Life Sciences, B.S./Occupational Therapy, M.S.

Program Snapshot

129 Credits

Save time and money as you earn two degrees in just six years. With your master’s in occupational therapy from New York Tech, you’ll learn to use technology and holistic care to help people participate in all aspects of their lives through the therapeutic use of everyday activities.

Why Study Life Sciences and Earn an M.S. in Occupational Therapy at New York Tech?

Explore how technology can advance the healthcare field through hands-on learning. Design and construct adaptive devices and equipment utilizing 3-D printers; use immersive and augmented virtual reality; learn about new power wheelchairs with state-of-the-art demonstrations from wheelchair users and vendors; and work with our brand-new driver simulator to learn how to assess people with disabilities’ readiness to return to operating vehicles.

Gain critical real-world experience throughout, whether traveling abroad to meet with practitioners from places like Morocco and Costa Rica or working in underrepresented communities with vulnerable populations right here at home. You’ll also be able to take advantage of various internship opportunities at leading organizations such as Northwell Health, the New York City Department of Education, and United Cerebral Palsy.

Upon graduation, you’ll have earned two degrees in a shortened time and will be prepared for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy Examination. You’ll be ready to help patients live their fullest and most complete lives by assisting them in recovering from injury, overcoming disabilities, and living independently.

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What You’ll Learn

Spend three years studying how living organisms function, survive, adapt, and evolve, then apply to transition to the M.S. in Occupational Therapy program. For three years, you’ll participate in faculty-led research, explore the latest technologies and healing methodologies, and gain real-world experience while giving back to society through service-learning opportunities.

4 occupational therapy students stand around a patient with one of the students listening to chest sounds with a stethoscope.

Customize Your Studies

A clinician working with a patient for physical therapy.

Undergraduate Internships and Research Opportunities

Spend your summer in an intensive research environment, gaining valuable experience and connections at prestigious universities, research centers, and government laboratories across the country. Many opportunities are paid.

Three students in white lab coats in a research lab.

Facilities and Simulation Spaces

Prepare for clinical practice with our state-of-the-art 3-D interactive dissection table, high-tech patient simulation center, dedicated teaching and biomedical labs, and other facilities.

A person helping another person with leg stretches on a medical examination table.

Fieldwork and Clinical Experiences

Your training includes 24 weeks of full-time clinical work, where you’ll serve under the supervision of experienced practitioners as you develop your skills in patient care.

A student working abroad taking notes in a classroom.

Center for Global Health

New York Tech’s Center for Global Health (CGH) is dedicated to developing healthcare professionals who are empathetic leaders and change agents, ready to tackle the global burden of disease and health disparities at home and abroad.

A person practice with a boxing dummy wearing boxing gloves.

Research

Join in faculty research to enhance your learning and build valuable experience. Our M.S. students aim to help individuals with Parkinson’s Disease sleep better, examine the effects of cold exposure on cognition, and explore the potential of virtual environments for learning and therapy.

A person is applying a supportive elbow strap to a student.

Life Sciences, B.S./Occupational Therapy, OTD

Prepare for a clinical and scholarly career in occupational therapy by participating in cross-disciplinary research in areas such as hand therapy, pediatrics, concussion therapy, physical rehabilitation, and sports and fitness, as well as an in-depth doctoral capstone project.

Stats & Rankings

#21

Best Regional Universities (North), 2024 

U.S. News & World Report 

98%

NBCOT Licensure Pass Rate, 2022 

#2

For student diversity among regional universities in the North. 

Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings 2022 

Career & Salary Outlook

Build a career helping patients maximize their independence, prevent further disability, and maintain lifelong health.

Job Growth

Employment of occupational therapists is projected to grow 12 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations. (BLS)

Employers & Internships

  • Henry Street Settlement
  • Kessler Rehabilitation Institute
  • NYC Department of Education
  • Northwell Health
  • Rusk Rehabilitation/NYU Langone
  • St. Charles Rehabilitation

Career Options

  • Occupational Therapist 
  • Clinic Director 
  • Health Specialties College Instructor 
  • Rehabilitation Specialist/Manager 
  • Pediatric Occupational Therapist 

Salary Projections

The median annual wage for occupational therapists was $96,370 in May 2023. (BLS)

Program Details

Learn more about the Life Sciences, B.S./Occupational Therapy, M.S. program, including admission requirements, how to apply, and scholarship/funding opportunities.

The Life Sciences B.S./Occupational Therapy, M.S. includes three years of pre-professional courses, two-and-a-half years of professional coursework, and 24 weeks (six months) of clinical/fieldwork experience. To advance to the graduate phase, you must submit an application and meet certain requirements, including having a 3.0 overall GPA and at least 50 volunteer hours under the supervision of a licensed occupational therapist.  

The Life Sciences, B.S. degree will be conferred upon successful completion of the first year in the Occupational Therapy, M.S. program. 

Students interested in the B.S.-to-M.S. Occupational Therapy program will undergo a two-part application process.  

First, you’ll need to fulfill the initial requirements to enter the program as an incoming undergraduate, including: 

  • Minimum combined SAT score of 980 (critical reading and math only) and 1100 or ACT of 18 
  • Minimum high school average of 80  
  • 100 hours of volunteer or paid experience under the direct supervision of an occupational therapist 
  • Competence in written and spoken English and computer skills (preparation of documents, spreadsheets, graphs, databases, research and presentations) 
  • Preference is given to applicants with a three- to four-year sequence in high school math and science Regents courses 

Then, as you progress through the course sequence, you’ll apply for admission to the second, professional stage. Decisions are based on course grades for your prerequisites. 

New York Institute of Technology’s master’s program in occupational therapy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)

New York Tech offers several scholarships recognizing your academic achievements and potential. Most awards are renewable if you continue to meet eligibility requirements, making a significant difference in your total cost of attendance. Occupational therapy students are also eligible to apply to the targeted Occupational Therapy/Physical Therapy Scholarship Program offered through New York City’s Teach NYC program. 

Alumni Voices

Amanda Caruso (M.S. ’18)

The [New York Tech] campus is beautiful, and everyone was so welcoming. Small classes allowed me to form strong connections with professors and peers. It’s a great atmosphere for students; everyone helps each other to succeed.

Amanda Caruso
(M.S. ’18)
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