Degree Map
A.S. in Health Sciences - Concentration in Occupational Therapy
Catalog Year 2026-27
For students placing into ENGL-101 and MA-119
Occupational Therapy is one of five concentrations available for students pursuing the A.S. in Health Sciences. The program prepares students for transfer to colleges offering B.S. and combined B.S./M.S. degree programs in occupational therapy. Occupational Therapy is a rewarding profession. Occupational therapists help rehabilitate those impaired because of illness, injury, or psychological or developmental problems. They plan and implement programs and social activities to help patients learn work or school skills and adjust to handicaps. For more information on careers in the field, please visit this page at the American Occupational Therapy Association. Further information, including job availability in the New York area and salaries, is available through at this page in Career Coach. A master’s degree in occupational therapy and a professional license are required to practice in the State of New York. Queensborough Community College (QCC) has partnered with Touro University to provide students with a pathway that starts with an A.S. in Health Sciences at QCC and leads to a combined B.S./M.S. program in Occupational Therapy. Additional regional schools that offer a B.S./M.S. in Occupational Therapy include York College, L.I.U. Brooklyn, and NYIT. Students are strongly recommended to choose their A.S. major elective courses according to the requirements of the program to which they plan to apply. A table detailing the recommended electives for Touro University is included below. Students may also complete an A.S. degree at QCC, transfer to and complete a B.S. program (typically in the health or natural sciences) elsewhere, and then seek admission to M.S. programs in Occupational Therapy. City College, Queens College, Hunter College, Lehman College, and Brooklyn College all have special advisement programs for students planning to pursue competitive graduate programs in the medical and health sciences. Standalone M.S. programs in occupational therapy are offered at Columbia University, NYU, NYIT, Pace University, SUNY Downstate, and SUNY Stony Brook. A program leading to a Bachelor of Science and doctorate in physical therapy (B.S/D.P.T.) is included in the articulation table below. An agreement between QCC and SUNY Downstate is being developed. The number of credits you take each year will determine when you graduate. To graduate on time, you are strongly encouraged to enroll in at least 30 credits toward your degree during each academic year, including fall and spring semesters and winter and summer sessions. This degree map is designed for students who place into ENGL101 and MA-119.
Additional degree map for students who place into developmental Math or English.
Semester 1
Note: MA-121 is required for students who choose to take PH-301 or CH-151 as a major elective.
Total credits for the term: 15
Semester 2
Note: *If taken in semester #1, select Major Elective from below
Note: Students should consult with an advisor or health science faculty member to choose major elective courses. See the list of major elective courses for the Occupational Therapy concentration below
Total credits for the term: 16
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Semester 3
Note: Students should consult with an advisor or health science faculty member to choose major elective courses. See the list of major elective courses for the Occupational Therapy concentration below
Total credits for the term: 15
Semester 4
Note: Students should consult with an advisor or health science faculty member to choose major elective courses. See the list of major elective courses for the Occupational Therapy concentration below
Note: Students must complete one course from each of the flexible core categories (2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, and 2E) and one additional course from any one of the categories. PHIL-140 will fulfill 2D. PSYC-101 will fulfill 2E. BI-302 will fulfill one additional Flexible Core course.
Free elective to total 60 or 62 credits
Note: Some B.S./M.S. programs require additional credits or liberal arts and sciences coursework
Total credits for the term: 15
Total required credits for the degree: 60
Certain required courses also fulfill core requirements (1B, 1C, 2D, 2E, and one additional Flexible Core course). If students do not take those courses to satisfy the specified areas of the common core, they will still have to complete those courses (as additional credits) to fulfill degree requirements.
Students must complete one course from each of the flexible core categories (2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, and 2E) and one additional course from any one of the categories. PHIL-140 will fulfill 2D. PSYC-101 will fulfill 2E. BI-302 will fulfill one additional Flexible Core course.
All students must complete two (2) WI designated classes to fulfill degree requirements.
Major Electives - Complete 20 from the following list as indicated below
Occupational Therapy Concentration Electives
Complete at least 8 credits from the following courses:
BI 201 - General Biology
Note: Complete developmental requirements in English
Some elective courses can be used to satisfy areas of the Flexible Core. In that case, those courses may not also be used to satisfy a concentration requirement.
BI 202 - General Biology II
Note: Prerequisite: BI-201
BI 550 - Field Internship in Health Sciences
Note: Requires Departmental Permission
BI 551 - Field Internship in Health Sciences
Note: Departmental Permission
CH 127 - Introductory General Chemistry
Note: Or take CH-151
CH 151 - General Chemistry I
Note: Prerequisites: MA-119 and MA-121 or placement in MA-440 or higher
CH 128 - Introductory Organic Chemistry
Note: For CH-128: CH-120, CH-127, or CH-151
CH 152 - General Chemistry II
Note: Prerequisites: CH-151
MA 121 - Elementary Trigonometry
Note: Corequisite: MA-119
PH 101 - Principles of Physics
Note: Or take PH-301
PH 301 - College Physics I
Note: Prerequisites: PH-301: MA-114 or MA-119 and MA-121
Complete at least 6 credits from the following courses
PSYC 230 - Abnormal Psychology
Note: Prerequisite: PSYC-101
PSYC 220 - Human Growth & Development
Note: Prerequisite: PSYC-101
SOCY 101 - Sociology
Note: Complete developmental requirements in English or co-enroll in ENGL-101
Some elective courses can be used to satisfy areas of the Flexible Core. In that case, those courses may not also be used to satisfy a concentration requirement.