Bachelor of Arts in Psychology - OT Track

The 11-month Bachelor of Arts in Psychology - Occupational Therapy Track is the ideal undergraduate pathway for pursuing a graduate degree and career in Occupational Therapy. By incorporating 36-39 seminary credits at no additional cost, this degree can be completed in just one year and the student will be well prepared to apply for a graduate program in occupational therapy.

The degree, a traditional BA in Psychology, also incorporates all OT prerequisites required for application into Sara Schenirer’s Occupational Therapy Doctorate program.

We are proud to have partnered with two exceptional colleges to offer this degree:

1. The University of Mount Saint Vincent (UMSV) is a highly ranked university in NYS, featuring an outstanding undergraduate Psychology department. Among the five oldest universities in New York City, UMSV offers more than 70 nationally recognized programs, including a full array of majors and minors in the sciences and mathematics, the humanities, arts, and social sciences, and professional preparation in accounting, business, communication, education, and nursing.

2. St. Peter’s University (SPU) is a highly ranked university in NJ featuring an outstanding Psychology department. Founded in 1872, the university offers more than 60 undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 2,600 undergraduate and 800 graduate students. US News and World Report ranked St. Peter’s among the Top 100 “Best Regional Universities in the North,” and Money Magazine ranked St. Peter’s and the “Most Transformative School” in the state of New Jersey.

New Jersey residents will enroll through SPU, while all other students will be enrolled through UMSV.

Both institutions are regionally accredited, which means that their degrees are accepted by graduate programs nationwide. Students have used the bachelor’s degree earned at UMSV and SPU for admittance into master’s programs in a wide variety of colleges. For specific information about UMSV’s accreditation, please see here; for SPU’s, please see here.

This degree can be completed in as few as three semesters (11 months).

All common occupational therapy prerequisite courses are included in this degree at no additional cost. Additionally, during the course of the program, students in the OT track will enjoy specialized workshops led by professionals in the field of occupational therapy who will introduce them to the field and offer helpful guidance and tips for aspiring OTs.

The degree, a BA in Psychology, is extremely versatile and can be used to apply for a wide range of graduate degrees. By satisfying all OT prerequisites within the program, graduates are prepared to apply for the Occupational Therapy Doctorate program upon graduation but are not limited to that program. Students have successfully used this degree to gain entry into graduate programs in Education and Special Education, Social Work, Law, ABA, Mental Health Counseling, and more.

Assuming you don’t have a clear preference, this is an ideal program to help a student determine her ideal graduate pathway. Through the course of the program, students are exposed to professionals in the OT field and have the opportunity to observe and speak with them and learn more about the profession. This enables students to make a clear-headed decision when the time comes for application to graduate school.

The Office of the Registrar at the UMSV and SPU grant transfer credits to students who have completed courses at accredited institutions and have provided their official transcripts for evaluation. The Registrar evaluates and accepts only credits that apply to the student’s program of study and reflect a final grade of ‘C’ or above. Accepted credits are applied to the student’s record, reflected on their academic planner, but not calculated into their college GPA. A transfer credit planner will also be shared with the student’s advisor to assist with schedule creation and developing a graduation plan.

Classes may be taken in either of these formats:

• Entirely online

• In-person (Boro Park, Monsey, Crown Heights, Passaic, Five Towns, or Lakewood)

Whether online or in-person, students typically take two classes on Sunday and one or two additional classes during the week. Exact schedules vary by location.

Although the program is rigorous, the schedule is tailored to allow for students to obtain employment during the course of their undergraduate studies. Students seeking to pursue a career in the field of occupational therapy are strongly encouraged to seek employment in an OT setting so they can gain firsthand experience and learn about the field in an authentic manner. This will greatly enhance their resume as they apply to graduate programs in the OT field as well.