Pre-Occupational Therapy (OT)

Dominican undergraduates can submit competitive applications for early admission to the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) Program. The accelerated admission pathway allows students who have completed all core and major requirements and are accepted to the OTD program to enter their graduate studies in their fourth year as undergraduates.

• First year: Declare major and state interest in the Pre-OT accelerated OTD pathway.
• First year through junior year: Complete major requirements, core curriculum and OTD prerequisites.
• Junior year (fall): Submit competitive application to OTD.
• Senior year (fall): Pending admission, begin OTD courses.
• End of senior year: Receive bachelor's degree in major.
• Summer after undergraduate graduation: Continue in the OTD graduate program.
   

Undergraduate student applicants in the accelerated admission pathway at Dominican will need to meet the following criteria before applying to the OTD program in their junior year:

• Evidence that major degree requirements will be completed by the end of the spring semester junior year.
• A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 at the time of application.
• A minimum of 40 hours of volunteer work. At least 20 hours must be under the supervision of a licensed occupational therapist, and within two years of the program's start date. The 40 hours of volunteer work can include service-learning hours, if applicable.
• A minimum GPA of 3.25 in the following prerequisite courses:
• Human Anatomy with lab – 4 units
• Human Physiology with lab – 4 units
• Introduction to Psychology – 4 units
• Abnormal Psychology – 4 units
• Statistics for Health/Behavior Sciences – 4 units
• *Child and Adolescent Development (4 units) & Adult Development and Aging (4 units) or Lifespan Development (4 units)
• Human Neuroanatomy and Physiology (4 units)
• +Medical Terminology (1 unit or more)
• Personal statement and two reference letters
• Personal interview

_{*For students not in the Psychology major, Child and Adolescent Development & Adult Development and Aging or Lifespan Development courses can be transferred from an accredited institution of higher learning, such as a junior college, or through an accredited online university.}

_{+The Medical Terminology course will be an approved course transferred from an accredited institution of higher learning, such as a junior college, or through an accredited online university.}

_{Please note: Criminal background checks, or information relating to a student’s criminal background, are not used as part of the admissions process at Dominican University of California (DUOC). Students should be aware that some programs train students to sit for the State of California or national licensure and certification examinations that qualify them to work in the field relating to their program of choice.}

_{The following programs constitute a list of 2021/2022 DUOC programs that train for licensure or certification: Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physicians Assistants, Counseling Psychology, Art Therapy (Marriage & Family Therapy), and Education.} 

_{Students with questions relating to criminal background requirements, who wish to enroll in these programs at DUOC should speak to an Academic Advisor and reference the specific qualifications for degree completion, and license or certification.} 

The Doctor in Occupational Therapy program at Dominican University of California is a nine-semester entry-level clinical program with 105 graduate units designed to prepare the next generation of occupational therapists to meet the challenge of rapidly changing, and ever more complex, healthcare systems. Using a cohort model, students progress through foundational knowledge to practice and application of concepts and skills and, finally, integration of knowledge, skills and professional identity.

Students in the accelerated pathway will complete 31 units in the OTD program as undergraduates.

The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program has applied for accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.
Accreditation status: Applicant.