Occupational Therapy Application Information

Shenandoah University’s 107-credit Occupational Therapy Doctorate is delivered in a flexible, hybrid format, with much of the content delivered online.

Our OTD program prepares you to become a skilled and compassionate occupational therapist, serving a diverse range of patient populations in a variety of health care and community-based settings. The GRE is not required.

Degree

Shenandoah University’s Division of Occupational Therapy (SUDOT), offers both an entry-level OTD program, and a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy. The entry-level doctorate has been granted candidacy status by the Accreditation Council of Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). Our next full accreditation review is in 2020-2021. Please note, a prior felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT Certification Exam or attain state licensure.  Please also be aware that fieldwork placements may be limited or unattainable in out of state locations due to varying state restrictions.

We recommend that all potential students attend an Open House

Who Can Apply

Students who can apply to the OTD at the Winchester Campus:

• SU undergraduate juniors who are guaranteed accepted to OTD as a freshman
• Applicants who hold a Bachelor’s Degree or higher

Program Prerequisites

As of November 2020, the following three prerequisite courses are recommended, but not required for applicants:

• Biomechanics or Kinesiology (3.0 Credits)
• Public Speaking (3.0 Credits)
• Composition or English Writing Course (3.0 Credits)

Program Specifics PDF

How to Apply

SUDOT requires potential students to go through OTCAS for the application process.  This is an online centralized application service located at www.otcas.org which has a thorough and accurate list of all required documents and prerequisites for the program.  For a list of the prerequisites, please go to Shenandoah University that can be found on the list of participating programs located on OTCAS.  The application process is:

For the 2021 cycle, we will continue to accept applications until OTCAS closes on June 11, 2021. If the program fills prior to that date, applicants can still apply for consideration on the waitlist.

The SUDOT Master’s Program is currently accredited by the Accreditation Council of Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE).  The entry-level doctorate has been granted candidacy status by the Accreditation Council of Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). ACOTE is recognized as the accrediting agency for occupational therapy education by both the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. SUDOT’s next full accreditation review will be in 2020-2021.

Due to the ever-changing academic environment impacted by COVID-19, we will be making individual considerations for each applicant impacted during the pandemic:

Applicants must complete a minimum of 40 shadowing hours under a licensed occupational therapist and these must be completed at the time of application. If applicants are unable to achieve this requirement due to COVID-19, this will not impact your application as each case will be considered on an individual basis. Resources will be available on the SU Occupational Therapy Department webpage to help ensure an understanding of occupational therapy in a variety of settings.

Applicants are required to have two different letters of recommendation from the following: an employer, a licensed Occupational Therapist that the applicant shadowed, or an academic professor.  If applicants are unable to achieve this requirement due to COVID-19, their case will be reviewed individually to identify an alternative entity to provide a letter of recommendation.  

 ** Prerequisite courses taken during the COVID-19  outbreak (Spring, Summer, Fall 2020) with a P/NC or P/F grade of “P” will be accepted for credit. In situations where candidates were awarded P/F grades, the grade point average (GPA) for those grades is not impacted in the calculation of GPA. SUOT will only consider the GPAs calculated by OTCAS. Virtual lab experiences taken during 2020 and Spring 2021 will satisfy lab course prerequisite requirements.

The GPA requirements for program admission will not change. Applicants must still have the following academic requirements to be admitted:

• A Minimum 3.0 overall grade point average (GPA)
• A Minimum 3.0 prerequisite grade point average (GPA) with 3.2 preferred

Shenandoah University’s 75-credit Master of Science in Occupational Therapy is delivered in a flexible, hybrid format, with much of the content delivered online.

Our program prepares you to become a skilled and compassionate occupational therapist, serving a diverse range of patient populations in a variety of health care and community-based settings. The GRE is not required.

Degree

Shenandoah University’s Division of Occupational Therapy (SUDOT), offers a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy and an entry-level doctorate program.  The MSOT is in compliance with the Standards for an Accredited Educational Program for the Occupational Therapist from  the Accreditation Council of Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE).  Our next full accreditation review is in 2020-2021. Please note, a prior felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT Certification Exam or attain state licensure.  Please also be aware that fieldwork placements may be limited or unattainable in out of state locations due to varying state restrictions.

We recommend that all potential students attend an Open House

Who Can Apply

Students who can apply to the MSOT at the Scholar Plaza Campus in Leesburg, VA:

• COTA’s (Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants)
• Applicants who hold a Bachelor’s Degree or higher

Program Prerequisites

As of November 2020, the following three prerequisite courses are recommended, but not required for applicants:

• Biomechanics or Kinesiology (3.0 Credits)
• Public Speaking (3.0 Credits)
• Composition or English Writing Course (3.0 Credits)

Program Specifics PDF

How to Apply

SUDOT requires potential students to go through OTCAS for the application process.  This is an online centralized application service located at www.otcas.org which has a thorough and accurate list of all required documents and prerequisites for the program.  For a list of the prerequisites, please go to Shenandoah University that can be found on the list of participating programs located on OTCAS.  The application process is:

For the 2021 cycle, we will continue to accept applications until OTCAS closes on June 11, 2021. If the program fills prior to that date, applicants can still apply for consideration on the waitlist.

Shenandoah’s Occupational Therapy Program is accredited through AOTA

ACOTE
c/o Accreditation Department
American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200
North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929
(301) 652-2682 or 301-652-AOTA
http://www.acoteonline.org/

Nat’l Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.
12 S. Summit Ave., Suite 100
Gaithersburg, MD  20877-4150
Phone (301)990-7979 Fax (301)869-8492

Due to the ever-changing academic environment impacted by COVID-19, we will be making individual considerations for each applicant impacted during the pandemic:

Applicants must complete a minimum of 40 shadowing hours under a licensed occupational therapist and these must be completed at the time of application. If applicants are unable to achieve this requirement due to COVID-19, this will not impact your application as each case will be considered on an individual basis. Resources will be available on the SU Occupational Therapy Department webpage to help ensure an understanding of occupational therapy in a variety of settings.

Applicants are required to have two different letters of recommendation from the following: an employer, a licensed Occupational Therapist that the applicant shadowed, or an academic professor.  If applicants are unable to achieve this requirement due to COVID-19, their case will be reviewed individually to identify an alternative entity to provide a letter of recommendation.  

 ** Prerequisite courses taken during the COVID-19  outbreak (Spring, Summer, Fall 2020) with a P/NC or P/F grade of “P” will be accepted for credit. In situations where candidates were awarded P/F grades, the grade point average (GPA) for those grades is not impacted in the calculation of GPA. SUOT will only consider the GPAs calculated by OTCAS. Virtual lab experiences taken during 2020 and Spring 2021 will satisfy lab course prerequisite requirements.

The GPA requirements for program admission will not change. Applicants must still have the following academic requirements to be admitted:

• A Minimum 3.0 overall grade point average (GPA)
• A Minimum 3.0 prerequisite grade point average (GPA) with 3.2 preferred

Degree

How to Apply

Post-Professional OTD applicants must have a completed application, including all required documents, by the application deadlines listed below:

Deadline Dates