Our website uses cookies to understand how you navigate our content and to give you the best browsing experience. View our privacy statement for more information.
Criteria to Progress to the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Program
Successful completion of the bachelor’s degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
Note that participation in the 3+2 dual degree program requires successful completion of the bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science, Health Science, Psychology or Sociology
Successful completion of all required prerequisite courses with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and no individual prerequisite course grade below a “C.” Only one prerequisite course may be retaken. Note that high school-level advanced placement courses do not meet prerequisite course requirements. Prerequisite courses include:
General/Introductory Biology with lab - 4 credits
Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II with lab - 8 credits
Psychology course - 3 credits
Abnormal Psychology or Psychopathology - 3 credits
Life Span Development or Developmental Psychology (Must include the study of the entire lifespan, from birth to old age) - 3 to 9 credits
Statistics/Psychological Statistics/Biostatistics (Must include descriptive statistics, probability, confidence intervals, correlation and hypothesis testing) - 3 credits
Science prerequisite GPA of 3.0 or better (General Biology with lab; Human Anatomy and Physiology I with lab and Human Anatomy and Physiology II with lab)
Participation in the Pre-OT Club and attendance at all Pre-OT Club "Conversations that Matter"
Documentation of a minimum of 25 hours of observation in two different OT settings (e.g. outpatient, hospital rehabilitation, skilled nursing facility, school/pediatrics, etc.)
SHU provides an Observation Form to document this experience, which must be submitted by September 15 one year prior to matriculation into the MSOT program.
Demonstration of an understanding of the role of the occupational therapy profession in the healthcare or educational environment as evidenced through a personal reflection statement. This statement is submitted after completing observation hours.
Demonstration of academic ability, interpersonal skills and potential to be successful in the MSOT Program as evidenced by a letter of attestation from a SHU faculty member who has had the student in classes submitted by September 15 one year prior to matriculation in the MSOT program.
Demonstration of strong work ethic and interpersonal skills as evidenced by a letter of attestation from an employer who can speak to work performance by September 15 one year prior to matriculation into the MSOT program