Doctor of Occupational Therapy - Admissions & Application
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When Can I Start?
Fall 2024 Application Deadlines:
- Priority deadline: November 1, 2023
- Rolling applications will be accepted after this date until the program capacity is met.
Note: Roberts also has Early Acceptance Programs with several partner institutions.
Admissions Requirements
- Students in the final year of completion of a bachelor's degree or who have completed a bachelor's degree may apply to the program.
- All bachelor's coursework is to be completed before the start of the program.
- Studies must include three or more years of undergraduate or graduate coursework.
- GPA: Cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00 on a scale of 4.00.
- Must be completed within ten years preceding entrance into the graduate program, or based on Program Director review.
- The Admissions Committee looks for candidates with prerequisite coursework with grades of B minus (B-) or better.
- If you choose to submit GRE scores, indicate Roberts Wesleyan University's GRE Designated Institution Code, 2759, as a score recipient.
- Evidence of a minimum of 30 hours of clinical observation or comparable experience, volunteer work, and/or work with an occupational therapist practitioner.
- Two (2) Letters of Recommendation from professionals or college professors who can speak to the candidate’s academic capabilities.
- A personal statement addressing why the candidate is selecting occupational therapy as a career and how this degree relates to their immediate and long-term professional goals. The candidate should describe how their personal, educational, and professional background help them achieve their goals. An essay of two (2) or more pages (double spaced) would be considered competitive.
- Interviews will be offered on a rolling basis.
Prerequisites
The Admissions Committee looks for candidates with a strong liberal arts background and completion of the following prerequisite coursework with grades of B minus (B-) or better and from within the last ten years:
Anatomy & Physiology I with lab (4 credits)
Min Grade: 2.7
Min Credits: 4
Description: First of a two-semester course sequence considering the structure and function of the human body with emphasis on the musculoskeletal, cardiopulmonary, and nervous system. Across the two courses, a discussion of all major bodily systems is included.
Anatomy & Physiology II with lab (4 credits)
Min Grade: 2.7
Min Credits: 4
Description: Second of a two-semester course sequence considering the structure and function of the human body with emphasis on the musculoskeletal, cardiopulmonary, and nervous system. Across the two courses, a discussion of all major bodily systems is included.
General Science with lab (4 credits)
Min Grade: 2.7
Min Credits: 4
Description: Coursework provides an overview of topics in science. Topics may include cell structure and function, ecology, animal physiology and behavior, plant anatomy and function, genetics, human biology, physics, chemistry, and other topics in the sciences.
Introduction to Psychology, Lifespan or Human Development (3 credits)
Min Grade: 2.7
Min Credits: 3
Description: Coursework provides (1) an overview of the physical, intellectual, social, emotional aspects of the developing individual from prenatal, adulthood, and old age or (2) broad instruction of psychology to include information or theories on human development.
Anthropology or Sociology (3 credits)
Min Grade: 2.7
Min Credits: 3
Description: An intro. to anthropology, a study of the development of human societies & cultures OR an intro to sociology, a study of social interaction & its products, incl. an analysis of social processes, institutions, culture, personality, and/or social change.
Abnormal Psychology (3 credits)
Min Grade: 2.7
Min Credits: 3
Description: Course includes the nature and trends of mental maladjustments, causes, and treatments, typically including attention to the factors which contribute to mental health.
Statistics (3 credits)
Min Grade: 2.7
Min Credits: 3
Description: Course provides an introduction to descriptive and inferential statistics, and typically covers descriptive analysis of data, correlation & regression, sampling distributions, central limit theorem, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, etc.
Medical Terminology (at least 1 credit)- highly recommended
Min Grade: 2.7
Min Credits: 1
Description: Course introduces medical words and terms through an analysis of construction, including prefix, suffix, root, connecting & combining forms. Medical meanings applicable to the structure, function, and diseases of the human body are typically emphasized.
Research Methods (3 credits) – highly recommended
Min Grade: 2.7
Min Credits: 3
Description: Course provides an introduction to the scientific method and research design. Emphasis is typically placed on the design and implementation of scientific research, with results approached from the standpoint of use and interpretation.
Admissions Process
- Submit your application through the Roberts website or in OTCAS.
- In OTCAS, your application must be verified and complete, including all supplemental questions.
- OTCAS has an application fee.
- For any questions about the receipt, processing, and verification of your application, please contact OTCAS Customer Service at (617) 612-2860 or otcasinfo@otcas.org.
- While our admissions committee reviews your application, we encourage you to familiarize yourself with Roberts by exploring our website and speaking with your admissions coordinator. (Text/call Stephen Robson at 585.454.9265 or email OTD@roberts.edu)
- Eligible candidates will be invited for an individual interview with faculty, scheduled on a rolling basis until cohort is filled.
- Expect to receive an email with an admissions decision within 10 days after the interview.
- If accepted, submit your deposit to confirm your decision to attend Roberts and hold your seat.
Transcripts
If you have courses still in progress when submitting your application, please send a revised copy of your official transcript directly to Roberts Wesleyan University after completing those courses.
If applying via OTCAS:
Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS)
P.O. Box 9120
Watertown, MA 02471
If applying via Roberts website:
Transcripts can be sent electronically or through mail to the addresses below:
Electronic: age-admissions@roberts.edu
Mail: Roberts Wesleyan University
Attn: Graduate Admissions (OTD)
2301 Westside Drive
Rochester, NY 14624-1997
Transfer Credit
An applicant may transfer up to 15 graduate credits earned in another regionally-accredited college or university under the below circumstances. The program director, in collaboration with the faculty committee, will compare the content of the intended transferring syllabi to our program's comparable syllabi. The content of the transferring course must meet all ACOTE standards and be of comparable course rigor contained within the potentially waived course for the transfer of credit equal to the potentially waived course to be given. The program director will then determine the transferability of course credit.
- The grade is B or higher
- The course forms an integral part of the degree program
- The course corresponds to a course in the Roberts OTD program, demonstrated by the students by providing catalog course descriptions, course syllabi, and, upon request, completed assignments for the courses being considered for transfer.
Additional Information
- Occupational Therapy is a physically demanding profession that requires a certain level of physical ability which will be necessary for successful performance in fieldwork settings.
- Immunization and evidence of physical health may be required by most fieldwork sites.
- A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification examination which is required to obtain state licensure. For more certification information, go to the program and practice tab, or visit https://www.nbcot.org/.
- Technology requirements can be found here.
- Need housing? Please contact AGE-Admissions@roberts.edu for a list of housing options near campus, or visit www.roberts.edu/GradHousing for on-campus housing for full-time, graduate students.