OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

Occupational therapy (OT) is a health care profession dedicated to helping individuals of all ages to maximize their functional independence and achieve quality of life. Occupational therapists work with people whose abilities to manage everyday tasks of living are affected by developmental deficits, the aging process, environmental barriers, physical injury or illness, or psychosocial issues. The word occupation refers to how people use their time, or are occupied in their daily lives. Occupational therapists help people identify or return to the occupations that are important to them. They assist people to adapt old methods or learn new strategies so they can return to work or family roles after illness or injury, and develop the daily living skills needed to live and work independently. OTs work in a variety of settings including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, homecare, preschools and schools, private practice, and community agencies.

The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy is offered through Sage Graduate School (SGS). Students who already have a baccalaureate degree should refer to the SGS catalog for admission information. Through a special program at Russell Sage College, undergraduate students interested in the field of occupational therapy can complete both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in a five-year accelerated model described below.

3+2 ACCELERATED BACCALAUREATE DEGREE LEADING TO THE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

Russell Sage College (RSC) offers an innovative program whereby undergraduate students can complete both a Bachelor’s degree from RSC and the MS in Occupational Therapy from SGS in an accelerated 3+2 program. During the first three years of coursework students complete requirements for the major, RSC general education courses, and OT program prerequisites. Students who earn an overall minimum 3.0 grade point average (GPA) in undergraduate coursework and no less than a "C" in the eight OT Program prerequisite courses, can accelerate into the MS in Occupational Therapy program by enrolling in first year occupational therapy graduate coursework during their fourth year of undergraduate studies. At the end of the fourth year students are awarded a baccalaureate degree, and upon completion of fifth year OT courses and fieldwork, the Master’s degree is awarded. Entry into this accelerated program and completion of the prerequisites as described above guarantees the student acceptance into the MS in Occupational Therapy program. Students who are unable to achieve the standards listed in Academic Standards for Admission into the MS in Occupational Therapy program are not eligible to accelerate and must complete electives during their fourth year as a means of finishing their baccalaureate degrees. They can reapply for admission to the MS in OT program at that time.

3+2 BA or BS Leading to the MS in Occupational Therapy

There are multiple routes of undergraduate entry for students interested in occupational therapy at Sage. Listed below are Russell Sage College undergraduate majors that provide an excellent foundation for becoming an occupational therapist and are designed to fit into the 3+2 format. Students who choose from among these majors will have faculty advisors in both undergraduate and graduate programs. In particular the Biology, Creative Arts in Therapy, Health Sciences, Psychology, Sociology or Spanish majors provide students with a broad range of relevant courses, group work, and learning experiences to enhance students’ understanding of human behavior and development, health, and wellness. Refer to the specific undergraduate major section of the catalog for the relevant course sequence. Refer to the Sage Graduate School catalog for details about the MS in OT program course sequence.

For occupational therapy students who have specific interests in other areas of undergraduate study, the following Russell Sage College liberal arts majors can also be completed in a 3 + 2 model: Criminal Justice, English, History, Interdisciplinary Studies, International Studies, Mathematics, and Political Science. 

Academic Standards for Admission into the MS in Occupational Therapy Program

Students who enroll at RSC in the 3+2 Bachelor leading to the MS in Occupational Therapy program are guaranteed acceptance to the graduate level of the OT Program in the fourth year of study, providing they maintain the following academic requirements in the first three years:

• Achieve a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA for coursework completed during undergraduate study and minimum grade of "C" or higher in each of the OT Program prerequisite courses
• Document at least 20 hours of clinical observation under the supervision of an occupational therapist before beginning the professional program. Students are encouraged to complete clinical observation hours as early as possible.
• Complete RSC general education requirements, OT program prerequisite coursework, and the requirements in their chosen undergraduate majors.

The first review for eligibility to continue into the OT professional program will take place after the fall semester of the third year.  

Procedures for Acceleration into the MS in OT Program

By January 15 of the third year (or equivalent) of undergraduate academic study at RSC, students who are accelerating into the MS in OT program will:

• complete OT Program acceleration forms: Academic Standards Statement, Clinical Observation Hours Documentation, and OT Program Prerequisite Record (available on the web at http://www.sage.edu/ot)
• submit current resume

Entrance Requirements

First Year (Freshman) Applicants

Students can be admitted directly from high school into the Russell Sage College accelerated 3+2 program as described above. The successful applicant will demonstrate the following academic profile:

• High school overall grade point average (GPA) of 85 percent
• High school science GPA of 85 percent
• Minimum combined SAT score of 1050
• Class rank in top 20%

Undergraduate Transfer Applicants

Undergraduate transfer students who have completed courses at other institutions may apply for admission to the accelerated 3+2 degree program, with acceptance based on space availability, students’ qualifications, and previous college coursework. Transfer students must complete a minimum of one academic year at RSC prior to entering the OT program, during which time college major coursework, general education requirements and OT program course prerequisites must be completed.

Students who are occupational therapy assistants (OTA) will also be considered for acceptance into the accelerated program described above. OTA students are eligible for a waiver of the following OT courses: Foundations of OT and one credit of Level I Fieldwork (contact the OT Program Director for advisement).

The successful transfer applicant will demonstrate the following academic profile:

• Overall minimum 3.0 GPA for all college coursework
• Minimum grade of “C” or better in all OT Program prerequisite courses to be transferred from another institution

Program Accreditation

The Sage Graduate School Occupational Therapy Program is registered with the NYS Education Department and accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association, 4720 Montgomery Lane, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220, 301/652-2682. The most recent reaccredidation was granted in April 2007 for a ten-year period. Upon graduation students are eligible to sit for the national certification exam that is administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). In addition, most states require licensure in order to practice occupational therapy, however state licenses are usually based on the results of the national certification exam. A felony conviction may affect a student's placement in fieldwork settings, or a graduate’s ability to sit for the certification exam or to attain state licensure.