MS in Occupational Therapy
Admission Criteria
Non-discriminatory Policy
The UW-Madison OT Program admission practice does not discriminate based on race, sex, gender identity or expression, religion, color, creed, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry or age.
Baccalaureate level/ Bachelor's Degree
- Must be received from an accredited school of higher education.
- Must be completed prior to start of MS-OT Program classes. If graduation is anticipated in December or May prior to beginning the program the following summer, applicants may submit their applications with courses in-progress, and they may be accepted as early as November 1. However, all offers of admission are provisional until final undergraduate grades and Criminal Background Investigation results are reviewed and accepted.
- Undergraduate degree can be completed in any field of study. We advise prospective applicants to choose an undergraduate major that interests them. Prospective applicants may find it helpful if they choose a major with a curriculum that provides the UW MS-OT Prerequisite Coursework, although with sufficient planning these prerequisites can normally be taken as electives in almost any major. Common undergraduate majors of past MS-OT students include Psychology, Biology, Rehabilitation Psychology, Human Development, Kinesiology, Sociology and Public Health.
3.0 (or better) Grade Point Average (gpa)
- The UW Graduate School admits students based on the GPA of approximately the last 60 credits of the Bachelor’s Degree. If additional courses are taken (beyond the completion of the Bachelor’s Degree) they will not be included in the Grad School's GPA evaluation. The UW Graduate School minimum GPA is 3.0, although departments may seek a GPA waiver for an applicant whose qualitative factors are felt to be strong. If your last-60-credit GPA seems likely be be below 3.0, you might wish to communicate with the OT Admissions Coordinator about your circumstances.
- The MS-OT Program may take some note of courses beyond the bachelor's level and may consider grade averages other than that for the last-60-credits, e.g. prerequisites GPA or cumulative GPA.
PREREQUISITE COURSES
GRE Scores (and TOEFL for Foreign Students)
- Applicants should instruct the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) provider to send scores to UW-Madison. The GRE Institution Code for UW-Madison is 1846.
- The GRE may be completed after the UW Grad School online application is submitted. Upon delivery of scores, the UW Grad School admissions system will match them to the online application. The OT Admissions Committee, though, will not review an application until scores are electronically transmitted to UW and uploaded to the online application. Plan ahead to complete the GRE (allowing scoring and transmittal time) before the UW MS-OT application deadline.
- The GRE must be completed not more than five years prior to applying to be valid.
- GRE Website
- TOEFL Scores: Applicants whose native language is not English, or whose undergraduate instruction was not in English, must arrange to have Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores sent to UW-Madison. Refer to English Proficiency on the Graduate School Admission Requirements page.
To view average GRE Scores for those students recently offered acceptance, please view Profile of Selected Applicants on the program webpage.
Letters of Recommendation
- The MS-OT program requires three letters of recommendation. Applicants may submit more than three letters if they choose.
- It is wise to ask a respected individual (such as a professor, an academic advisor, a supervisor, or an occupational therapy practitioner) who knows you well enough to address how well you display the following qualities: leadership skills, maturity, responsibility, skill in communicating, and interpersonal skills.
- It is also beneficial if your recommender can comment about the depth and breadth of your pre-occupational therapy experience and why you show positive potential for success in the field of occupational therapy.
- Standard submission of letters of recommendation is electronic (online). Applicants are able to identify (on the UW-Madison Graduate School online application) the names and email contact information for the individuals who will be submitting letters of recommendation on their behalf. The UW Graduate School will then email instructions to those individuals for electronic submission of their recommendation.
Statement of Purpose/Reasons for Graduate Study
- Length of the statement: 500 words (approximate; NOT to exceed two pages in length)
- Statement of purpose must communicate the prospective applicant’s desire to become an occupational therapist.
- Statement allows the prospective applicant the opportunity to highlight experiences, related skills, and personal attributes which make them an exceptional candidate for the field of occupational therapy.
- As the statement of purpose is one of the most important components of the application, prospective applicants are encouraged to critically examine/proofread their personal statement. It may be wise to seek assistance in composing a personal statement from resources such as the UW-Madison Writing Center (available only to UW-Madison students).
Submission of the Statement of Purpose is via an upload on the UW-Madison graduate school application to the MS-OT program.
Resume
- No specific format is required.
- Not to exceed two pages in length.
Submission of the resume is to be uploaded via the "Supplemental Application" of the UW-Madison graduate school application.
OT Observation Experience
- Minimum of 40 hours of shadowing, observation, paid or volunteer service under the supervision of an occupational therapy practitioner (OTR/COTA) is required prior to applying for admission.
- Minimum of two different practice settings with at least two different populations.
- Examples of practice settings include: Inpatient/ Acute/ Outpatient Hospitals; Outpatient Clinics; Skilled Nursing Facilities; Schools; Mental Health Facilities; Community-Based Practices; and Industrial Rehabilitation.
- Examples of populations include Pediatric, Adolescent, Adult, Geriatric.
- Completion of an orientation to occupational therapy course (e.g. Occ. Ther. 100 at UW-Madison) will count toward 10 hours of observation. The course does not qualify as a practice setting; two others would still be needed.
For information about the documentation of the OT Observational Experience please visit the application procedure webpage.