No Longer Admitting after 2018: Occupational Therapy Combined B.S./M.S. Program
Due to a recent mandate by ACOTE, our accrediting body, TU will admit the last Combined BS/MS cohort in 2018. Undergraduate students pursuing
a career in Occupational Therapy should plan to complete OT graduate program prerequisites
while earning their undergraduate degree.
Important Program Announcement
The announcement below contains important information about the discontinuation of
the Occupational Therapy Combined BS/MS Program. Please carefully review the announcement
for more imformation, and Contact Us if you have any additional questions.
Announcement for Freshman TU Applicants Fall 2018 and later (PDF)
General Program Information: For Students Currently In Our Program
Accelerate your learning and maximize your time in the classroom through this joint
degree program. Towson University’s combined B.S./M.S. program allows you to earn
a B.S. in occupation and wellbeing and a master’s degree in occupational therapy in
a total of 5 years. The program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational
Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association located
at 4720 Montgomery Lane, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814-3449. (ACOTE 301-652-AOTA,
www.acoteonline.org)
This program is a screened major, which means you must first apply to Towson, then
apply to this program during the second semester of your freshman year. The program
does not begin until you have completed a minimum of 23 units of college-level work,
including prerequisites and service activities. In addition to satisfactory completion
of course work, you must demonstrate appropriate professional behaviors and skills
prior to beginning clinical/ internship experiences. Students who have lower than
a 3.00 GPA will not be permitted to enroll in Level II Fieldwork.
You’ll apply what you learn in fieldwork courses. Level I Fieldwork is embedded in
course related to mental health, physical rehabilitation, children and youth, and
community-based practice. Level II Fieldwork is a full-time commitment often requiring
additional time for preparation in the evenings and on weekends. To support students
on Level II fieldwork, you will not be concurrently enrolled in any other classes.
You are also strongly advised not to work during this time. While local sites (within
90 miles of the university) are available, you may need to be assigned out of the
local area or out-of-state for one or both of the fieldwork experiences.
Learn more about the degree requirements in the Undergraduate Catalog.
National Certification
When you graduate, you are eligible to sit for the National Certification Examination
for the Occupational Therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy NBCOT. After successfully completing the exam, you will be an occupational therapist,
registered (OTR). Most states require licensure to practice. However, state licenses
are usually based on the results of the NBCOT certification examination. (Persons
convicted of felonies may be unable to sit for the certification examination and should
inquire in advance of program entry regarding eligibility.)
Why Towson?
Experienced Faculty
Our full-time faculty have years of experience teaching, conducting research and in clinical practice.
Professors encourage you to participate in professional organizations and networking
opportunities and provide direct supervision and guidance in your professional development.
Plan Your Fieldwork
Towson is ideally located in the metropolitan Baltimore-Washington area with access
to a large number of health, education, and community-related fieldwork settings. Gain experience with a range of client populations in school or healthcare
settings or through home or community care.