WHAT IS THE DUAL DEGREE PROGRAM?

The Dual Degree Program in Occupational Therapy provides the opportunity for a student to begin their graduate education during their senior year of undergraduate education. A student accepted to this program will earn a combined baccalaureate degree and master of science in occupational therapy in just 5 1/2 years.

HOW IT WORKS

A student is admitted into one of 12 undergraduate majors.

During their junior year, the student applies for admission to the Occupational Therapy Program. If accepted, courses taken during the first year of the MS in OT program will be used to complete the senior year of the undergraduate major.

At the end of their 4th academic year, the student will receive a bachelor’s degree in their selected major. At the end of the fifth year, the student will receive their MS in Occupational Therapy.

ELIGIBILITY

To begin the MS OT program during their senior year of undergraduate education, the following requirements must have been completed:

1. Required general education courses
2. Requirements of undergraduate major
3. Prerequisites of the OT program by the end of Summer Session II, PRIOR TO beginning the OT program

Remaining elective credits will be used to begin the OT program. The credits earned in the first year of the OT program are counted as elective credits toward the baccalaureate degree in the student’s chosen major.

VERSATILITY: IT’S YOUR CHOICE

At Kean, we understand that students have varied interests. Students interested in the Dual Degree Program may choose from one of 12 available undergraduate majors:

Biology (General), Communication (Public Communication Option), Earth Science (General), Economics, Fine Arts, History, Philosophy and Religion, Political Science, Psychology, Recreation Administration (Therapeutic Recreation Option), Sociology, Spanish

A WISE INVESTMENT

Admission to the Dual Degree Program will save the student one year of academic study, as credits earned in the first year of the master of science program are applied to complete the bachelor’s degree requirements.

Kean University is renown for its excellent value, the highest quality education with the lowest tuition rates. Our tuition is among the lowest of New Jersey’s fine state colleges and universities.

ADMISSIONS CRITERIA

Application review begins in late January for admission the following fall.
Applications are available online under the 'Prospective Students'/'How to Apply' section. All general education, disciplinary and interdisciplinary, undergraduate major and occupational therapy prerequisite courses must be completed by the end of Summer Session II prior to starting the program. 

Successful completion of all coursework does not guarantee acceptance into the O.T. program.

Admission to the program is based on:

• Completed application including personal statement
• Cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 from all colleges attended
• A minimum GPA of 3.0 in prerequisite courses
• Three letter of reference waiver forms
• Documented observation of occupational therapy services for a minimum of 40 hours

Note: as of Fall 2005 the GRE is no longer a requirement for application/admission to the program.

APPLICATION DETAILS

Application packets will include:

• Application
• Three (3) reference forms
• Three (3) return address envelopes

DEADLINE

Completed applications must be submitted to the Department of Occupational Therapy by the third Friday in January for admission the following fall..

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

Letter of recommendation forms along with corresponding return address envelopes should be forwarded by the applicant directly to the individuals providing recommendations. The waiver section must be completed prior to sending. References must be from professionals with whom the student has worked directly with and/or professors. Individuals completing letter of reference forms should forward them directly to the occupational therapy department. RECOMMENDATION LETTERS MUST BE RECEIVED IN THE DEPARTMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY BY THE APPLICATION DEADLINE..

OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS

Official transcripts from all colleges attended, including Kean University, must be sent to the Occupational Therapy Department, Kean University, Townsend Hall T-209, 1000 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ 07083. Most current transcripts must include the most recent Fall grades. Failure to do so will result in delayed application processing. ALL TRANSCRIPTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY FEBRUARY 1st.

TRANSCRIPT EVALUATION FORM

If the student has attended an institution other than Kean, the transcript evaluation form (which was sent to each student from the academic advisement office at the time of acceptance to the University) must be enclosed with this application.

GUIDE SHEET

A copy of the student’s updated guide sheet, which indicates all courses taken thus far, must be provided. The student must indicate when incomplete courses will be taken. The guide sheet must be completed in its entirety.