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Department of Occupational Therapy
College of Health and Human Sciences

Occupational Therapy Apply to OTD Program

Apply to the Program

Our Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) professional program is a three-year graduate training program designed for students who have undergraduate degrees in any discipline. This doctoral degree prepares graduates to become practicing occupational therapists in a variety of settings. The OTD is a cohort-based program, with new students beginning once per year at the end of May.

CSU-OT follows a comprehensive review admissions model. Comprehensive review refers to University mission-aligned selection processes that take into consideration the applicants’ experiences, attributes, and academic metrics as well as the value an applicant would contribute to learning, practice, and teaching (CSU Comprehensive Graduate Review Guide).

CSU’s Principles of Community

CSU OT considers the following comprehensive review criteria:

  • Cumulative GPA
  • GPA in prerequisite courses
  • Number of credits completed in prerequisite courses
  • Personal Statement (submitted to OTCAS)
  • Resume (submitted to OTCAS)
  • Experience observing Occupational Therapy
  • Three Recommendations (submitted to OTCAS)
  • Short answer responses to CSU-specific prompts

The review process consists of calculating an admissions score for each applicant based on the factors identified above and then ranking applicants based on these scores.

CSU OT does NOT consider the following:

  • GRE scores or other academic testing
  • Interviews

*Applicants’ references and personal statements submitted through OTCAS may be considered when making final decisions pertaining to scholarships, graduate teaching assistantships, and graduate research assistantships.

Deadlines and Application Instructions

There are two applications that are required in order for your application to be considered complete: OTCAS (Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service) and the Colorado State University Graduate School Application. Our priority deadline to submit BOTH of these applications as complete is Oct. 15 at 11:59 p.m. MT.

Applicants who submit before the priority deadline will be notified of our decision in mid-November via email to the email address used to complete their CSU Graduate School application. Our final deadline is Dec. 15 at 11:59 p.m. MT, with applicants notified via email in mid-January.

*Please note that applications submitted after the October 15 priority deadline will be reviewed, but may be deferred to the next admissions cycle (Summer 2026) at the Department’s discretion. Applications that are not submitted in full by December 15 are incomplete and will not be considered for admission.

CSU offers options for graduate students to apply for free through institutional fee waivers, program affiliation fee waivers, and free application days. Learn about these options.

Minimum Qualifications

  • All applicants must have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale to be considered for enrollment per the rules established by the Graduate School at Colorado State University.
  • For applicants currently completing their first undergraduate degree, satisfactory completion of that degree must occur prior to summer admission (May 27, 2025) into the doctoral program.
  • For applicants who are still completing prerequisite coursework, satisfactory completion of all coursework must occur prior to beginning summer classes in the doctoral program (May 27, 2025). The minimum acceptable grade for any prerequisite is a C; however, grades of A and B are recommended.

TO SUCCESSFULLY SUBMIT THIS APPLICATION, YOU MUST INCLUDE: Application #1

Application #1: OT Centralized Application Service (OTCAS) 

OTCAS opens for the 2024-2025 admissions cycle on July 19, 2024.

Trouble with OTCAS? Please contact their Technical Support directly here.

Personal Statement

Prompt: In three pages or less, share how your lived experiences (e.g., personal, professional, cultural, etc.) have influenced your interest in pursuing OT.

Resume

This document should include the following information as applicable:

  • Education, other professional training and licenses
  • Complete work history including internships and other major life experiences
  • Research experience
  • Volunteerism
  • Leadership experience
  • Extracurricular activities
  • Honors and awards
  • Diversity, equity, and inclusion
  • Exceptional individual experience or characteristics

Official Transcript(s)

Official transcripts for completed semesters from all institutions are required.
Submission of transcripts:

  • Request official transcripts to be sent only to OTCAS
  • Do not request official transcripts to be sent to Colorado State University or the Department of Occupational Therapy

Transcripts for college-level courses from US and Canadian institutions:

  • Transcripts are required from every institution you have attended even if courses are listed on another transcript of an institution to which you have transferred.
  • Transcripts are required from every institution you have attended even if courses do not apply to prerequisite requirements.
  • College transcripts are required for all college-level courses taken while in high school. The transcript of the credit-granting institution is required.

Transcripts for study abroad US institution coursework:

  • If study abroad courses were sponsored by the institution in the US and the courses with credits and grades are listed on the US transcript, transcripts from the international institution are not required.
  • If courses with credits and grades do not appear on the US transcript, unofficial transcripts are required from the international institution. These unofficial transcripts can be sent to the Department of Occupational Therapy at Colorado State University.

Transcripts for degrees received at international (non-U.S. and non-Canadian) institutions:

  • Course-by-course equivalency report from an international transcript evaluation service must be received by the department by the application deadline date.
  • Official international transcripts are not required to be sent to the department.

Three Recommendations

These can be from former professors or university staff with whom you worked closely, supervisors, or OTs who you may have shadowed. Please do not submit recommendations from friends or family members.

List of Completed and In Progress Prerequisite Coursework

Coursework does not need to be complete by the time you submit your application. In the prerequisite section of OTCAS, you are able to enter coursework that you plan to take in the fall 2024 and spring 2025 semesters. If admitted, all prerequisite coursework must be complete by the time you begin courses in late May 2025. Please see here for more information.

Answers to CSU-specific Short Answer Questions

You will be asked to respond to the following in 3-5 sentences:

  1. What excites you about attending CSU-OT?
  2. Occupational therapists work with people from all backgrounds. How have you prepared yourself to work with such a varied range of clients?

Explanation of any OT Shadow Experiences

Not required, however, priority is given to those with OT shadowing experiences, especially in more than one setting. OTCAS has a built-in form with space to detail all observation hours. Additional documentation is not required.

Application #2

Application #2: CSU Graduate School Application (Opens for the 2025 Summer semester on August 19, 2024)

Note: Please upload the same personal statement as was submitted to OTCAS

Frequently Asked Questions

Technology Requirements
While computer labs and printers are available on campus, we do require that students have their own personal computers or laptops.

International Students
In addition to the materials listed above, we also require proof of English proficiency. You can read more about what is required here.

OTCAS Verification
OTCAS application does not need to be verified by the October 15 deadline; however, the application and fee must be submitted by this date for priority review. See above for other required application materials.

GRE
The GRE is not required and will not be used in the application review process.

Interviews
We do not have interviews.

Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory or Pass/Fail Coursework Related to COVID-19
Courses marked Satisfactory or Pass will be allowed for all coursework taken during 2020-21 (spring, summer, and fall semesters), including prerequisites. Applicants will identify prerequisite courses marked Satisfactory or Pass on the CSU-OT Departmental Application. These will be reviewed to ensure that courses otherwise meet CSU prerequisite standards. Applicants are reminded that admission to the program remains competitive and considers GPA. Applicants are encouraged to weigh the benefits and risks of taking Satisfactory or Pass marks instead of letter grades. The impact will be different for each individual applicant.