Admission Requirements
The following courses are required for consideration of an applicant
| COURSE REQUIREMENTS |
|---|
| ENGL 101 | English 1 | 3 |
| ENGL 102 | English 2 | 3 |
| PSYC 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| PSYC 241 | Introduction To Human Development | 3 |
| PSYC 281 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| SOCA 101, or 105 | Introduction to Sociology OR Intro. to Anthropology | 3 |
| BIOL 101 & 103 | General Biology I & Lab | 4 |
| BIOL 102 & 104 | General Biology II & Lab | 4 |
| PHYS 101 | Introductory Physics I | 4 |
| STAT 211 | Elementary Statistical Inference | 3 |
| COMM 100 | Principles of Human Communications | 1 |
| COMM 102 | Human Communication in the Interpersonal Context | 2 |
| PSIO 241 | Human Physiology | 4 |
| Completion of WVU's General Education Requirements |
ADDITION TO PRE-OT REQUIREMENTS:
For those students planning on applying to the Occupational Therapy Program in the November 15, 2012 – February 15, 2013 application period, please note the addition of a required Pre-OT course. It will be a 1-credit medical terminology course to be offered in both the Fall and the Spring semesters. Additional information and specifics on this course will be forthcoming on this site.
NOTE: This does not apply to those applying to the program during the November 15, 2011 – February 15, 2012 application period.
NOTE: All students should consult with the Division of Occupational Therapy regarding appropriateness or transferability of any pre-requisite course. These courses may be taken at any institution that offers equivalent courses. Equivalency may be determined by contacting Brenda Wolfe at 304 293-1690. WVU Students should consult with their advisors prior to enrolling in any prerequisite course.
Traditionally, students apply to the program during their second year of college. They must have at least 51 hours of college credit which includes the prerequisites listed above. Students who already have a degree in another field are also eligible to apply. All applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Minimum GPA of 3.0, overall and prerequisites, (a higher GPA may be necessary given the competitive nature of the program)
- The students are required to have 60 hours of volunteer experience with people with disabilities. Students should contact the Division of Occupational Therapy to determine type of hours required.
- At least 45 of the 60 must be under the supervision of a licensed occupational therapist (OTR/L).
- Two letters of recommendation are required: one from an occupational therapist who supervised the volunteer/work experience and one from a professor who has recently taught the applicant.
- Completion of all prerequisite courses by the end of the semester of application (traditionally, second semester of sophomore year) is normally required.
Students are awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree at the end of the Senior year (year 2 in the OT Program). In order to receive this degree, students must have successfully completed a minimum total of 128 hours of college credits, including completion of WVU’s GEC requirements. To achieve this, the student typically completes: 40 hours of OT prerequisite coursework, 12 hours of GEC coursework not covered by the OT prerequisites, 1 hour of University Orientation, and 77 hours of undergraduate OT coursework – which in this combination totals 130 hours.
It is the student’s responsibility to insure that sufficient approved hours of coursework are completed in order to fulfill the requirements for awarding the Bachelor degree. It is the student’s responsibility to insure that all prerequisite coursework and GEC courses are completed prior to starting the OT Program.
NOTE: Some OT prerequisite courses have their own specific prerequisites. For example, Physics at WVU requires that students also complete College Algebra and Trigonometry – a total of 6 hours.
The Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) Degree is awarded upon completion of all required graduate work (typically the end of the third year in the OT Program). The total number of credits hours of graduate OT work (including both academic and clinical fieldwork) is 38-41 hours.
Like many professional programs, the curriculum in the master's entry level occupational therapy program is fairly fixed and intense. The first professional year will include courses in basic sciences and introductory professional courses. The second and third professional years will deal more specifically with training in occupational therapy theory and practice as administered across a wide variety of settings. The professional curriculum traditionally includes two 12-week off-campus, full-time clinical experiences known as fieldwork. Students are financially responsible for transportation, housing, and meal expenses related to clinical assignments.