Occupational Therapy
Women
Occupational Therapy Doctorate
Program Overview
The Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) offered through the Katz School of Science and Health at Yeshiva University is an outstanding choice for individuals pursuing a career in occupational therapy. Unlike most programs that culminate in a master’s degree, this 115-credit program is the first fully accredited, entry-level OT doctoral program in the New York area. Designed with flexibility in mind, students attend on-site just two days per week, engaging in a hands-on curriculum that integrates theory, research, clinical skills, and evidence-based practice to prepare them to deliver holistic, client-centered care. What sets this program apart is its accessibility: it allows students to earn a doctoral degree directly after completing a bachelor’s degree and the required prerequisites, making it a unique and efficient pathway into the profession.
The Sara Schenirer BA in Psychology with OT prerequisites includes all the prerequisite requirements of this post-graduate degree and saves students considerable time and expense. Information on that program can be found here.
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Prerequisites
Conferred Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution
Prerequisite Courses (min. grade requirement of B or above):
Two courses in the humanities or social sciences (anthropology, philosophy, religion, ethics, cultural studies, group dynamics) (3 credits each)
Statistics (3 credits)
Anatomy and physiology I w/ lab (4 credits)
Anatomy and physiology II w/ lab (4 credits)
Human development or lifespan (3 credits)
Abnormal or behavioral psychology (3 credits)
Admission
Undergraduate Transcript (minimum 3.3 GPA)
Essay
Resume
Two Letters of Recommendation (one from a licensed occupational therapist and one professional)
Proof of completion of 40 observation hours signed by a licensed occupational therapist
Personal Photograph
Non-refundable Application Fee
Courses
Possible Career Paths
Faculty & Instructors
Tuition & Financial Aid
The cost for this 115-credit doctorate is just $86,000.
At the graduate level, financial aid is available in the form of federal student loans. Graduate students may borrow up to $20,500 per year through the Federal Unsubsidized Loan program. Students may borrow up to the remaining cost of education in the Federal Graduate PLUS Loan program. Alternatively, payment can be made each semester via electronic check, credit card, wire transfer, or a 5-month payment plan.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can be completed online at this link. The Katz School’s FAFSA school code is 002903. Be sure to complete the correct year’s application.
Additionally, there are several scholarships available to Jewish graduate students that students are encouraged to apply for:
Helen B and Lewis E Goldstein Scholarship Fund – The Helen B and Lewis E Goldstein Scholarship Fund is open to Jewish full-time students enrolled in an accredited undergraduate or graduate school in the United States.
Rose Biller Scholarship Fund – The Rose Biller Scholarship Fund is open to Jewish residents of NYC’s five boroughs, Westchester, and Long Island with financial need. It provides scholarships to Jewish men and women with significant economic need attending undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools.
Samuel Lemberg Scholarship Loan Fund – The Samuel Lemberg Scholarship Loan Fund provides interest-free loans to aid Jewish undergraduate and graduate college students who exhibit exceptional academic achievement and face financial difficulties pursuing a higher education. These loans must be repaid within ten years of graduation or termination of studies.
To get more information on these scholarships, please reach out to each organization directly. Please check scholarship websites for availability and deadlines. Scholarships are not available every semester.
Please note: The listed tuition costs are accurate as of the time of writing, but are not guaranteed. Please ask our advisor for updated pricing.
FAQs
What is an Occupational Therapy Doctorate?
The Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) offered through the Katz School of Science and Health at Yeshiva University is an outstanding choice for individuals pursuing a career in occupational therapy. Unlike most programs that culminate in a master’s degree, this 115-credit program is the first fully accredited, entry-level OT doctoral program in the New York area. Designed with flexibility in mind, students attend on-site just two days per week, engaging in a hands-on curriculum that integrates theory, research, clinical skills, and evidence-based practice to prepare them to deliver holistic, client-centered care. What sets this program apart is its accessibility: it allows students to earn a doctoral degree directly after completing a bachelor’s degree and the required prerequisites, making it a unique and efficient pathway into the profession.
The Sara Schenirer BA in Psychology with OT prerequisites includes all the prerequisite requirements of this post-graduate degree and saves students considerable time and expense. Information on that program can be found here.
Do I need a master’s degree to apply to this program?
No. This is an entry-level doctorate program, and you may begin after completing your bachelor’s degree and all required prerequisite courses.
Which college have you partnered with to offer this degree?
We are proud to have partnered with Katz School of Science and Health, a prestigious college featuring the first fully accredited entry-level OT doctoral program in the New York area. Yeshiva University is a US News and World Report Top 100 university. Forbes ranks Yeshiva University as a Top 100 university in the United States, Top 50 in the Northeast, and 57th among research universities nationwide.
Is this program accredited?
Yes. The Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number, c/o AOTA, is (301) 652-AOTA, and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.
Do I need a license to practice OT and does this degree lead to licensure?
All states require occupational therapists to be licensed. The program's graduates are eligible to sit for the national certification examination to qualify as an occupational therapist by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). An individual will be considered an occupational therapist, registered (OTR), following successful completion of the exam. Though most states require licensure in order to practice, the state licenses are usually contingent on successful passage of the NBCOT certification examination.
What do occupational therapists do and how much do they earn?
Occupational therapy is the only profession that helps people across the lifespan do the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of daily activities. Occupational therapy practitioners enable people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them promote health and prevent—or live better with—injury, illness, or disability.
One of the greatest advantages of a career in occupational therapy is the wide variety of opportunities available to occupational therapy graduates. Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate in school, helping people recovering from injury to regain skills, and providing support for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes. About half of occupational therapists work in offices of occupational therapy or in hospitals. Others work in schools, nursing homes, and home health services. There are also many specialized areas of practice in mental health settings, NICUs, wellness centers etc. To learn more about the unique impact that occupational therapists make in their patient’s lives, please visit the AOTA website.
As of early 2025, the median salary for occupational therapists in New York/ New Jersey was $90,000-100,000. Private practitioners and those in high-demand locations can earn considerably more.
Is occupational therapy a growing field?
Occupational therapy is ranked in the top 20 in U.S. News & World Report's Top HealthCare Jobs, and the demand for occupational therapists continues to increase. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of occupational therapists is projected to grow 14 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations.
How long will it take to complete the doctoral degree?
This degree can be completed in just 8 semesters (28 months).
What are the admission requirements?
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• Minimum undergraduate 3.0 GPA (data indicates the average GPA of students enrolled is 3.69)
• Successful completion of prerequisite courses (min. 3.0 GPA)
What are the required prerequisite courses?
• Two courses in the humanities or social sciences (Anthropology; Philosophy; Religion; Ethics; Cultural studies; Group dynamics) (3 credits each)
• Statistics (3 credits)
• Anatomy and physiology I w/ lab (4 credits)
• Anatomy and physiology II w/ lab (4 credits)
• Human Development or Lifespan (3 credits)
• Abnormal or Behavioral Psychology (3 credits)
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Questions & Guidance
Bonni Herman
Women's Student Advisor