Mar 28, 2024  
2006-2007 Springfield College Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2006-2007 Springfield College Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Occupational Therapy/Psychology Dual Degree Program


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Undergraduate degree in Psychology, followed by a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy. (Generally, students complete a minimum of 120 undergraduate credits and 50 graduate credits).  Requirements are subject to change.

Springfield College remains in the forefront of psychology education by providing the community with broadly trained, practically experienced professionals who are prepared to enter the workplace. As undergraduates, psychology students explore child psychology, motivation and learning, abnormal psychology, educational psychology, and interviewing and counseling. The goals of Springfield College’s undergraduate psychology program are to introduce students to the primary areas of importance in psychology and to prepare them for ever-growing career opportunities.

Career opportunities for psychology majors can be as varied as health and wellness programs, stress management programs, employee relations, childcare assistance, or mental health services in hospitals, residential treatment centers, nursing homes, and mental health agencies. Psychology majors may also opt to seek licensure as an early childhood teacher for students with and without disabilities (PreK-2).

For additional information about the undergraduate psychology major, contact Dr. Marjie Marcotte, director of undergraduate psychology programs, at (413) 748-3075, or the Admissions Office at (800) 343-1257. For more information about the early childhood teacher licensure program, contact Dr. Linda Delano, director of teacher preparation programs, at (413) 748-3155.

For additional information on the Occupational Therapy dual degree program click here

Download a Psychology / Occupational Therapy dual degree Program Checksheet

CURRICULAR REQUIREMENTS


I. General Education Program (40 - 46 credits)


The General Education program at Springfield College is informed by its century-old Humanics tradition of educating the whole person in spirit, mind, and body, for leadership in service to humanity. These requirements have the goal of developing literate, thoughtful, socially responsible students, and instilling in them a spirit of inquiry into the nature of humankind and the universe. Towards those ends, the requirements emphasize and encourage: the acquisition of knowledge, understanding, and competency essential for the improvement of the human condition in a diverse society; a search for personal and spiritual values; and the development of an understanding and appreciation of physical well-being.  For specific requirements, see the General Education Program section or the Program Checksheet for this major.

II. Major Requirements


A. Core Requirements


1. Natural science psychology courses


Select one of the following courses:

4. Psychology in the larger world courses


Select a minimum of 6 credits from the following courses:

III. Electives (to complete a minimum of 120 credits)


Program Standards


Students will be expected to maintain performance standards required for their undergraduate major as they progress through their undergraduate years. In addition, they will also be required to follow the standards outlined in the Occupational Therapy Student Manual, which include both academic requirements and professional behaviors. Academic requirements include the following:

1. A 3.000 average in the OT preprofessional social sciences.
2. A 3.000 average in the OT preprofessional physical sciences.
3. A 3.000 average in other occupational therapy preprofessional requirements.
4. A 3.000 overall GPA.

Before continuation into the professional portion of the occupational therapy program (after approximately five semesters or 85 s.h.), students will be reviewed by the Occupational Therapy Review Committee to determine if all standards have been accomplished.

Clinical Education Courses
Several courses include fieldwork experiences, allowing students numerous opportunities to work with occupational therapy clinicians and clients throughout the greater Springfield area. In addition, the Occupational Therapy Department has fieldwork contracts with over 300 sites throughout the United States where students may engage in the 3-week and 3-month long fieldwork experiences. It is the responsibility of the student to absorb expenses and plan logistics related to these experiences, including travel, living arrangements, uniforms and liability insurance.

Minimum Competencies
It is also the responsibility of the student to meet the requirements of the Occupational Therapy Program Minimum Competencies as described in the Occupational Therapy Student Manual, which is available upon request from the Admissions Office. These standards include, but are not limited to, skills in observation, communication, sensory and motor coordination and function, cognition, and behavioral and social attributes. All standards must be met for the student to continue through and complete the program. Requests for reasonable accomodations will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.

Advanced Senior Option


In addition to the dual degree program, the Occupational Therapy Department offers an advanced senior program. Qualified students may apply to the program in the second semester of their junior year. Students must complete an application packet, including a resume, references, and a personal statement. To be eligible for the advanced senior program, students must document that they have completed or will complete the following before the start of their senior year:

1. All requirements for a related undergraduate major.
2. A minimum of 97 credits including General Education Program courses.
3. The occupational therapy prerequisites (see below).

A 3.000 overall minimum GPA and a 3.000 average for the occupational therapy prerequisites are also required. If accepted, students begin taking occupational therapy courses in their senior year. They graduate in May of their senior year with an undergraduate degree in a related major and an accelerated start to their graduate requirements.

The advanced senior program is designed for students who discover their interest in occupational therapy after their first years of baccalaureate study. The dual degree program is designed for students who have developed a career goal for occupational therapy before they enter college. The advantages of the dual degree include guaranteed admittance to the professional level of the program (as long as all program standards are met), the opportunity for students to work with an occupational therapy faculty mentor from their first entry into the College, and earlier exposure to occupational therapy coursework and practicums.

The occupational therapy prerequisites for the advanced senior program include the following courses or equivalents:

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