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An occupational therapy student practices clinical skills in the standardized patient center

Area of Interest

Occupational Therapy

As health professionals, occupational therapists work with individuals and populations to enhance, support and help restore meaningful engagement in valued activities that may otherwise be compromised by health, age, injury, illness or circumstances. Through their work, occupational therapists promote health and participation for people across the lifespan.

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Ways to Learn

2 Undergraduate Paths

The School of Health Sciences offers dual-degree bachelor's and master's or doctorate programs to streamline your educational journey, putting you on an accelerate path to completing both your undergraduate and graduate degrees.

1 Post-Baccalaureate Path

Our Post-Baccalaureate Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy program provides students who have a bachelor's degree to earn their OTD in 3 full-time years.

1 Post-Professional Path

Our Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate is designed for working occupational therapists to earn their OTD in less than 2 years.

Promoting Activities of Daily Living

With unique programs of study designed for every stage of your journey, Quinnipiac enables aspiring OTs and working practitioners to gain the skills, knowledge and hands-on training they need to advance the field of occupational therapy. Our modern curriculum, built on 50 years of academic excellence promoting leaders in clinical and academic practice, focuses on emerging issues, innovation and leadership in the field that students can tailor to fit particular areas of interest.

Occupational therapists work with people at all stages of life. They teach children with learning disabilities techniques to achieve in school, provide effective strategies for the elderly to help them remain independent and active and help people with injuries or lifelong disabilities regain or adapt their daily activities. Occupational therapists' work ensures an individual's active participation in daily activities across various settings, including work, school, home and the community.

Our Reputation

Ranked #17 in America — this puts the program among the top 10% of ranked programs in the country

U.S. News & World Report

Ranked #3 - Best Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions Schools in the New England Region (2022)

College Factual

Choose an OT degree that aligns with your goals

Earning an MOT or OTD degree allows you to take the national certification exam and become a licensed occupational therapist. Our degrees in occupational therapy position graduates to promote health and participation for people across the lifespan — whether you are a newcomer to the field or an experienced practitioner looking to advance your credentials.

  • High School Students
  • Students with Undergraduate Degrees
  • Working Professionals

Are you a high school student or graduate?

Our BS/MOT or BS/OTD programs provide high-school graduates with the knowledge and skills needed to take the national certification exam and become a licensed occupational therapist.

BS in Health Science Studies / Master of Occupational Therapy (4+1.5)

This is a 5½-year program. It is considered a dual degree because you will earn a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree (BS/MOT). Students will complete their bachelor’s degree in 4 years and will have 1 ½ years to complete their master’s degree.

Our BS/MOT program will be a good fit if you:

  • plan to work in an established OT practice setting such as a hospital, rehabilitation center, school or early intervention program

  • want to be adept at using evidence-based practice to provide the most effective care to your clients

BS in Health Science Studies / Doctor of Occupational Therapy (4+2)

This is a 6-year program. It is a dual degree where you will earn a bachelor’s degree and a doctoral degree (BS/OTD). Students will complete their bachelor’s degree in 4 years and have 2 years to complete their doctoral degree.

Our BS/OTD programs will be a good fit if you:

  • plan to work in established areas of OT practice or an area where the tremendous benefit of OT has yet to be established

  • want to become a leader within your workplace, community or the profession

  • are interested in creating programs or conducting clinical research to provide the most effective care to your clients

 

What are the differences in outcomes?
  Master's Degree Doctorate Degree
Clinical Practice Prepared to practice in any traditional clinical area; has the opportunity to gain breadth of knowledge in specialized areas Ready to practice in either traditional or non-traditional area; has opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge in specialized areas
Scholarship and Research Can participate in research in collaboration with others Can lead a research project in collaboration with others
Leadership and Management Understands the skills for management and effective supervision Understands the skills for management, effective supervision, and entrepreneurship

Has additional training in leadership skills and understanding of systems
Program Development Has the basic skills to develop and implement programs Has leadership skills to develop, implement, and evaluate programs
Teaching Understands the skills to work in academia; prepared to be a fieldwork educator Has skills and theoretical preparation to work in academia; prepared to be a fieldwork educator and clinical educator

Explore Our Programs

2 OT students speaking to a baby on a yoga ball

BS in Health Science Studies / Master of Occupational Therapy (4+1.5)

The Dual-Degree BS in Health Science Studies / Master of Occupational Therapy is a five-and-a-half-year program that teaches aspiring occupational therapists to apply theory to practice, enabling them to become successful practitioners.

Learn more about the Dual-Degree BS/MOT

An OT students speaks to a child

BS in Health Science Studies / Doctor of Occupational Therapy (4+2)

The Dual-Degree BS in Health Science Studies / Doctor of Occupational Therapy (4+2) is a six-year program that enables aspiring occupational therapists to work in professional settings or conduct clinical research to provide the most effective care to your clients.

Learn more about the Dual-Degree BS/OTD

OT student observing a young woman on the driving simulator

Post-Baccalaureate Doctor of Occupational Therapy

The Post-Baccalaureate OTD program is designed for students who have already earned a bachelor's degree and wish to advance their careers and enter the field of occupational therapy.

Learn more about the Post-Baccalaureate OTD

An OT professor instructs an OT student using a weighted spoon

Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate

The online Post-Professional OTD program is designed for practicing registered occupational therapists who want to expand their current practice or move into academia. There is a single, week-long residency requirement that is completed during your first summer in the program; the rest is completed entirely online.

Learn more about the Post-Professional OTD 

Occupational therapist alumna makes industry strides with private practice

Taylor Rahe smiles in a white shirt for a headshot..

Taylor Rahe ’19, MOT ’21, OTD ’23, has recently opened a private occupational therapy practice in midtown Manhattan that has allowed her to fully dive into a personal approach to health and wellness.

From the moment that Rahe was introduced to occupational therapy at a young age, she knew that this career was the right fit for her. She said that she was drawn to the holistic nature of the profession and it is centered around what's meaningful and purposeful to clients.

When picking colleges, Quinnipiac’s campuses and health science programs stood out from all the others for Rahe. During her time as a Bobcat, she excelled in the OT track and credits much of her career success to the education she received here.

Read the full article on Quinnipiac Today 

Frequently Asked Questions

Quinnipiac University currently offers two pathways for high-school graduates who wish to become occupational therapists.

  • Master’s Degree (MOT):

    • This is a 5½-year program. It is considered a dual degree because you will earn a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree. (BS/MOT). Students will complete their bachelor’s degree in 4 years and will have 1 ½ years to complete their master’s degree.

  • Clinical Doctorate Degree (OTD):

    • This is a 6-year program. It is a dual degree where you will earn a bachelor’s degree and a doctoral degree (BS/OTD). Students will complete their bachelor’s degree in 4 years and have 2 years to complete their doctoral degree.

Earning an MOT or OTD degree allows you to take the national certification exam and become a licensed occupational therapist.

Quinnipiac University’s BS/MOT program will be a good fit if, upon graduation, you:

  • plan to work in an established OT practice setting such as a hospital, rehabilitation center, school or early intervention program

  • want to be adept at using evidence-based practice to provide the most effective care to your clients

Quinnipiac University’s BS/OTD program will be a good fit if, upon graduation, you:

  • plan to work in established areas of OT practice or an area where the tremendous benefit of OT has yet to be established

  • want to become a leader within your workplace, community or the profession

  • are interested in creating programs or conducting clinical research to provide the most effective care to your clients

Yes, you can transfer into the BS/OTD program on a space-available basis. Students who have earned 3 semesters of coursework are encouraged. Once accepted, students will be required to take OT courses at the 100 and 200 level before entering the professional phase as a junior. Transfer applications are reviewed at the end of each semester.

Students with junior or senior standing are advised to apply to the graduate-entry occupational therapy doctorate program

Students in the OTD program are required to complete a pair of 12-week, full-time fieldwork experiences and a culminating, 14-week capstone experience.

The fieldwork experiences are completed at the end of the second year of the graduate curriculum. Students may indicate their preferences for a setting or a population. One of those settings is working with underserved populations where OT can be of great benefit.

The culminating capstone experience is completed at the end of the third year of the graduate curriculum. Students design an individualized capstone experience and a corresponding capstone project that demonstrate in-depth knowledge of OT practice, leadership skills and scholarship.

  • High school diploma. You also may be admitted to either program if you have 1-2 years of college, including an associate degree.

  • 4 years of math and science classes

  • Volunteer hours are recommended, but not required

  • Please contact the Office of Admissions for additional information regarding GPA and standardized testing requirements

If you have questions and wish to discuss your interest with a representative of the Occupational Therapy Department, please contact us.

If you have questions and wish to discuss your interest with a representative of the Occupational Therapy Department, please contact us.

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Our graduate and undergraduate admissions representatives are here to answer any questions you may have and help you navigate the application process.

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