Admission to the School of Nursing and Health Professions – Master of Occupational Therapy Program
Admission to the Master of Occupational Therapy Program (MOT)
Admission into the Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) degree program is competitive. Students must meet the pre-requisite coursework and admission requirements. Qualified students from diverse backgrounds, second-career, and non-traditional students are encouraged to apply. Trinity admits students without regard to race, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, or disability.
Admission Criteria
- A baccalaureate degree from a US-accredited college or university; official transcripts from all colleges/ universities attended.
- An overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better.
- Completion of all pre-requisite courses with an overall average of 3.0 or better. (See Program Prerequisite Course List)
- Proficiency using Microsoft Word, Excel, internet and email is necessary for success in this hybrid program. Experience with an online educational platform such as Blackboard or Moodle is desirable.
- Good written and oral English language skills.
- At least 40 hours of documented observation with an occupational therapist. Applicants are encouraged to log in more than 40 hours and observe at several different settings. Documented observation hours must have been completed within two years of the application deadline.- MOT Observation Time Sheet
- Completion of an interview with MOT faculty
Program Pre-requisites Course List
- Anatomy and Physiology I and II: Two semesters of human anatomy and physiology, including labs;
- Statistics or Research Methods: At least one semester;
- Sociology: At least one semester;
- Three Psychology Courses: Introduction to Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, and Lifespan Development (Courses that meet the lifespan development requirement are: Child Psychology, Human Development, and Developmental Psychology)
- Medical Terminology: One semester. This requirement may be met with an online course.
Application Procedure
Candidates for admission to the Master of Occupational Therapy program must submit the following documents to the Office of Admissions.
- Complete an online application for admission.
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended at the undergraduate and graduate level, sent directly to Trinity from the issuing institution(s). Transcripts submitted directly from an applicant are considered unofficial unless received in the original, unopened envelope from the issuing institution.
- Two professional letters of recommendation in support of the application testifying to the applicant’s aptitude for graduate education and potential for professional growth and development in the field of occupational therapy.
- Recommendations should come from current/recent supervisors or managers & current/recent professors. Letters of recommendation will not be accepted from friends or family members.
- A 500-word personal reflective essay, describing your reasons for pursuing a graduate degree in occupational therapy, why you believe you will be a good fit for Trinity’s program, and your ability to be successful in a program delivered partially online and partially face-to-face on campus.
- Completion of an interview with MOT faculty.
All supporting materials should be sent to:
Office of Admissions: School of Nursing and Health Professions
Trinity Washington University
125 Michigan Avenue, N.E.
Washington, DC 20017
It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure all required documentation is submitted to Trinity for an admission decision to be made. Applications are reviewed and evaluated in the order in which they are received. Admissions decisions will be communicated in writing to applicants as soon as possible after a decision is made.
All materials received by Trinity from applicants or third parties (high schools, undergraduate and/or graduate institutions, recommenders, etc.) will be the property of Trinity. Trinity does not return or release materials submitted to the Admissions Office to applicants or third parties.
Falsification or alteration of any documents submitted for admission will result in actions up to, and including, revocation of acceptance to Trinity and the School of Nursing and Health Professions and/or dismissal from Trinity.
Transfer Credits for Graduate Degrees
The Master of Occupational Therapy program does not accept transfer credits from other occupational therapy programs. Students are required to complete all coursework and fieldwork as Trinity students in order to graduate with the Master of Occupational Therapy degree.
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants
We have developed a modified application process for applicants who are graduates of an accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program and hold a baccalaureate degree in as an occupational therapy assistant or another discipline. Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) applicants should submit the following:
- Trinity application for graduate admission.
- Official transcripts from all colleges/ universities attended.
- Documentation of certification with the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)
- Copy of COTA license as applicable.
- Two professional letters of recommendation.
- A 500-word reflective essay, describing your work experiences as a COTA, reasons for applying to the Trinity MOT program, and your ability to be successful in a program delivered partially online and partially face-to-face on campus.
COTA applicants are not required to complete the observation hours.
Admission Requirements and Procedures for Non-Degree Students
Individuals interested in taking courses at Trinity on a part-time, non-matriculating basis may apply as non-degree students. Prospective non-degree students must complete an online application for non-degree student status with the Office of Admissions.
Individual courses are offered on a space-available basis only, and students must satisfy all course prerequisites. Admission into these courses does not imply admission to Trinity. Students may earn no more than six graduate credit hours as a non degree-seeking student. Students may be considered for additional credits as non-degree seeking in the case where a student requests to complete prerequisite credits required of a Trinity graduate degree program. Special policies apply to credit earned through the Professional Development for Educators program. These credits may not be applied toward a degree and do not count toward credits taken as a non-degree seeking student.
Admission Requirements for International Students
International applicants must submit all credentials for admission listed above. Students are responsible for submitting all transcripts from institutions attended outside the United States for evaluation. In addition, international applicants must present the following documents:
- Complete an online application for admission.
- A copy of the applicant’s official high school or college/university transcript. Transcripts must be translated into English and evaluated by an accredited agency such as the World Education Services, Inc. or the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers.
- A letter of recommendation from an instructor or supervisor from a previous college/university or workplace, supporting the application for admission.
- Official score reports of TOEFL to be sent directly to the Office of Admissions. (A basic score of 550 on the paper exam, 213 on the computer-based exam or 79-80 on the internet exam is required).
- Proof of financial responsibility, such as Declaration/Certificate of Finances or an official bank statement for the first year of study.
- A 500–word personal reflective essay, written in English, describing your reasons for pursuing a graduate degree in occupational therapy, why you believe you will be a good fit for Trinity’s program, and your ability to be successful in a program delivered partially online and partially face-to-face on campus.
Trinity will issue the form I-20 (for the F-1/Student Visa) to applicants who:
- Are admitted to Trinity.
- Are proficient in the English language as measured by the TOEFL or by graduation from an appropriately accredited American university. Associations recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHEA) confer appropriate accreditation; these associations include but are not limited to regional accreditors/
- Demonstrate sufficient funds to cover expenses for at least one academic year.
Deadlines for International Students: All required documents must be submitted by January 2 for the following fall semester. Financial aid is not available to international students.
Other Application Requirements and Procedures for Students
Application Deadline
The Master of Occupational Therapy priority application deadline is January 30. Candidates for admission should apply and arrange that all credentials be forwarded well in advance of the deadline.
Declaration of Intent
Upon notification of acceptance, the applicant will be asked to submit a Declaration of Intent (DOI). The DOI confirms an accepted candidate’s intention to enroll at Trinity in the School of Nursing and Health Professions’ Master of Occupational Therapy program. Registration for courses cannot be processed until a DOI has been received.
Health Insurance
All full-time students enrolled in the School of Nursing and Health Professions must carry health insurance. A brochure describing the student health insurance plan offered through the University is emailed each year to new students; it also may be obtained from Trinity’s Health & Wellness Center.
Disclaimer
Trinity reserves the right to change, without prior notice, any policy or procedure, tuition or fee, curricular requirements, or any other information found on this web site or in its printed materials.
Questions may be directed to the Office of Academic Affairs at academicaffairs@trinitydc.edu