General prerequisites:
- Completed baccalaureate degree prior to starting occupational therapy classes (exception- if you are enrolling as a University of Puget Sound 3-2 or 3-3 student). Any undergraduate major may lead to the successful study of occupational therapy; you may major in any field that maximizes your talents and interests as there is no preferred major. In fact, the department seeks a diversity of educational backgrounds among its students. A liberal arts education is a vital component in the preparation of today's health care practitioner.
- Overall GPA of all baccalaureate work of 3.0 or better. If applicant has multiple degrees the GPA of the more recent degree completed is used as qualifier. Completed graduate degree with a GPA of 3.0 or better will qualify an applicant with a low undergraduate GPA. The admissions committee will also consider the GPA from your last two years of undergraduate study, if that is higher than your overall undergraduate GPA.
- Exposure to the practice of occupational therapy (either volunteer or paid) under the supervision of a licensed occupational therapist is optimal. The faculty of the School of Occupational Therapy recognize that during the pandemic it has been much more difficult to arrange such observations or work in an OT setting. For this year's applicants, knowledge of the field obtained from reading written resources or watching videos of occupational therapists in action, or observations of occupational therapists during Telehealth sessions is acceptable. There is no minimum number of hours of observation. The applicant must demonstrate knowledge about the profession in the supplemental essay.
- All prerequisite courses must be taken for a grade, and you must earn at least a grade of 2.0 in each course. However, in order to be competitive a grade of 3.0 or above is highly recommended. For applicants for the class entering the program in 2023 we have continued the pandemic waiver of this requirement. You may submit prerequisite course grades of “Credit” or “Pass.” If more than two of your prerequisite grades are this type, we may ask you for more information about those courses.
Specific prerequisite courses:
- One course in introductory Statistics (Puget Sound MATH 160)
- One course in Medical Terminology (GLAM 120)
- Two sequential Human Anatomy and Physiology courses (EXSC 221 & 222), preferably with labs
- A total of three (3) courses in Human Behavioral Science/Human Development, distributed as follows:
Questions about distribution of the three Human Behavioral Science/Human Development courses, if taken at another school, should be directed to the Office of the Registrar, accompanied by a course description including the name of the school and an unofficial transcript if the coursework has been completed.
Specific prerequisite courses must be completed before enrollment in the Occupational Therapy Program.
Prerequisite courses must have been completed within the last 10 years. Applicants may petition for an exemption to the 10 year recency requirement if they have kept their knowledge current, for example through work experience.
It is possible for a University of Puget Sound student to interlock the final year of an undergraduate program with the first year of the MSOT or OTD program. Students at Puget Sound who are planning a 3-2 program or 3-3 program should work closely with an undergraduate adviser in their major as well as a graduate adviser in the Occupational Therapy Program. During their first year of study in the Occupational Therapy Program, such students retain their status as undergraduates for financial aid, housing, and other purposes. At the time of bestowal of the bachelor’s degree they acquire graduate standing in the Occupational Therapy Program. The Puget Sound Occupational Therapy 3-2 or 3-3 Program is only for those who have been full-time, Puget Sound undergraduate students since at least the beginning of their sophomore year. (In practice, a student needs 3 years attendance at the University of Puget Sound, (freshman, sophomore, junior years) in order to fulfill the requirements for the 3-2 or 3-3 Program.
Please note that in most years more applications are received for the incoming class than there are spaces available, and that admission to the University of Puget Sound does not guarantee admission to the Occupational Therapy Program. Applicants who have been or will be granted an undergraduate degree from Puget Sound, however, and who are competitive within the applicant pool, are offered admission prior to transfer students.