The admissions requirements and application process is outlined below.

Note: We are unable to accept transfers of MPO credits from another institution to be used toward the completion of the NUPOC MPO degree.

Prerequisite Courses

Prerequisite courses ensure that all accepted students have sufficient foundation and scientific knowledge to complete the advanced courses offered as part of the Master’s in Prosthetics and Orthotics (MPO). All applicants must have completed all the prerequisites listed below. Grades of “D+” or lower are not acceptable because they indicate insufficient mastery of the concepts.

• Life Sciences / Biology 
• Chemistry 
• Physics 
• Statistics
• Human Anatomy & Physiology

Equivalency

Confer with your university advisor about the equivalency of your coursework. Courses that qualify for pre-Physicians' Assistant or pre-Physical Therapy coursework will prepare you best for our program.

Application

Qualified applicants to the MPO program must have completed a four-year baccalaureate degree (BS, BA) prior to beginning the MPO program. NUPOC must receive official proof of baccalaureate degree completion no later than June 15th for each incoming cohort. NUPOC utilizes a rolling admission process and we consider applications until all seats are filled with qualified applicants. 

Qualified applicants must complete and mail the NUPOC MPO Application Form. Applicants will find detailed instructions on the NUPOC MPO Application Form. Download, complete, and print the form. Append the completed Application Form to your application packet and mail the entire packet to NUPOC. If you are unable to fill the form fields on computer, please print the application form and fill the fields legibly by hand using black ink. 

NOTE: Applicants who use the Orthotics and Prosthetics Centralized Application Service (OPCAS) must also complete and mail the NUPOC MPO Application Form. Other than OPCAS, NUPOC does not accept submissions from any online service. 

Application Packet

The application packet includes the following elements:

• Printed and signed copy of the completed NUPOC MPO Application Form
• Two letters of recommendation (Learn more via the MPO Letter of Reference Form)
• Personal essay
• Sealed Official Transcripts
• Application Fee ($95)

All NUPOC MPO application materials should be sent together as one complete packet. Incomplete application packets cannot be processed and may be returned to you for completion and resubmission. Resubmissions will be assessed a $25 administrative fee. 

Mailing Address

Mail the completed NUPOC MPO application packet to:

Northwestern University Prosthetics-Orthotics Center (NUPOC)
c/o Admissions Assistant
680 North Lake Shore Drive, Suite 1100
Chicago, Illinois 60611 USA 

International Applicants

The NUPOC Master’s in Prosthetics Orthotics (MPO) curriculum is designed to prepare graduates to enter an accredited P&O Residency, to sit for examinations by the American Board for Certification and ultimately to practice P&O within the United States. International applicants planning to practice outside of the USA must determine whether this focus would be helpful in meeting their personal goals. Please note that students who are not citizens of the United States must also demonstrate acceptable immigration/visa status to Northwestern University. Graduates of foreign undergraduate and graduate institutions are welcome to apply for admission.

Disclaimer for International Applicants

Northwestern University strives to provide access to its online degree programs to all students. While we will do our best to provide access, students must be aware that they may not be able to access course material due to technology or internet limitations. To that end, students are advised that they must meet the following technology requirements:

• Students are required to have a laptop that meets or exceeds university requirements, with a working webcam and microphone for synchronous sessions.
• Students are required to have access to a reliable, high-speed internet connection of at least 5 Mbps. While students can connect via Wi-Fi, we highly recommend using a wired internet connection, as faster internet connections improve the online experience.

Course materials are hosted primarily in the learning management system (Canvas), but occasionally courses may link to external content. Any costs associated with procuring access will be borne by the individual student.

In addition, it is a student’s responsibility to understand requirements related to whether an online degree will be recognized in a country other than the United States, how the collection of student data may be used in another country, and whether withholding taxes (in addition to the price of tuition) will apply. Some countries may not formally recognize foreign online degrees, which may have implications for students who later seek to enroll in other educational programs, or for those who seek employment with that country’s government or other employers requiring specific credentials. 

International students considering an academic program that leads to a professional license should first confirm with the appropriate professional licensing board in their country of residence or the country where they intend to work as to whether an online degree will be recognized when seeking licensure or certification.  

International Applicant Requirements

The minimum acceptable equivalence to apply to the NUPOC MPO Program is a Bachelor’s degree and English proficiency. To ensure your eligibility for consideration, foreign-trained applicants should complete the following steps prior to submitting a formal application.

English Proficiency Requirement

The Graduate School (TGS) at Northwestern University requires 90 or above on the TOEFL internet test for admission to the university. TGS cannot waive this requirement except for applicants with undergraduate or graduate degrees from institutions in the United States or accredited institutions where English is the language of instruction. IELTS scores (7.0 or higher) can be used in place of TOEFL. See TGS English Proficiency Requirements for details about acceptable minimum level of spoken English proficiency and fulfillment criteria.

English Language Tests

Applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency on the TOEFL. For all foreign applicants, a TOEFL Internet-based test (iBT) score of 90 is a requirement of The Graduate School (TGS) at Northwestern University. The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) may be used in place of the TOEFL. For the IELTS, you must receive a score of 7.0 or higher. Photocopies are not acceptable evidence of your TOEFL or IELTS score.

The English proficiency requirement cannot be waived. Students who earn an undergraduate or graduate degree from institutions within the USA, or from accredited institutions where the language of instruction is English, are exempt from the TOEFL requirement.

TOEFL:

• Official scores must be taken no more than two years before the intended quarter of entry and must come directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS). For example, to be considered valid for Fall 2020 admission, TOEFL scores must be no older than September 2018.
• The TGS's school code for TOEFL is 1565. TGS department code is 01.
• Test takers may be asked by ETS to choose the "department" to which they want their scores sent. While you should choose the department most closely aligned to the program to which you are applying, we do not use this information to distribute scores. ALL scores sent to school code 1565 are made available to our programs, regardless of the "departments" selected on the ETS form.

IELTS:  

• The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) may be used in place of the TOEFL. For the IELTS, you must receive a score of 7.0 or higher.

• Copies of your IELTS scores must be sent directly from IELTS to your admitting department.
• You will also be asked to scan and upload a copy of your score report (if you have it available) while submitting your online application. This uploaded version is not considered “official” and will only be used for preliminary review purposes, until your official scores have been received from ETS or IELTS.

Course Equivalency Evaluation

For course work and/or academic degrees from institutions not in the U.S. or Canada, a course-by-course transcript evaluation demonstrating equivalency must be provided by the World Education Service: http://www.wes.org/.

International Office

Potential applicants may find the resources of the International Office of Northwestern University helpful: http://www.northwestern.edu/international/.

Mailing Address

Mail the completed NUPOC MPO application packet to:

Northwestern University Prosthetics-Orthotics Center (NUPOC)
c/o Admissions Assistant
680 North Lake Shore Drive, Suite 1100
Chicago, Illinois 60611 USA