Eastern Washington University
College of Science, Health, and Engineering
Department of Occupational Therapy
Combined Bachelors to Master’s Program Procedures
For
Interdisciplinary Studies
Admission: Admission to the Professional Occupational Therapy Program at Eastern consists of three stages:
Stage I: Admission to Eastern Washington University (EWU) and enrolled in the Bachelors of Arts Interdisciplinary Studies Program.
Stage II: Completion of all Occupational Therapy Prerequisites (see Prerequisite Worksheet, attachment 1).
Stage III: Completion of the Professional Occupational Therapy Program Application and all required elements.
Stage I: Admission to Eastern Washington University (EWU) and enrolled in the Bachelors of
Arts Interdisciplinary Studies Program.
You must be admitted to Eastern Washington University's (EWU) and enrolled in the Bachelors of Arts Interdisciplinary Studies
Program in order to apply to the Professional Occupational Therapy Program.
1. Contact the Occupational Therapy Program and schedule a meeting with Carrie Walker, Admissions Advisor at 509-368-6560.
2. Submit all EWU application materials to EWU’s Admission Office (call Admission’s Office at 509-359-6524).
3. Complete an evaluation of current course work for the Interdisciplinary Studies Degree by the Director of Interdisciplinary
Studies. Please contact Dr. John Neace at (509) 359-2402 for an appointment.
4. Complete all of the General Education Core Requirements, Interdisciplinary Option Courses, and Foreign Language Requirement
if needed. (See form Academic Plan EWU Interdisciplinary to MOT on OT website)
5. Declare a major in Interdisciplinary Studies.
Stage II: Successful Completion of Occupational Therapy Prerequisite Courses and GRE Exam.
1.
2.
Please use Prerequisite Worksheet, Attachment 1. All students must complete the Prerequisite Worksheet and submit it
with their application. Copies of all transcripts must be included with the OT prerequisite courses highlighted in
yellow.
Compete GRE exam and send current test score results to EWU’s Graduate Studies office prior to the OT Application
February 1st deadline. EWU’s school code is 4301 and the Department of Occupational Therapy code is 0618.
Stage III: Completion of the Entry Application for the Combined Bachelors to Master’s Occupational
Therapy Program.
Deadline for application for Summer 2010 is February 1, 2010.
RETURN COMPLETED APPLICATION AND FEE TO:
Department of Occupational Therapy, Eastern Washington University, 310 N. Riverpoint Blvd., Box R, Spokane WA 99202, Attn:
Program Secretary. If you are express mailing your packet please add Room 225C to the address.
Admission Procedures for the Combined the Bachelors of Arts Interdisciplinary Studies Program and
Masters of Occupational Therapy Program:
A student is considered for admission based on the quality and completed elements of a) performance in prerequisite courses,
application essay, letters of reference, volunteer/work hours, and GRE test scores, b) demonstrated success in higher education as
determined through college credentials, and c) the successful completion of a group interview.
Decisions for admissions are based upon the following:
1. Successful entry into Eastern Washington University and enrollment into the Interdisciplinary Studies program.
2. Successful completion and grade of a 2.0 or greater on all prerequisites before entering the Professional Program (please use
Prerequisite Worksheet, Attachment 1). ALSO REQUIRED: Attached unofficial transcripts with each prerequisite course
highlighted in yellow.
3. GRE: Include a copy of your current GRE test score results with your OT application. The GRE exam must be completed prior to
application to the OT program. The test version must be October 2002 or later. Successful candidates are expected to perform a
score of greater than a 3.5 on the written section of the exam. EWU’s school code is 4301 and the Department of Occupational
Therapy code is 0618.
4. Demonstrated 3.0 cumulative college GPA and a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in all prerequisite courses.
5. Documented voluntary or work experience of thirty (30) hours with persons with disabilities and ten (10) hours shadowing an
occupational therapist in at least two practice settings for a total of 40 hours of voluntary/work experience (please use Volunteer
and/or Work Experience Sheet, Attachment 2).
6. Three ORIGINAL Letters of Recommendation using the format of the Letter of Recommendation forms (Attachment 3).
* One from instructor/teacher who taught any college-level academic courses taken by the applicant in the areas of
a) Mathematics, or b) Science, or c) English, or d) Psychology.
* One from an Occupational Therapist who supervised volunteer/work experiences related to services for persons with
disabilities.
* One from a former or current employer. If you have never been employed, choose a person (unrelated) who can
provide a character reference.
7. Essays: All applicants must compose two essays that address the topics listed below. The essays should have its own organization
and not simply consist of answering the requested elements in the order listed below. Each essay must be typed on white paper
with black ink, double spaced, using Arial font with a character size of 12 points and not exceed three pages. The applicant’s
name must appear on the cover page of the document. Citation of references is expected. Be creative!
Topic #1: In your own words, tell us what occupational therapy is. Be specific. Incorporate observations from your
work/observation/volunteer experience that demonstrates your depth, breadth, and understanding of the field. Include
information about the various settings where OT's work and the breadth of practice.
Topic #2: Describe why you have chosen occupational therapy as a career and your interest in attending the
Occupational Therapy program at Eastern Washington University. Discuss the qualities and characteristics you have
which would enhance your ability to become an occupational therapy professional.
8. GRE: Include a copy of your current GRE test score results with your OT application. The GRE exam must be completed prior to
application to the OT program. The test version must be October 2002 or later. Successful candidates are expected to perform a
score of greater than 3.5 on the written section of the exam. EWU’s school code is 4301 and the Department of Occupational
Therapy code is 0618.
9. Successful completion of a group interview. Candidates, who meet all minimum requirements, will be invited to a group interview
and open house within two weeks after the February 1st application deadline.
10. Application Fee: Include the $50 application fee with your application.
Sequence of Study: The bachelor’s academic portion of this professional program is four (4) quarters in length and students must
be enrolled full time and follow the sequence of courses. The program begins in the summer and proceeds in a lock-step sequence.
After successful completion of the Bachelors of Interdisciplinary Studies degree including a capstone, each student is required to apply
for advance standing and the Masters of Occupational Therapy. Admission to the Combined Bachelors to Masters does not guarantee
admission to the MOT Program. Following three quarters of additional academic work, a master’s project, and oral examination, the
students will need to complete a six-month fieldwork experience before they are qualified to sit for the National Board for Certification
in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) examination. After successful completion of Level II fieldwork, students will graduate with a
Master's degree in Occupational Therapy (MOT). Fieldwork must be completed within 24 months of coursework. Only students who
successfully complete the academic courses, fieldwork, pass the NBCOT, and meet state licensure standards (in states where this
applies) may practice as a registered occupational therapist.
Stage IV: Candidates will be notified of their admission status to the Professional Occupational Therapy
Program within two weeks of Committee reviews following the completion of group interviews.
Accreditation: The Professional Occupational Therapy Program at Eastern Washington is accredited by the Accreditation Council for
Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 4720 Montgomery
Lane, P.O. Box 31220 Bethesda, MD 20824-1220. AOTA’s phone number is (301) 652-AOTA. Graduates of the Program will be
able to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification
in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist,
Registered (OTR). Most states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the
NBCOT Certification Examination. Following completion of academic coursework, all students must successfully complete the Level
II Fieldwork within 24 months before taking the Certification exam. Be advised that a criminal record may render an individual
ineligible to take the Certification Examination and consequently, ineligible to practice as an occupational therapist.