3+3 Information

Trine University OTD Program

Trine University's OTD program focuses on providing equal opportunities to all undergraduate students seeking a career that offers a wide range of practice settings. A few examples of where OTs can specialize include school-based services, behavioral health, intensive care units and beyond.

The OTD program was specifically designed to recruit and provide a curriculum that will equal the field for all students. The curriculum uses a spiral model and provides opportunities for students to gain exposure to content, explore the implications of real-world practice, and demonstrate mastery. Faculty are prepared to offer learner-based instruction and provide hands-on multimodal educational experiences.

3+3 Admission Requirements- High School Students

Candidates must meet the OTD Direct Entry Program requirements to complete the application. Applicants will have the opportunity to select a pathway that aligns with their areas of interest. OTD pathways include Exercise Science, Applied Health Science, Education Studies or Psychology.

High school transcript showing a minimum of a 3.0 GPA (4.0 scale)
Minimum ACT composite of 17 or SAT (R+M) 970
- ACT or SAT submission can be waived if a student has a 3.5 GPA
- Test optional students can be considered for direct entry.
Candidates will be required to complete a personal essay explaining why the student wants to pursue a career in occupational therapy. The submission must summarize lessons learned from personal life experiences or interactions/observations with healthcare professionals.
Candidates will be contacted for an interview with Trine University by a member of the OTD faculty.
At the end of the candidate’s sophomore year at Trine, the candidate will submit evidence of preparation to the OTD program. Candidates will reflect on completed undergraduate courses to rate readiness in four category areas. Submitted courses must have a 3.0 or higher course grade.
Professional writing
Human nature
Research, statistics, medical terminology
Behavioral sciences

The OTD Program cannot accept students until notified by ACOTE in December 2024/January 2025. Once an admission decision is communicated, the applicant will receive a packet with a formal letter of admission and a letter of intent. After signing and dating the letter of intent, please return it to Trine with the enrollment deposit.

Once accepted to Trine University, a candidate will complete the application for Direct Entry into the OTD program and agree to technical standards. A 3+3 direct entry student must maintain a 3.0 GPA during their undergraduate studies.

Ongoing advising will be completed with a member of the OTD team member each semester to ensure continued progress toward 3+3 admission.

3+3 Admission Requirements- Existing Students

Existing students must complete an application for 3+3 entry for one of the three existing pathways (Exercise Science, Applied Health Science or Psychology).

High school transcript (freshman) or current transcript (sophomores and juniors) showing a minimum of a 3.0 GPA
Candidates will be required to complete a personal essay explaining why the student wants to pursue a career in occupational therapy. The submission must summarize lessons learned or insights from personal life experiences or interactions/observations with healthcare professionals.
Candidates will be contacted for an interview with Trine University by a member of the OTD faculty.
Evidence of Preparation: Reflect on undergraduate courses to rate readiness in four category areas to ensure preparation for an entry-level OTD program. Applicants must select and submit at least one course from their transcript that applies to each category below. The applicant will rate their understanding of each area using a five-point Likert scale for submitted courses and provide a description addressing how the selected courses relate to occupational therapy and career goals. Submitted courses must have a 3.0 or higher course grade.
Professional writing
Human nature
Research, statistics, medical terminology
Behavioral sciences

By signing the letter of intent, the candidate acknowledges agreement to adhere to the technical standards of the pathway. A 3+3 direct entry student must maintain a 3.0 GPA during their undergraduate studies.

Ongoing advising will be completed with a member of the OTD team each semester to ensure continued progress toward 3+3 admission.

Accreditation Status

The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program has applied for accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Ave, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-6611 and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. The program must be granted Candidacy Status, have a pre-accreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. Students must complete 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork as well as an individual 14-week capstone experience following the completion of the didactic portion of the program.