Doctor of Occupational Therapy – Admission Requirements and Pre-requisites
Admission Requirements
In order to be considered for admission to the Doctor of Occupational Therapy program at South College, the following criteria must be met:
- Complete a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution prior to classes beginning. Admission may be granted pending completion of the degree.
- Complete all required prerequisite courses.
- Pre-requisite grade point average (GPA) must be 3.00 GPA or greater on a 4.00 scale.
- Grades below “C” (2.0) in prerequisite courses will not be accepted.
- If a prerequisite course is repeated, the credit hours assigned to the course may be counted only once in fulfilling the required number of hours. The prerequisite GPA will be determined using the highest course grade achieved; however, both grades will be calculated into the cumulative GPA.
- Evidence a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.00 or greater on a 4.00 scale.
- If cumulative GPA is less than 3.00 on a 4.00 scale, an applicant may still be eligible for admission if a GPA of 3.00 or greater is demonstrated for the last 60 credits and life experience(s)/non-academic factors demonstrated during or following undergraduate education that support growth and success within an accelerated, hybrid OTD program as determined by the South College OTD Admissions Department.
- Application may be submitted, and a conditional acceptance may be awarded, during enrollment in an undergraduate degree program or completion of prerequisite course work as long as courses are successfully completed by enrollment.
- Submit a minimum of two (2) references from the following (references cannot include family, friends, clergy, or politicians):
- licensed occupational therapist (at least one letter required).
- academic advisor/professor.
- supervisor/employer.
- Evidence successful completion of OTCAS essay consistent with technical standards.
- For all applicants for whom English is not their first language or those who have completed a degree and prerequisite courses in a foreign country, demonstration of English language proficiency is required through completion of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
- Successful completion of an admission interview. Applicants are selected for interviews based on a holistic evaluation of their application and supporting documents.
- Evidence of ability to fulfill the Technical Standards for admission outlined in the OTD program information in the South College Catalog.
- Completion and receipt of an acceptable Criminal Background Check (CBC) prior to matriculation.
While not required, the South College OTD Program strongly recommends that applicants complete at least 40 hours of OT Observation in two different practice areas (in-person, virtual observation, OT webinars with certificates included).
Due to the way that the South College OTD program is classified according to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency, our students are not eligible for educational visas. Accordingly, we are only able to admit applicants who are either U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
Pre-requisite courses:
- Human Anatomy & Physiology Lecture and Lab I (6 quarter hours/4 semester hours)
- Human Anatomy & Physiology Lecture and Lab II (6 quarter hours/4 semester hours)
- Statistics (4.5 quarter hours/3 semester hours)
- Two (2) English (9 quarter hours/6 semester hours)
- Communications (4.5 quarter hours/3 semester hours)
- General Psychology (4.5 quarter hours/3 semester hours)
- Human Growth & Development/Lifespan Development/Developmental Psychology (4.5 quarter hours/3 semester hours)
- Abnormal Psychology (4.5 quarter hours/3 semester hours)
- Medical Terminology (3 quarter hours/2 semester hours)
- Sociology or Social/Behavioral Science (4.5 quarter hours/3 semester hours)
Applicant ranking rubric is utilized for cohort admission.
All courses required for the Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree program, both didactic and clinical, must be completed at South College. The Doctor of Occupational Therapy program at South College does not grant advanced placement, credit for experiential learning, or transfer credits from another program or institution.