Occupational Therapy | Clarkson University

Two Options for Your Occupational Therapy Future

The occupational therapy (OT) programs at Clarkson have been designed for students who are committed to helping people live life to the fullest by re-engaging in the day-to-day activities they value.

Undergraduate students at Clarkson who want to pursue a career in occupational therapy have two options for reaching their professional goals.

Option 1: Direct Entry Occupational Therapy BS/MS-OT Program

One application. Two healthcare degrees. Our Direct Entry healthcare program streamlines your path to becoming an occupational therapy professional.

Students complete four years of undergraduate study at Clarkson for a BS degree, then directly enter our MS in Occupational Therapy (MS-OT) program. There’s no second application, as long as all the requirements and academic criteria have been met.

Learn more about Clarkson’s Direct Entry Programs

Option 2: Pre-Occupational Therapy Advising Track

Clarkson offers a pre-occupational therapy program to highly qualified and motivated incoming high school students who wish to pursue a career in Occupational Therapy. Students accepted into the program will be invited to participate in activities in the Department of Occupational Therapy and will be granted preferential consideration for the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) program as long as they successfully complete the milestones and MSOT prerequisites.

Applicants will signify on their Clarkson application for admission a request to be accepted into the pre-occupational therapy plan. The records/transcripts of those applicants will be forwarded to the occupational therapy department for review. Those that matriculate at Clarkson and meet all requirements of this opportunity and formally apply will be granted an interview and given preferential consideration.

Successful applicants will be granted a seat in the next cohort of the MSOT class following their May graduation from Clarkson. Students that accelerate their graduation to December will be considered on a case-by-case basis for the cohort beginning the following fall semester. Ten seats will be reserved for Clarkson graduates in each incoming class. Being a pre-occupational therapy student provides a significant advantage in gaining acceptance into Clarkson’s occupational therapy program.

Relevant Health Courses and Minors

Students participating in our pre-occupational therapy track greatly benefit from Clarkson's course and minor offerings that are relevant to a future career in healthcare. After choosing from one of our 50-plus majors, students still find time in their four years at Clarkson to choose relevant minors to take their studies further. We also offer all of the required coursework needed to pursue a masters degree in occupational therapy including biology, chemistry, physics, math/calculus/statistics, English, psychology and sociology.

Popular Majors for Pre-Health Sciences

Relevant Healthcare Minors

For students who know that a career in the health field is in their future, we offer several minors that provide the right experience and coursework needed to meet their goals. They include:

Health Coaches Course

Pre-occupational therapy students can take Health Coaches, a yearlong course featuring weekly discussions with healthcare professionals on topics such as population health, chronic diseases in the healthcare system and community medicine. This course also includes a semester working with patients to gain service and experience hours in the medical field.

Facilities, Resources, & Research

Simulation Spaces

Our state-of-the-art Simulation Lab is an extension of the classroom that allows students to apply strategies learned in lectures to hands-on activities in a realistic environment. The Sim Lab consists of a fully functioning house and outdoor environment, complete with a vehicle. Mock hospital rooms also allow students to practice evaluations and interventions in acute care settings.

Take a Virtual Tour of Our Spaces

Cadaver Lab

An integral part of our undergraduate anatomy and physiology course is our Cadaver Lab, where students have the chance to work with an actual cadaver, something that isn't offered to undergraduate students at many other universities.

The Innovation Hub

Clarkson Ignite is an innovation ecosystem that connects students to faculty, staff, alumni, and community leaders to gain critical hands-on, creative experience. The Innovation Hub (above), located in the heart of campus, is home to a variety of innovation spaces such as the Dorf Makerspace and Digital Making Suite.

Personalized Attention & Advising

At Clarkson, we provide our undergraduate healthcare students with a team of staff from across the University to help plan course schedules, develop the credentials needed to get complete requirements for our graduate programs, study for placement exams and successfully enter their direct entry program of choice. Every student has a personalized experience to reach their individual goals.

The Office of University Advising provides a Pre-Health Student Advisor who specializes in mentoring and coaching our students throughout their time at Clarkson to reach their goals. Our Career Center works with students to assist in helping them find relevant internships and co-op opportunities that will boost their resumes and give them the experience needed to navigate the vast healthcare industry. Our faculty, especially in the departments of biology, chemistry and biochemistry, and psychology are experienced in providing additional mentorship to students who are eager to find success in healthcare.

Learn about the Office of University Advising

Pre-Occupational Therapy