FAQ

• Q: How long is the Master of Science degree program?
  • A: The program is four academic semesters (two academic years) with two 3-month full-time fieldwork placements. The fieldwork placements are completed after the four semesters of academic work is completed. Following successful completion of the second fieldwork placement, the student graduates with a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy and is eligible to sit for the national OT certification exam.
• Q: How long is the OT Doctorate (OTD) program?
  • A: The program is a 3 year full-time, year-round, nine (9) academic semesters program which includes two 3-month (12 weeks each, 40 hours/wk) full-time fieldwork placements. At the completion of the program, the student will graduate with an Occupational Therapy Doctorate degree and is eligible to sit for the national OT certification examination.
• Q: Do all of my prerequisite courses and volunteer hours need to be completed before I can submit my application?
  • A: No, volunteer hours and prerequisite courses can be planned or in progress at the time you turn in your application. However, all volunteer hours and prerequisite courses must be completed prior to your entry into the MSOT or OTD program. We require that at least 4 of the 8 prerequisite courses are completed by the time you apply and that these courses have been documented with official transcripts. We require that at least 40 of the volunteer hours have been completed and documented via the “Evaluation Form for Volunteer Experience” (MSOT [pdf], OTD [pdf]). If this documentation is not present your file may be considered incomplete and it may not receive a timely review.
• Q: I am wondering if there is a pre-approved list of places to volunteer or if we can choose where we would like to go. I have several places in mind and want to be sure before I start the process?
  • A: We do not have lists of volunteer position information since things change so frequently. We recommend contacting the volunteer setting directly to inquire about a potential volunteer position. Some settings where volunteer positions are available include large research hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, private pediatric OT clinics, hand clinics, and school systems. Be sure to give the OT/L or supervisor your “Evaluation Form for Volunteer Experience” (MSOT [pdf], OTD [pdf]) when you begin so that they know what they will need to fill out for you. You want the best volunteer experience recommendation you can get so if you do not feel like you are connecting well you might consider finding another setting. Be sure to have at least 20 hours of supervision from any one OT/L so that the OT/L is able to accurately evaluate your volunteer performance. Only an occupational therapist may complete the volunteer form for volunteer time completed under the supervision of an OT/L. Forms completed by anyone else on the health care team will be returned.
• Q: Where do you recommend that I complete my volunteer hours?
  • A: Your volunteer hours supervised by an OT/L can be completed anywhere that employs an occupational therapist. The department has no specific preference about type of facility or program. A good place to start is often at a large hospital near you. Contact the volunteer coordinator and ask to be placed in the occupational therapy department. You may go to more than one facility to complete your volunteer hours but we recommend that you complete at least 30 hours in each site so that your supervisor can provide a more accurate, informed assessment of your potential as an occupational therapist. The OT/L who supervises you in each facility must complete an “Evaluation Form for Volunteer Experience” (MSOT [pdf], OTD [pdf]). Applicants are also required to complete a minimum of 20 hours at a community agency under the supervision of a community agency supervisor (i.e., administrator, nurse, social worker, etc.) in addition to completing the 60 hours under the supervision of an OT/L. Examples of community agencies include churches, health care agencies, social-service groups, adult day centers, advocacy groups, community mental health agencies, services for the developmentally disabled, and homeless shelters just to name a few. 
• Q: Who should write my letters of recommendation?
  • A: Any person who knows you in an academic or professional context is appropriate. This can include, but is not limited to, professors, instructors, supervisors or employers. Three letters are required and can come from any combination of the above types of individuals; however, at least one letter must come from someone (a professor) who can speak of your academic abilities. These individuals need not have knowledge of occupational therapy, as they are evaluating your character, academic fitness, and/or professional capabilities. Letters of Recommendation should not come from family or friends.
    Note: The Letter of Recommendation Forms CANNOT be completed by the same individual who completes the "Evaluation Form for Volunteer Experience”. Letters of recommendation are submitted through OTCAS. The process for this is outlined on their website when you register with them.
• Q: How do I know if a course I have taken will meet a specific prerequisite?
  • A: For general (introductory) psychology and abnormal psychology, a course with this title that is designated as UC/CSU transferable (if taken at a community college) will meet the requirement. Anatomy and physiology courses must be one term (quarter or semester) each and must each include a laboratory. If taken at a community college these must also be UC/CSU transferable. The anatomy course must have a human cadaver lab (can be virtual or in person). If you have taken an anatomy course that did not have a human cadaver lab, you may take an on-line, virtual lab. Information is available on our website. Statistics courses can be upper or lower division courses in mathematics, psychology, business or other departments and must include descriptive statistics, correlations, and tests of difference (t-tests and Analysis of Variance). An introductory sociology or cultural anthropology class will meet the anthropology/sociology requirement. For the skills course requirement,almost any studio art course will qualify painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, woodworking, etc. Dance and music courses are not accepted. It is preferable to take this course at a community college or 4-year college, but if this is not possible it can also be taken through adult education/parks and recreation programs or private art studios. If you take it at one of these types of locations, you must provide documentation of the number of hours spent in the course and project completion (this should be approximately 40 hours). There is also an option to provide a portfolio of work in specialized situations. Please see the website and contact the Graduate Assistant (MSOT program) or the OTD Advisor (OTD program) for further information
    
    Neuroanatomy is the only course that cannot be taken at a community college. It can be taken at SJSU either in an online or on-campus format through Special Session/Open University. Check the OT department website for more information. Courses from other institutions must be approved in advance by the occupational therapy department. Send a course syllabus to the graduate admissions coordinator for review. The OT website also has a list of courses that have been approved as meeting the Neuroanatomy prerequisite [pdf]. Courses not on the list must be approved in advance by the occupational therapy department. Send a course syllabus to the Graduate Assistant (MSOT program) or the OTD Advisor (OTD program) for review.  
• Q: The Human Anatomy course I would like to take does not have a human cadaver associated with it. What are my options?
  • A: Check all the local community colleges and universities in your area to see if they have a human cadaver lab you can take. If you are still having difficulty finding a Human Anatomy Lab that has a Human Cadaver Associated with the course, you may take an online virtual cadaver course, such as the one offered by Mc-Graw Hill. Please check the website or contact the Graduate Admissions Assistant (MSOT program) or or the OTD Advisor (OTD program) for information about programs that meet this requirement.
• Q: How can I get my specific questions answered?
  • A: You can contact us by sending an email to the Graduate Admissions Assistant or by calling (408) 924-3094 for questions regarding the Master's program. If you require a face-to-face advising session, you can schedule one with the graduate assistant or graduate advisor. Advising is also provided at the advising sessions posted on the Applications and Admissions website. For questions regarding the Doctorate program, please email the OTD Advisor. You are also welcome to visit the department; please contact us in advance to arrange. General campus tours are available most days and can be booked online.
• Q: What undergraduate major is preferred for entry into the MSOT or OTD program?
  • A: We do not prefer any particular undergraduate major. Any major is acceptable. We value a diverse class and select for a variety of academic, work, and life experiences.
• Q: Is it necessary to be a California resident to apply to your program?
  • A: No, students are accepted from throughout the United States as well as internationally. However, non-residents accepted into the program must pay out-of-state tuition. For more information, please check the Graduate Admissions website.
• Q: I received my college degree outside of the U.S. What do I need to do to apply to your program?
  • A: Your college/university transcripts must be evaluated by Graduate Studies prior to applying. If your degree program was conducted in a language other than English, you will also need to take an English proficiency exam such as the TOEFL or the IELTS. Go to the Testing Requirements website for more information. You may also want to contact Jessica Hernandez at (408) 924-2406 if you have any questions about your Graduate Studies & Admissions application.
• Q: Do students work while attending the program?
  • A: Many of our students work 1-2 days per week. Classes are held 3-4 days per week and students often work on non-class days. We recommend that you work no more than 15 hours per week during the first year of the program so that you can focus on the demanding coursework. During both years (for MSOT) or 3 years (for OTD) of the program you need to allot additional on-campus time in addition to scheduled classes to work on group projects, participate in practicum assignments, etc.
• Q: What financial aid is available?
  • A: The usual loans are available through the SJSU financial aid office If you plan to apply for financial aid it is important to complete and submit a FAFSA form by the due date (usually early March). The University and OT department also have several scholarships available to students once they have completed at least one semester in the program. Information about these scholarships is provided to all incoming students.
• Q: What is the most important part of the application packet?
  • A: Every part of the application packet is carefully reviewed, and each student is evaluated as an individual. Make sure that all required materials are submitted to each of the 3 locations (OTCAS, Occupational Therapy Department, and GAPE). Your personal statement (essay) is very important and should be thoughtfully written.
• Q: Why must I apply both to the department and to Graduate Studies?
  • A: You must apply to Graduate Studies so that your eligibility to be a graduate or doctorate student can be evaluated. Graduate Studies must receive your online application to the university, your GRE score, as well as a copy of the official transcript from every 2-year and 4-year undergraduate institution you attended in order to evaluate your application. The OT department makes the final decision about whether students are admitted to the occupational therapy Master’s or OTD program based on the materials listed on the website. After review of your file you will receive an unofficial letter from the department regarding your admission status, followed by an official letter from Graduate Studies.
• Q: Can I get transfer credit or credit for experiential learning for this program?
  • A: The program does not accept advanced placement, transfer of credit, or credit for experiential learning for this program.
• Q: What other advice do you have for applicants?
  • A: Complete your application early! Begin the application process through OTCAS early (available July 21st). It often takes a few weeks for OTCAS, to verify your transcripts and for those who write your letters of recommendation to submit them. Make sure that those who are writing your letters know to expect an email from OTCAS asking them to submit a letter of recommendation on our behalf. You will be able to see whether or not they have submitted their letter. We admit on a rolling basis so it is to your advantage to complete your application file as soon as possible after the admissions period begins. Applications are accepted in the department and in Graduate Studies beginning: June 1 for the OTD program and October 1 for the MSOT program. We can begin reviewing your application as soon as all the documents have been received. The deadline for submitting applications and application materials is on: March 1st of each year for the MSOT program and on December 1st for the OTD program, although we recommend submitting the application as soon as possible.
• Q: What is the International Experience Requirement?
  • A: The overall goal for the international experience is to gain cross-cultural and cross-national insight into the political, social, cultural and economic factors that influence the provision of occupational therapy services outside of the U.S. and define the role of occupational therapy within the system of care. Social and occupational justice issues are explored, and the role of the student as a global citizen is emphasized. Several types of international experiences are available, including faculty-led study abroad programs and service trips that can be completed during Winter or Summer sessions. Many of the experiences include opportunities to engage with local people in the provision of occupational therapy services. Some of the experiences are interdisciplinary, allowing students to work and study with students and providers from a variety of healthcare professions. Time abroad typically ranges from one to three weeks with assignments completed prior to the trip and after returning. Students register for 1-6 units of coursework for the international experience. These courses fulfill requirements for the degree. There are also other alternatives available to students who cannot travel abroad for various reasons. Please see the College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) website for more information.

Contact the Graduate Admissions Assistant or the OTD Advisor to check on the status of documents in your file.

NOTE:
The Department of Occupational Therapy uses the OTCAS (The Centralized Application Service for Occupational Therapy) application process. Instructions for applying to our program can be found on our department website as well as at OTCAS.