Occupational Therapy, Doctorate

Program Description

Enrollment is limited and early application is encouraged. Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to the professional program. Admission is based on academic and personal qualifications considered necessary for successful, competent practice as an occupational therapist. Applications for the graduate program can be obtained through the Rockhurst University's website.

• Transfer pre-admission guarantee for students transferring to Rockhurst University to complete their undergraduate degree.
  • Criteria are as follows:
    • Completed at least two years of undergraduate coursework.
    •  Attained a cumulative and science GPA of at least 3.4 (on a 4.0 scale).
• The OTD Program utilizes a rolling admission process; i.e., qualified applicants are accepted until the class is filled.

Requirements for Admission:

Applicants for the Doctorate in Occupational Therapy must show evidence of the following in order to be considered for admission: 

• Completion of a bachelor's degree at an accredited university in a discipline other than occupational therapy. Typically, students apply while in the last year of their bachelor's degree with a plan to enter the graduate program upon completion of their bachelor's degree.
• Minimum cumulative, natural science, and prerequisite coursework GPA of 3.0 or higher is recommended. Complete prerequisite courses below.
• If you are an international student applying from a non-English-speaking country, please also submit a TOEFL score of at least 80 Internet-based test
• At least three professional references
• Personal essay - The essay should be no more than 1,000 words and addresses how the applicant's life experiences informed his or her decision to pursue occupational therapy while also demonstrating knowledge of the profession. The essay should also demonstrate knowledge of Rockhurst University's Jesuit Core Values and how they can often inform the profession of occupational therapy. This is separate from the personal statement required by OTCAS.
• Observation hours – Applicants should complete observation hours in two different OT settings for a total of 16 hours. Applicants are encouraged to visit the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) website to explore OT careers and discussions of current practices.
• Completion of all materials in the online application for review.
• Participation in a personal interview
• If the applicant has less than 15 hours of pre-requisites left to complete, elective courses will be selected from a list of approved courses to fulfill the 15 hours “in residence” minimum.

It is the STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITY to check for updates to all transfer information. This transfer guide is provided as a service and is updated as needed. Degree requirements at the four-year colleges are subject to change by those institutions. To ensure you have the most accurate information about the program, you must meet with an advisor at the transfer institution.