Prerequisites
As a student, courses in your first year will build upon your prerequisite knowledge. It is important that you feel competent with the following content areas when you begin the program.
If you have any questions on whether a course you have taken (or plan to take) will fulfill a particular requirement, contact Jill Rocca in admissions. Please include the course title and description for approval.
Prerequisite Requirements
- Prerequisites must be completed within 5 years of completing your degree or 5 years post taking the course if you took it as a stand-alone course. For example, if you took Human Development your freshman year in college, the course is still valid for 5 years from the date of your graduation.
- Courses need to be completed prior to enrollment, but not necessarily prior to application. Applicants may take courses during the application year.
- Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Tufts University Department of Occupational Therapy will continue to accept on-line pre-requisite courses through June 2022. After this date, the Department will only accept in-person pre-requisite courses. Please contact Jill Rocca if you have any questions.
- All prerequisites must be passed with a grade of B- or above.
- All prerequisite courses must be completed at an accredited college or university. We do not have a policy prohibiting applicants from taking prerequisite courses at community colleges, although, in general, an application will be more competitive if the prerequisite courses are taken in a traditional classroom format at a selective four-year school.
- We do not accept AP credit to meet prerequisite requirements.
Entry Level OTD Prerequisites
Human Cell Biology
One course in human cell based biology or you can substitute with human anatomy. At least one of your science prerequisites must contain a lab.
Physiology
One course in human physiology. When anatomy and physiology are taken as a combined course, (A&P I and II) you must be take both courses to fulfill our physiology prerequisites. At least one of your science prerequisites must contain a lab.
Human Development
One course in human/lifespan development. Child development or developmental psych may also be acceptable.
Abnormal Psychology
One course in abnormal psychology or psychopathology.
General Social Science
One general course in the area of psychology, sociology, anthropology
Statistics
One course in introductory statistics.
Post-professional Master's Prerequisites
Statistics
One course in introductory statistics
Post-professional OTD Prerequisites
Statistics
One course in introductory statistics
Research Methods
One course in graduate level research methods