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Pre-Occupational Therapy Program

Bachelor's Degree + Doctor of Occupational Therapy (3+3 & 4+3)


 

Westminster College and Chatham University


Up to two (2) currently enrolled Westminster students in the Pre-Occupational Therapy Program will be guaranteed acceptance into the Entry Level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (ELOTD) program at Chatham University upon completion of the following criteria. Students may select either the 3+3 program or the 4+3 program. Upon the successful completion of all requirements, students in the program will attain a bachelor's degree from Westminster and a Doctor of Occupational Therapy from Chatham.

Students in the 3+3 program must complete their major and general education requirements (including Capstone/Senior Psychology Scholarship Experience) by the end of their junior year at Westminster College before transitioning to the ELOTD program at Chatham. See suggested schedule of Westminster courses for the 3+3 program.

For the Westminster portion of the 4+3 program, students will typically take the courses prescribed for the Psychology degree, Pre-Occupational Therapy Track, as described in the Westminster College Catalog.

All students who declare intent to complete ELOTD program at Chatham shall be advised by an assigned member of the faculty at Westminster. Students will also be assigned a Chatham faculty advisor in the ELOTD program. It is highly recommended that the students in the program meet with their Chatham faculty advisor (either in person, by phone, or by e-mail) during their sophomore or junior year.

 

Admission Requirements for Chatham's ELOTD Program (3+3 and 4+3)

Students must satisfactorily complete the following criteria at Westminster, prior to enrollment at Chatham University:

  • A minimum of a grade of C in the pre-requisite courses (C- not accepted):
    • Anatomy & Physiology I with lab
    • Anatomy & Physiology II with lab
    • Abnormal Psychology
    • Statistics or Research Methods
    • One course in Developmental Psychology or Lifespan Development. Alternatively, a combination of developmental psychology courses that cover the lifespan.
    • Neuroscience (Optional)
  • A cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better on a scale of 4.0.
  • A cumulative pre-requisite GPA of 3.5 on a scale of 4.0 with a minimum of 3 pre-requisite courses completed by the interview date (at least one of which must be a science pre-requisite).
  • Successful interview and writing sample.
  • Successful completion of all Chatham University early admission requirements, which include:
    • Completion of the online application through Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Services (OTCAS), submitted by the early admissions deadline;
    • Volunteer hours in an occupational therapy facility; and
    • Three (3) letters of reference.

Note: Students pursuing this program should visit Chatham's website to verify current ELOTD admissions requirements.

Additionally, students who are not part of the programs described above will be guaranteed an interview for consideration of acceptance into the Entry Level Doctor of Occupational Therapy program, if the following criteria are met:

  • A minimum of a grade of C in each pre-requisite course listed above.
  • A cumulative GPA of 3.2 or better on a scale of 4.0.
  • A cumulative pre-requisite GPA of 3.2 or better on a scale of 4.0 with a minimum of 3 pre-requisite courses completed by the interview date (at least one of which must be a science pre-requisite).
  • Successful completion of all Chatham University Entry Level Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program admission requirements, which include:
    • Completion of the online application through OTCAS, submitted by the admissions deadline;
    • Volunteer hours in an occupational therapy facility; and
    • Three (3) letters of reference.

 

Westminster + ELOTD (Chatham 3+3): Psychology Track

Suggested three-year curriculum taken at Westminster College. The sequence of courses may be altered with consent of academic advisor. Intellectual Perspectives (IP) courses are indicated by their two-letter code in parentheses. Students must successfully earn 64 or more semester hours at Westminster prior to matriculating in Chatham University’s Entry Level Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program (ELOTD).

Year One (Fall) (17 semester hours)
Year One Spring (17 semester hours)
PSY 101: Introduction to Psychology (ST; 4)
BIO 201: Cell Biology and Genetics with lab (SD; 4)
INQ 111: Introduction to the Liberal Arts (4)
WRI 111: Writing (4)
WST 101: Westminster 101 (1)
PSY 100: Research Experience in Psychology (1)
BIO 202: Evolution, Form, and Function with lab (4)
PSY elective (4 credits)
SPE 111: Introduction to Public Communication (4)
Intellectual Perspective Elective (HC,VP,QR,FL or RPT)

Year Two Fall (17 semester hours)
Year Two Spring (14 semester hours)
PSY 201: Experimental Design and Statistics with lab (4)
BIO 335: Anatomy and Physiology 1 (4)
Intellectual Perspective Elective (HC,VP,QR,FL or RPT)
Intellectual Perspective Elective (HC,VP,QR,FL or RPT)
PSY 100: Research Experience in Psychology (1)
NS 341: Behavioral Neuroscience with lab (4)
BIO 336: Anatomy and Physiology 2 (4)
PSY 300: Critical Thinking and Writing in Psychology (2)
PSY elective (4 credits)

Year Three Fall (16 semester hours)
Year Three Spring (16 semester hours + 4 summer)
PSY 401: Abnormal Psychology (4)
Intellectual Perspective Elective (HC,VP,QR,FL or RPT)
Cluster course that satisfies one IP requirement (HC,VP,QR,FL, or RPT) (8)
PSY 301: Assessment with lab (4)
PSY 600: Senior Psychology Scholarship Experience (4)
PSY 225: Developmental Psychology (4)
PSY elective (4)
PSY 590: Internship (summer; 4)
Total Semester Hours: 101

 

For More Information


Please contact the Chair of the Department of Psychology, Dr. Deanne Buffalari.

Deanne BuffalariTennant

Associate Professor
Deanne BuffalariTennant