Option 3: Senior Year, Spring Term: REGULAR APPLICATION OPTION
For students who do not wish to apply for Early Program Decision or who do not meet the criteria, the application deadline is January 15 or the date published by Graduate Admissions for the incoming fall class.
Requirements for Regular Decision Options include:

• successful completion of all prerequisite courses with a GPA of 3.2 or better and no individual prerequisite course grade below a “C”;
• overall GPA of 3.0 or better;
• Science prerequisite GPA (Bio, A&P I and A&P II) of 3.0 or better
• submission of a completed graduate admission application and applicable fee;
• internal SHU students do the application online at www.sacredheart.edu
• external students do the National OT application online at www.OTCAS.org
• official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended; and,
• essay
• relevant volunteer experience in the OT field;
• Completion of baccalaureate degree
• successful interview with the Occupational Therapy Admissions Committee, which includes participation in a group problem-based learning experience, upon invitation.