Admission Requirements

Our admissions criteria are designed for people with a bachelor’s degree in any area of study.
Admission Criteria In Brief
  • A completed PEL Master's or PEL OT Doctorate application submitted via OTCAS.
  • A completed bachelor’s degree with a minimum of GPA of 3.0. There is no specific undergraduate major that is required.
  • Completion of all prerequisite courses (more information below) with a grade of C or higher. All prerequisite coursework must be completed within 10 years of enrollment date and applicants may apply with no more than three “in-progress” prerequisite courses. Final transcripts for all in-progress prerequisites are required prior to starting the program.
  • Two letters of recommendation, one from a healthcare practitioner if possible. Two additional letters of recommendation are required when applying for a Graduate Assistantship.
  • Resume
  • Writing sample
  • We do not require the GRE or other graduate admission tests for entry.
  • All applications are processed through OTCAS and reviewed on a rolling basis. We strongly recommend early application due to limited space. There is no supplemental application required by Ithaca College.

REQUIRED PREREQUISITE COURSEWORK

All required prerequisite coursework must be completed with a grade of C or higher. The prerequisite coursework is the same for both the master's and doctoral degree pathways.
CreditsGradeCourses that Meet Requirement
3 creditsC or higherA course related to humans and overview of human systems meets this requirement.
CreditsGradeCourses that Meet Requirement
3 creditsC or higherAny course with a sociology or anthropology designation meets this requirement.
CreditsGradeCourses that Meet Requirement
3 creditsC or higherA course that explores general concepts of psychology meets this requirement.
CreditsGradeCourses that Meet Requirement
3 creditsC or higherA course that addresses human development across the lifespan (from birth to death) meets this requirement.
CreditsGradeCourses that Meet the Requirement
3 creditsC or higherA course that addresses concepts related to psychological dysfunction meets this requirement.
CreditsGradeCourses that Meet the Requirement
8 creditsC or higherA combination of courses that provide a foundation to understanding human anatomy and systems meet this requirement.
CreditsGradeCourses that Meet the Requirement
3 creditsC or higherA course that provides a basic understanding of statistics related to examining data sets meets this requirement.
CreditsGradeCourses that Meet the Requirement
3 creditsC or higherA course that includes conceptual foundations of research, basic research methodology, analysis, and interpretation of data, and using scholarly literature to write effective arguments meets this requirement. Ideally qualitative and quantitative research methods are explored

Technical Standards

At ICOT, we are committed to being an accessible and inclusive community for all students, including those with disabilities. In doing so, we provide Technical Standards to inform prospective, incoming, and current students of the skills, abilities, and behavioral characteristics needed to successfully complete ICOT program requirements. You may achieve these technical standards either with or without reasonable accommodations.  

If upon review of the technical standards, you believe that you need accommodation to fully access and engage in the program, we encourage you to contact Student Accessibility Services to discuss your access needs confidentially and get supports in place to facilitate your success in the program. 

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About Admission

No, the program is designed for individuals who have received a bachelor’s degree in another area of study and are interested in pursuing a career in occupational therapy. We have had students come in with some of the following majors:

  • Psychology
  • Marketing Communications
  • Recreation & Leisure
  • Ceramic Engineering
  • Philosophy
  • Art
  • Physical Therapy
  • Sport Management
  • Public Health
  • Nutrition
  • Animal and Vet Sciences
  • Recreation Therapy
  • Communication Sciences & Disorders
  • Exercise Science
  • Biology

Yes, you can apply with up to 3 courses in progress. All prerequisite courses must be completed prior to the program start date in January and require official transcripts to be submitted as soon as they are available.

Acceptance to the PEL program is contingent on you earning a C or higher in all prerequisite courses, so we will be reaching out to confirm proof of enrollment, requesting midterm grades (if available by application deadline), and final grades with official transcripts prior to starting the program.  Mark the prerequisite as being “in progress” in the application if needed.

Please review our prerequisite descriptions described above first. If you are still unsure, e-mail the course description and/or syllabus to the Chair of Graduate Studies for occupational therapy at otgrad@ithaca.edu.

No, but we do feel that observing a licensed OTR/L is an amazing experience and can help you learn what types of populations and settings you may want to work in. 

No, we do not require GRE scores. 

We value well-rounded applicants, so all parts of the application are considered in our admission decisions.

There is not an option for night/weekend or part-time study at this time.

It is hard to say because each student's situation is unique. Check out the Admission for International Students website for more information.

We try our best to turn around acceptance notifications as soon as possible. We aim for two weeks after you submit your completed and verified application, but it may take longer.

Questions?

PEL OT Graduate Program
Ithaca College 

953 Danby Road • Smiddy Hall • Ithaca, NY 14850

Fax: (607) 274-3055

(607) 274-1798