Department of Occupational Therapy and Occupational Science

Occupational Therapy Combined B.S./M.S.

Admission Requirements and Application Process 

Admission Requirements/ Pre-Admission Advising

Admission to the university does not guarantee admission to the Occupational Therapy major.
At students’ request, occupational therapy and occupational science faculty and administrative
staff will advise candidates about the nature of the profession, the national certification examination,
and the occupational therapy curriculum prior to admission. Applicants are encouraged to contact
the department to request a Pre-Occupational Therapy adviser.

Applications Process

Application materials for the Occupational Therapy Program may be obtained from the
College of Health Professions (CHP) admissions coordinator. All application materials must be
submitted to the admissions coordinator with a postmark no later than March 1. All students
applying for admission to the Combined B.S./ M.S. Occupational Therapy Program at Towson
University must meet the following criteria:

1. Applicants must have applied to Towson University for fall admission by February 1.

2. Applicants must have completed a minimum of 13 units in college courses, excluding developmental courses, by the end of the fall term preceding screening.

3. The following pre-requisite courses or their equivalents must be completed by December 31:

      a. BIOL 190 Introductory Biology for the Health Professions (4) (must be completed by end of fall 
      term preceding screening) OR BIOL 213 Anatomy and Physiology I (4) (must have been taken
      within the last five years).

      b. Two of the following three courses:
      PSYC 101 Introduction to Psychology (3)
      SOCI 101 Introduction to Sociology (3)
      ENGL 102 Writing for a Liberal Education (3)

All of these courses must be completed by the end of the Spring term in which screening takes
place with a grade equivalent of 2.67 or higher. AP exam scores may be used in
lieu of course grades. However, scores must be equivalent to the grade requirement of a 2.67
or higher, and the courses must be posted on the TU transcript. Applicants with lower test
scores must take the course and achieve a grade equivalent of 2.67 or higher to be considered
for screening. Applicants with such test scores must contact the CHP admissions coordinator
for specific information.

4. Applicants must have a minimum overall GPA of 3.00 by the end of the fall term preceding
screening for admission to the program.

Admissions Coordinator is available to assist with application process at 410-704-2653.
Screening for admission is based on a review of student’s GPA, admission essay, letters of recommendation and required volunteer experience.

Early Admission to the Major

Early Admission to the Major High school seniors, current Towson University students, and transfer students with an overall GPA of 3.40 may be considered for early admission to the Combined B.S./M.S. Occupational Therapy Program. Early admission will result in Guaranteed Admission Status, which will ensure the student a place in the program with the next class admitted. In order to receive Guaranteed Admission Status, applicants need to complete the application process and be selected by the program’s Admissions Committee. In order to enter the program, students must meet all application criteria, including prerequisite grade requirements and be admitted to the university.

Early admission applicants will be admitted on a first-come, first-served rolling admission basis after Jan. 31 of the year preceding screening. Applications will continue to be accepted until all available
spaces are filled. No more than 50 percent of the class will be filled with early admit students. Applicants
will be informed of the status of their application within 30 days. Students interested in pursuing
early admission under this policy must contact the CHP admissions coordinator, 410-704-2653.

Deadlines

Applicants who are not already current Towson University students must apply to Towson University for Fall admission by February 15 of the year in which screening takes place. Applicants must have completed a minimum of 13 units/credits of college-level courses and must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 by March 1 of the year in which screening takes place. Regular screening for the occupational therapy program takes place during the student's first year of college.

Application Documents

Applicants must submit the following documents, which are located in the Supplemental Application and online, in one packet postmarked by March 1:

a. Official transcripts that include course work taken through the fall term preceding
     application to the program at institutions other than Towson University.

b. A completed Human Service Activity Verification Form, which provides evidence of completion of at
    least 30 hours of work and/or volunteer experience in a human service activity. This work or volunteer
   experience must have involved direct contact with people with disabilities, illness or other
   disadvantages. Examples include work/volunteer experience with clients in hospitals, nursing homes,
   rehabilitation facilities, senior centers, drug rehabilitation programs, programs for the homeless,
   camps, etc.

c. A typewritten application essay following the guidelines provided by the department.

d. Three reference forms completed by appropriate individuals and submitted in accordance with application requirements.

Applicants must have a completed Prerequisite Checklist with the Admissions Coordinator on
file by March 1. In addition, applicants who wish to have courses not listed on this form approved as equivalent to major courses in this program of study must submit a written request
for approval of these courses. (High school seniors do not need to complete this unless they have AP credit for English, Psychology and Biology, with minimum scores of 4, 4, & 5 respectivly)

A minimum of 23 units meeting Core Curriculum requirements must have been completed
prior to beginning the first term of the Occupational Therapy Program. Applicants with units more than 10 years old may petition (in writing by March 1) to have these units excluded from calculation of the GPA if they have successfully completed 13 or more units within the past two years. These 13 units must include either BIOL 190 Introductory Biology for the Health Professions or BIOL 213 Anatomy and Physiology I (or their equivalent). When this option is approved, all units more than 10 years old are excluded from GPA computation, with the exception of grades for PSYC 101, SOCI 101 and ENGL 102. If applicants wish old screening course grade(s) to be omitted, they must have retaken the screening course(s) within the past 10 years. If a petition regarding omission of these grades is not received by the application deadline, all courses more than 10 years old will be used in computation of the GPA.

Screening for the Combined B.S./M.S. Program

Screening for admission is based on a review of the student's GPA, admission essay, letters of recommendation and required volunteer experience.

Screening will occur immediately after March 1 for applicants who have complete files.

The department’s Admissions Committee will evaluate all completed applications based upon GPAs,
essays and references. The top candidates from this pool of applicants will be selected for admission.

Selection of the top candidates will be completed by April 15. A waiting list will be developed consisting
of applicants from the original pool who were not accepted but wish to remain on the waiting list for
classes beginning that fall term. The top candidate on that list is notified if a place becomes available in
the class. If that candidate cannot accept the place, the next candidate is notified. The waiting list is
maintained until the end of the drop-add period in the fall and does not carry over into the next year.

For more information about the application process please contact the Admissions and Placement Coordinator, 410-704-2653.

Department of Occupational Therapy and Occupational Science
Enrollment Services, Room 245

Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5 p.m.

Phone: 410-704-2762
Fax: 410-704-2322