Occupational Therapy
Prerequisites
Admission to the Program
The academic phase of occupational therapy education begins in late May each year. A Bachelor's Degree is not required to apply to our program. A minimum of 90 semester hours of credit, including the courses listed below, is required prior to starting the program. Those hours may be completed in any regionally accredited college or University.
| English | 6 hours |
| Statistics | 3 hours |
| Anatomy and Physiology (with lab) | 6-8 hours |
| Physics and/or Biomechanics and/or Kinesiology | 3 hours |
| Introductory Psychology | 3 hours |
| Abnormal Psychology | 3 hours |
| Introductory Sociology | 3 hours |
| Developmental Psychology (across the lifespan) | 3 hours |
| Electives | 58-60 hours |
| Total Prerequisites | 90 hours |
For electives: We recommend courses focusing on human behavior, biomechanics, developmental psychology, physical/cultural/social environment or human occupations and/or on the skills needed in contemporary healthcare practice.
GPA Requirements
An Overall GPA of 2.7 is required. A grade of no less than C is required in all pre-requisite courses. For persons with an existing baccalaureate or graduate degree, a minimum cumulative GPA of a 2.7 on a 4.0 scale is required for the last 90 semester hours.
The Application Process
Applications are considered twice a year for enrollment in the professional curriculum. Those applicants seeking early acceptance should submit their application by October 15th; all other applications must be submitted by January 15th. It is in the best interest of the applicant to apply as early as possible.
To be considered for admission, the applicant must complete and submit the online application and the required documentation. Documentation to be submitted includes: transcripts, verification of observation/experience hours in occupational therapy setting, two recommendation letters, verification of required immunizations, verification of current CPR certification, and personal essay.
Transcripts and coursework: Applicants must submit transcripts of all institutions attended. At the time of application, the student must demonstrate the ability to complete all pre-professional coursework prior to enrollment in the first semester the professional curriculum. At the time of application, all science coursework must be completed within the last seven years. Applicants whose science coursework is more than seven years old should contact the academic advisor in the Office of Admission and Student Affairs for decisions concerning course acceptability.
Experience. Applicants are expected to have some knowledge of the occupational therapy profession. This can be acquired in several ways: volunteer work, paid work and/or observation in occupational therapy settings/services. It is in the best interest of the applicant to have completed at least 40 clock hours, preferably in two different settings, prior to the application deadline for the program. Verification of observation/experience hours in occupational therapy settings must be submitted as a part of the application. Applicants are also encouraged to become familiar with the occupational therapy profession through exploring the professional literature and online sources.
Letters of Recommendation. Two letters of recommendation are required. Letters should be completed by professional personnel who have: (a) observed you during any related volunteer or paid work, (b) previous or present instructors and/or counselors, or (c) previous or present employers. At least one of the two letters must be completed by an occupational therapist.
Immunizations and CPR. Verification of required immunizations and CPR certification must be submitted prior to enrollment in professional curriculum OR application deadline. CPR certification must be maintained throughout the professional program. The CPR certification must be in CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer.
Personal essay. The personal essay should be submitted with the application.
Personal interview. A Master of Occupational Therapy admissions committee will review all completed applications. After review of all applicants, the top candidates are invited for a personal, on-campus interview during the fall or spring semester. Submitting an application does not guarantee an interview.
Transfer Process
Students who wish to transfer to one of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) School of Allied Health Sciences (SOAHS) programs from an equivalent degree program must meet the specific program's admissions criteria and be subjected to the same admissions process as a traditional applicant. A transfer student may be eligible for waiver from classes taken at their previous institution. The student must provide supporting documents specified by the program for courses to be waived. The decision to allow the student to waive the course will be made by the Program Director on a case-by-case basis. Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admissions.
If the class is considered a course equivalent within the TTUHSC M.O.T. Program's curriculum, a TTUHSC-SOAHS course waiver/transfer request will be initiated by the Program Director. Courses that are recognized as a course equivalent will be awarded transfer credit. For those courses not recognized as a course equivalent, the applicant will be required to take the course identified in TTUHSC M.O.T. Program's curriculum.