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Assured Graduate Pathways
The SHRS Assured Graduate Pathways (SAGP) initiative offers students in select undergraduate majors at the University of Pittsburgh the opportunity for early application review—and in some cases, assured admission—to eligible SHRS graduate programs.
To be considered, students must submit a complete application following the application process for their program of interest. This application should be submitted by the early SAGP deadline if one has been set by the program. Learn more about the qualifying criteria for the participating programs by visiting the pages for their programs.
Doctor of Occupational Therapy Qualifying Criteria
- Complete your undergraduate degree at Pitt in one of these majors:
- SHRS: communication science, emergency medicine, health informatics, nutrition science, rehabilitation science
- Public Health: public health
- Arts & Sciences: psychology
- Achieve a 3.50 or higher overall GPA and a 3.50 or higher GPA in prerequisite courses
- Complete the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Services (OTCAS) application no later than October 1, including all admission requirements (i.e., prerequisite courses, experience hours, references, personal statement).
- Attend a Department of Occupational Therapy Guarantee Information Session at least once to review requirements and progress.
SAGP Application Deadline
October 1
Cap: 20 total
No limit on graduation year (Note: prerequisite coursework must be completed in the last five years).
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I sign up to be considered for the SHRS Assured Graduate Pathway?
No advance sign-up is required for this initiative!
Why am I not assured admission through every program participating in the SAGP?
Some SHRS graduate programs have enrollment limits due to accreditation requirements or restricted availability of clinical placements. To maintain program quality and meet professional training standards, we cap the number of seats available through SAGP. As a result, not all qualified applicants may be assured admission—even within participating programs.
What additional application materials are needed?
No additional materials are required beyond the standard full application (transcripts, essays, recommendation letters, shadowing hours, etc.) for your program of interest. Simply follow the application instructions outlined by the program and be sure to submit all required materials by the SAGP deadline, if one is specified.
Why do some programs require an early application deadline?
Programs with limited enrollment—often due to the availability of clinical placements—may require an early application deadline. This helps ensure that your application is reviewed while there are still seats available.
I am a University of Pittsburgh student on the Greensburg, Johnstown or Bradford campus. Am I eligible for this initiative?
Yes, all Pitt students who meet the criteria are eligible, regardless of the campus they attend. Please share your interest with an enrollment specialist at enroll@shrs.pitt.edu.