Admission Requirements

Applicants are asked to meet the following admissions criteria:

• Students in the final year of completion of a Bachelor’s degree or who have completed a Bachelor’s degree may apply to the program
• Bachelor's degree must be from a regionally accredited college or university.
• Cumulative prerequisite course Quality Point Average (QPA) of 3.0 or better (4.0 scale). No grade below a “C” will be accepted
• Overall undergraduate QPA of 3.0 or better (4.0 scale)
• A series of prerequisite courses, as shown below, must be completed within five years preceding entrance into the graduate program or based on Program Director review
• Prerequisite courses must be completed by May 15 of the year the student enrolls
• The student’s degree must be conferred with a final official transcript.
• GRE’s are not required
• English Language Proficiency- Students whose native language is not English must demonstrate English language proficiency with documentation of one of the following: a minimum TOEFL iBT of 79, a minimum IELTS score of 6.5., or a minimum PTE score of 53.

Prerequisite Course Requirements for entry into the OTD program include:

• Intro to Psychology
• Psychopathology or Abnormal Psychology
• Developmental Psychology  throughout the lifespan or equivalent
• Intro to Sociology or a course in diversity
• Anatomy & Physiology I & II with lab (total of 8 credits)
• Physics I
• Statistics

Additional Admission Requirements

• Prior to matriculation in the program, students must complete a minimum of 40 hours of volunteer experience in an OT setting; two different sites are preferred. 
• Personal essay that summarizes the perceived value of the OTD program towards the applicant's personal and professional growth
• Three excellent letters of recommendation
• Prospective candidates may be scheduled for either an in-person or virtual interview with the Admissions Committee.

GU-Ruskin OTD Program does not accept a transfer of credits or experience in lieu of the aforementioned admission requirements. 

Application Process

Gannon University and the Occupational Therapy Doctorate Department receives and reviews applications for the entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctorate program  and all applicant credentials exclusively through the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS), provided by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). This includes information from all previously attended university or college transcripts, letters of recommendation, OT observation hours, personal essay and supplemental materials. Full application instructions can be found on the Gannon University profile page, by visiting www.otcas.org.