Rockhurst University + Missouri Western State University

The partnership between Rockhurst University and Missouri Western State University is designed to offer exceptional Missouri Western State students automatic acceptance into the following Rockhurst programs within Saint Luke's College of Nursing and Health Sciences:

Doctor of Occupational Therapy

Doctor of Physical Therapy

Doctor of Occupational Therapy

Two Missouri Western State students with outstanding academic qualifications will be automatically accepted into the occupational therapy program at Rockhurst University per year. Students who do not meet the requirements for automatic admission, or those who are not selected among to fill the two allotted slots, will be reviewed under RU’s standard admission process. Students will begin the occupational therapy program upon completion of their bachelor’s degree.

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Requirements​

• Complete an undergraduate degree from Missouri Western State University prior to the desired summer of admission.
• Earn a GPA of at least 3.5 each semester (on a 4.0 scale).
• Earn a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 from all coursework and natural science GPA of at least 3.5 (i.e., biology, chemistry, physics).
• Submit application for the OTD program through OTCAS no later than Sept. 1 of their senior year.
• Complete all pre-requisite coursework and have grades submitted to OTCAS no later than Dec. 25 of the year preceding the desired summer of admission to allow adequate time for OTCAS to verify transcripts.
• Receive three favorable letters of recommendation as part of the OTCAS application.
• Sucessfully complete an interview as part of the application process.
• Maintain a 3.5 GPA each semester and maintain a 3.5 science and cumulative GPA through the end of their senior year.
• Important note: MWSU BIO 250 – Anatomy and Physiology (5 credit hours) and PED 304 – Physiology of Exercise (3 credit hours) will satisfy RU’s Master of Occupational Therapy anatomy and physiology requirements.

Doctor of Physical Therapy

Two Missouri Western State students who meet application criteria will be pre-admitted into the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Rockhurst University per year. Students who do not meet the requirements for automatic admission will be reviewed under Rockhurst’s standard admission process. Students will begin Rockhurst University’s physical therapy doctorate program upon completion of a bachelor’s degree prior to their desired summer of admission.

Doctor of Physical Therapy Requirements

• Complete an undergraduate degree from Missouri Western State University prior to the desired summer of admission.
• Earn a 3.5 GPA in all pre-requisite and all science pre-requisite courses as needed for admission into the Rockhurst University physical therapy program (on a 4.0 scale).
• Earn a cumulative GPA of 3.5.
• Submit application for the DPT program to PTCAS no later than Sept. 1 of the year preceding the desired summer of admission
• Receive three favorable letters of recommendation as part of the PTCAS application.
• Sucessfully complete an interview as part of the application process.
• Complete all pre-requisite coursework and have grades submitted to PTCAS no later than Dec. 25 of the year preceding the desired summer of admission to allow adequate time for PTCAS to verify transcripts.
• Maintain a 3.5 GPA each semester, including science prerequisite and prerequisite coursework, and maintain a 3.5 cumulative GPA through the end of their senior year.
• Important note: MWSU BIO 250 – Anatomy and Physiology (5 credit hours) and PED 304 – Pathophysiology or Cardiophysiology (3 credit hours) will satisfy RU’s Doctor of Physical Therapy anatomy and physiology requirements.