Â鶹ÒùÔº

Admission Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution or completion of undergraduate requirements for the Integrated Degree Program (IDP) before classes begin
• Minimum overall GPA of 3.0
• Minimum prerequisite GPA of 3.0
  • Grades below C are not accepted for prerequisites
  • Prerequisite courses must be completed within 10 years of the program start date
  • “Pass” or “Satisfactory” grades are accepted only for Spring 2020 coursework and do not affect GPA

Prerequisite Courses

All prerequisites must be completed at a minimum of 3 credits (or equivalent with lab as noted):

• Human Anatomy w/ Lab OR Anatomy & Physiology I with Lab (4 credits)
  • May be 3-credit course + 1-credit lab if taken separately
• Human Physiology w/ Lab OR Anatomy & Physiology II with Lab (4 credits)
  • May be 3-credit course + 1-credit lab if taken separately
• Abnormal Psychology or Psychopathology (3 credits)
  • General or developmental psychology is not acceptable.
• Developmental Psychology or Lifespan Development (3 credits)
  • A combination of courses is acceptable if, together, they cover the full lifespan from birth to death (e.g., childhood development + adult/aging development courses)
• Research Methods or Statistics (3 credits)

Application Materials

To be considered for admission, submit the following through OTCAS:

• A completed application
• Official transcripts from all institutions attended
• Two professional letters of recommendation (e.g., faculty, advisors, OT supervisors, or work/volunteer supervisors)
• Completion of at least 3 of the 5 prerequisite courses at the time of application
• Personal statement responding to the OTCAS prompt
• Supporting Information section completed in OTCAS with all relevant experiences (leadership, employment, volunteer work, service, research, advocacy, caregiving, etc.)

The program uses a holistic admissions process, meaning we consider your experiences, attributes, and skills, in addition to your academic performance, to make admission decisions.

Important Dates—Fall 2027 Admission

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. OTCAS verification begins once your application is submitted and all transcripts are received. Early submission is strongly encouraged.

Recommended submission date: On or before October 1, 2026

Priority Interview Dates:

• September 10, 2026 (Virtual)
• October 2, 2026 (On Campus)
• November 7, 2026 (On Campus)

Additional virtual interview dates may be offered after priority rounds.

Final Application Deadline: June 19, 2027 (space-available basis)

Interviews are by invitation and offered after application completion.

Program Interview

A required 30-minute interview with faculty and/or program alumni will be scheduled for applicants who meet the initial review criteria once their application is complete.

The interview is a great opportunity for us to get to know you beyond your application and for you to learn more about our program. It will be a relaxed conversation guided by about five questions, and you’ll also have time to ask some questions you have about the program, student experience, or anything else that’s important to you.

To help keep the process fair and consistent, interviewers will not review your application beforehand. This means you’ll have the opportunity to highlight the experiences, strengths, and goals you feel are most important during the conversation. We know interviews can sometimes feel stressful, but our goal is simply to get to know you. Most students find it feels more like a conversation than a formal interview.

In addition to the 30-minute interview, most interview sessions also include time to connect with the program director in a small-group setting and to meet current students. This is a great opportunity to hear firsthand about the student experience and ask them additional questions about the program.

The full interview experience typically lasts 1–2 hours, depending on the number of applicants scheduled that day. To help you feel prepared, the first question we’ll ask is:
“What motivates you, and how have these motivators influenced your desire to become an occupational therapist?” Starting with this question helps you ease into the conversation.

Remember, there are no “right” or “wrong” answers. We’re most interested in learning about your story, your interest in occupational therapy, and the unique strengths and perspectives you would bring to the profession and to Chatham’s program.

Additional Information

• Chatham University reserves the right to request a background check prior to admission.
• Advanced placement, transfer of credit, or experiential learning credit is not available for OT coursework due to the integrated and sequential nature of the program curriculum.
• Chatham undergraduate Integrated Degree Program (IDP) students must follow the requirements outlined in the and work closely with their academic advisor to ensure all requirements are met.

Articulation Agreements

Chatham University has articulation agreements with select institutions, offering enhanced advising and, for highly qualified applicants, priority admission status. Current agreements include:

• Baldwin Wallace University
• Grove City College
• Penn State University
• Washington and Jefferson College
• Waynesburg University
• Westminster College

Applicants from these institutions are advised to discuss the articulation requirements with their academic advisor at their home institution and the graduate admission counselor at Chatham University.

International Applicants