Combined Programs Offer a Direct Route Into Occupational and Physical Therapy
Combined Programs Offer a Direct Route Into Occupational and Physical Therapy
Posted on 5/23/2023
Occupational therapy and physical therapy are popular healthcare careers – for good reason. Both professions pay well and have plentiful job opportunities. The average salary for occupational therapists in Massachusetts is $91,840; physical therapists earn an average salary of $95,780. Employment in both fields is projected to grow by more than 15% over the next several years.
Because of the attractiveness of these professions, admission to Occupational and Physical Therapy graduate programs is very competitive, with about 1 in 3 applicants accepted. However, there is a way for students to avoid this competition and secure a clear path into these professions: gaining admission to a combined Bachelor’s/Graduate program directly from high school.
The Massachusetts public college system offers two such programs – one in Occupational Therapy at Worcester State and one in Physical Therapy at UMass Lowell. This post describes these hidden gem public programs in more detail. It also lists private college combined program options.
What Occupational Therapists and Physical Therapists Do
Occupational therapists focus on helping people become more independent in their everyday activities. They work with individuals who may have difficulty with tasks like getting dressed, writing, using a fork or other utensils, or organizing schoolwork. Occupational therapists teach strategies and exercises to improve these skills. They also help people with attention-related challenges, sensory sensitivities, and emotional well-being.
Physical therapists focus on helping people improve their physical abilities and movement. They work with individuals who have injuries, surgeries, or medical conditions that affect their mobility. Physical therapists help people regain strength, flexibility, and coordination. They use exercises, stretches, and other techniques to reduce pain, improve mobility, and enhance overall physical function.
Both occupations require graduate degrees, including clinical work in the field to get hands-on experience and training. Students hoping to become occupational therapists must earn at least a master’s degree, while physical therapists require a doctoral degree.
Combined Programs at Public Universities
For students interested in occupational therapy, Worcester State University’s combined Bachelor of Science/Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy is an attractive option. Students can apply to the undergraduate portion of the program directly from high school. This bachelor’s program is competitive though, so students should have at least a 3.0 GPA from high school. Once in the program, as long as students maintain a GPA of 3.2 in their occupational studies courses, they can advance into the master’s portion of the program at the end of their junior year. Students can obtain their graduate degree in a total of six years.
For physical therapy, there is UMass Lowell’s (UML) combined Bachelor of Science/Doctorate in Physical Therapy. UML is the only public university in the state that offers physical therapy. High school students interested in gaining entry into this seven-year combined program need to: 1) Apply to become an Exercise Science major on their application to the college, and 2) Indicate their specific interest in gaining admission to the combined Exercise Science (ES)/Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) program. Students who are accepted into the combined program will be notified at the time they receive their general acceptance to the college. Students who are not accepted into the combined program can still complete an Exercise Science major and apply for admission to the doctoral program in their senior year. Students accepted into the combined ES/DPT program need to maintain a minimum 3.4 GPA in their exercise science courses to be guaranteed a seat in the doctoral portion of the program.
Additional Programs in Private Institutions
In addition to the two public college programs, there are several private college options for students looking for a guaranteed path and accelerated route to becoming an Occupational or Physical Therapist. Below is a list of public and private options.
You can find information about all of these programs in our Navigator directory.
Notes on Data Sources
BLS, Massachusetts Employment and Salary, 2022; Mass Dept. of Economic Research, Projected Massachusetts Growth in Occupational Employment 2020-2030.