Occupational Therapy
The Department of Occupational Therapy (also known as the historic Boston School of Occupational Therapy – founded in 1918) is one of the country's top-ranked programs. Through our education, research, and practice, we promote participation in meaningful activity of individuals, communities and populations with diverse needs and experiences.
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Degree Offerings
- Faculty
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Application Requirements
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Contact the Department
Questions about your application?
Contact us:
Office of Graduate Admissions
Bendetson Hall
Medford, MA 02155
(617) 627-3395
gradadmissions@tufts.edu
M.S. in Occupational Therapy: Entry-level Masters
The entry-level master's degree is designed for applicants who do not have a degree in occupational therapy and want to become occupational therapists. The entry-level master’s program is a two-and-a-half year program and requires full-time residency.
M.S. in Occupational Therapy: Post-professional Masters
The post-professional program (PPM) is designed for registered occupational therapists with a bachelor's degree in OT. This degree can be completed on a full- or part-time basis. This program offers fall or spring start options. International students completing the PPM program must complete the program with full-time residency and have the option of starting in the fall only.
O.T.D.: Occupational Therapy Doctorate
For registered occupational therapists with a master's degree, we offer a post-professional doctoral degree program that can be completed on a full- or part-time basis. This program offers fall or spring start options.
Certificate in Occupational Therapy
The Department of Occupational Therapy also offers certificate programs for students of all levels. The certificate programs can be completed on a full- or part-time basis, and offers fall or spring start options.
Concentrations include:
- Advanced Professional Study
- Hand and Upper Extremity Rehabilitation
- Advanced Study in Pain
Summary of Consumer Information for Certificate Students
Visit the Department of Occupational Therapy for more information, including ACOTE accreditation
Faculty
Application Deadline
Spring: October 15 (Domestics O.T.D. & post-professional M.S. only)
Fall: January 15
Entry-Level Masters:
> Application Fee
> Resume/CV
- Please include shadowing/volunteer hours
> Personal Statement
- Please give your reasons for deciding to do graduate work in the field you have chosen. We are particularly concerned that you cover these points (3 pages maximum):
- What previous experiences and commitments have brought you to consider applying for graduate training?
- What are your chief objectives in applying now?
- How do you think this Tufts program will help you in the pursuit of your objectives and vocation?
> Writing Sample
- The Tufts University Department of Occupational Therapy values diversity in a variety of ways – life experiences, personal identity, meaningful activities, ways of thinking and communicating, and many other human and environmental factors. We strongly believe that the unique backgrounds of our student body helps to enrich the educational experience of our program and the field of Occupational Therapy. Please tell us about an aspect of your background and how you feel this would enrich our program and the field of Occupational Therapy. (2 pages max)
> Official GRE scores
- GRE score are not required for current Tufts undergraduates.
> Official TOEFL or IELTS, if applicable
> Transcripts
> Three Letters of Recommendation
- Only 2 letters of reference are required for current Tufts University undergraduate and certificate students.
> Certificate of Hepatitis B Vaccination
- Please submit to the department directly
> Prerequisites
- All Prerequisites must be passed with a grade of B- or better and taken at an accredited college. Online courses are ONLY accepted for statistics. All other Prerequisites must be taken onsite. We do not accept hybrid courses.
- Abnormal Psychology
- Developmental Psychology or Human Development (will accept a course in the area of Child Development or Life Span Development)
- One additional social science course (this course can be in the area of psychology, anthropology, sociology)
- Two courses in biology, including content in cell biology. (Either A&P I and II, or a semester of Anatomy and a semester of Physiology may be substituted for the Biology prerequisite.) One Biology course must have a lab component.
- One course in introductory statistics.
Post-Professional Masters:
> Application Fee
> Resume/CV
> Personal Statement
- Please give your reasons for deciding to do graduate work in the field you have chosen. We are particularly concerned that you cover these points (3 pages maximum):
- What previous experiences and commitments have brought you to consider applying for graduate training?
- What are your chief objectives in applying now?
- How do you think this Tufts program will help you in the pursuit of your objectives and vocation?
> Writing Sample
- The Tufts University Department of Occupational Therapy values diversity in a variety of ways – life experiences, personal identity, meaningful activities, ways of thinking and communicating, and many other human and environmental factors. We strongly believe that the unique backgrounds of our student body helps to enrich the educational experience of our program and the field of Occupational Therapy. Please tell us about an aspect of your background and how you feel this would enrich our program and the field of Occupational Therapy. (2 pages max)
> Official GRE scores
- GRE scores are not required for current Tufts undergraduates.
> Official TOEFL or IELTS, if applicable
> Transcripts
> Three Letters of Recommendation
> Prerequisites
- One course in introductory statistics. The prerequisite course must be passed with a grade of B- or better and taken at an accredited college
> Certificate of Hepatitis B Vaccination
- Please submit to the department directly
Occupational Therapy Doctorate:
> Application Fee
> Resume/CV
> Personal Statement
- Guidelines for Personal Statement (limit 4 pages double-spaced):
- What are your plans for graduate study as related to your future career as a leader in occupational therapy? Please address your specialty focus.
- The Leadership Project is an important part of the OTD program (see description for 286 Leadership Project Planning). Please indicate your current ideas about your project.
- In what ways do your academic background and recent professional experience point to your potential for success as a doctoral student and as a leader in occupational therapy? Please give specific examples of relevant coursework and/or experience.
- Is there any further information we should consider in assessing your candidacy?
> Official GRE scores
- GRE scores are not required for current or former Tufts students.
> Official TOEFL or IELTS, if applicable
> Transcripts
> Three Letters of Recommendation
- For Tufts Department of Occupational Therapy master's degree alumni and current students or in 2nd semester (post-professional program): Only two letters of reference appraising the candidate's potential for study in the OTD program are required.
> Prerequisites
- One course in Introductory Statistics and one course in graduate-level Research Methods. The prerequisite course must be passed with a grade of B- or better and taken at an accredited college.
> Certificate of Hepatitis B Vaccination
- Please submit to the department directly
Note: NBCOT credentialing before entry in the OTD is strongly recommended. Those not credentialed in occupational therapy at entry will be given provisional acceptance into the OTD Program and NBCOT credentialing must be achieved by the end of the first semester of the program. It is expected that all applicants are licensed or eligible for licensing in the United States.
For questions about this program, including scholarships and assistantships, please contact Jill Rocca, OTD, OTR/L, Occupational Therapy Admissions and Recruitment.
Department of Occupational Therapy
574 Boston Ave.
Medford, MA 02155
Tel: 617.627.6259
Fax: 617.627.3722