Occupational Therapy (OTD)

Occupational Therapy (OTD): Admission Requirements

The applicant to the professional program in occupational therapy must have completed or show evidence of the following in order to be considered for admission:

• Completed application through the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application System, or OTCAS.
• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
• Minimum grade-point average of a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale excluding your freshman and sophomore year.
• Submit to OTCAS official scores from the GRE graduate school entry exam general test taken within the past five years. A combined score (verbal and quantitative portions) of 302 and a minimum score of 4.0 on the analytical writing sample are required. Scores below 302 and 4.0 are acceptable if the applicant’s grade point average during the last two years of most recent degree exceeds a 3.0 out of 4.0 scale. Please use institution code 7122.
• If applicant’s native language is not English, submit Test of English as a Foreign Language, or TOEFL, scores.
• Prerequisite courses (with a grade of “C” or higher) completed prior to matriculation including statistics, sociology or anthropology, human growth and development (must cover the entire lifespan), abnormal psychology, one additional psychology course, human anatomy (with lab, preferably cadaver) and human physiology (lab preferred). Human anatomy and human physiology must be taken within five years prior to admission to program. Two sequential courses with labs will also satisfy this prerequisite.*
• References from individuals acquainted with the applicant’s academic or professional aptitudes. One reference must be from an occupational therapy practitioner, health care provider, teacher, work, or volunteer supervisor.
• Experience or familiarity with occupational therapy through observation of occupational therapy practitioners (at least 40 documented hours in at least two settings). In the instance you are unable to shadow at this time, familiarity with OT can also be demonstrated through submitting documentation of successful completion of the online shadowing experience, plus an additional activity (as suggested below) with accompanying reflection paper. The reflection paper should be no longer than pages and should articulate how the experience shaped your understanding of occupational therapy. If you choose to complete the online shadowing, upload documentation of completion as well as your reflection paper on OTCAS.

1. Online Shadowing Experience: Password: LucasQU. Please submit the shadowing experience documentation form found on the online shadowing website created by Dr. Cheryl Lucas to OTCAS.
2. ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES:

Caretaker Experience: Describe a time when you were a caretaker and how that shaped your understanding of occupational therapy.

Occupation Prerequisite: Take a course (6 week minimum) in which you learn a novel challenging skill (knitting, karate, etc.). Describe the experience and how it shaped your understanding of occupational therapy.

Video Interview: Interview an occupational therapist and write how the experience shaped your understanding of the profession.

Attend a professional association event: The American Occupational Therapy Association  or the Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity host a number of free events or webinars. Attend an event and write a reflection on how it shaped your understanding of the profession.

*All courses must be taken from an accredited college or university. Online classes are acceptable except for anatomy and physiology, which must occur face-to-face. Exams testing out of course work and AP course work are not acceptable for prerequisite requirements. Note: online courses for anatomy and physiology will be accepted for face-to-face courses that were disrupted due to Covid-19.

The Admissions Committee will make decisions regarding the acceptability of the applicant to the program. All application materials will be evaluated. Academic and nonacademic factors, including extracurricular activities, job and life experiences will be taken into consideration.

Selected applicants will be required to participate in a faculty interview. 

Students accepted into the occupational therapy program must complete a criminal background check. Students who have certain types of information in their criminal background checks may be ineligible to complete fieldwork rotations in specific facilities and may be ineligible for state licensure or national registry or certification.

Students accepted in the occupational therapy program must complete the Rush University required health and immunization history documentation.

Students accepted into the occupational therapy program must submit directly to Rush University prior to matriculation all official transcripts from every college or university attended.

Rush University and the OT Program are committed to creating a class environment that mirrors our diverse community and supports access and inclusion among our students.  While all candidates must meet posted minimum admissions criteria, candidates with any of the following factors indicated on their OTCAS application are given additional consideration towards interview and admission to the program, to be reviewed on a case-by-case basis:

Military veterans

Persons from an underrepresented minority group in the health care sciences

Persons from economically disadvantaged backgrounds

First person to attend a higher education training program

Recommended graduates from the Rush Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences program

Occupational Therapy (OTD): Program Requirements

Occupational Therapy (OTD): Technical Standards

Rush University is committed to diversity and to attracting and educating students who will make the population of health care professionals representative of the national population.

Our core values - I CARE (innovation, collaboration, accountability, respect and excellence) - translate into our work with all students, including those with disabilities. Rush actively collaborates with students to develop innovative ways to ensure accessibility and creates a respectful, accountable culture through our confidential and specialized disability support. Rush is committed to excellence in accessibility; we encourage students with disabilities to disclose and seek accommodations.

The following technical functions are required of all students enrolled in the Occupational Therapy program:

Acquire Information

• Acquire information from demonstrations and experiences in courses, such as lecture, group and physical demonstrations
• Acquire information from written documents and computer systems (e.g., literature searches and data retrieval)
• Identify information presented in accessible images from paper, slides, videos with audio description and transparencies
•  Recognize and assess patient changes in mood, activity, cognition, verbal and non-verbal communication

Use and Interpret

• Use and interpret information from assessment techniques/maneuvers
• Use and interpret information related to physiologic phenomena generated from diagnostic tools

Motor

• Possess psychomotor skills necessary to provide or assist in holistic occupational therapy care and perform or assist with procedures and treatments
• Practice in a safe manner and appropriately provide occupational therapy care and assessment in emergencies and life support procedures, and perform universal precautions against contamination

Communication

• Communicate effectively and sensitively with patients and families
• Communicate effectively with faculty, preceptors and all members of the health care team during practicum and other learning experiences
• Accurately elicit information, including a medical history and other information to adequately and effectively evaluate a population’s, client’s or patient’s condition

Intellectual Ability

• Measure, calculate, reason, analyze and synthesize data related to the diagnosis and treatment of patients and populations
• Exercise proper judgment and complete responsibilities in a timely and accurate manner according to the occupational therapy role
• Synthesize information, problem-solve and think critically to judge the most appropriate theory, assessment or treatment strategy

Behavioral

• Maintain mature, sensitive, effective relationships with clients/patients, families, students, faculty, staff, preceptors and other professionals under all circumstances
• Exercise skills of diplomacy to advocate for patients in need
• Possess emotional stability to function under stress and adapt to rapidly changing environments inherent to the classroom and practice settings

Character

• Demonstrate concern for others
• Integrity, accountability, interest and motivation are necessary personal qualities
• Demonstrate intent and desire to follow the Rush University and Occupational Therapy code of ethics

The technical standards delineated above must be met with or without accommodation. Students who, after review of the technical standards, determine that they require reasonable accommodation to fully engage in the program should contact the Office of Student Accessibility Services to confidentially discuss their accommodations needs. Given the clinical nature of our programs, time may be needed to create and implement the accommodations. Accommodations are never retroactive; therefore, timely requests are essential and encouraged. To learn more about accommodations at Rush University please contact:

Marie Lusk, MBA, MSW, LSW

Director, Office of Student Accessibility Services

Rush University

600 S. Paulina St. AAC 901

Chicago, IL 60612    

(773) 942-5237

Marie_Lusk@rush.edu

www.rushu.rush.edu/office-student-accessibility-services

Occupational Therapy (OTD): Academic Policies

Occupational Therapy (OTD): Curriculum

Program Total: 107 Credit Hours