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Undergraduate Entry
Occupational Therapy Health Science Combined BS/MS Degree
The Occupational Therapy Health Science (HSOT) program allows students to complete both a bachelor of science in health sciences and a master of science in occupational therapy in just five and a half years. This challenging program enriches students’ background experiences and provides them with two different degrees, a striking advantage in today’s job market. A year-by-year sample schedule is available upon request from the Admissions Office.
Program Description
Students enter this dual degree program as first-year occupational therapy students and are simultaneously enrolled in the Health Science major. For the first four years, students engage in courses required for their occupational therapy degree, their Health Science degree, and the College’s general education requirements. The professional component of the OT program begins in the student’s fourth year and continues into the fifth, or graduate, year. It includes two summers, where students attend professional level courses with graduate students in the entry-level master's program. This is followed by six months of full time fieldwork in at least two occupational therapy settings.Students in the program engage in a mix of classroom, laboratory, group projects, and various levels of fieldwork experiences, becoming practiced in entry level OT theory, evaluation and treatment techniques, clinical reasoning, research, teaching skills, management, and teamwork. The interdisciplinary nature of the program design is enhanced by opportunities to share courses and activities with other students in the School of Health Sciences and Rehabilitation Studies, including physical therapy, communication disorders, rehabilitation counseling, emergency medical services management, and physician assistant studies.
Fully encompassing Springfield College’s Humanics philosophy, the Occupational Therapy Programs emphasize that health and learning are best gained through an approach that unifies spirit, mind and body. The typical Springfield College-trained occupational therapist displays both the unique empathy and the strong interpersonal skills necessary to be effective with clients, families and health care professionals alike.
With more than 300 affiliated fieldwork sites across the country, the Springfield College OT Programs offer a wide range of experiences working with people with differing disabilities and conditions, using different treatment approaches, in various practice settings.
Requirements for Admission
Candidates for admission to the OT Health Science Program must provide evidence of a rigorous background in biological and physical sciences and mathematics, with additional courses in psychology and sociology or anthropology. Documentation of experience in occupational therapy or other human service endeavors is required. The candidate's personal statement or essay should reflect an understanding of the field of occupational therapy and a personal fit with the profession. The deadline for applications is January 15, with all supporting documents due by February 1. Later applications will be reviewed on a space available basis. Applicants may apply for admission at the first year level or as transfer students. Admission to the program is highly competitive.Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants
COTAs with associate degrees may apply to enter the program as transfer students. Careful advisement during the application process will help ensure appropriate credit for the applicant’s previous course work.COTAs who have earned bachelor’s degrees in other majors may apply directly to the entry level master’s degree program as graduate students.
Additional OT Programs
In addition to our OT Health Science Program, Springfield College offers graduate admission to the entry level master’s degree program. The Graduate Admissions Office may be contacted at (413) 748-3225.Accreditation
Our entry level master’s program in occupational therapy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education of the American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc., 4720 Montgomery Lane, P. O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220; (301) 652-2682.Certification
Graduates are eligible to sit for the national certification examination required to practice occupational therapy, offered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, 800 S. Frederick Avenue, Suite 200, Gaithersburg, MD 20877-4150; (301) 990-7979.Since 1992, our graduates have:
- Worked in schools, universities, government agencies, hospitals, rehab centers, and community-based settings, all over the United States and Canada
- Published articles in professional journals like The American Journal of Occupational Therapy
- Presented at state and national conferences
- Enrolled in doctoral programs at universities from Florida to California
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