Application Information
Thank you for your interest in the MSPO Program at Alabama State University!
At ASU, we value diversity, and this includes unique experiences and education. There are no strict requirements for specific undergraduate degrees in preparation for prosthetics and orthotics. Student and graduate backgrounds have traditionally included disciplines such as exercise science, kinesiology, biomedical engineering, biology, mechanical engineering, and health science.
Readiness for the Prosthetics & Orthotics degree program is assessed based on prerequisite courses, field observation/experience, GPA, recommendations/references, and written response entries. These requirements are further described in the charts below. Courses are not required to be completed by the time of application, but must be completed by the program start date. For courses in progress or yet to be, potential admission is contingent on course completion with acceptable grades.
Cohorts of 10 students are admitted once annually to begin a sequence of five semesters (Fall-Spring-Summer-Fall-Spring), at full-time enrollment. The program does not have an online option – it is in-person instruction only.
ASU utilizes The Orthotics and Prosthetics Centralized Application Service (OPCAS) to streamline and organize the application process. OPCAS is a service of the National Commission on Orthotic and Prosthetic Education (NCOPE). To apply to the program, please go to https://opcas.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login. All information must be submitted through OPCAS; application materials sent directly to the MSPO Program will not be processed. As well, all correspondence takes place through OPCAS, so please be sure to verify that your email contact is properly entered in their system, and OPCAS emails are not affected by your spam filters.
The application window opens annually mid-summer and closes on January 1. To meet this application deadline, please be aware that you will need to submit transcripts multiple weeks earlier so that they can be verified through OPCAS. The admission process includes virtual interviews, and acceptance notifications typically occur between January and March. Instructions for completing an application to the ASU Graduate School takes place AFTER individual acceptance into the MSPO Program.
For any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact department staff at 334-229-5888 or ASUPandO@alasu.edu
|
PREREQUISITE COURSES*
|
|
Biological Science with Lab (4 credits**)
Courses/credits must demonstrate instruction in microscopic, vertebrate, or human biology. Botany courses are not accepted.
|
|
Human Anatomy with Lab AND Human Physiology with Lab (8 credits)
Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab and Human Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab will meet this requirement.
|
|
Chemistry with Lab (4 credits)
|
|
Physics with Lab (4 credits**)
Courses/credits in the context of biomechanics are highly encouraged.
|
|
Math (3 credits**)
Courses/credits must demonstrate instruction in trigonometry or more advanced topics.
|
|
General Psychology (3 credits)
|
|
Upper Level Psychology (3 credits)
Courses/credits must demonstrate instruction in human development, developmental psychology, or abnormal psychology.
|
|
Statistics (3 credits)
|
*Please contact program staff if you are unsure about what satisfies these requirements.
**Competitive applicants will have completed additional credit hours.
|
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS***
|
|
Field Observation/Experience
100 hours of observation or volunteer/paid service in orthotics and/or prosthetics under supervision of a certified/licensed prosthetist/orthotist are required by the program start date. Competitive applicants will have partially or fully met this requirement at the time of application and will have observed at multiple settings/sites.
|
|
GPA
A 2.5 minimum cumulative GPA is required. An assessment of prerequisite course GPA is prioritized in the evaluation of applicants; competitive applicants will have at least a 3.0 prerequisite GPA.
|
|
Recommendations/References
Three letters of recommendation are required by the program start date, from among the following sources: current/past instructors, academic advisors, recent employers, or P&O clinicians. Two are due at the time of application. Recommendations should altogether serve to assess/evaluate/document the following: your academic abilities, your character, your readiness for a graduate-level clinical education program, and your clinical exposure to the field of prosthetics and orthotics. These individuals will serve as references in the OPCAS application portal.
|
|
Writing Responses
The OPCAS application portal will prompt for an essay response in which applicants articulate their interests, motivations, and qualifications that support their pursuit of an MSPO degree at ASU. Additional short answer prompts are required in the OPCAS application.
|
***The GRE is not required for admission.