Occupational Therapy, Doctorate

Johnson County Community College Transfer Program to the Rockhurst University	Terry Forge
	816-501-4062
Doctorate in Occupational Therapy, OTD	terry.forge@rockhurst.edu
Academic Year 2024-2025	www.rockhurst.edu/admissions/transfer/ application-process
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  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.

Rockhurst Prerequisite Requirements 

Transfer List

JCCC			RU
Course Code	Course Title	Course Hours	Transfer Code	Transfer Title	Transfer Hours
Code	Title	Hours
BIOL 135	Principles of Cell and Molecular Biology	4	BL 1250 1251
BIOL 140	Human Anatomy (minimum of 4 credit hours completed within the last 5 years)	4	BL 3030 & BSCI 2250	Human Anatomy and Physiology I and Anatomy Physiology I w Lab	4
BIOL 225	Human Physiology*	4	BL 3040 & BSCI 2350	Human Anatomy/Physiology II and Anatomy Physiology II w Lab	4
COMS 125	Personal Communication (OR)	3	CT 2000	Fundamentals of Communication	3
COMS 121	Public Speaking	3	CT 2000	Fundamentals of Communication	3
ENGL 121	Composition I*	3	EN 1110	College Composition I	3
ENGL 122	Composition II*	3	EN 1120	College Composition II	3
MATH 201	Statistics*	3	PH 4900	Statistics for the Health Sci	3
PHIL 143	Ethics ^	3	PL 3100	Ethical Theory	3
SOC 122	Introduction to Sociology (OR)	3	SO 1000	Introduction to Sociology	3
ANTH 125	Cultural Anthropology	3	Anthropology course
No equivalent Transfer: PY 2550 Abnormal Psychology		--

*

JCCC course has a prerequisite or corequisite.

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For students who transfer to Rockhurst as undergraduate students, Ethics (PHIL 143) will not fulfill Rockhurst University’s philosophy requirement.

NOTE: Students planning to earn an undergraduate degree from Rockhurst University should consult the General Core Requirements sheet and the Rockhurst catalog for specific requirements for your major.

Last Approved Mon Oct 6 17:45:19 2025