Department of Occupational Therapy

Frequently Asked Questions

Professional (Master of Science) Program: OTHR

Do I need to take the GRE's?

What is your minimum GPA?

When is the deadline for application to the program?

What is the admission procedure?

What parts of the application should to be submitted online and what should be mailed in?

I have submitted my application to Graduate Admissions, how do I know if they received all of my materials?

How many students are in each class?

When will my admission decision be mailed?

How long is the program?

Must I have a specific undergraduate major to be accepted to the program?

What are the prerequisites?

Where can I take the prerequisites?

Can I apply before I have completed all the prerequisites?

How many volunteer hours do I need?

Can I apply to the Post-Professional (Master of Arts) Program?

Does the Department offer courses via the Internet (Distance Learning)?

How do I apply for student housing?

Is it possible to tour the University?

How do I apply for financial aid?

Are there any additional requirements for becoming certified as an occupational therapist?

Is the occupational therapy program accredited?

Want additional information about NYU's OT Program?

I still have questions, whom do I contact?

 

Do I need to take the GRE's?

No. The GRE is not required for admission to the entry-level master's degree (OTHR).

What is your minimum GPA?

While we do not have a minimum GPA requirement, our average is 3.5.

When is the application deadline?

The MS application deadline is January 6th.
Applications should be received by this deadline. All applicants have to submit an online application. That includes applicants who applied last year. Again, students who previously applied to our program have to submit a new online application and re-submit all required application materials. 

What is the admission procedure?

Please follow the directions in the Office of Graduate Admission's MS Application Guide. Applicants have to complete an online application. Official transcripts and supplementary materials (pre-requisite checklist, letters of reference, etc) can be uploaded as a pdf and submitted online. 

The Graduate Admissions Office strongly recommends all parts of the application be uploaded and submitted online.  However, If any materials have to be mailed (e.g. letters of recommendation), you need to include the Document Cover Sheet and send it directly to the Office of Gradaute Admissions.  Items received without a Document Cover Sheet  take longer to process and match to your application.

Your application must include:

Note: Volunteering/observing an occupational therapist is highly recommended.

You should request that your recommender submit an online recommendation. If an online recommendation cannot be submitted, letters should be on the letterhead of the writer. Request that the letter be returned to you sealed in an envelope with the recommender's signature over the seal.  You should submit the letter along with the Document Cover Sheet directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions.  Do not open the recommendation letter.

You have to submit a transcript from all post secondary schools attended.  You should obtain an offical copy of your transcript(s) and scan it. You can then upload the scanned pdf to your application. 

I have submitted my application to Graduate Admissions, how do I know if they received all of my materials?

Graduate Admissions will notify you directly if your application is incomplete. If your application is complete you will not be notified.

How many students are in each class?

Up to 50 students are accepted for each class. The Admissions Committee seeks a diverse mix of students representing a variety of ethnic, geographic and economic backgrounds. We aim to admit a class that is the most academically promising and able, and whose varying perspectives will serve to enrich the occupational therapy community.

When will my admission decision be mailed?

Fall enrollment decisions are made from mid-May to the end of April. An official decision letter will be mailed by the Steinhardt School's Office of Graduate Admissions.

How long is the program?

The full-time program of study is two and a half years (69 points), which includes at least six months of full-time internship (Level II Fieldwork).

Can I attend the program on a part-time basis?

We do not accept students for part-time study.

Must I have a specific undergraduate major to be accepted to the program?

No. You must have earned a B.A. or B.S. degree or the equivalent international credentials, in any field of study (other than occupational therapy). Your application will be evaluated and reviewed based on its merits and in the context of the applicant pool for that year.

What are the prerequisites?

Where can I take the prerequisites?

Prerequisites may be taken at any regionally accredited college or community college. Internet (on-line) courses in psychology, anthropology and sociology are acceptable. Human Anatomy and Physiology must be taken in a classroom setting. Course substitutions must first be approved by the Enrollment Administrator.

Can I apply before I have completed all the prerequisites?

Yes. If you are accepted or wait-listed, all prerequisites must be completed before classes begin in the fall. We recommend that you complete at least one science and two non-science prerequisite courses prior to applying.

How many volunteer hours do I need?

There is no set number of volunteer hours that you need to complete in order to be accepted into the program. It is vital, however, that you have been exposed to occupational therapy through work, volunteer experiences, or observing an occupational therapist.

Can I apply to the Post-Professional (Master of Arts) Program?

Only students with a Bachelors in Occupational Therapy are eligible to apply to the MA Program.

Does the Department offer courses via the Internet (Distance Learning)?

No, not at the present time.

How do I apply for student housing?

Check off Box 11 on the Graduate Application. Housing information and an application will be mailed to you from the Office of Graduate Admissions. You may view the Graduate Housing office information online at www.nyu.edu/housing.

Is it possible to tour the University?

While we do not offer department tours, you are able to take a gradaute student tour.  To RSVP for a graduate tour you should visit: http://www.nyu.edu/students/graduates/prospective-students.html 

How do I apply for financial aid?

You need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), if you wish to be considered for need-based scholarships and/or apply for federal or private loans. For more information, visit the Steinhardt School of Education's Office of Graduate Admissions web site.

Are there any additional requirements for becoming certified as an occupational therapist?

Students entering the Professional Program in Occupational Therapy should be aware that felony charges or convictions may affect a graduate's ability to take the certification examination or to obtain a state license. NBCOT makes available an early determination review for any occupational therapy student or prospective student who wishes to have his or her character background reviewed.

Is the occupational therapy program accredited?

The Professional Program in Occupational Therapy at New York University is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education
ACOTE
4720 Montgomery Lane
P.O. Box 31220
Bethesda, MD 20824-1220
Tel: 301-652-2682
FAX: 301-652-711
E-mail: accred@aota.org
Web site: http://www.aota.org/

Want additional information about NYU's OT Program?

View the information session that is on our website.

I still have questions, whom do I contact?

Ginelle John, PhD.
Enrollment and Student Services Administrator
NYU Steinhardt
Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development
Department of Occupational Therapy
35 West 4th Street, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10012-1172
Tel: 212-998-5847
Fax: 212-995-4044
E-mail: ginelle.john@nyu.edu