BS Psychology / MS Occupational Therapy

The Occupational Therapy program has partnered with the Psychology Department to offer an accelerated pathway to obtain an MSOT degree. Dominican undergraduates will earn both a BS in Psychology and a Master's of Science in Occupational Therapy in just 5 ½ years.  

Dominican’s occupational therapy curriculum builds on the knowledge and experience students gain each year. Students progress from exploration to competence to achievement to mastery. 

Our OT program prepares you to become a professional licensed occupational therapist. You will complete fieldwork at top rehabilitation, mental health, and education facilities, and build your network in the Bay Area. You will have ample opportunities for capstone projects, international experiences, and creative program development—all in a close community setting. 

Admission is selective and our program requires full-time, weekday attendance at our San Rafael campus.

Program Highlights

  • Experienced, professional faculty
  • Small class sizes and student-centered learning
  • More than 200+ fieldwork partners
  • A strong community engagement focus 
  • Integrated research experience
  • Accreditation with Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)

Career Paths

Occupational Therapy is a fast-growing and rewarding field that will allow you to work in hospitals, clinics, schools, business, industry, and community settings, serving persons of all ages with developmental, physical, psychiatric, or behavioral disabilities. OTs also promote health and help prevent disease and disability through occupation-centered interventions and environmental adaptations.

I recently had two job offers, and accepted one with a geriatric transitional care facility in San Luis Obispo. One great thing is that I met my employer at the Dominican Career Fair. Having access to OT opportunities at the fair was important and successful for me!
 — Amanda Harness, MS, OTR/L
 

Admissions and Aid

A degree from a top-ranked, private University like Dominican is deliberately affordable and accessible! More than 99 percent of our first-year incoming students receive significant financial aid through merit- and need-based scholarships as well as state and federal aid. Additionally, for most students, there is no application fee, and we don't ask for test scores. Get in touch with a counselor to learn more about your path to an exceptional college experience at Dominican!

Requirements and Track Progression

  • Upon application, students must indicate their interest as a psychology major with a pathway to pre-allied health occupational therapy. 
  • Students are admitted into the BS Psychology program and follow a pre-OT track in their first and second years. 
  • Students apply to the MSOT program in their second year. Transfer students may be accepted into the BS Psych / MSOT in their sophomore year.
  • Complete all the following prerequisites by sophomore year. 
    • Human Anatomy with lab - 4 units
    • Human Physiology with lab - 4 units
    • Lifespan Development - (either a lifespan development course or courses on both child and adolescent development and adult development)
    • Introduction to Psychology - 4 units
    • Abnormal Psychology - 4 units
    • Functional Neuroscience - 3 units
    • Statistics for Health/Behavior Sciences - 4 units
    • Medical Terminology - 1 unit
    • Occupation and Others - 1 unit
    • Occupation and Community 1- unit
    • Occupation as Therapy - 1 unit

Learn More about Undergraduate Admissions
 

  1. Complete your psychology major and begin the MSOT program simultaneously starting junior year. 
     
  2. Observation/Volunteer Experience
    Applicants to the Occupational Therapy program are required to complete a total of 40 hours of observation/volunteering in human services, and 20 of those hours must be with an OTR. The 40 hours of volunteer work can include service-learning hours, if applicable.
    • Observation/Volunteer hours require 40 hours of OT Relevant experience within two years of the program's start date. Observation hours can be conducted in a virtual environment. Your supervisor(s) will fill out your volunteer form and return it to you to submit with your application. If you do not complete all of your volunteer work experience at one location, a separate form is needed for each location. Time sheets or other facility forms cannot be submitted as proof of volunteer work

  3. GPA
    Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 at time of application to progress.
    Minimum 3.0 GPA on prerequisite courses

  4. Personal Statement
    Please provide a brief essay describing your professional and personal goals, as well as your reasons for pursuing this degree. 

At Dominican University of California (DUOC), information regarding a student's criminal background and the results of criminal background checks are not considered during the admissions process for the Occupational Therapy program. However, it is important for applicants to understand that a criminal background could affect their ability to take the National Certification Examination for Occupational Therapists, which is overseen by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). Additionally, a felony conviction might restrict access to necessary clinical fieldwork experiences, impact eligibility for the NBCOT certification exam, and influence the ability to obtain state licensure. Applicants with concerns about how a criminal background might affect their program participation are encouraged to consult with an OT Academic Advisor at DUOC. They can provide guidance on the requirements for completing the degree and obtaining licensure or certification.

Undergraduate Tuition

Learn about tuition per unit, additional fees and total undergraduate tuition.

We'll also show you how a Dominican education is more affordable than you might think with support from financial aid, scholarships and loans.

Undergraduate Tuition and Aid

MSOT Graduate Tuition

Tuition Rate Per UnitNumber of UnitsFormat
$1,210

Tuition and Financial Aid information coming soon.
37 Units
 
In-person

 

Program Accreditation

Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education logo

Our Master’s in Occupational Therapy Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE).

6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200
North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929
(301) 652-AOTA

The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy logo

The national certification examination for eligible candidates is administered by The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT)

One Bank Street, Suite 300
Gaithersburg, MD 20878
(301) 990-7979

The total number of graduates from the Dominican University of California Master of Occupational Therapy program during the 3-year period of 2021-2023 was 150, with an overall graduation rate of 95%.

Graduation YearMaster-Entry-Level Program Students Entering/GraduatingUndergraduate-Graduate Program Students Entering/GraduatingGraduation Rate
202130/2826/2493%
202227/2725/2396%
202330/3020/1896%
Total87/8571/6595%

Office Hours

Mon.–Fri., 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Admissions and Aid

A degree from a top-ranked, private University like Dominican is deliberately affordable and accessible! More than 99 percent of our first-year incoming students receive significant financial aid through merit- and need-based scholarships as well as state and federal aid. Additionally, for most students, there is no application fee, and we don't ask for test scores. Get in touch with a counselor to learn more about your path to an exceptional college experience at Dominican!

Learn More About Admissions and Aid

Occupational Therapy by the Numbers

students smiling as a group

What is like to be in the Occupational Therapy Program?

Hear directly from our students on what it is like to study occupational therapy!

watch video

Occupational Therapy in the News

Faculty and Staff

Gina Tucker-Roghi headshot

Gina Tucker-Roghi, OTD, OTR/L, BCG

Associate Professor Chair and OTD Program Director
Kitsum Lee

Kitsum Li, OTD, OTR/L, CSRS

Professor Doctoral Capstone Coordinator
Kristin Jones headshot

Kristin Jones, MS, OTD, OTR/L

Assistant Professor Academic Fieldwork Coordinator
Laura Hess

Laura Greiss Hess, PhD, OTR/L

Associate Professor
Karen McCarthy headshot

Karen McCarthy, OTD, OTR/L

Associate Professor
Caroline Umeda headshot

Caroline Umeda, PhD, OTR/L

Assistant Professor
dominican seal

Julia Wilbarger, PhD, OTR/L

Associate Professor
Sharon Freiberg

Sharon Freiberg

Program Administrator
dominican seal

Sarah Hockey

Instructional Resources Coordinator