Admission Requirements
A bachelor's degree is required to apply to the Master of Science in Prosthetics and Orthotics program. No specific major is mandated; however, the degree should include a well-rounded general education with a distribution of courses in the sciences, mathematics, psychology, social sciences and humanities. The curriculum of study for MSPO Program is based upon an undergraduate education that provides a strong foundation in knowledge, skills and abilities required for the field. Please note, the GRE is no longer required for admission. Any received scores will be discarded and not used in application scoring.
New for for the 2024-2025 Cycle
Verified applications will be reviewed and scored on a rolling basis as they are received. Offer letters will be sent as verified applicants are reviewed and scored. Applicants are encouraged to submit their application early and remain in contact with questions as they arise.
Prerequisites
- Physics with lab, 4 credits
- Biology with lab, 4 credits
- Chemistry with lab, 4 credits
- Psychology (Abnormal or Human Growth & Development), 3 credits
- Mathematics (Algebra or higher), 3 credits
- Human anatomy, 3 credits
- Human physiology, 3 credits
- Statistics, 3 credits
Prerequisite Self-Assessment
Use the rubric below to identify the prerequisites that must be successfully completed to be considered eligible for entry into the Pitt Prosthetics and Orthotics program. The rubric should also be used as a resource to identify suggested courses that would fulfill the requirement of a given prerequisite.
Button for worksheet attached
Experience and Shadowing Hours
The submission of a CPO recommendation letter can serve as your shadowing record. However, if you shadow at multiple sites or are looking for tools to track, document, report, here are some examples and resources.
- Verification Letter for Shadowing Supervisor - PDF Download
- Shadowing Hour Log (Personal Use) - PDF Download
- Please note completing and submitting these logs is not a requirement.
Application Procedures
Application Deadline: December 1, 2024. Application cycle opens July 18.
All applicants must:
- Complete the online OPCAS application.
- Have a minimum GPA of 3.0 (based on 4.0) in all college-level courses, as well as a 3.0 in prerequisite coursework. Applicants with less than a 3.0 but with other outstanding qualifications will be considered.
- Demonstrate adequate exposure to the profession of Orthotics and/or Prosthetics through volunteer or work experience. We recommend a minimum of 250 observation hours in order to satisfy this requirement. This will also allow for the practitioner to write a sufficient letter of recommendation.
- Submit three letters of recommendation:
- 1 Certified Prosthetist/Orthotist
- 1 Academic
- 1 Employer-based
- Submit an essay describing why you are interested in this profession and your long-term goals.
- Provide official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
- Additional requirements for International applicants
- A course by course evaluation with GPA conversation for all higher level institutions attended outside the US. The evaluation may be from World Education Services (WES), Inc. or Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE).
- Request official English Language Proficiency test scores be sent to the University of Pittsburgh from one of the following options. Minimum scores accepted and instructions for sending official test scores follow:
- Duolingo English Test: 115. Scores should be made available electronically to “University of Pittsburgh – School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences”
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS): 6.5. Scores should be made available electronically to “University of Pittsburgh Health and Rehabilitation Sciences”
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): 80. Scores should be submitted electronically through ETS to institution code "2927".