Frequently Asked Questions

What is an accelerated program?

An accelerated degree program allows students to seamlessly complete undergraduate and graduate degrees in less time than would be required to complete both of these degrees separately. Russell Sage College offers several majors that lead to the MS in Occupational Therapy. During the first three years of undergraduate coursework students complete major requirements for the bachelor degree, including RSC general education courses and OT program prerequisites. Students who meet graduate OT Program admission requirements can accelerate into the master's program by enrolling in first year OT graduate coursework during their fourth year of undergraduate studies. At the end of the fourth year students are awarded a baccalaureate degree in their undergraduate major, and upon completion of graduate program requirements, the master's degree is awarded in OT. Entry into this accelerated program and completion of undergraduate major and prerequisite courses with the required grade point average guarantees the student acceptance into the MS in Occupational Therapy Program.

What are the admission requirements for an accelerated bachelor's degree leading to the MS in Occupational Therapy?

High School Applicants who demonstrate the following profile:

  • High school minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of 85%
  • High school minimum science GPA of 85%
  • Minimum combined SAT score of 1050
  • High school class rank in top 20%

Transfer Applicants who demonstrate the following profile:

  • Overall minimum 3.0 GPA for all college course work
  • Minimum grades of "C" or better in all OT Program prerequisite courses to be transferred from another institution

If I'm not initially accepted into an accelerated degree program, what course sequence do I follow to be considered for admission to the graduate program in Occupational Therapy?

Students may follow the same curricular sequence as students accepted into an accelerated degree program. After a minimum of one full year of RSC coursework, students may request a change of major to the accelerated degree program if their GPA meets the OT graduate program requirements.

In addition to the accelerated 3+2 programs of study, any Russell Sage College major may be completed in a 4+2 format, where the student completes the requirements for her undergraduate major and prerequisites for Occupational Therapy in the typical undergraduate four-year sequence. Students who maintain the GPA requirements are guaranteed acceptance to the Occupational Therapy Program at Sage Graduate School, upon completion of their undergraduate degrees and OT Program prerequisites. Some students may find this 4+2 format to be more conducive to success and to allow greater latitude for additional electives. Qualified RSC students will be given priority consideration for admission into the MS in OT Program.

Once accepted, what are the requirements to maintain my status in the accelerated degree program?

Students who demonstrate the following profile are guaranteed acceleration into the MS in Occupational Therapy Program:

  • Completion of a minimum of one year in residence at RSC to meet college major and general education requirements, and graduate program prerequisites
  • Overall minimum 3.0 GPA for all college coursework
  • Minimum grades of "C" or better in the seven OT Program prerequisites
  • Documentation of at least 20 hours of clinical observation under the supervision of an occupational therapist before beginning the professional program

Students who are unable to achieve the standards listed above are not eligible to accelerate into the MS in OT Program. They will complete electives, by advisement, during their fourth undergraduate year to complete the bachelor's degree in their chosen majors. The first formal review of the student's undergraduate transcript will occur after the fall semester of the third year of studies.

Students who wish to reapply to the OT graduate program may be advised to repeat specified courses to raise their GPAs. Similarly, students who do not choose to continue into the graduate program will complete electives, by advisement, during their fourth year of studies.

What are my undergraduate degree options in this accelerated degree program?

There are multiple undergraduate majors that provide an excellent foundation for a career in Occupational Therapy. These majors include: Biology, Creative Arts in Therapy, Health Sciences, Psychology, Sociology, and Spanish. These 3+2 programs are designed so that major coursework, college general education requirements and OT Program prerequisites can be completed within the first three years of studies. Fourth year coursework is comprised of electives or, qualified students can accelerate into graduate coursework in occupational therapy or other graduate programs.

For potential occupational therapy students who have specific interests in other areas of undergraduate study, the following Russell Sage College majors can also be completed in a 3 + 2 model: Criminal Justice, History, Interdisciplinary Studies, or Mathematics. Students who select from among these liberal arts majors need to complete the following prerequisite courses prior to entry into the OT Program: Anatomy & Physiology I and II; Physics I; Statistics; Introduction to Psychology; Human Development, and Abnormal Psychology.

What additional procedures do I need to follow to accelerate into the MS in OT Program?

By January 15 of the third year (or equivalent) of undergraduate academic study at RSC, students who are accelerating into the MS in OT program will complete the following (submit all paperwork to the OT Program office):