All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C- or better. All prerequisites must be completed by the end of the spring term prior to the start of the program. Additionally, it is recommended that no more than two or three prerequisites be in progress during the spring. The department strongly prefers that all prerequisites are completed by the fall term prior to entry. Preferential admission will be given to applicants who have completed all academic prerequisites at the time of the application.
We accept online, hybrid, and on-campus classes from regionally accredited institutions. Classes may be taken at any regionally accredited institution such as community colleges, CSU, UC, or private institutions. In California, the accrediting body is WASC Senior College and University Commission.
Please see the Prerequisite Course Resources section below for helpful information regarding prerequisites.
Required Prerequisites, Semester or Quarter Units
- General Biology, lab is not required. Anatomy and physiology cannot be used to meet this requirement. 3.0
- English Composition/Critical Thinking, any two English courses may be used to meet this requirement. University writing courses used to meet writing/English general education requirement for bachelor degree are also acceptable, 6.0 Semester or Quarter Units
- Abnormal Psychology, abnormal or psychopathology course is acceptable, 3.0
- General Psychology, general or an introductory course in psychology is acceptable, 3.0
- Life Span Developmental Psychology, content should cover birth to death, 3.0
- Social Science Elective I & II, any two courses in sociology, anthropology, ethnic studies, psychology, or cultural studies departments are acceptable. For psychology courses, courses already required for admission cannot be used to satisfy this requirement as well, 6.0
- Statistics, introductory statistics/quantitative method course offered by any department is acceptable, 3.0
- Three-Dimensional Skill/Craft in a medium such as woodworking, sculpture, ceramics, sewing, jewelry making, leatherwork, tile mosaics, crocheting/knitting/macramé, candle/soap making or metalwork can be used to meet this requirement. Note: The following skills/crafts are not acceptable: painting, drawing, graphic design, photography, playing an instrument, and other two-dimensional areas. Portfolios are not accepted. The course may be completed at a community college or a four-year college/university. We will also accept a class from a local art center or parks and recreation department; the course should have multiple sessions vs. a one-time class. The rationale is that we are looking for the experience of developing a skill over time. Although we have not specified the exact number of class sessions, the expectation is that the chosen course will include multiple class sessions. Please upload a description of the course and how many course sessions were included to the Applicant Uploaded Document tab in your OTCAS application.
Recommended Prerequisites, Semester or Quarter Units
- Human Anatomy, introductory course is acceptable, no lab required. The first course of a combined anatomy and physiology course series can be used to satisfy this requirement. Note: Course is highly recommended, but not required. Preference will be given to applicants who have completed this course at the time of application, 3.0
- Human Physiology, introductory course is acceptable, no lab required. The second course of a combined anatomy & physiology course series can be used to satisfy this requirement. Note: Course is highly recommended, but not required. Preference will be given to applicants who have completed this course at the time of application, 3.0
- Physics, introductory or conceptual course is acceptable, lab is not required, 3.0
- Communication or Speech Elective, any speech course is acceptable. Note: Course is highly recommended, but not required.
AP and IB Exam Credits
AP exam scores of 3, 4, or 5 and IB exam scores of 5, 6, or 7 may be used to meet prerequisite requirements, but are only acceptable if the exams scores are clearly noted on official university transcript.
Challenge Exams
A challenge exam may be taken in lieu of coursework. All challenge exams must be noted on the OTCAS application.
Interviews
An interview is required as part of the admission process; interviews will be in December and January prior to the Fall start of the program and will be conducted in a virtual format. Not all candidates who meet minimum qualifications will be invited to an interview.
Students who need disability accommodations may request them by emailing the Disability Resource Center at drc@samuelmerritt.edu. Please give as much notice as you can. Further information about the Disability Resource Center can be found here.
Technology requirement for the program
In the Master of Occupational Therapy and Doctor of Occupational Therapy Programs, no courses are taught solely online. Numerous courses include requirements for participating in online discussion forums and accessing course learning materials via Course Management Systems (Canvas); therefore, access to a computer and the internet is required. All students will be trained in the use of Canvas. Only one course, Introduction to Professional Documentation, is primarily delivered online. This course first meets on campus for four hours, and the remaining nine hours of content (including 30 hours of readings and assignments) is delivered asynchronously online.
GRE Scores
Results from the GRE exam are not required or considered for admission into the OTD program.
Internationally Educated Applicants
Students educated abroad may apply for admission. Regardless of previous professional training and academic degrees earned, Samuel Merritt’s OTD curriculum must be completed in its entirety.
If your education was not part of a U.S.-based study abroad program, all international academic transcripts must be evaluated by a U.S. evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluations Services (NACES) for degree, course content, semester unit equivalencies, and cumulative GPAs prior to the application deadline. The evaluation must be sent to OTCAS as part of the application. Information on NACES may be found at www.naces.org.