Direct Entry Healthcare Programs | Clarkson University

Accelerate Your Future as a Healthcare Professional

You envision a future innovating and directing patient care. Getting you right where you want to be, Clarkson University’s Direct Entry Healthcare programs drive your admission into a graduate degree in physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician assistant studies, or healthcare management. Embark on an impactful career from the moment you set foot on campus.

What to Expect in Clarkson's Direct Entry Healthcare Programs

Fast-track your education and streamline your path toward your career in Clarkson’s Direct Entry Healthcare programs.

Upon fulfilling all admission requirements and academic criteria, you are guaranteed a spot in one of our competitive graduate healthcare professional programs: Doctor of Physical Therapy, MS in Occupational Therapy, MS in Physician Assistant Studies or MBA or MS in healthcare management.

Build your path toward your goals with assistance from your advisor. Design an individualized plan of study pulling from a wide variety of career-relevant majors and minors speaking toward your interests. In the process, you navigate the curriculum with your advisor in pursuit of admission to one of Clarkson’s healthcare professional programs.

After completing the Direct Entry program, enter the workforce with a bachelor's and a master's or doctorate in your chosen profession.

U.S. News & World Report recognizes our graduate health professional programs as among the best in the nation. Placement rates attest to this distinction and the quality and rigor of a Clarkson education: 93 to 97 percent of graduates pursue employment in their respective fields. Commit to this career path and become a part of our prestigious legacy.

Curriculum

Our Direct Entry Healthcare programs lead into one of the following graduate healthcare professional programs:

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT): Learn how to treat patients with injuries, disabilities or other health conditions through the use of prescribed exercises, personalized care and education. Learn more about the DPT program, including requirements and prerequisites.
Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MS-OT): Learn to develop personalized treatment plans that aid patient recovery in response to a range of injuries and conditions. Prepare to improve their quality of life through adaptive movements, assistive technology, targeted exercise and education. Learn more about the MS in Occupational Therapy, including requirements and prerequisites.
MS in Physician Assistant Studies (MS-PA): Gain the knowledge needed to make accurate diagnoses and develop treatment plans in a variety of healthcare settings and under the supervision of a licensed physician. Learn more about the MS in Physician Assistant Studies, including requirements and prerequisites.
Healthcare management (MS, MBA): Healthcare management professionals are leaders with exceptional business skills and an in-depth understanding of healthcare systems. Learn more about the MBA in healthcare management, the MS in healthcare data analytics and the MS in clinical leadership in healthcare management.

Advising

Persevere stage by stage and challenge by challenge with your advisor, shaping your journey forward together. As a Direct Entry student, you collaborate with your advisor to design a personalized course of study to reach your goals and prepare for admission to a graduate health professional program.

Clarkson collectively supports your commitment and drive: with further assistance from a team across the University, you gain the right credentials, study for placement exams and apply to the programs of your choosing. Learn more about advising at Clarkson.

Relevant Majors and Minors

Get your start in a relevant science or engineering bachelor’s program:

Refine your focus and build your knowledge base with one or more related minors:

Hands-on Learning

Immerse yourself in the healthcare field’s fast-paced environment, evidence-based approach to patient care and current challenges even before you begin your graduate degree. Apply your knowledge outside of the classroom in one or more of the following pre-professional experiences:

"I chose to attend Clarkson because I liked the small class size and the focus on learning and providing medical care to the local community. Without a doubt, I gained essential experience and insights here that helped me be understanding and compassionate and grow into the kind of provider I sought to be."

Kylie Broughal '18, MS in Physician Assistant Studies

Career Possibilities

Pursue a career as an occupational or physical therapist, physician assistant or in another health professional role conducting or utilizing research to improve patient care.

Our graduates dedicate themselves to this mission in hospitals, private practices, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, government agencies, research centers and other healthcare settings.

Recent Employers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 13 percent growth for healthcare careers over the next decade. Our graduates face the challenge and devote themselves to improving quality of life for patients in positions with: