Occupational Therapy Accelerated Pathway
This program is a smart and cost-effective choice for students interested in a fulfilling career as an occupational therapist.
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You will take classes required for the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences, including general education courses, occupational therapy prerequisites and health sciences courses during your first three years.
You will apply to potentially enter UM-Flint’s Occupational Therapy Doctorate program in your fourth year. If you are accepted, the first two semesters will also work as the final semesters of the bachelor’s degree.
In the three-year graduate program, you will gain the knowledge and skills you need to help patients with an injury or disability perform daily activities. UM-Flint’s Occupational Therapy Doctorate program is the first fully accredited doctorate in the field in Michigan. The doctorate provides more opportunities in leadership, teaching, research and advocacy than master’s programs.
Fewer credits
The traditional path to an occupational therapy doctorate is seven years. With the Accelerated Pathway, you can complete both a bachelor’s and a doctorate in six years and with 31 fewer credits, saving one year of time and tuition.
Looking for Opportunities to get Involved in a Pre-Professional Organization?
For more information on opportunities to receive clinical hours, please contact the department directly.
The accelerated pathway doesn’t guarantee acceptance to the Occupational Therapy program. You will need to maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.3 to remain in the program. You will also need to apply to and be accepted to the Occupational Therapy Doctorate program.
If you don’t maintain the required GPA in the accelerated program or aren’t accepted to the OTD program, you can transfer to the traditional four-year track to finish your bachelor’s in Health Sciences.
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Why Choose UM-Flint’s Occupational Therapy Accelerated Pathway BS/OTD Program?
Small Class Sizes
UM-Flint’s Occupational Therapy Doctorate program accepts 40 students each year, which provides many opportunities for individual time with expert faculty at the forefront of their fields.
Save One Year of Time and Tuition
This innovative program will save you one year of tuition, or at least $13,000. You will also be prepared to enter the workforce and a high-paying career one year sooner.
Innovative Teaching Approach
The Occupational Therapy Doctorate program uses a learner-centered teaching approach that incorporates authentic educational activities and experiences. This transformative approach empowers students to build their confidence and patient-centered health care practice through active hands-on learning in labs, clinics, and community settings. You have the opportunity to participate in HEART, a pro bono student-run clinic for our local community.
Free Tuition with the Go Blue Guarantee!
UM-Flint students are automatically considered for the Go Blue Guarantee upon admission, a historic program offering free tuition for high-achieving, in-state undergraduates from lower-income households. Learn more about the Go Blue Guarantee to see if you qualify and how affordable a Michigan degree can be.
Occupational Therapy 3+3 BS/OTD Curriculum Overview
The Occupational Therapy Accelerated Pathway consists of three years in the accelerated Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences and three years in the Occupational Therapy Doctorate program.
The bachelor’s degree requires 93 to 94 credits over three years and includes occupational therapy prerequisites, general education courses and health sciences courses.
Your first year of the Occupational Therapy program includes 31 graduate-level credits that will be applied toward the bachelor’s degree.
UM-Flint’s OTD program curriculum includes 110 credit hours of in-depth study, which can be completed in 9 semesters (three calendar years) on a full-time basis.
Career Outlook
Occupational therapy is a fast-growing field within rehabilitation medicine. These statistics are provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
With a doctoral degree in Occupational Therapy, you are qualified to pursue the highest-level career options in various health care settings:
- Hospital and clinics
- Schools
- Nursing care facilities
- Senior centers
- Private practice
- Military services
$98,340
median annual wage for occupational therapists
12%
employment growth for occupational therapists through 2032
Academic Advising
Understanding program requirements, choosing classes, and other aspects of attending college can sometimes seem a little overwhelming. UM-Flint’s expert academic advisors can answer your questions and help steer you on the path to academic success.
Academic Advisor
Get Started on the Accelerated Path to an Occupational Therapy Career Today
If you want to get started on the path to earning both a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences and an Occupational Therapy Doctorate and want to save one year of time and tuition, apply to UM-Flint’s Occupational Therapy Accelerated Pathway program today.