AIC, Briarwood Sign OT Agreement

SPRINGFIELD — Students who want to earn a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy will find it a little easier, thanks to a new agreement between Briarwood College in Southington, Conn. and American International College (AIC) in Springfield.

The agreement encourages eligible students who have earned their associate’s degree to continue their education in the master’s degree Occupational Therapy program at AIC.

Cathy Dow-Royer, director of the Occupational Therapy program at AIC, said the agreement with Briarwood is a collaborative effort aimed at bridging the transfer process, ultimately making it easier for students to further their education.

“We’ve hopefully taken the stress out of the transfer process, because now any student expressing an interest in earning a baccalaureate or master’s degree in Occupational Therapy will be assured that all of their OTA courses will transfer. They will also know which prerequisite courses they can take at Briarwood and be confident that AIC will accept them,” she said.

Students earning an associate’s degree at Briarwood, and having a grade point average of at least 2.33, are eligible for the program.

Dow-Royer said Briarwood graduates will need only five prerequisite courses (16 credit hours) before entering the professional phase of the AIC program.
The graduate phase of the program also consists of two full-time semesters and a part-time summer session, which include field work or a non-accelerated option, including five part-time semesters.