Program to Start Fall of 2020 will be College鈥檚 First Graduate Degree Offering
ALBANY, N.Y. 鈥揃次元 has announced that its first graduate degree program will officially launch with the start of the Fall 2020 semester. The 惭补蝉迟别谤鈥檚 Degree in Occupational Therapy program has been granted approval by New York State Board of Regents to begin educating students. The program has been under development for more than three years, and marks B次元鈥檚 first foray into a 惭补蝉迟别谤鈥檚 degree program.
鈥榃e are tremendously proud to launch this program,鈥 said Maria President Thomas Gamble, Ph.D. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a bold new step for B次元 to launch a 惭补蝉迟别谤鈥檚 degree as we strategically expand into graduate education. As B次元 continues to grow in key healthcare areas, the addition of a graduate program in a critical healthcare field like Occupational Therapy is a natural first step that builds on our program鈥檚 excellent reputation and strengths. The program鈥檚 approval is a great piece of news for the college and adds to the exciting renewal that is happening at Maria.鈥
Dean of the College Anne Jung, Ph.D., praised the outcome of the review and noted the planning that went into this step. 鈥淥ccupational 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. The field of Occupational Therapy is growing, and with it there is a demand for highly educated, competent professionals. Maria has a great track record in Occupational Therapy programs for working adults. With this 惭补蝉迟别谤鈥檚 Degree program we are offering the area鈥檚 only weekend-based program, so students can continue working full or part-time while working towards an outstanding Maria degree.鈥
The 惭补蝉迟别谤鈥檚 of Science in Occupational Therapy program will take a unique approach that鈥檚 tailored to each student, according to Program Director Donald Kallembach, OTD. 鈥淧eople with many different backgrounds and degrees find that they鈥檙e attracted to Occupational Therapy, and those experiences can make them great OT鈥檚鈥 Dr. Kallembach said. 鈥淢aria鈥檚 program will incorporate those interests and experiences so that students who, say, come from a visual or performing arts background, can use those experiences to help shape how they practice occupational therapy.鈥 According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Therapists earn an average of $84,950 per year and the field is growing much faster than average, with an estimated 18 percent growth in outlook for number of jobs projected between 2018 to 2028.
The program is accepting applicants who hold a bachelor鈥檚 degree and have the prerequisite coursework. The first class has been capped at 20 students. Prospective students who are interested are encouraged to reach out to Donald Kallembach at dkallembach@mariacollege.edu to find out more. Detailed information about the program will be posted to the College鈥檚 website, www.mariacollege.edu, over the next few weeks.
ABOUT MARIA COLLEGE:
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 degree, associate degree, and certificate programs including liberal arts, healthcare management, nursing, psychology, occupational therapy assistant, and health and occupational sciences.