Entry-Level Dual-Degree BS in Health Science Studies / Doctor of Occupational Therapy (4+2)

Entry-Level Dual-Degree

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

On Campus

On Campus

Our Entry-Level Dual-Degree BS in Health Science Studies/Doctor of Occupational Therapy (4+2) program is an exciting opportunity for anyone passionate about working with others to enhance their health and well-being. You’ll help patients build meaningful engagement in activities where their participation might be compromised by health, age, injury, illness or other circumstances.

An occupational therapy student and professor test out an arm brace

Jun 5

Undergraduate Open House

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Program Overview

An occupational therapist with a doctoral degree from Quinnipiac is equipped with the knowledge and skills to develop programs, lead teams, teach others and produce scholarly work.

Our Entry-Level Dual-Degree BS in Health Science Studies/Doctor of Occupational Therapy (4+2) program is built on 50 years of academic excellence promoting leaders in clinical and academic practice. In this 6-year program, you will earn a bachelor's degree in 4 years and continue with 2 years of graduate study to earn a doctorate. Our curriculum consists of 4 integrated tiers:

Tier 1: Foundational Knowledge: Consists of the University Curriculum, OT prerequisites, and clinical science and theoretical foundations. This is completed in Year 4 of the undergraduate curriculum.
Tier 2: Occupational Therapy Process: Consists of dynamic lectures and seminars integrated with laboratory and immersive clinical experiences to prepare students for entry-level practice. This tier is completed in Years 4 and 5.
Tier 3: Fieldwork or Clinicals: A pair of 12-week, full-time fieldwork experiences highlight this tier. Students are required to have 1 traditional fieldwork experience and 1 non-traditional fieldwork experience.
Tier 4: Doctoral Capstone: This includes preparation for in-depth practice beyond entry-level competencies and culminates in a 14-week doctoral capstone experience combined with a scholarly project. Satisfactory completion of the fieldwork and capstone experiences earn the student a Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree.

The BS/OTD program is a full-time, intensive program designed to be completed in 6 years. The graduate phase of the curriculum requires matriculation in the fall, spring and summer terms. Didactic coursework is delivered using a combination of face-to-face and online/hybrid learning.

School by the Numbers

98% Success Rate

Percentage of our 2021 graduates who are either employed or enrolled in a graduate program six months after graduation.

+15% Job Growth

Projected job growth of health care occupations through 2029. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2020)

100% Pass Rate

6 of our programs with licensure exams reported a perfect first-time pass rate in 2020, and many of our programs scored above national average pass rates.

Our Reputation

No. 1 in Connecticut and No. 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

What College Major is Right For You?

Video Occupational Therapy versus Physical Therapy — Do you know the difference between PTs and OTs? Learn how these entry-level programs give you the skills you need to help patients achieve their health and recovery goals.

Mission and Learning Outcomes

An occupational therapy student works with a senior citizen on a tablet computer

The Mission of the Department of Occupational Therapy at Quinnipiac University is to provide high quality education to develop occupational therapy practitioner-scholars and leaders who possess broad-based competencies to influence meaningful change in the health and functioning of individuals, populations, and communities. Through the Entry-level Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy program, the University strives to produce entry-level occupational therapy generalists with in-depth knowledge and skills to be practitioner-scholars and practice leaders of the future.

Graduates of the BS/OTD program will be able to:

Synthesis of Occupation: Synthesize and articulate in-depth knowledge of occupation with health and participation to guide the practice of occupational therapy
Professionalism and Leadership Development: Demonstrate professionalism and competent role performance and ongoing professional and leadership development.
Advocacy: Advocate for the distinct value of the occupational therapy
Professional Reasoning: Apply occupation- and client-centered principles and professional reasoning to produce positive outcomes individuals, communities, and populations within broader systems
Knowledge Translation and Evidence-Based Practice: Evaluate, synthesize, translate, and contribute to evidence that informs practice
Systems and Practice Contexts: Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of systems and the ability to work collaboratively in intra/interprofessional teams within traditional and non-traditional/emerging or niche settings

Comparing the Master’s and Doctorate Degree

There are some differences between earning a master’s degree in occupational therapy or a doctor of occupational therapy degree.

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

What are the differences in the academic curriculum?

Master of Occupational Therapy

Breadth of Practice

Children and youth
Adults and older adults
Mental health
Work and industry
Choice of special topic as electives

Length of Study

5.5 years
- 4 undergraduate years
- 1.5 graduate years

Doctor of Occupational Therapy

Depth of Practice

Children and youth
Adults and older adults
Mental health
Work and industry
Leadership and entrepreneurship
Advocacy and health policy
Program development and scholarship
Higher education / academia

Length of Study

6 years
- 4 undergraduate years
- 2 graduate years

What are the differences in the clinical curriculum?

Master of Occupational Therapy

Breadth of Practice

Focus:

Two, 12-week fieldwork experiences in established areas of practice (hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, schools)
Choice of settings that cater to children and youth, adults and older adults, or persons with mental health/psychosocial needs

Doctor of Occupational Therapy

Breadth of Practice

Focus:

12-week fieldwork experience in established areas of practice (hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, schools)
12-week fieldwork experience in role-emerging or non-traditional settings that address the unmet needs of populations. For example:
- community reintegration for the homeless
- work programs for teens with intellectual disability
- adaptive sports for persons with physical disability
- social participation for elderly experiencing isolation

14-week capstone experience focusing on in-depth knowledge in clinical practice, research, leadership, program development, advocacy or academia

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.

Program Statistics

1st Breaking New Ground

This is the first entry-level professional doctorate program in Connecticut, built on 50 years of tradition and excellence in OT education at Quinnipiac.

7 AOTA Fellows

Being an American Occupational Therapy Association fellow provides these faculty with a vast network of information and resources for keeping pace with an evolving profession.

Accreditation

The Quinnipiac University Entry-Level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) degree program has applied for accreditation and has been granted Candidacy Status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is 301-652-AOTA, and its web address is acoteonline.org.

As a program with Candidacy Status, Quinnipiac University may admit students into the Entry-Level OTD program according to the approved timeline and may proceed to the pre-accreditation review step of the accreditation process. The program must have a pre-accreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation and be granted accreditation status before its graduates will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for occupational therapists administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an occupational therapist, registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT examination or attain state licensure.