Division of Occupational Therapy

Applying without a Bachelor's Degree

Students applying to the program without a bachelor's degree do not need to apply to the Graduate School. Application does need to be made to the University and a transfer of credits summary completed by the University should be sent to the Division of Occupational Therapy.

Students applying without a bachelor's degree need to complete the following University of Utah General Graduation requirements by the conclusion of the Spring Semester prior to the Fall Semester for which the student is applying. Undergraduate Studies has prepared a worksheet that lists the requirements.  These requirements include the following:

  1. Intellectual Explorations: The University of Utah Intellectual Exploration requirement must be satisfied. This would include courses that are:
    •  at least 3 semester hours,
    • taken for a letter grade, and
    • are in the spirit of Intellectual Explorations.

      Exceptions to this requirement would be those students who will be receiving a degree from another accredited institution by the end of the Spring term of the year for which application is made. These requirements would also be waived for students with an Associate of Science, an Associate of Arts degree or a letter of completion from any accredited college.
  2. American Institutions: Any 3-semester hour course that is comparable in content with:
    • History 1700 (American Civilization)
    • Economics 1740 (U.S. Economic History)
    • Political Science 1100 (U.S. Natl. Gvmt)
    • Honors 2212 (American Institutions)
  3. Writing: Any course that satisfies the lower-division writing requirement at a two- or four-year transfer institution (passed with a grade of C- or better). If the transfer institution requires two courses, the second course must have been completed with a grade of C- or better. Also satisfies the basic writing prerequisite requirement for the occupational therapy major.
  4. Quantitative Reasoning: Any mathematics course of three-semester hours or more having the "name" College Algebra, Finite Mathematics, Pre-Calculus, Trigonometry, or having "Calculus" in its title, or (2) any higher level mathematics course (except statistics) of three-semester hours or more that requires a foundation in college algebra or finite mathematics.
  5. Diversity (DV): At least a three-credit hour course that has as its central focus the culture, history and/or current circumstances of one or more non-dominant groups in the United States. A course that does not have as its content sustained reference to American society and culture DOES NOT meet the Diversity Requirement criteria.
  6. Upper-Division Intensive Commun./Writing (CW): Any three-semester hour upper-division writing or communication course within a specific discipline that includes the following kinds of assignments and/or processes:
    • use appropriately the syntax and mechanics of edited American English in both written and oral work,
    • use multi-media and/or technical resources effectively to prepare and enhance written work and oral presentations,
    • demonstrate critical and/or creative thinking in writing and/or speaking,
    • within his/her field of study, write and speak for appropriate disciplines, using appropriate forms and research,
    • adapt writing and speaking for different purposes, audiences, and composing situations outside his/her own field of study, and
    • demonstrate ability to speak effectively in interpersonal and/or group/team situations. This will satisfy the technical writing prerequisite for the occupational therapy major.
  7. Upper-Division Quantitative Intensive Requirements (QI): Any two upper-division three-semester hour courses that contain substantial application of quantitative, analytical methods in problem solving. (Examples are data analysis, numerical & computational techniques, mathematical models, graph theory and formal logic.) This will satisfy the statistics prerequisite (as long as the components listed under that requirement are part of the curriculum) for the occupational therapy major. (PLEASE NOTE: YOU WILL TAKE ONE QI CLASS ONCE YOU ARE ACCEPTED TO THE DIVISION OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY)
  8. International Requirements (IR) (Beginning fall semester 2007, all undergraduates entering the University of Utah must complete one three-semester hour course from the list). The Upper Division International Course Requirement will give students a broad base of knowledge about global issues and about global perspectives in a comparative context. It will introduce students to international frames of reference so that they may think critically about long-standing and newly emerging issues. It will help students accept and appreciate the interdependence of nations and the viewpoints of other nations, and give them the ability to communicate with people across international borders.
  9. A student must have a total of AT LEAST 92 semester hours (of which at least 10 are upper-division) by the end of the academic year in which application is made.
  10. Students must complete all admission requirements for the Division of Occupational Therapy.

To determine if courses you are submitting meet the above requirements and will fulfill University of Utah criteria, please contact:
Transfer Specialist, University College, (801) 581-8146.

Further information regarding the University of Utah and general policies, procedures, student service agencies, tuition, financial aid information and housing is available from:

High School & Prospective Student Services
80 Olpin Union Building
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
(801) 581-8761

or

The General Catalog

An application form to the University of Utah can be obtained from the Admissions Office. All transfer students must submit an application form and official transcripts from other schools to the University of Utah Admissions Office prior to the OT Admissions date. Information should be sent directly to:

Admissions Office
250 Student Services Building
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah 84112
(801) 581-7286

A student who was accepted to the University of Utah at an earlier date but DID NOT attend, should contact the Admissions Office to determine if his/her application can be updated.