Admissions

Incoming first-year students who are interested in coming to UB for OT should apply to UB, and select "Occupational Therapy" as their intended major. First-year students are accepted as public health BS majors in the pre-OT track and spend their first two years completing courses that meet the BS program's general education requirements and occupational science prerequisites.

Some students who apply as first-year students may be offered an opportunity to enroll in our Early Assurance (EA) program. This program allows select high school students the advantage of securing their seat in the OT professional program if they maintain the required GPA during their two years of pre-OT coursework within the public health BS major.

Our Early Assurance (EA) program allows select high school students the advantage of securing a seat in the BS/MS in occupational therapy professional program after completing two years of prerequisite undergraduate course work within the Public Health major at UB.

Admission to the EA program is based on the university’s First-year Admission Criteria. There are no additional high school GPA or SAT/ACT requirements, and no separate application for the EA programs. 

When you apply to UB, select "Occupational Therapy" as your intended major. If you meet the OT EA criteria, you will be contacted by UB's School of Public Health and Health Professions Office of Student Services (OASA) with an EA offer. Apply as early as possible for fullest consideration. Early Admission is offered on a rolling basis until all spots are filled.

• Strong cumulative HS GPA (usually above a 93)
• Evidence of strong science HS grades (usually above a 90)

If you are eligible for the program, you will be notified and required to respond to your offer within two weeks of its receipt. You will receive more information directly if you are eligible.

EA is not the sole route into our BS/MS in occupational therapy professional program, and ineligibility for EA does not imply that you are not qualified for admission.

To best prepare for the pre-OT curriculum, high school students should take math courses and science courses including pre-calculus or calculus, biology, chemistry and physics.

You should have the ability to communicate effectively using both the oral and written English language. Written communication skills will be assessed in a standardized manner.

GPA and prerequisite courses

Academic review will be conducted each semester that you are enrolled. You must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.2 in all prerequisite courses following the end of each of the second, third and fourth semesters (spring of first year, fall and spring of second year) to maintain your status in the EA program.

A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2 in all prerequisite courses is required before you enter the BS/MS in OT professional program.

• All prerequisites are included in the EA GPA, including college courses completed outside UB.
• Complete all prerequisite courses with a grade equal to or greater than C. Repeat grades will not be used in computing the EA GPA.
• Do not resign from any enrolled course. An R grade on your transcript disqualifies you from EA.
• You must submit any grade changes within 10 business days after the university’s first official day of grades posted for the semester.
• Appeals may be considered.

In their sophomore year at UB, regardless of EA status, all pre-OT students who are interested in continuing on the OT track must submit an application to the BS/MS OT professional program through the University at Buffalo Graduate School Application Manager. Applicants must complete all requirements for admission, including volunteer hours.

For questions, please contact sphhp-oasa@buffalo.edu or call (716) 829-5000.

All admissions requirements are subject to revision and review by the OT Professional Program Admissions Committee and may be revised without extensive notice. As a competitive program, admission can be based on the availability of space.

Non-discrimination Policy--UB BS/MS in OT is committed to a nondiscriminatory admission policy and philosophy.

Students who enter UB as a major other than OT can change their major to Public Health Major with Pre-OT track. Courses in the first two years of the BS program meet the general education requirements and occupational science prerequisite courses.

Current UB students interested in changing their major to occupational therapy should fill out the Undergraduate Plan Change Form.

Students can join UB as transfer students from other institutions by indicating “occupational therapy” on their application. If accepted, these students would be enrolled in the Public Health BS major in the pre-OT track. Courses completed at other colleges or universities are not automatically accepted by the program or University as fulfilling the prerequisite requirements. Determination is made by an evaluation of the student's transcripts, descriptions of courses that he/she has taken, and credit hours completed.

It is recommended that prospective transfer students contact the SPHHP Office for Academic and Student Affairs (OASA) at 716-829-5000 or by email at sphhp-oasa@buffalo.edu to determine the suitability of prior coursework.

Students can join the BS/MS program for a subsequent BS degree and an MS degree. You do not need to retake UB bachelor’s curriculum for a subsequent degree!  Once you have completed all prerequisites, and have been accepted to both the University and the OT professional program, you will complete three years of the OT professional program. The first year will be an undergraduate year and will be charged at the undergraduate tuition rate.  The last two years will be graduate years and will be charged at the graduate tuition rate. You will earn a BS in occupational science and an MS in occupational therapy.

Coming to UBOT for a subsequent degree ensures you will have a comprehensive occupational therapy education, will be well-prepared for a variety of settings, will be learning from instructors in one of the top three OT programs in NY State, and will have a lower total cost of tuition than most other programs.

Please contact the SPHHP Office for Academic and Student Affairs (OASA) at 716-829-5000 or by email at sphhp-oasa@buffalo.edu to determine which of your previous courses satisfy UBOT prerequisites and make arrangements to complete any additional work and apply to the program.