Admission Requirements/Procedures

Requirements | Transfer Students or OTR Assistants | Application Process

Requirements
Students wishing to enter the Master of Occupational Therapy Program must complete the requirements listed below. (Due to the number of pre-requisites, students should consider CLEP tests wherever possible).

1. Complete the prerequisite coursework prior to beginning the MOT program.

2. Have a cumulative grade point average of 2.8 (on a 4.0 scale) at the time of application and enrollment in the professional program.

3. Submit three letters of reference on the official forms available in the application packet. These references should be from persons familiar with the applicant qualities related to becoming an occupational therapist.

4. Provide documentation of 50 hours of OT volunteer experience completed in at least two different OT settings. This documentation should be submitted with the application, should be on official letterhead, and should be signed by a registered occupational therapist. Or, the applicant may submit documentation of employment in an occupational therapy setting.

5. Complete an on-campus interview.

6. Submit MOT application and all support documents to the master of occupational therapy office by January 31.

7. If the student plans to complete their baccalaureate degree while enrolled in the MOT program, applicants should have completed all but six of the following general education requirements by the time of acceptance into the program. They will also need to complete all the major requirements for their baccalaureate degree prior to enrolling in the third year of the MOT program. Students may need to enroll in summer and interim sessions to complete this course of study in five years. 

8. Students will be notified before the end of March regarding acceptance into the program. Please note additional requirements may be added. Students should check with the MOT department for the most current information.

Transfer Students or Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants 
Transfer students from other colleges and universities can apply for admission to St. Ambrose and the Master of Occupational Therapy Program. Students must be admitted to the University as well as the Master of Occupational Therapy program.  Admission to St. Ambrose University does not guarantee advancement into the professional program. Transfer students should submit copies of all transcripts to the MOT Department.  A photocopied catalog description of all transferred support courses must be submitted along with the application form.  These transcripts will be considered a part of the application and are necessary to determine admission and placement. Transcripts must be received by the application deadline.

Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants should contact the MOT Department to determine if prior coursework or work experience will be granted credit.

Application Process
The following steps must be complete to seek admission to the Occupational Therapy program:

• Complete the official OT program application available from the OT Office.
• Provide a list of courses expected to be completed prior to admission to program. All prerequisites must be completed with a grade of "C" or higher.
• Have three reference letters submitted on official forms available in the application packet. References must come from persons  familiar with the applicant’s qualities related to becoming an occupational therapist.

The application and any support documents, including references and documentation of volunteer or employment experience, must be submitted to the occupational therapy office by Jan. 31.

Students will be notified of their admission status in writing by the occupational therapy department. Individuals accepting admission to the program must notify the occupational therapy department of acceptance in writing, and pay the acceptance fee, by a predetermined deadline. Students are officially admitted to the occupational therapy program at the time of enrollment in the professional program.

The occupational therapy program does not accept every applicant who meets the minimum admissions requirements. Each class is selected on a competitive basis—based on cumulative grade point average, prerequisite grade point average, and letters of reference.

For more information on applying to St. Ambrose contact the university admissions office at admit@sau.edu

For an application for admission to the OT program, contact the OT office at ShanleyJoyceM@sau.edu