Accelerated Master of Science in Occupational Therapy ( BS Psych/MS OT)
Occupational Therapy is a fast-growing and rewarding field that will allow you to work in hospitals, clinics, schools, business, industry, and community settings, serving persons of all ages with developmental, physical, psychiatric, or behavioral disabilities. Occupational Therapists also promote health and help prevent disease and disability through occupation-centered interventions and environmental adaptations.
Dominican University of California provides an accelerated OT program that spans five and a half years, culminating in a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy. The accelerated (4+1.5) program, known as the BSPsych/MSOT, is designed to allow students to earn both a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology and a Master of Science (MS) in Occupational Therapy. The program will start accepting students into the OT professional coursework in their junior year of undergraduate studies, starting in Fall 2025.
Additional Requirements
To students interested in entering the MS occupational therapy program during their junior year of undergraduate studies, please note the additional admission requirements below.
Prerequisite courses: Students must complete all eleven prerequisite courses by the end of the summer session of their Sophomore year in order to progress into the professional portion of the Occupational Therapy program.
Prerequisite course grades: Students who fail (‘C-’ or less) more than one of the eleven prerequisite courses are not eligible to progress in the MS Occupational Therapy program. This includes failing a repeated course.
GPA requirements: Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in all prerequisite courses and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in all lower division college coursework. Any student who falls below a cumulative 3.0 GPA for one semester must meet the GPA requirements the following semester in order to be eligible to progress into the MSOT program. Any student who falls below a cumulative 3.0 GPA for a second semester is ineligible to progress into the MS Occupational Therapy program.
Field placement, volunteer hours, or paid work: All students progressing into the MS Occupational Therapy program must have documented evidence of 40 hours of field placement, volunteer or paid work in a human service setting within the last year. A minimum of 20 hours must be supervised by a licensed occupational therapist.
Admission and waitlist: In the event that more eligible students apply for admission to the MS Occupational Therapy program in their junior year than space permits, admission will be determined on the basis of cumulative GPA. Current DUC students not accepted into the MSOT program can request to be placed on the waitlist. Students requesting to be placed on the waitlist, must do so by the last day of the early registration period to be given priority over external transfer students applying for program admission. A waiting list will be maintained as needed in the occupational therapy department of current DUC students wishing to be admitted into the MSOT program. As space becomes available, students will be admitted once per semester from the waitlist on the basis of cumulative grade point average only.
Petition to Progress form: Students applying to progress into the MSOT Occupational Therapy program in their junior year must complete and submit a Petition to Progress form, with all required documentation, by April 15th. Students may not progress into the MSOT program without submitting the form by the deadline
GPA and course requirements: Students who progress into the MS Occupational Therapy program must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 at all times while enrolled in the MSOT program. Students with a cumulative GPA below 3.0 for one semester will be placed on academic probation. A second semester of a below 3.0 cumulative GPA may result in program dismissal. Students must pass all OT courses with a ‘B-’ or better. Students who receive more than one ‘C’ or less in an OT course are subject to dismissal from the MSOT Program.
Criminal background check: The Department of Occupational Therapy requires that students have a clear criminal background check prior to admission to the junior year and throughout the academic program.
Health Requirements: Students must meet the following health requirements in the junior year and beyond. All required documents must be submitted and/or updated annually to CastleBranch.com, by September 1st beginning in the junior year. Failure to meet these requirements may result in ineligibility for some fieldwork experiences and a delay in graduation.
- continuous health insurance coverage
- current health examination
- evidence of CPR certification
- evidence of immunizations for and/or immunity to Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis (whooping cough): Hepatitis B, Rubella, Rubeola (Measles)
- a clear tuberculin test
Please contact the OT Department prior to admissions if you are unable to meet the background check or health requirements.
Notification of policies: Students will be notified of these policies by the DUC admissions staff, by OT department academic advisors, on the Moodle site for the occupational therapy department, by faculty in the OT Seminar classes (OT 1002, OT 1003, OT 1004), by the OT Program Administrator, and the OT Program Director. Copies of this policy and the Petition to Progress form will be given to the student during the academic advising period.
Questions regarding requirements or policies for entrance into the accelerated MSOT program may be directed to the admissions staff or the OT Chair/Program Director.
See the Occupational Therapy Student Handbook for other OT Departmental Policies
Accelerated Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (BS Psych/MS OT)
The course requirements for this accelerated program leading to a Master’s in Occupational Therapy can be accomplished by completing the major requirements for
Psychology (BS) and the following OT requirements.
Undergraduate Requirements
Lower Division Prerequisites:
| BIO 2500 | Human Anatomy | 3.00 units |
| BIO 2505 | Human Anatomy Lab | 1.00 unit |
| BIO 2600 | Human Physiology | 3.00 units |
| BIO 2605 | Human Physiology Lab | 1.00 unit |
| OT 1002 | Occupation and Others | 1.00 unit |
| OT 1003 | Occupation and Community | 1.00 unit |
| OT 1004 | Occupation as Therapy | 1.00 unit |
| PSY 1100 | Introduction to Psychology | 4.00 units |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Upper Division Prerequisites:
| OT 3010 | Functional Neuroscience in Occupational Therapy | 3.00 units |
| PSY 3120 | Child & Adolescent Development | 4.00 units |
| PSY 3121 | Adult Development & Aging | 4.00 units |
| PSY 3141 | Abnormal Psychology | 4.00 units |
| PSY 3187 | Statistics for Health & Behavioral Sciences | 4.00 units |
| Total Credit Hours: | 19 |
Recommended Psychology Electives (Group 1):
| PSY 3173 | Sensation and Perception | 4.00 units |
| PSY 3175 | Physiological Psychology | 4.00 units |
| PSY 4016 | Psychopharmacology | 4.00 units |
OT Undergraduate Requirements:
| OT 3011 | Conditions in Occupational Therapy | 2.00 units |
| OT 3012 | Foundations of Occupational Therapy | 4.00 units |
| OTL 3012 | Foundations in Occupational Therapy Lab | 0.00 units |
| OT 3014 | Human Movement Analysis | 3.00 units |
| OTL 3014 | Human Movement Analysis Lab | 0.00 units |
| OT 3015 | Psychosocial Aspects of Occupation I | 3.00 units |
| OTL 3015 | Psychosocial Aspects of Occupation I Lab | 0.00 units |
| OT 3018 | Occupational Therapy Fundamental Skills for Assessment & Intervention | 2.00 units |
| OTL 3018 | Occupational Therapy Fundamental Skills for Assessment & Intervention Lab | 0.00 units |
| OT 3051 | Professional Identity Seminar I | 1.00 unit |
| OT 3115 | Psychosocial Aspects of Occupation II | 4.00 units |
| OTL 3115 | Psychosocial Aspects of Occupation II Lab | 0.00 units |
| OT 3117 | Occupations of Adults and Seniors I | 4.00 units |
| OTL 3117 | Occupations of Adults and Seniors I Lab | 0.00 units |
| OT 5052 | Professional Identity Seminar II | 1.00 unit |
| OT 5117 | Occupations Adults and Seniors II | 5.00 units |
| OTL 5117 | Occupations of Adults and Seniors II Lab | 0.00 units |
| OT 5121 | Evidence Based Practitioner | 3.00 units |
| Total Credit Hours: | 32 |
Graduate Requirements
| OT 5016 | Occupations of Children and Adolescents I | 4.00 units |
| OTL 5016 | Occupations of Children and Adolescents I Lab | 0.00 units |
| OT 5019 | Culture and Ethics in Occupational Therapy | 3.00 units |
| OT 5020 | Assistive Technology in Occupational Therapy | 3.00 units |
| OT 5053 | Professional Identity Seminar III | 1.00 unit |
| OT 5101 | Health Policy, Leadership and Mangement in Occupational Therapy | 3.00 units |
| OT 5104 | Educational Principles and Practices in Occupational Therapy | 3.00 units |
| OT 5116 | Occupations of Children and Adolescents II | 5.00 units |
| OTL 5116 | Occupations of Children and Adolescents II Lab | 0.00 units |
| OT 5118 | Occupations of Adults and Seniors III | 2.00 units |
| OT 5130 | Level II Fieldwork Placement 1 | 6.00 units |
| OT 5131 | Level II Fieldwork Placement 2 | 6.00 units |
| OT 52XX | OT Special Topics 1 | 1.00 unit |
| Total Credit Hours: | 37 |
Total Credit Hours: 103