Individuals applying for admission to the College of Health Sciences Occupational Therapy Program must submit documentation for the following minimum requirements before the academic year commences for the incoming class:
- Completion of a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
- A minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale. Grades of C or better for prerequisite coursework; grades of C- are not acceptable.
- Completion of the minimum number of prerequisite courses in the prescribed subject areas at regionally accredited colleges or universities.
- Satisfaction of the standards set forth by the Admissions Committee (including documentation of academic and professional promise in prospective students).
- Completion of the Occupational Therapy Program's interview process. On-campus interviews are by invitation only. Applicants are invited to an interview based on evidence supportive of excellence in:
- Academic achievement
- Oral and written communication skills
- Articulation of the domain and scope of OT practice
- Community service
- Leadership in extracurricular or other activities
- Completion of a first aid course within the three years prior to enrollment.
- Current certification by the American Heart Association in Basic Life Support (BLS) for Health Care Providers.
- Demonstration of a people or service orientation through community service or extracurricular activities.
- Motivation for and commitment to healthcare as demonstrated by previous work, volunteer work, or other life experiences.
- Oral and written communication skills necessary to interact with clients and colleagues.
- Commitment to abide by Midwestern University Drug-Free Workplace and Substance Abuse Policy.
- Passage of the Midwestern University criminal background check.
PREREQUISITE COURSES
Students must complete these courses with a grade of C or better; grades of C- are not acceptable:
Course |
Sem Hrs |
Qtr Hrs |
Human Anatomy1, 2 |
3 |
4 |
Physiology1 |
3 |
4 |
Statistics |
3 |
4 |
Lifespan Development |
3 |
4 |
Abnormal Psychology |
3 |
4 |
Other Social and Behavioral Sciences |
3 |
4 |
1The Anatomy and Physiology requirements may also be fulfilled by taking Anatomy and Physiology I and Anatomy and Physiology II, as some universities offer combined courses.
2Human Anatomy must be completed successfully within 5 years of admission to the Program. The lab component with cadaver experience is strongly recommended.
A course in child development, and a course in the sociology or psychology of aging, are highly recommended. Additional courses in the sciences and mathematics are recommended, including chemistry, physiology, physics, and biology. General education electives are also recommended to demonstrate competency in English composition, oral communication, problem-solving behavior, logic, and ethical theories.
FAQs
What is the minimum GPA required for admission?
- You are required to have a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale. Grades of C or better are required for prerequisite coursework; grades of C- are not acceptable. The average GPA of our applicants is 3.4.
Do I need to take the GRE?
- No, GRE scores are not required to apply.
What prerequisite courses do I need to take?
- You can view all required prerequisite courses, and all other application requirements, at https://www.midwestern.edu/programs_and_admission/il_occupational_therapy/admission/apply.html#requirements.
Do I have to complete all of the prerequisite courses before I submit my application?
- You do not have to have your prerequisites completed prior to applying to the program. All of your courses must be complete before matriculation into the program.
Does it matter when I completed my prerequisites or when I obtained my baccalaureate degree?
- It does not matter how recently you earned your degree. In fact, we encourage people to apply who are considering a career change, or may be returning to graduate school after an absence. However, it is required that the Anatomy and Physiology courses have been completed within the previous five years.
What are the undergraduate majors of your students?
- There is no specific major required for our program, as long as all of the prerequisite courses are completed. Our students have baccalaureate degrees in all areas, with the most common being psychology, kinesiology, and exercise science. We encourage students from diverse academic backgrounds to apply; many of our students majored in areas such as business, art, and English.
What are the most important qualifications that you look for in an applicant?
- We look for applicants who are well-rounded and have a strong history of academic excellence, a commitment to service, and experience in leadership roles. We look for applicants who are person-centered and who are sensitive to individuals or groups who experience disability, social stigma, or limited access to healthcare.
Are there certain settings you prefer my OT observations to be in? How many hours of observations do I need?
- We do not require a certain number or type of OT observations. We prefer applicants to observe or experience OT in diverse settings to ensure that the applicant understands the variety of settings and practice within OT. We also encourage applicants to consider opportunities to observe in other healthcare and social service fields where they will encounter diverse populations.
The Technical Standards
The Technical Standards set forth the nonacademic abilities considered essential for students to achieve the level of competence required by the faculty to obtain the academic degree awarded by the college.
Candidates must be able to perform the following abilities and skills:
- Observation: The candidate must be able to accurately make observations at a distance and close at hand. Observation necessitates the functional use of the sense of vision and sense of touch and is enhanced by the functional use of all of the other senses.
- Communication: The candidate must be able to communicate effectively, efficiently and sensitively in both oral and written form and be able to perceive nonverbal communication.
- Motor: Candidates must be able to coordinate both gross and fine muscular movements, maintain equilibrium and have functional use of the senses of touch and vision. The candidate must possess sufficient postural control, neuromuscular control and eye-to-hand coordination to perform profession-specific skills and tasks.
- Intellectual, Conceptual, Integrative and Quantitative Abilities: The candidate must be able to problem solve, measure, calculate, reason, analyze, record and synthesize large amounts of information in a timely manner. The candidate must be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and understand spatial relationships.
- Behavioral and Social Attributes: The candidate must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of the candidate's intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment and the consistent, prompt completion of all responsibilities and the development of mature, sensitive and effective relationships. Candidates must be able to tolerate physically, mentally and emotionally taxing workloads and to function effectively under stress. The candidate must be able to adapt to changing environments, to display flexibility, and to learn to function in the face of uncertainties. Compassion, integrity, concern for others, effective interpersonal skills, willingness and ability to function as an effective team player, interest and motivation to learn are all personal qualities required during the educational process.
Candidates are required to verify that they understand and are able to meet these Technical Standards at least four weeks prior to matriculation (or if admitted later, within one week of deposit). Candidates who may only meet Technical Standards with accommodation, must contact the Office of Student Services to make a formal request for accommodation. The Dean of Students, in consultation with the College Dean/Program Director, will determine what reasonable accommodations can be provided. The College is not able to grant accommodations that alter the educational standards of the curriculum.
Students must meet the Technical Standards for the duration of enrollment at the College. After matriculation, if a student fails to continue to meet the Technical Standards during subsequent enrollment, the student may apply for accommodation by contacting the Office of Student Services. If the accommodation needed to meet the Technical Standards alters the educational standards of the curriculum, the student's ability to satisfactorily progress in the curriculum will be evaluated by the appropriate College's Student Graduation and Promotion Committee.