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B次元 Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) receives full accreditation
Rapidly growing field is ideal career for people of diverse backgrounds
Albany, NY — B次元 recently received full accreditation status of its Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) program by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).
As this is B次元鈥檚 first graduate degree program, it required an amendment to Maria鈥檚 Charter which was granted by the New York State Board of Regents. The program also required approval by the New York State Department of Education鈥檚 Office of Professions. Both were officially granted in July 2020. It was launched in Fall 2020 and with this final approval, the College will graduate its first cohort in August 2022.
ACOTE concluded that B次元 is compliant with the criteria for all current accreditation standards. Their determination is based on a self-study and supporting evidence prepared by the College in collaboration with members of the college community, as well as participation from students, staff, faculty, and communities of interest during the site visit.
鈥淭he ACOTE accreditation for B次元鈥檚 occupational therapy master鈥檚 degree program is a testament to the College鈥檚 commitment to its strategic goal of providing opportunities for students and working professionals in the Capital Region,鈥 said B次元 President Dr. Thomas J. Gamble. 鈥淎s the only accrediting body for this type of program, this accreditation is an official stamp of quality assurance for national standards, one that we anticipate will allow Maria to grow and expand its program for years to come. I would also like to recognize the efforts of Dr. Anne Jung, Maria鈥檚 Chief Academic Officer, and Dr. Donald Kallembach, the program鈥檚 founding director, for successfully shepherding a complex approval process during the pandemic.鈥
The College may now officially award the Master of Science degree and graduating students can sit for the national certification examination administered by the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, students will hold the title: Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR) and can then apply for licensure in the United States.
Occupational Therapy has been a core program of Maria鈥檚 for decades, with the College educating hundreds of Occupational Therapy Assistants over the last forty years. With the addition of the MSOT program, students with a bachelor鈥檚 degree can expand on their education in a rapidly growing field.
鈥淢aria鈥檚 MSOT program is a strategic expansion into a key healthcare field that builds on our already excellent reputation and strengths,鈥 said B次元 MSOT Program Director Donald Kallembach. 鈥淲e鈥檙e taking a unique approach that鈥檚 tailored to each student鈥檚 interests to offer them opportunity, while also preparing them for the licensure exam.鈥
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in the next 10 years, there is an estimated 17% job growth in the Occupational Therapy field, much faster than average. Occupational therapists work in schools, hospitals, skilled nursing, other rehab settings and the community.
B次元 encourages applications from adult and non-traditional learners, from second career individuals and those with undergraduate degrees outside of those typically found in occupational therapy. These backgrounds can include but are not limited to the visual and performing arts, psychology, philosophy, education, theology and many other disciplines.
鈥淚n occupational therapy, you can use forms of artistic expressions such as visual arts, music and dance in a clinical setting,鈥 said B次元 MSOT Program Director Donald Kallembach. 鈥淐reative people make great occupational therapists because they bring passion to a clinical setting in a unique way.鈥
The program is designed to emphasize opportunity education and to benefit under-served populations with an emphasis on cultural awareness, wellness, and community integration.
B次元鈥檚 70-credit, full-time program is ideal for working adults. Students meet in-person, on the weekends six times throughout each semester. It is the only weekend-based program in the Capital Region.
Many of Maria鈥檚 students are considered 鈥渘on-traditional鈥 and are going back to college for the second or third time. Admissions for Maria鈥檚 MSOT program is designed for this type of student by focusing more on the GPA program requisites rather than a student鈥檚 entire GPA.
The program offers state-of-the-art technology and facilities, small classes and an exceptional student support center, equipped with an in-house occupational therapist that works with students, a program benefit not typically found in other MSOT programs.
To learn more about B次元鈥檚 MSOT program, visit /academics/occupational-therapy/occupational-therapy-ms.
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About B次元. Founded in 1958, B次元 is one of 17 colleges and universities in the United States sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. The private, co-educational, Catholic college in Albany serves approximately 800 students in a variety of bachelor鈥檚 degree, associate degree, a master鈥檚 degree, and certificate programs including liberal arts, healthcare management, nursing, psychology, occupational therapy, and health and occupational sciences. mariacollege.edu