Earn two degrees in just six years with our combined degree program focusing on research, evidence-based clinical practice, leadership, program and policy development, and advocacy. Complete your entry-level Doctorate in Occupational Therapy faster, saving time and money.
Why Study Life Sciences and Earn an OTD in Occupational Therapy at New York Tech?
Throughout the program’s coursework and fieldwork, you’ll:
Learn how to teach daily living skills to patients using adaptive equipment and state-of-the-art assistive technology.
Design and fabricate custom prosthetic and orthotic devices.
Develop activity-based interventions to enhance occupational performance.
Administer and interpret standardized assessments.
Adapt environments for persons with disabilities.
Gain real-world experience through 24 weeks of hands-on fieldwork. You’ll also acquire scholarly competencies and in-depth exposure that will address and advance socio-political initiatives, inform clinical practice, generate high-impact teaching and learning, and be disseminated via research within the inter-professional, cross-disciplinary practice, and delivery models.
Your program concludes with a 14-week student-driven doctoral capstone project focusing on a specific area of interest, including clinical practice skills, research skills, administration, leadership, program and policy development, advocacy, education, or theory development. You’ll partner with faculty, practitioner experts, and community stakeholders from local and national organizations to create evidence-based programs that promote and advocate for the profession of occupational therapy and explore innovative, actionable means for delivering and evaluating occupation-based services.
Once you graduate, you’ll be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification of Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After the successful completion of this exam, you’ll qualify for certification as a registered occupational therapist. Most states also require licensure in order to practice; eligibility for state licenses is usually based on the results of the NBCOT examination, in addition to other requirements.
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What You’ll Learn
Spend three years studying how living organisms function, survive, adapt, and evolve, then apply to transition into our entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy. Participate in research across disciplines—engineering, computer science, and sports medicine—and in areas such as hand therapy, pediatrics, concussion therapy, physical rehabilitation, and sports and fitness.
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.
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.
During two semesters of full-time fieldwork, you’ll build confidence and develop your clinical skills. Placed in a variety of settings, you’ll work with diverse patient populations to create and administer interventions and assessments.
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.
Join in faculty research to enhance your learning and build valuable experience. Our 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.
This six-year program gives you opportunities for ample hands-on experience using, designing, and constructing adaptive devices and equipment, as well as giving back to society through domestic and international service-learning placements.
Stats & Rankings
#15
Regional Universities (North)
U.S. News & World Report, 2025
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, OTD program, including admission requirements, how to apply, and scholarship/funding opportunities.
The Life Sciences, B.S./Occupational Therapy, OTD program 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, OTD program.
Students interested in the B.S.-to-OTD 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 24
Minimum high school average of 85
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 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.
For all the health professions areas I could have chosen, I gravitated toward occupational therapy as I love the restorative opportunities it grants those being treated.
Save time and money on your path to becoming an occupational therapist; learn more about the Life Sciences, B.S./Occupational Therapy, OTD at New York Tech.
