University of Puget Sound


Occupational Therapy Phase II Application Procedures and Instructions


All applicants must submit 2005 application materials. Applicants who are denied admission to the program in one year may reapply to the program in a following year, but must also submit a statement with the subsequent application indicating what measures have been taken to strengthen that application.

Prerequisite course work for the professional phase is as follows:
Note: One unit at the University of Puget Sound equals six quarter hours or four semester hours.
  1. Anatomy and Physiology, preferably with labs: EXSC 221/222 or equivalent (2 units);
  2. Human Behavioral Science/Human Development: A total of three units, distributed as follows:
    1. Human Development through the life span: PSYC 273, Developmental Psychology: Infancy through Childhood (1 unit) or equivalent and PSYC 274, Developmental Psychology: Adolescence through Death (1 unit) or equivalent; Note: It is sometimes possible to meet the Human Development prerequisite with a single course, in which case you must complete 2 units in category (b) listed below:
    2. Human Behavioral Science courses (one or more units as needed to complete the 3-unit Human Behavioral Science/Human Development requirement): Psychology, Anthropology, or Sociology at the 200 level or above addressing at least one of the following content areas:
      1. Normal and abnormal behavior of individuals or groups; OR
      2. The analysis of behavior of individuals or groups and their interactions; OR
      3. Culture and mental health.
  3. Elements of Applied Statistics: MATH 271 or equivalent.

If you have completed or plan to complete any of the required prerequisite course work at a school outside the state of Washington, you are required to attach to your prerequisite worksheet a course description or course syllabus for such courses.

The Occupational Therapy Program does not require a personal interview as part of its selection process. The applicant is considered on the merits of application materials submitted and college credentials. Admission decisions are based on the following:

  1. Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, to be completed by August. University of Puget Sound students applying to the 3-2 program must have senior standing and specific plans for baccalaureate degree completion prior to the beginning of the third semester of the MOT or MSOT program. Students may choose from many undergraduate majors to prepare themselves for graduate work.
  2. Academic ability: A minimum 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA or a GPA above 3.25 for the last two years of academic work.
  3. Academic performance in prerequisite coursework.
  4. Written communication skills demonstrated through the required program essay (see essay instructions).
  5. Graduate Record Examination scores (taken not more than five years prior to enrollment).
  6. Strength of the three required references.
  7. Work experience and involvement in service organizations and projects that demonstrate practical experience in the field of occupational therapy or other human services (no minimum number of hours is required).

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMITTING PHASE II (Program Application)
APPLICATION MATERIALS MUST BE POSTMARKED BY THE JANUARY 15 APPLICATION DEADLINE.

  1. PREREQUISITE WORKSHEET, including course descriptions as required (included as part of the online application).
  2. PROGRAM ESSAY -- All applicants must compose an essay that addresses in an integrative way the topics listed below. The essay should have its own organization and not simply consist of answering the requested elements in the order listed. The essay can be completed on the online application.
    1. In your own words, tell us what occupational therapy is. Be specific. Include reference to settings or situations you have recently observed that demonstrate your depth, breadth, and currency of understanding of the field.
    2. Tell us how your education, work experiences, and other personal experiences have brought you to apply for graduate education in the field of occupational therapy. Refer to the fit between the demands of the profession and your personal qualifications.
    3. Describe a challenging work situation faced by an occupational therapist you have observed. Comment on what personal attributes and skills you, yourself, would bring to this particular challenge.
    4. Relate why you are interested in attending the Occupational Therapy program at the University of Puget Sound.
    5. Discuss your interests in the research track or the policy/advocacy/leadership track (or both).
  3. REFERENCE FORMS - Please complete the top portion of the downloaded forms and distribute to (1) a professor at your college from whom you have taken an academic course, (2) an employer/supervisor, and (3) a credentialed occupational therapist (OTR). All reference forms must be postmarked or date stamped by January 15. If these forms are not returned, the application is considered incomplete. References will be verified. Advising Board evaluations or formal letters substituted for the enclosed Puget Sound forms are not acceptable. Note: References must be submitted by people who are not members of your family.
  4. WORK AND EXPERIENCE SHEET (included as part of the online application).
  5. DEGREE CANDIDACY APPLICATION AND NON-REFUNDABLE $25 DEGREE CANDIDACY FEE must be submitted by all applicants. Submit payment online with online application.
  6. STANDARDIZED TESTING -- Applicants must submit official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) (general exam) scores. Official GRE scores must be sent directly from the Educational Testing Service and must be received at Puget Sound by the January 15 application deadline. The GRE must be taken not more than five years prior to enrollment in the Occupational Therapy program.

Send all application materials and credentials to:

Office of Admission, University of Puget Sound, 1500 North Warner Street #1062, Tacoma, WA 98416-1062 253-879-3211 or 800-396-7191

Confirmations are not mailed to verify receipt of application materials. It is the responsibility of the applicant to follow all directions and see that application materials are sent as directed. Applicants are welcome to call 253-879-3211 or 1-800-396-7191 and check whether all application materials have arrived. Students should wait to call until 7 days after all materials should have arrived at Puget Sound in order to allow time for processing and recording of materials.

The Office of Admission and the University of Puget Sound assume no responsibility for applications that are not considered because they are incomplete or postmarked after the January 15 deadline. All application materials submitted become the property of the University and cannot be returned.

Reference forms may be submitted by FAX; all other application materials MUST be submitted either on-line, or by mail. FAX of application documents is not acceptable.


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