Mar 28, 2024  
Undergraduate Bulletin 2010-2012 
    
Undergraduate Bulletin 2010-2012

Occupational Therapy - 3-2 Program


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Rosary College of Arts and Sciences

Occupational therapy is not an undergraduate major. Dominican University has a partnership with Rush University where students earn both a bachelor’s degree from Dominican University and a Master of Science in occupational therapy from Rush University through an accelerated five-year program. This is a competitive, selective program in which only two students from Dominican University per year may be admitted. This program requires that students apply independently for admission to the Rush University OT program.

All application materials must be completed by September of one’s third year at Dominican University. Rush University courses begin in June.

For the Rush University accelerated program, students complete all core curriculum, seminar (with exception of senior seminar), and general education requirements during their first three years at Dominican University. During the third year, students apply to the Rush University occupational therapy program and, when accepted, begin graduate courses at Rush University. These OT courses also satisfy the remainder of the undergraduate requirements at Dominican University. In order to graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Dominican University after four years of study, students will need to have completed 100 semester hours of credit by the end of their junior year at Dominican University.

When the fourth year of study has been completed successfully at Rush University, students are awarded a bachelor’s degree from Dominican University. Subsequent to an additional five quarters at Rush University, students also receive a Master of Science degree in occupational therapy.

Admission Guidelines for the 3-2 program with Rush University:

Additional Requirements:


  • A major in psychology or sociology
  • A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale (average admitted GPA is 3.4)
  • Two psychology electives (courses other than the developmental sequence)
  • Completion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) (taken within the past five years)
  • Experience or familiarity with occupational therapy. Students should complete at least 40 hours of OT observation. Other suggested experiences include volunteer work, clinical experience, fieldwork, internships, or independent study.

If selected as a candidate, the prospective student will be invited for an onsite visit and interview with a member of the Rush University faculty. Additionally, a writing sample will be requested.

It is important to note that student applications are evaluated on the strength of both academic performance and nonacademic performance (i.e. work life, extracurricular activities, and life experience). There are a limited number of students who are admitted into the program each year. Rush University accepts a maximum of two students per year from Dominican University for this accelerated program.

For additional information, contact the director of the Occupational Therapy program at Dominican University.

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Rosary College of Arts and Sciences