Pre-Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy: Four-Year Plan

Four-year plans for common majors of OT students at Gustavus:

• Exercise Physiology: Four-Year Plan Occupational Therapy
• Psychology: See major adviser

Any undergraduate major is acceptable, as long as you fulfill the OT program's prerequisite requirements.

An occupational therapist (OT) assists clients in performing activities of all types, ranging from using a computer to caring for daily needs such as dressing, cooking, eating, and driving. Services from an OT typically include customized treatment programs to improve a patient's ability to perform daily activities, comprehensive home and job site evaluations with adaptation recommendations, adaptive equipment recommendations and usage training, and guidance to family members and caregivers.

An occupational therapist (OT) helps individuals achieve independence and improve their ability to perform activities of daily life (ADLs) and self-care. For example, an OT may help patients learn to dress themselves, brush their teeth, or comb their hair after a stroke or illness that has severely weakened their arms. A physical therapist (PT), on the other hand, focuses on the large motor groups that contribute to walking, reaching, standing, and physical activities. A PT works on strength, balance, range of motion, and swelling as well as pain to encourage independence. It is important to note that many times the two will collaborate very closely with one another in order to provide the best care for a patient.

Occupational therapists are found in hospitals and other health care and community settings such as schools or nursing homes. Interestingly, more than one-third of occupational therapists work part-time. See the Occupational Outlook Handbook for work environment sites.

At this time, the profession has two degree levels as a route of entry that are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). One is a master's in occupational therapy (MOT) and typically has a duration of 28 months, while the other is a doctor of occupational therapy (OTD) and runs 40 months.

Both degree levels prepare graduates for entry-level OT positions; however, students must hold a bachelor's degree for admission into the doctoral program. The doctoral degree offers additional semesters of study focusing on clinical practice skills, research skills, administration, leadership, program and policy development, advocacy, education, and theory development. In addition, doctoral students must also complete an experiential component (16 weeks) and culminating project. 

Your salary as an occupational therapist largely depends on the area in which you practice and the degree level you hold. See the Occupational Outlook Handbook for salary information.