Occupational Therapy Track

Choose Your Path to a Career in OT

Becoming an occupational therapist starts with a strong academic foundation — and at Touro LAS, there’s more than one way to get there. Whether you’re applying straight from high school or already started college, we offer two pathways to the MS in Occupational Therapy at Touro’s School of Health Sciences (SHS).

As Part of Your LAS Application: Apply to the Integrated Health Sciences Honors Track

If you’re still in high school or seminary and know you’d like to become an OT you may want to consider the Touro LAS Integrated Health Sciences Honors Track to earn conditional early admission to the MS in OT program at Touro’s School of Health Sciences (SHS). 

You’ll start by applying to Touro LAS and, once accepted, you can submit your application to the honors track. If you're confident about your path and ready to commit to a career in OT, this program offers peace of mind and a clear path.

On this track, you’ll benefit from:

• Academic and career mentoring from both LAS and SHS faculty
• A streamlined, direct transition into the graduate OT program
• Priority placement. You’ll still need to apply through OTCAS, but will receive preferential consideration

Current LAS Students: Apply to the Dual BS/MS in OT

Although some students come in knowing they want to pursue OT, others find OT along the way and complete their prerequisite coursework to apply to the dual BS/MS in occupational therapy at Touro SHS. Once you’ve acquired at least 60 undergraduate credits at Touro LAS, including the required OT prerequisites, you’ll be eligible to apply. 

With preferred admission consideration for LAS students, this program offers an efficient and focused path to earning two degrees so you can move toward licensure efficiently. And, because many students enter with prior credits from seminary, our advisors will help you map out exactly what you need to apply to the dual degree program.

Prerequisite Course List for the BS/MS in OT

To apply to the Touro BS/MS program in OT, you need to complete at least 60 credits in the liberal arts and sciences, but you can apply when 45 credits are completed and 15 are in progress.

Required Science Courses (12 credits)

8 credits of Anatomy and Physiology (with labs)

4 credits of science, with labs. You can choose from Chemistry, Physics, or Biology 

Additional Required Courses (21 credits)

3 credits of Sociology or Cultural Anthropology

6 credits of English or Communication with a writing component

3 credits of Statistics (Note: Biostatistics is preferred, and additional liberal arts credits may be required if you complete business statistics.)

3 credits of General Psychology or Introduction to Psychology

3 credits of Developmental Psychology/Human Development (Note: Courses should address development across the lifespan and may be taken in 1 or more courses.)

3 credits of Psychopathic Psychology or Abnormal Psychology 

General Courses (18 credits)

You must complete additional credits in the Liberal Arts & Sciences (e.g., science, history) to fulfill the full 60 prerequisite credits, and we recommend no more than 12 credits in any single subject area. Additionally, students with previous OT experience or courses are not exempt from satisfying all admission requirements and completing all courses in the BS/MS degree program. 

Once you graduate from the Touro SHS BS/MS program, you’ll be well-prepared and eligible to sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam to receive OTR® certification and become a certified occupational therapist.

For more information about admissions requirements, visit Touro’s School of Health Sciences website.

What to Expect as a Pre-OT Student at LAS

As a pre-OT student at LAS, you’ll take core science courses in biology, sociology, psychology, anatomy, and physiology — all aligned with OT program prerequisites — and benefit from hands-on learning, dedicated advising, and individualized guidance.

Here’s what sets the pre-occupational therapy experience at LAS apart:

From application to graduation, everything you’ll experience at Touro LAS is designed to move you forward into the OT career that’s waiting for you.

Strengthen Your Foundation for Graduate Study

As a pre-OT student, you’ll have access to opportunities that not only enrich your undergraduate education but also prepare you for Touro’s graduate OT program and the job market. Here are a few: 

• Faculty-Led Research: Biology majors in the OT track complete a hands-on research course (BIO 494), often in partnership with top labs at institutions like Cornell, Columbia, and Memorial Sloan Kettering.
• The Science Journal: Submit original research to The Science Journal, our peer-reviewed publication that showcases original student research, and start building your resume during your undergraduate years. 
• Science Society: Join a network of students and alumni pursuing careers in health, science, and medicine by joining the pre-professional and health sciences society.