Pre-Occupational Therapy Path

We have an articulation agreement with the Occupational Therapy Program at Clarkson University to help you gain acceptance. This program reserves two seats in the incoming class for Plattsburgh graduates who meet their acceptance criteria.

The program has the following requirements:

1. A bachelor’s degree including the following prerequisite courses:

OT Prerequisites

Content Area	Course
General Psychology	PSY 101 General Psychology
Abnormal Psychology	PSY 443 Abnormal Psychology (prerequisite PSY 340)
Developmental Psychology	PSY 311 Human Development
Statistics	STAT 161 Statistics or BIO 333 Biostatistics
Biology	BIO 101General Biology or other BIO
Physics/Kinesiology	PHY 111 General Physics or PHY 103 Physics for Life Sciences
Anatomy (A & P I)	BIO 326 Human & Physiology I
Physiology (A & P II)	BIO 327 Human Anatomy & II
English Comprehension	ENG 100 or other ENG
Critical Thinking	Upper level course within major
Social Science	ANT/ HIS/ HDF/SOC
Social Science	ANT/ HIS/ HDF/SOC

• A grade less than 2.0 (C) is not acceptable for any pre-requisite course
• Overall GPA for all required courses must be at least a 3.2
• Overall SUNY Plattsburgh undergraduate GPA must be no less than 3.0
• Graduate in good standing with a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Plattsburgh.

2. Supplemental Application Requirement

3D skill/craft: The 3D requirement may be fulfilled by a college course or a portfolio of individual work (i.e., self-taught or outside a university setting) involving actual hands-on manipulation of media/materials. Examples include a 3D science or engineering project, woodworking, sculpting, loom work, fly tying, boat making, electric car construction, ceramics, sewing, beading, knitting, etc. The artifacts should be the equivalent of 45 hours of work or 3 credits.

3. Application and Essay

Complete the application and essay (state your interest in the field of Occupational Therapy). Applicants must complete the OTCAS (Occupational Therapy Centralized Application System) application, meeting all deadlines and requirements. At all times remain in good standing with SUNY Plattsburgh. This includes disciplinary action and legal action on or off campus.

4. Interview

The candidate will meet with Clarkson University OT faculty/staff at least twice prior to their interview with the SUNY Plattsburgh Health Science Committee. This may be completed through tele-communication services. The candidate must have a successful on-campus interview at Clarkson University.

5. Letters of Recommendation

A total of three letters are required, one of which must be from an Occupational Therapist or COTA. A second letter must come from the SUNY Plattsburgh Health Science Committee.

6. Experience

All applicants must have a minimum of 40 hours of related experience at the time of application.

To be considered for the fall semester start, the applicant must apply with a verified application by September 20th of their senior year.

Clarkson University OT Program reserves the right of final decision.

This collaborative agreement provides for:

• Preferred acceptance (on a space available basis) into the occupational therapy master’s or doctorate degree programs, or the physical therapy doctoral degree program, at the Russell Sage College School of Health Science for students who have
  1. completed a Sage application for OT and program-specific prerequisite courses,
  2. completed an acceptable series of courses at SUNY Plattsburgh leading to a baccalaureate degree, and
  3. obtained a satisfactory recommendation from SUNY Plattsburgh faculty;
• Waiver of the Russell Sage College School of Health Science application fee;
• Early acceptance;
• Access to Russell Sage College School of Health Science advisors to coordinate undergraduate electives and coursework to satisfy prerequisites for the graduate program (contact appropriate individuals as indicated below);
• Opportunity to apply early for graduate assistantships at Russell Sage College School of Health Science

 

Terms of the Agreement: Occupational Therapy Admission

SUNY Plattsburgh students will be awarded preferred admission to the Russell Sage College School of Health Science for the M.S. in OT degree, or a doctorate in OT (OTD), who demonstrate the following:

• Earned baccalaureate degree
• Minimum overall 3.25 GPA that includes the completion of occupational therapy program prerequisite courses with grades of C or better (see prerequisite courses listed below) and a 3.0 prerequisite science GPA (Anatomy and Physiology I and II)

To be given priority in placement in the OT program, students agree to submit the following information by June 1 of the year preceding graduation from SUNY Plattsburgh:

1. Complete graduate application online
   • The career goals essay and resume can be submitted with the online application.
   • For OTD candidates: Submission of a clear and concise personal essay supporting the applicant’s rationale to pursue the OTD as a degree with careful attention to your ideas toward a desired doctoral capstone experience. The doctoral capstone is a 14-week practicum experience in an advanced area of learning that occurs separate from your level II fieldwork experiences. Consider a topic area you may be interested in in any of the following areas of occupational therapy: clinical practice skills, research skills, administration, leadership, program and policy development, advocacy, education, or theory development.
   • The supplemental forms can be emailed as attachments to [email protected] this includes: clinical observation form, program prerequisite record, OT program academic standards statement.

Find forms online

2. Email the OT Department, [email protected], and Russell Sage College School of Health Science Graduate Admissions, [email protected], indicating that the application has been submitted via the articulation agreement with the indicated school.
3. Submit official transcripts from all college institutions attended.
4. Submit one letter of reference from the SUNY Plattsburgh faculty and an additional recommendation letter.

By June 1 of the year preceding graduation from SUNY Plattsburgh