Pre-Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy
St. Catherine University offers a limited number of undergraduate students a dual-degree program leading to the Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy. This program is available only to specific majors and contingent on students meeting the MAOT admission requirements.
Qualifying students will complete their undergraduate major in three years. In their fourth year, while still enrolled at the undergraduate level, students will begin taking MAOT courses to earn their Bachelor's degree. In their fifth year, students will complete the MAOT program while enrolled as graduate students.
If students wish to apply to other OT programs, beyond St. Kate’s, they should not complete the dual degree program. Instead, students should complete a Bachelor’s Degree in a standard major and complete the necessary OT prerequisite courses for the school of their interest. Students should contact the schools of interest to learn about their specific admission requirements.
There are two options for starting the dual degree program at St. Kate's:
- Applying via the Guaranteed Admission Program (GAP) in high school
- Declaring one of the MAOT Dual Degree majors while enrolled at St. Kate’s
Both options will require students to apply to the dual-degree program by their junior year. Please see the next tab for more information about the application process and curriculum for both options.
Guaranteed Admission Program (GAP) - Early Admission for High School Seniors
Apply on/or before February 15 of senior year. Students will receive admission decisions by April 1 of their senior year. Applicants must meet the following requirements for consideration:
- High School Cumulative GPA 3.2 or better on a 4.0 scale.
- Declared a major in one of the following:
- B.A. Applied Science in Communication Studies (pre-MAOT)
- B.S. Applied Science in Exercise Science (pre-MAOT)
- B.S. Applied Science in Psychology (pre-MAOT)
- B.S. Public Health: Public Policy (pre-MAOT)
GAP Pre-OT students who have met all admission and application criteria will be given priority when they apply in their junior year, before other Dual-Degree OT applicants are considered.
GAP students must meet all the admission criteria and submit an additional application (see dual degree process) via the Slate application in their junior year.
Admission Requirements (All Applicants)
To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the following academic requirements:
- Junior status at St. Catherine University (minimum of 60 credits completed)1
- Declared a major in one of the following:
- B.A. Applied Science in Communication Studies (pre-MAOT)
- B.S. Applied Science in Exercise Science (pre-MAOT)
- B.S. Applied Science in Psychology (pre-MAOT)
- B.S. Public Health: Public Policy (pre-MAOT)
- Grade Expectations:
- An undergraduate cumulative grade-point average (G.P.A.) of 3.2 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
- Applicants with a cumulative GPA of 3.0-3.19 and a prerequisite GPA of 3.2 or higher may petition to be considered for the graduate program. Students will complete this petition during the application by uploading an essay saying why they should still be considered.
- An undergraduate cumulative grade-point average (G.P.A.) of 3.2 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
- Prerequisite coursework GPA of 3.2 or higher on a 4.0 scale
- The prerequisites will appear differently on a student's degree evaluation (in major courses or major supporting requirements). Please see the list of prerequisites underneath the curriculum section.
- Grade of C or higher (Pass/Fail or S/U grading is not acceptable) in all prerequisite courses
- No more than one prereq course may be repeated, and it may be repeated only once.
- If two or more prerequisite courses have a grade below C, the student is ineligible for admission to the entry-level OT graduate program
- Must have completed five out of the eight pre-requisite courses at the time of application., including at least two from the sciences (A&P, stats, etc). All prerequisite courses must be completed before enrollment in the MAOT program
- AP Scores accepted for General Psychology & Statistics. Applicants must submit College Board scores directly to St. Kate's.
1Students who have earned 90+ credits when they are ready to apply for a dual degree program will need to petition the Graduate Admissions Office prior to applying to the dual degree program. To complete the senior petition, the following steps must be completed in order:
- Meet with your academic advisor or TRIO Success Coach to create a graduation plan for both a dual-degree major and a non-dual degree undergraduate major
- Meet with your Financial Aid counselor to review the plans created with your advisor and discuss any financial implications
- Write an explanatory statement (maximum 500 words) explaining why you should still be considered for admission to the dual degree program
- Email the Graduate Admissions Office (graduateadmissions@stkate.edu) your explanatory statement and degree plans
To be considered for admission, applicants must meet the following application requirements:
- Submission of admissions application
- The final deadline for applications is October 1st of a student's junior year
- Admissions decissions will be sent out by the end of December that same year
- If a student is accepted, they will begin their first year of graduate classes (the dual degree year) the following fall, during their senior year.
- For example, if a student applies by October 1st, 2026, they will start the program in Summer 2027 and take a year's worth of graduate classes, provided they are accepted.
- No GRE required
- Volunteer Hours - 50 cumulative hours in two or more settings serving vulnerable, disabled, or disadvantaged individuals or populations, and that address health, rehabilitation, disability, quality of life, and/or community issues.
- Submit Admission Essay
- The admission essay should be no more than 2,000 words in length. The admission committee considers both the quality of content and written communication skills. The admission essay should address the following topics:
- Topic 1 (maximum 1500 words): Address why you selected OT as a career and how an occupational therapy degree relates to your immediate and long-term professional goals. Describe how your personal, educational, and professional background will help you achieve your goals.
- Topic 2 (maximum 500 words): Tell us how your personal qualities, experiences, and values relate to the Henrietta Schmoll School of Health's mission: "The Henrietta Schmoll School of Health educates diverse learners and engages clinical and community partners to influence health, health systems, and health policy. The School is distinguished by an emphasis on relationship-centered care, socially responsible leadership, and interdisciplinary initiatives
- All applicants with a cumulative GPA between 3.0 and 3.19 and a prerequisite GPA of 3.2 or higher must also include an explanatory statement in their application
- Please include an explanation of factors that affected previous academic performance, as well as your plan to ensure academic success in a graduate program.
- This statement should be limited to 400 words and is in addition to the personal statement described above.
- Submit Resume
- Should highlight both work and volunteer experiences (including the requirements in the section above) and leadership roles. The résumé should also include the student's education, honors and awards, skills, and activities related to their professional and volunteer experience. Please include the following:
- Facility name and location
- Type of work or volunteer setting
- Position title
- Supervisor
- Phone number
- Dates of employment and estimated hours
- Five primary responsibilities and the percentage of time devoted to each
- Type of clients (age range, disabilities, diversity of background)
- Should highlight both work and volunteer experiences (including the requirements in the section above) and leadership roles. The résumé should also include the student's education, honors and awards, skills, and activities related to their professional and volunteer experience. Please include the following:
- Provide three recommendations
- One must be a recommendation from a supervisor in a work, internship, or volunteer setting
- The two remaining recommendations must be from academic reference (professor, advisor, etc.)
- Students will provide the contact information of their recommenders, who will then be contacted to submit their letters
- Submit transcripts
- The Office of Graduate Admission will access a current copy of the applicant's St. Catherine transcript via the Registrar Office; students do not need to order their St. Catherine University transcript to be sent to St. Catherine University
- Please submit any other transcripts that are not currently on file with the university; if students are unsure if a transcript is on file, they may contact their admissions counselor for clarification
- All transcripts must be up to date and include your name, name of the institution, and all courses taken with grades and degrees received (if applicable)
- Electronic transcripts must be sent directly from the issuing college or university to St. Kate's (at graduateadmission@stkate.edu) to be considered official
- Paper transcripts must be mailed in a sealed envelope directly from the registrar of each institution to the Office of Graduate Admission at St. Catherine University (address below)
Once you’ve submitted your online application form, you will have access to your Application Status page to upload any supporting documents (instructions for accessing the status page are emailed at the time you applied). If you are unable to upload electronic documents to your Application Status page, you may send items as an attachment via email to graduateadmission@stkate.edu. Paper documents may be mailed to:
St. Catherine University
Graduate Admission #4027
2004 Randolph Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55105
It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that their application is completed by the deadline. The Admission Committee will not review your application until we have received all required documents. Fulfillment of the admission requirements does not guarantee admission to the program. No credentials will be returned to the applicant.
Before starting the MAOT program, students must complete 88 credits including ALL requirements noted here: all MAOT prerequisites, liberal arts core requirements, and significant coursework in the major field of study. The curriculum listed below indicates the undergraduate coursework a student must complete by the end of their junior year.
Students who are admitted into the MAOT program will take graduate level coursework in their senior year, which will count towards their undergraduate and graduate program requirements.
Students will be awarded their Bachelor's Degree at the end of their senior year after completing their year of graduate classes.
Students are encouraged to work with Academic Advising and the Financial Aid Office when planning for their senior year to ensure their eligibility for financial aid.
After completing their Bachelor degree, students will complete any remaining graduate level courses to earn their Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy (MAOT) degree.
See the end of this section for the list of courses taken in fifth year.
**Students not admitted to the graduate program or who become ineligible to apply will instead complete a Bachelor's Degrees in their respective majors: B.A. in Communication Studies, B.A. in Psychology, B.S. in Exercise Science, or B.S. in Public Health: Public Policy.**
Courses Required for Admission to MAOT Program:
| Area | Requirement | Semester Credits | SCU Courses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biology | Human Anatomy w/Lab | 3-4 | BIOL 2610, BIOL 2400 |
| Biology | Human Physiology w/Lab | 3-4 | BIOL 2620, BIOL 2410 |
| Psychology | General Psychology | 3-4 | PSYC 1000, PSYC 1001 |
| Psychology | Lifespan Development Psychology | 3-4 | PSYC 2025, PSYC 2020 |
| Psychology | Abnormal Psychology | 3-4 | PSYC 3010 |
| Sociology | Introduction to Sociology or Anthropology | 3-4 | SOCI 1000, SOCI 2300, SOCI 3250 |
| Health | Medical Terminology | 1-3 | IPE 1020, IPE 1030, INDI 2220 |
| Mathematics | Statistics | 3-4 | STAT 1090, PSYC 1090, HLTH 1090, ECON 1090 |
Communication Studies
This dual-degree major is available only in the College for Women only.
Students who do not gain entry into the MAOT program after their junior year will have satisfied the requirements for the Communication Studies major, but may need additional credits to earn a B.A. degree
Required Prerequisite Courses (pre-MAOT)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 2610 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab | 4 |
| BIOL 2620 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab | 4 |
| IPE 1020 | Medical Terminology | 1 |
| or IPE 1030 | Healthcare Teams Foundations and Medical Terminology | |
| PSYC 1001/1000 | General Psychology with Lab | 4 |
| PSYC 2025/2020 | Lifespan Developmental Psychology | 4 |
| PSYC 3010 | Understanding Psychological Disorders | 4 |
| SOCI 1000 | Principles and Concepts of Sociology | 4 |
| or SOCI 2300 | Sociology of Health and Medicine | |
| or SOCI 3250 | Cultural Anthropology | |
| STAT 1090 | Statistical Analysis | 4 |
| or HLTH 1090 | Biostatistics | |
| or ECON 1090 | Statistical Analysis for Decision Making | |
| or PSYC 1090 | Statistical Methods in Psychology | |
| Total Credits | 29 | |
Communication Studies Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COMM 1000W | Communication Strategies for Social Justice | 4 |
| COMM 1030 | Speaking to Lead and Influence | 4 |
| COMM 2050 | Media, Culture and Society | 4 |
| COMM 3070W | Gender and Rhetoric | 4 |
| COMM 3100 | Communicating across Cultures, Identities and Differences | 4 |
| COMM 4600 | Leadership and the Art of Persuasion | 4 |
| COMM 4850 | Senior Seminar | 4 |
| One additional 4000-level COMM course | 4 | |
| Total Credits | 32 | |
Exercise and Sports Science
This major is available in the College for Women only.
Students who do not gain entry into the MAOT program after their junior year complete the remaining course requirements for the B.S. in Exercise and Sport Science.
Required Prerequisite Courses (pre-MAOT)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 2610 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab | 4 |
| BIOL 2620 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab | 4 |
| IPE 1020 | Medical Terminology | 1 |
| or IPE 1030 | Healthcare Teams Foundations and Medical Terminology | |
| PSYC 1001/1000 | General Psychology with Lab | 4 |
| PSYC 2025/2020 | Lifespan Developmental Psychology | 4 |
| PSYC 3010 | Understanding Psychological Disorders | 4 |
| SOCI 1000 | Principles and Concepts of Sociology | 4 |
| or SOCI 2300 | Sociology of Health and Medicine | |
| or SOCI 3250 | Cultural Anthropology | |
| STAT 1090 | Statistical Analysis | 4 |
| or HLTH 1090 | Biostatistics | |
| or ECON 1090 | Statistical Analysis for Decision Making | |
| or PSYC 1090 | Statistical Methods in Psychology | |
| Total Credits | 29 | |
Exercise and Sports Science Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EXSS 2660 | Introduction to Exercise and Sport Science | 4 |
| EXSS 2800W | Introduction to Research Methods in Exercise Science | 4 |
| EXSS 3200 | Health Behavior Psychology | 4 |
| EXSS 3350 | Kinesiology and Biomechanics with Lab | 4 |
| EXSS 3450 | Exercise Physiology with Lab | 4 |
| EXSS 3550 | Exercise Testing and Prescription with Lab | 4 |
| EXSS 3615 | Motor Learning and Motor Control | 4 |
| EXSS 3750 | Care and Prevention of Athletic Injuries | 2 |
| IPE 4200W | Healthcare Teams - Evidence-Based Practice | 4 |
| Total Credits | 34 | |
PSYCHOLOGY
This dual degree major is available in the College for Women only.
Students who do not gain entry into the MAOT program after their junior year complete the remaining course requirements for the B.A. in Psychology.
Required Prerequisite Courses (pre-MAOT)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 2610 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab | 4 |
| BIOL 2620 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab | 4 |
| IPE 1020 | Medical Terminology | 1 |
| or IPE 1030 | Healthcare Teams Foundations and Medical Terminology | |
| SOCI 1000 | Principles and Concepts of Sociology | 4 |
| or SOCI 2300 | Sociology of Health and Medicine | |
| or SOCI 3250 | Cultural Anthropology | |
| Total Credits | 13 | |
Psychology Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSYC 1001/1000 | General Psychology with Lab 1 | 4 |
| PSYC 1090 | Statistical Methods in Psychology 1 | 4 |
| PSYC 2025/2020 | Lifespan Developmental Psychology 1 | 4 |
| PSYC 3000 | Research Methods in Psychology | 4 |
| PSYC 3010 | Understanding Psychological Disorders 1 | 4 |
| PSYC 4220W | History and Systems | 4 |
| 3000 or 4000 level PSYC Elective | 4 | |
| Total Credits | 28 | |
- 1
Also meets a prerequisite requirement for the MAOT program.
Public Health: Public Policy
This dual degree major is available in the College for Women and the College for Adults.
Students who do not gain entry into the MAOT program after their junior year complete the remaining course requirements for the B.S. in Public Health: Public Policy
Required Prerequisite Courses (pre-MAOT)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIOL 2610 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab 1 | 4 |
| or BIOL 2400 | General Anatomy and Physiology with Lab | |
| BIOL 2620 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab | 4 |
| or BIOL 2410 | Advanced Anatomy and Physiology with Lab | |
| IPE 1020 | Medical Terminology | 1-2 |
| or IPE 1030 | Healthcare Teams Foundations and Medical Terminology | |
| PSYC 1001 | General Psychology with Lab | 4 |
| or PSYC 1000 | General Psychology | |
| SOCI 1000 | Principles and Concepts of Sociology 1 | 4 |
| or SOCI 2300 | Sociology of Health and Medicine | |
| or SOCI 3250 | Cultural Anthropology | |
| Total Credits | 17-18 | |
Public Health: Public Policy courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Public Health Core and Concentration Courses | ||
| HLTH 1090 | Biostatistics 2 | 4 |
| HLTH 2050 | Foundations in Public Health | 4 |
| HLTH 3150 | Epidemiology | 4 |
| HLTH 3220 | Health Communications | 4 |
| HLTH 3350 | Environmental Health | 4 |
| HLTH 3500 | Public Health Biology | 4 |
| HLTH 4700 | Practicum Preparation | 2 |
| HLTH 4754 | Practicum | 4 |
| HLTH 4800W | Senior Seminar in Public Health | 4 |
| MGMT 3850 | Healthcare Policy | 4 |
| or ECON 3250 | Healthcare Economics | |
| PSYC 2020/2025 | Lifespan Developmental Psychology | 4 |
| PSYC 3010 | Understanding Psychological Disorders 2 | 4 |
| One course related to the legal, economic and communication dimensions of health | 4 | |
| Total Credits | 50 | |
- 1
Also satisfies requirement for Public Health: Public Policy major
- 2
Also meets prerequisite requirement for MAOT program.
GRADUATE COURSES TAKEN DURING SENIOR YEAR
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| OCTH 5010 | Human Occupation | 3 |
| OCTH 5200 | Mental and Behavioral Health | 3 |
| OCTH 5410 | Children, Adolescents, and Families | 3 |
| OCTH 5500 | Neuroscience | 3 |
| OCTH 5600 | Kinesiology for Rehabilitation | 3 |
| OCTH 6000 | Foundational Skills for Occupational Therapy Practice | 3 |
| OCTH 6010 | Seminar A: Entering the Profession | 1 |
| OCTH 6020 | Seminar B and Level I Fieldwork - Psychological and Social Factors Impacting Performance | 1 |
| OCTH 6310 | Evidence Based Practice | 3 |
| or IPE 7000 | Evidence Based Practice: Interprofessional Perspectives and Competencies | |
| OCTH 6410 | Foundations of Research | 3 |
| OCTH 6610 | Rehabilitation Concepts | 3 |
| OCTH 6700 | Older Adults in Context | 3 |
| Total Credits | 32 | |
GRADUATE COURSES TAKEN AFTER BACEHLOR'S DEGREE
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| OCTH 5210 | Mental and Behavioral Health: The OT Process | 3 |
| OCTH 5450 | Children, Adolescents, and Families: The OT Process | 3 |
| OCTH 5560 | Participation and Technology | 3 |
| OCTH 6030 | Seminar C and Level I Fieldwork Practice Reflection | 1 |
| OCTH 6040 | Seminar D: Readiness for Level II Fieldwork | 1 |
| OCTH 6045 | Community and Advocacy | 3 |
| OCTH 6060 | Physical Assessment and Intervention Planning | 3 |
| OCTH 6615 | Rehabilitation Practices | 3 |
| OCTH 6620 | Ethical Management | 3 |
| OCTH 6710 | Older Adults - The OT Process | 3 |
| OCTH 7000 | Master's Project Seminar | 1 |
| OCTH 7500 | Master's Project | 3 |
| OCTH 7700 | Level II Fieldwork | 5 |
| OCTH 7710 | Level II Fieldwork | 5 |
| Total Credits | 40 | |