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Occupational Therapy

Admission requirements

This program has a competitive admissions process. Please review the minimum requirements listed below prior to applying. Candidates who do not meet the minimum requirements and do not request special consideration will not be considered for admission.

*Starting with the 2022-2023 application cycle, there is no GRE requirement for this program.

 

Applicants must have completed a Bachelor's degree (in any degree area) prior to starting the program.

Science & Math

  • Human Anatomy (1 semester) AND Human Physiology (1 semester)
    • 200 level or above
  • OR Human Anatomy & Physiology (2 semester sequence)
    • 200 level or above
    • UWL courses:  BIO 312 & 313

The two courses must each contain a lab component and curriculum must cover the majority of the following: comprehensive physiological principles, membrane physiology, body fluid compartments, fluid & electrolyte balance, systems of the human body (skeletal, muscular, nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, endocrine, reproductive, & urinary).

  • Physics (1 semester)
    • Curricular requirements:
      • Math based
        • Examination of concepts using algebra & trigonometry, or calculus
      • Include a majority of the following concepts:
        • Matter, motion, energy, thermodynamics, waves, light, & electricity
    • Biomechanics coursework is not an acceptable substitute
    • UWL courses:  PHY 103 or 104
  • Statistics OR Principles of Research (1 semester)
    • Curricular requirements:
      • Descriptive statistics, binomial and normal distributions, estimation, hypothesis testing, and introduction to Z, T, F, chi-square test statistics, computer use, and statistics software
    • UWL courses: STAT 145

Social Science

  • Life Span Development OR Developmental Psychology (1 semester)
    • Curricular requirements:
      • Emphasis on historical, theoretical, & methodological approaches to human development across the lifespan
      • Psychological principles, concepts, and historical/recent research in various areas (i.e., prenatal, cognitive, language, social/emotional, and physical development)
    • UWL courses: PSY 210 or PSY 212 
  • Abnormal Psychology (1 semester)
    • Curricular requirements:
      • Clinical descriptions, bio-psychosocial causes and associated treatments of psychological disorders with special emphasis on mood & anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and assessment/diagnosis
    • UWL course: PSY 204 or PSY 304
  • Sociology OR Anthropology (1 semester)
    • Curricular requirements:
      • Role of socio-cultural, socioeconomic, & diversity factors and lifestyle choices in contemporary society
    • UWL course: any SOC or ANT course

Other

  • Medical Terminology (1 semester)
      • UWL courses:  HP 250, CHE 460, or RTH 355

The following tables list equivalent courses offered by many Midwest institutions:

Prerequisite course completion timeline

You may apply to the program while completing prerequisite work. However, all prerequisite courses must be completed prior to beginning the program. 

Prerequisite science & math courses (Anatomy & Physiology, Physics, & Stats) must be completed within 7 years of application to program. All other prerequisite courses must be completed within 10 years of application.

Advanced Placement (AP) credit

The program accepts AP credit with an official undergraduate transcript listing  the specific credits/courses for which AP credit was granted, an AP exam score alone is insufficient for satisfaction of prerequisite requirements.

Graduate level transfer credits & advanced program placement

  • Transfer credits from other OT programs are not accepted
    • Due to the tight sequencing and integration of the curriculum we do not accept didactic or clinical credits from other institutions
    • Students must complete the entire OT curriculum at UWL
  • Advanced placement is not available
    • Students must complete the entire OT curriculum at UWL, regardless of background, education and experience

Questions regarding prerequisite coursework?

Peter Amann  Profile of Peter Amann

Application Review Specialist
4033 Health Science Center
pamann@uwlax.edu

  • Information to include in your email:
    • Course number
    • Course description
    • Institution at which the course was completed
  • 3.00 minimum cumulative GPA required
  • Specific requirements for prerequisite coursework
    • Minimum grade of "C"
      • No more than two "C" grades in prerequisite coursework will be accepted

GPA is calculated on a 4 point scale by OTCAS. Applicants not meeting GPA requirement are ineligible for admission and will be removed from consideration.

A felony charge may affect your ability to obtain fieldwork placements and/or sit for the board examination. 

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Health professions news feed

UWL Alumnus Jacob Wudtke earned his undergraduate degree in Radiation Therapy and continued years later to pursue a graduate degree in Medical Dosimetry from UWL. Wudtke, now a medical dosimetrist, works at UW-Health in Madison.  Life lessons from cancer care Posted 1:56 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024 Alumnus Jacob Wudtke shares wisdom from caring for cancer patients  Read more about Life lessons from cancer care UWL Professor Tom Kernozek, a leading expert on biomechanics and injury prevention, will share his expertise as a member of Gov. Tony Evers' Task Force on the Healthcare Workforce. Serving the state Posted 1:25 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024 Kernozek, known for work in physical therapy, named to governor's healthcare task force Read more about Serving the state Megan Litster's office Writing in health professions Posted 10:21 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024 Megan Litster shares about her writing life on the Write Here, Write Now blog Read more about Writing in health professions UWL's Callie Pohlman was featured in Thieme Publishers' #Women in Medicine campaign on the strength of her research examining how body weight support can be used to reduce the load on the Achilles tendon while running. Women in medicine Posted 2 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024 Physical therapy doctoral student recognized for Achilles research Read more about Women in medicine Fireworks during Riverfest at Riverside Park in La Crosse in 2022. Reimagine New Year's resolutions Posted 2:59 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024 Research insights from campus experts can supercharge 2024 goals  Read more about Reimagine New Year's resolutions
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