Health & Occupational Sciences BS

Our bachelor’s degree in health and occupational sciences (HOS) serves two purposes – it extends the career path for our occupational therapy assistant (OTA) students, and prepares others for a variety of healthcare-related roles.

Due to the rapid-changing demographics and healthcare trends, demand for HOS graduates is expected to be high. Advances in technology and emphasis on outpatient care all continue to drive job growth in this field.

The Occupational Therapy Connection

The majority of Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) students wish to continue their journey to become a licensed occupational therapist – which requires a master’s degree. At Maria, upon completion of the OTA program, students can transition into our Bachelor’s Degree in Health and Occupational Sciences, allowing them to get one step closer to their career goals.

Advancing Your Education

Maria’s Bachelor’s Degree in Health and Occupational Sciences is “transfer-friendly” and an excellent preparation for graduate school, especially if you’re interested in physical therapy, nutrition, or any other health services. Contact Admissions at 518.861.2517 or admissions@mariacollege.edu to get started.

  • Program Learning Outcomes

    The overarching objective of the Bachelor of Science Degree in Health and Occupational Sciences program is to provide graduates with the relevant knowledge, skills, attitudes and values to succeed in their chosen profession and/or graduate level study. 

    In the area of knowledge base and life-long learning skills, graduates will:

    • Have a strong foundation in the natural, clinical and behavioral sciences.
    • Develop the skills and professional and personal habits to acquire and apply new knowledge.
    • Develop insight into their own and others’ behavior and mental processes and will apply effective strategies for self-management and self-improvement.
    • Have the necessary entry requirements for graduate level study in occupational therapy.

    In the area of professional values and ethics, graduates will:

    • Understand and accept their duties and responsibilities required of their chosen career, advanced study, and to society in general, and are expected to have developed value systems and ethical standards that guide their behavior.
    • Gain an enhanced understanding of the social and ethical issues that may be encountered and have an impact on health care services.  
    • Recognize, understand and respect the complexity of sociocultural and international diversity.
    • Pursue realistic ideas about how to implement their knowledge, skills and values in occupational pursuits in a variety of settings that meet personal goals and societal needs.

    In the area of critical and creative thinking skills, graduates will:

    • Use critical and creative thinking and an evidence-based approach to identify, analyze and solve problems.
    • Understand and apply scientific techniques, skills and tools to define, formulate and solve basic problems.
    • Integrate knowledge from general education courses and will synthesize knowledge from the natural, clinical and behavioral sciences.

    In the area of communication and collaborative skills, graduates will:

    • Be able to communicate effectively with stakeholders in the health care industry and agencies, and function effectively on multi-disciplinary teams.
    • Demonstrate effective oral, written and visual communication skills.
  • Course Overview

    Major Field Requirements (36 credits)

    Group I – all courses required (27 credits):

    Course

     

    Credits

    SCI 100

    Medical Terminology and Conditions

    3

    HOS 150

    HCM 120

    Introduction to Health Professions 
    or
    The U.S. Healthcare System

    2

    3

    HOS 300

    Fundamentals of Occupational Science

    3

    BIO 300

    Applied Kinesiology

    3

    PSY 350

    Research Methods I

    3

    HOS 400

    HOS 400
    COM 450

    Internship in Health and Occupational Sciences
    or
    Internship in Health and Occupational Sciences
    and Capstone 1: Professional Competencies for the 21st Century

    6

    3
    3

    COM 451

    Capstone II: Graduate Competencies

    3

     

    Group II – select any three courses from the following (12 credits*):

    Course

     

    Credits

    BIO 310

    Pathophysiology 

    3

    BIO 320

    Neurobiology

    4

    BIO 330

    Gross Anatomy

    4

    BIO 340

    Genetics 

    3

    CHM 301

    Environmental Heath

    3

    CSC 308

    Healthcare Informatics 

    3

    CUL 320

    Culture, Health and Healing

    3

    HCM 330

    Healthcare Quality Management

    3

    HCM 350

    Healthcare Law and Policy

    3

    HOS 410

    Epidemiology 

    3

    PSY 300/400

    Psychology, 300/400 level elective

    3

    SOC 410

    Health Promotion Across the Lifespan

    3

    *extra credits count as free elective credits, extra natural science (BIO/CHM/PHY) credits can be counted towards the natural science requirement

    Natural Science Requirements (20 credits):

    Group I – all courses required (8 credits):

    Course

     

    Credits

    BIO 209

    Anatomy and Physiology I

    4

    BIO 210

    Anatomy and Physiology II

    4

     

    Group II – select any three courses from the following (12 credits):

    Course

     

    Credits

    BIO 101

    General Biology I

    4

    BIO 102

    General Biology II

    4

    BIO 103

    Introduction to Human Biology**

    4

    CHM 100

    General Chemistry I

    4

    CHM 101

    General Chemistry II

    4

    CHM 211

    Organic Chemistry I

    4

    CHM 212

    Organic Chemistry II

    4

    BIO 203

    Microbiology

    4

    PHY 101

    General Physics I

    4

    PHY 102

    General Physics II

    4

    ** cannot be taken after other higher level biology courses

    Liberal Arts Courses (36 Credits):
    Cultural Studies/History (3 credits): CUL or HIS elective
    English (9 credits): ENG 111, ENG 211, ENG 300 or 400 level elective
    Mathematics (3 credits): MAT 200
    Psychology (6 credits): PSY 100, PSY elective
    Religious Studies/Philosophy (9 credits): RES 201, PHI 300, RES or PHI elective
    Sociology (6 credits): SOC 101, SOC 300

  • Course Sequence: Direct Entry

    Health and Occupational Sciences, BS

    First Year: First Semester

    Course

     

    Credits

    BIO/CHM/PHY  

    Science Requirement

    4

    ENG 111

    Composition I

    3

    HOS 150
    or
    HCM 120

    Intro to Health Professions
    or
    The U.S. Healthcare System

    2

    3

    SCI 100

    Medical Terms & Conditions

    3

     

    Free Elective

    3

      

    15

    First Year: Second Semester

    BIO/CHM/PHY  

    Science Requirement

    4

    CUL/HIS

    Cultural Studies/History Elective

    3

    ENG 211

    Critical Inquiry and Writing

    3

    MAT 200

    Statistics

    3

     

    Free Elective

    3

      

    16

    Second Year: First Semester

    BIO 209

    Anatomy & Physiology I

    4

    PSY 100

    General Psychology

    3

    RES 201

    Foundations in Social Justice

    3

    SOC 101

    Introduction to Sociology

    3

     

    Free Elective

    3

      

    16

    Second Year: Second Semester

    BIO 210

    Anatomy & Physiology II

    4

    PSY

    Psychology Elective

    3

    RES/PHI

    Religious Studies/Phil Elective

    3

     

    Group II Major Field Req

    3

     

    Free Elective

    3

      

    16

    Third Year: First Semester

    BIO/CHM/PHY  

    Science Requirement

    4

    BIO 330

    Group II Major Field Requirement

    4

    PHI 300

    Healthcare Ethics

    3

     

    Free Elective

    6

      

    17

    Third Year: Second Semester

    BIO 300

    Applied Kinesiology

    3

    HOS 300

    Fund. of Occupational Science

    3

    SOC 300

    Medical Sociology

    3

     

    Group II Major Field Req

    3

     

    Free Elective

    3

      

    15

    Fourth Year: First Semester

    PSY 350

    Research Methods I

    3

    ENG

    English 300/400 Elective

    3

     

    Group II Major Field Req

    3

    COM 450

    Free Elective
    or
    Capstone 1: Professional Competencies for the 21st Century
    and Free elective

    4

    3

    1

      

    13

    Fourth Year: Second Semester

    HOS 400
    or
    HOS 400
    COM 450

    Internship in Health and Occupational Sciences
    or
    Internship in Health and Occupational Sciences
    and Capstone 1: Professional Competencies for the 21st Century

    6

    3

    3

    COM 451

    Capstone II: Graduate Competencies

    3

     

    Free Elective

    3

      

    12

  • Course Sequence: Concurrent Degree

    BS in Health and Occupational Sciences and AAS in Occupational Therapy Assistant

    First Year: First Semester

    Course

     

    Credits

    BIO/CHM/ PHY

    Science Requirement

    4

    ENG 111

    Composition I

    3

    PSY 101

    General Psychology

    3

    SCI 100

    Med Terms and Conditions

    3

    SOC 101

    Intro to Sociology

    3

      

    16

    First Year: Second Semester

    BIO/CHM/ PHY

    Science Requirement

    4

    CUL/HIS

    Cultural Studies/History Elective

    3

    ENG 211

    Critical Inquiry and Writing

    3

    MAT 200

    Statistics

    3

    RES/PHI

    Religious Studies/Phil. Elective

    3

     

     

    16

    Second Year: First Semester 

    BIO 209

    Anatomy & Physiology I

    4

    HOS 150
    or
    HCM 120

    Introduction to Health Professions
    or
    The U.S. Healthcare System

    2

    3

    OCT 112

    OT Skills and Application I

    1

    OCT 114

    Foundations of OT I

    3

    PSY

    Psychology Elective

    3

    RES 201

    Foundations in Social Justice

    3

      

    16

    Second Year: Second Semester

    BIO 210

    Anatomy & Physiology II

    4

    BIO 300

    Applied Kinesiology

    3

    OCT 116

    OT Skills and Application II

    1

    OCT 117

    Fieldwork I – Service Learning

    1

    OCT 120

    Occ. Perform. Across Lifespan

    3

    OCT 121

    Foundations of OT II

    3

     

     

    15

    Third Year: First Semester

    BIO/CHM/ PHY

    Science Requirement

    4

    OCT 210

    Fieldwork I – Psychosocial

    1

    OCT 211

    Preparing for Practice

    1

    OCT 213

    OT in Develop. Disabilities

    3

    OCT 214

    OT in Physical Dysfunction

    3

    OCT 215

    OT in Psychosocial Dysfunction

    4

     

     

    16

    Third Year: Second Semester

    OCT 216

    Fieldwork II, First Rotation

    6

    OCT 217

    Fieldwork II, Second Rotation

    6

    SOC 300

    Medical Sociology

    3

      

    15

    Fourth Year: First Semester

    BIO 330

    Gross Anatomy

    4

    ENG

    English 300/400 Elective

    3

    PHI 300

    Healthcare Ethics

    3

    PSY 350

    Research Methods I

    3

     

    Group II Major Field Req

    3

     

     

    16

    Fourth Year: Second Semester

    HOS 300

    Fund. of Occupational Science

    3

    COM 451

    Capstone II: Graduate Competencies

    3

     

    Group II Major Field Req

    3

     

    Group II Major Field Req

    3

      

    12

  • Course Sequence: Transfer

    AAS in Occupational Therapy Assistant transfer into BS in Health and Occupational Sciences

    Third Year: First Semester

    Course

     

    Credits

    BIO/CHM/ PHY

    Science Requirement

    4

    ENG 211

    Critical Inquiry and Writing

    3

    MAT 200

    Statistics

    3

    SOC 101

    Introduction to Sociology

    3

     

    Group II Major Field Req

    3

      

    16

    Third Year: Second Semester

    BIO 300

    Applied Kinesiology

    3

    BIO/CHM/PHY

    Science Requirement

    4

    CUL/HIS

    Cultural Studies/History Elective

    3

    HOS 300

    Fund. of Occupational Science

    3

    SOC 300

    Medical Sociology

    3

      

    16

    Fourth Year: First Semester  

    HOS 150
    or
    HCM 120

    Introduction to Health Professions
    or
    The U.S. Healthcare System

    2

    3

    BIO/CHM/PHY

    Science Requirement

    4

    BIO 330

    Group II Major Field Elective

    4

    PHI 300

    Healthcare Ethics

    3

    PSY 350

    Research Methods I

    3

      

    17

    Fourth Year: Second Semester

    ENG

    English 300/400 Elective

    3

    COM 451

    Capstone II: Graduate Competencies

    3

     

    Group II Major Field Req

    3

     

    Group II Major Field Req

    3

     

    Free Elective

    2

     

     

    14

  • Articulation Agreements
    • Capital Region BOCES Sterile Processing Program graduates with national certification for Sterile Processing to the BS in Health and Occupational Sciences degree at Maria College
    • Fulton-Montgomery Community College graduates with AAS in Health Studies to BS in Health and Occupational Sciences at Maria College
    • Fulton-Montgomery Community College graduates with AS in Health Science to BS in Health and Occupational Sciences at Maria College
    • Fulton-Montgomery Community College graduates with AS in Liberal Arts and Sciences: Science to BS in Health and Occupational Sciences at Maria College
Maria Stories

Moises Samaniego started in Maria College's Occupational Therapy Assistant program and continued on to earn a bachelor's in Health & Occupational Science. Moises shared that Maria is a great place for non-traditional students who were looking to return to College because they get to know you as an individual and adapt to your needs.