Occupational Therapy of Medgar Evers College

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OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

PROGRAM

BECOME AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST AT SUNY/DOWNSTATE

SUNY Downstate College of Health Related Professions offers qualified MEC students preferred admission to a graduate level professional course of study leading to the Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy. The Downstate program is fully accredited and designed to prepare students for professional practice as occupational therapists. Graduates who take and pass the national certification examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT), are entitled to use the designation “Occupational Therapist, Registered” (OTR).

Anticipated starting salary range: $45,000 – $50,000

Tell me about the Profession

What Career Opportunities would I have as an Occupational Therapist?

Tell me more about SUNY/Downstate's M.S. degree program in OT.

What are SUNY/Downstate's minimum admission requirements?

What courses should I take at MEC?

Whom should I contact at MEC?

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The Profession of Occupational Therapy

"Occupational Therapy restores and enhances human performance by developing the adaptive skills and functions essential for a productive life. Occupational Therapists work with individuals whose abilities to cope with the tasks of daily living are threatened or impaired by developmental deficits, injury, illness or disability. Based on the results of assessments, occupational therapists implement treatment which utilizes purposeful activities to prevent, minimize, or correct physical, cognitive or emotional deficits which effect the life of the individual.”
(College of Health Related Professions/College of Nursing 1996-1999 Bulletin, State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn, page 38.)

For further information about the profession of a Occupational Therapist, contact the American Occupational Therapy Association at www.aota.org

or contact the American Occupational Therapy Foundation at www.aotf.org

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Career Opportunities as a Registered Occupational Therapist

Occupational Therapists have excellent career opportunities working as clinicians, supervisors, administrators, consultants and educators in a variety of settings. Numerous positions are available in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, ambulatory care centers, home health agencies, nursing homes, schools, psychiatric facilities, community agencies, and private practice.

"The shortage of OTRs (Registered Occupational Therapists) and COTAs (Certified Occupational Therapist Assistants) is estimated to have increased by 25 percent since 1989 and is expected to continue. Much of OT practice is moving from the institutional setting to the community setting.”
(CUNY Health Professions Task Force Final Report, May 1995, page 44.)

Students looking to learn more about the career opportunities as an Occupational Therapist and other allied health careers are invited to attend yearly Allied Health Career Seminars given at MEC by professionals practicing in their field.

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Downstate's M.S. Degree Program in Occupational Therapy

The Occupational Therapy program at SUNY/Downstate is a two and a half-year, 83 credit, graduate curriculum leading to an Master of Science degree. The program of study integrates the health sciences with occupational therapy foundations & practice, and research theory & application. It includes 5 credits of Fieldwork I experiences and 10 required credits of Fieldwork II experiences. Students who choose to complete an additional Fieldwork II elective earn additional credits, based upon the length of the elective Fieldwork II experience.

Applicants must have first earned a baccalaureate degree (minimum 120 credits) which include the pre-professional (prerequisite) course requirements. Once admitted, students complete 83 credits of upper level courses (85-88 with Specialty elective) to be awarded the Master of Science degree.

For more specific information about the OT program of study at SUNY/Downstate go to

www.downstate.edu/CHRP/ot

Interested MEC students are also invited
to go to the SUNY/CHRP campus to attend a
Downstate OT open house

When you are ready to apply to the Downstate OT program click on the forms you need:

CHRP graduate application form

letters of recommendation form

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Minimum Admission requirements

120 college credits (Bachelor Degree) including:

Anatomy & Physiology with lab
8 credits

General Biology with lab
8 credits

General Chemistry with lab

4 credits

Pre-calculus

3 credits
Statistics

3 credits

English (composition)

3 credits
General, Abnormal & Life Span Psychology

9 credits

Sociology

3 credits

Other recommended courses:
Physics 3-4 credits

Computer Science course 3 credits
Neuropsychology and/or Experimental Psychology 3-6 credits

Click here for a Suggested Program of Study for MEC students who want to meet
the Admissions requirement of the Occupational Therapy Program at SUNY/Downstate

Other requirements

Students should have a minimum Grade point average of 3.2
A grade of "B" is expected in all science courses
Students are required to take the GRE
3 letters of recommendation at the time of application
Students should have health care experience

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OPEN HOUSE SCHEDULE
at SUNY DOWNSTATE for the OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PROGRAM

The Occupational Therapy Program hosts Open House seminars throughout the year. The Open House is led by the Chairperson, Dr. Joyce S. Sabari, and other faculty members who will provide information concerning a career as an Occupational Therapist, the Masters level Occupational Therapy program at Downstate, and the admission requirements for the program. Students may also bring copies of their college transcripts for individual counseling following the formal presentation.

For information on the yearly INFORMATION SESSIONS/OPEN HOUSES given at SUNY/Downstate for OT and other allied health fields, visit

http://sls.downstate.edu/admissions/chrp/sessions.html

All meetings are held at:
The Health Science Education Building
395 Lenox Road
Brooklyn

Please call the Occupational Therapy Department at (718) 270-7730 for room location and to register to attend an information session.

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People to Contact at Medgar Evers College

Students increase their chances for acceptance by participating in this program offered specifically for MEC students through the articulation agreement.

Dr. Margaret A. Carroll is the Biology Department’s Allied Health advisor and SUNY/CHRP Articulation Agreement Coordinator.

Students should be Biology Majors seeking a B.S. in Biology degree and are required to meet with Dr. Carroll before applying for admission to SUNY/CHRP.

Dr. Carroll is located in room C-326C and can be reached at 718-270-6206 or by email Students can also leave a written message in her mailbox in room C-326A.

For more information about SUNY/Downstate College of Health Related Professions visit their web site at
www.downstate.edu/CHRP/default.html

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Suggested Program of Study for MEC Students

who want to meet the admissions requirement of the Occupational Therapy graduate program at SUNY/Downstate

First Semester 16 Credits			Second Semester 16 Credits
ENGL 112	College Composition I	3	BIO 202	General Biology II	4
FS 101	Freshman Seminar I	1	ENGL 150	College Composition II	3
MTH 151	Precalculus	4	CHM 202	General Chem. II	4
BIO 201	General Biology I	4	BIO 102	Pre-professional Career Seminar	1
CHM 201	General Chem. I	4	BIO 251	Anat. & Phys. I	4

Third Semester                                 16 Credits

Fourth Semester                     16 Credits

SPCH 102

Fundamentals of Speech

3

ENGL 211

Introduction to Literature

3

BIO 252

Anat. & Phys. II

4

PSYC 101

Introduction to Psychology

3

ART 100

Introduction to World Art

2

HIST 200

Growth & Development Of the USA

3

HIST 101

World Civilization I

3

SOC 101

Introduction to Sociology

3

BIO 302

Genetics

4

MTH 209

Elementary Statistics

4

Fifth Semester                                 16 Credits

Sixth Semester                        16 Credits

PHY 205

Introduction to Physics I

4

PHY 206

Physics II

4

MTH 202

Calculus I

4

MTH 203

Calculus II

4

CHM 303

Organic Chemistry I

4

CHM 304

Organic Chemistry II

4

BIO XXX

BIO Elective (300-400 level)

4

BIO XXX

BIO Elective (300-400 level)

4

Seventh Semester                          16 Credits

Eighth Semester                      16 Credits

CS 100

Internet & Web Technologies

3

SSC 307

World Geography

3

PHIL 101

Introduction to Logic

3

BIO 499

Senior Seminar

1

PSYC 301

Abnormal Psychology

3

SSC 101

Cultural, Society & Social Change

3

ENGL 300

Masterpieces of World Literature

3

BIO XXX

BIO Elective (300-400 level)

4

BIO XXX

BIO Elective (300-400 level)

4

PSYC 229

Human Development across the Life Span

3

MUS 100

Introduction to Music

2

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Notes

Medgar Evers students interested in a career as an Occupational Therapist are invited to join the
Collegiate Science & Technology Entry Program (CSTEP).
This program is funded through a grant from the NYS Education Department and is designed to increase the number of historically underrepresented and economically disadvantaged undergraduate students who successfully complete pre-professional education programs of study that lead to careers in Biology, Applied Biology, Medical and Paramedical fields.

CSTEP provides students with special courses, enrichment activities, tutoring services and opportunities for travel and paid research internships.

Students interested should contact Dr. Edward Catapane, CSTEP Program Director.

Students should apply to the Department of Biology for an A.S. Degree in Science upon successful completion of the courses listed in the first four semesters.

Students should apply to the Department of Biology for an B.S. Degree in Biology upon successful completion of the courses listed in all eight semesters.

Students who successfully complete the courses listed in all 8 semesters, with a GPA of at least 3.2, and earn the degree of Bachelor of Science in Biology, will have met all the prerequisite course requirements, enabling them to apply for admission into the SUNY/Downstate Occupational Therapy M.S. Degree Program.

Students interested in the Occupational Therapy M.S. Degree Program are reminded that they must take the GRE before applying to the Downstate program.

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