Occupational Therapy - Psychology Undergraduate Advising



Occupational Therapy

Ph.D., O.T.D., and MA Degree

Graduate School Planning and Information

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|What is Occupational Therapy? | |

|Is Occupational Therapy the Profession for you? | |

|Workplaces of an Occupational Therapist | |

|Occupational Therapy Degrees | |

|Occupational Therapy Master’s programs in California- Prerequisites | |

|Recommended Upper Division Coursework in Psychology | |

What is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy is a science driven health care profession aimed at enabling people to live their lives to the fullest, no matter what challenges they face. The practice of occupational therapy is the therapeutic use of everyday life activities, or “occupations”, with individuals or groups for the purpose of participation in roles and situations in home, school, work place, community, and other settings. Occupational therapy focuses on helping people of all ages regain, develop, or master everyday skills in order to live independent, productive, and satisfying lives. Occupational therapists help people with or without disabilities customize and perform their desired activities in order to live healthier, happier and more productive lives.

Is Occupational Therapy the Profession for you?

Occupational therapy is a career for individuals who care about people and have a desire to learn, achieve, and contribute their best to society and the profession. People who choose a career in occupational therapy are those who enjoy helping and working with others. Occupational therapy practitioners need to have strong communication skills, as well as strong interpersonal skills to inspire trust and respect in their clients. Occupational therapists are creative, flexible and have strong problem-solving skills. One of the greatest advantages of a career in occupational therapy is the wide variety of opportunities available to occupational therapy graduates.

Workplaces of an Occupational Therapist

As an Occupational Therapist, you might:

• Work in a school, hospital, nursing home, psychiatric facility, pediatric unit, private practice, community mental health unit, or a home. You can also work in academia and produce research.

• Help elders re-engage in activities they love but don’t do now because of physical limitations or fear of injury.

• Coach corporate executives on creating an optimal balance of work and leisure to reduce stress and maximize health or help them create office spaces based on ergonomic principles.

• Work in private practice with children with autism and sensory processing disorders to help them experience the joy of success in play, self-care and social occupations. 

• Create community programs and interventions for immigrants, school children or people with emotional or mental disabilities so that they can enjoy productive and satisfying lives.

• Teach adults with spinal cord injuries how to use technology to enable them to live life to the fullest.

• Assist teachers in redesigning classroom environments so children with attention deficit disorders are less easily distracted.

• Develop innovative weight loss programs that comprehensively emphasize the interplay of healthy eating, meaningful activity, stress reduction and physical exercise.

• Provide programs in prisons and for at-risk youth and young adults that address community building and skill acquisition as alternatives to gang membership.

• Help an adult experiencing a depressive episode to reclaim his life by recommending a series of graduated activities through which he can experience success.

• Develop a substitute method for holding a fork to enable a person who has lost grip strength to feed herself independently.

• Help people with traumatic injuries, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, or mental health problems, learn to live productive lives through the use of meaningful occupations

Occupational Therapy Degrees

Entry-Level Master’s- This degree is for students who have a bachelor’s degree in a field other than Occupational Therapy. This degree trains to students to meet the needs of entry-level practitioners who wish to polish their clinical or research skills. Students will be able to study core coursework and specialty emphasis. Entry-level master programs typically last two-three years.

Doctor of Occupational Therapy (O.T.D.)- This degree is for Occupational Therapists who aspire to become expert clinicians in specific practice areas, leaders or innovators in healthcare policy administration or advocacy, clinician researchers, and faculty in Occupational Therapy or science programs. O.T.D programs typically last two years for therapist entering with a bachelor’s degree and one year for therapists who already have a Master’s degree.

Doctor of Philosophy in Occupational Science (Ph.D.)- This degree is prepares students to shape the future direction of Occupational Science as an academic discipline and resource for Occupational Therapy practice. A Ph.D. is Occupational Science is a research-based program that focuses on advancing the field of Occupational Therapy.

Occupational Therapy Master’s programs in California- Prerequisites

Each Occupational Therapy programs requires different prerequisites for acceptance into the program. It is important research schools of interest in advance in order to determine which prerequisites you need to plan into your class schedule

Many programs require a minimum number of volunteer or paid hours working in an Occupational Therapy setting. Students should consider working at a hospital or school to gain experience and also to determine if Occupational Therapy is their desired profession.

Along with the prerequisite courses and volunteer/paid hours, most schools require a GPA of approximately a 3.0, a GRE score of around 1,000 in Verbal and Quantitative combined, and 3-4 letters of recommendation (some programs require that one letter must be from an Occupational Therapist that observed your volunteer/paid hours). Lower GRE’s can sometimes be offset with other accomplishments, e.g. high grades or relevant experience.

California State University Dominguez Hills

Department of Occupational Therapy

1000 East Victoria Street

Carson, CA 90747

(310) 243-2726

csudh.edu/soh/dhs/OT/index.htm

-Minimum of 80 hours of documented volunteer experience under the supervision of a registered occupational therapist.

-Human Anatomy with laboratory

-Human Physiology with laboratory

-Developmental Psychology, through the lifespan

-Abnormal Psychology

-Statistics

Dominican University of California

School of Nursing and Allied Health Professions

50 Acacia Ave

San Rafael, CA 94901

(415) 458-3731



-Minimum 40 hours of volunteer work in a human service setting within the last year

-Human Anatomy with laboratory

-Human Physiology

-Lifespan Human Development

-Introduction to Sociology or Cultural Anthropology

-Medical Terminology

-Introduction to Psychology

-Abnormal Psychology

-Descriptive Physics

-Three Dimensional Art

-Statistics (math or psychology)

Loma Linda University

School of Allied Health Professions

Department of Occupational Therapy

Loma Linda, CA 92350

(800) 422-4558 or (909) 558-4628

llu.edu/llu/sahp/ot/index.html

-40 hours of observation in occupational therapy settings. Documentation of community service performed is permissible as partial fulfillment of this requirement.

-Religious Studies: 4-quarter units per year or full- time study

-Human Anatomy with laboratory

-Human Physiology with laboratory

-An additional science course from chemistry, physics, or physical science

-Sociology

-General Psychology

-Human Growth and Development- Developmental Psychology, Life Cycle, Child Psychology and Adolescent Psychology also acceptable

-Speech, Public Speaking

-Health Education

-2 Physical Activities courses

- CPR- Infant, child, and adult. BLS Health care provider. CPR is only accepted from American Heart Association. This certification is not needed for the admissions process, but will be required upon acceptance to the program.

Samuel Merritt University

Department of Occupational Therapy

Peralta Pavilion

450 30th Street

Oakland, CA 94609

(510) 869-6511

samuelmerritt.edu/occupational_therapy

-Minimum of 40 to 70 hours work or volunteer experience demonstrating an understanding of the occupational therapist’s role and maturity in career choices

-General Psychology

-Abnormal Psychology

-Developmental Psychology

-Statistics

-6 units from Sociology, Anthropology or Ethnic Studies

- 3-Dimensional Skill or Craft- ceramics, beading, mosaics, leather work, knitting, crochet, quilting, metal work, soap making, candle making

-General Biology

-Human Anatomy*

-Human Physiology*

-Basic or Introductory Physics*

-Public Speaking*

*These courses are highly recommended but not required

San Jose State University

School of Applied Arts & Sciences
Department of Occupational Therapy

One Washington Square

San Jose, CA 95192-0001

(408) 924-3070

(priority given to California residents)



-Minimum of 100 hours volunteer experience or equivalent paid work experience in occupational therapy, verified by supervisor.

-Human Anatomy with laboratory

-Human Physiology with laboratory

-Neuroanatomy

-General Psychology

-Abnormal Psychology

-Sociology or Cultural Anthropology

-Statistics

-A Skills Course- Acceptable courses include: Ceramics, painting, drawing, sculpting, weaving, or wood working. Previous work may be accepted as fulfilling this requirement, at the discretion of the graduate coordinator.

University of St. Augustine

Department of Occupational Therapy

700 Windy Point Dr,

San Marcos, CA 92069

(760) 591-3012



-Minimum 80 hours of experience/observation in the field of occupational therapy

-Physics

-Biology

-Human Anatomy

-Human Physiology

-Intro Psychology

-Abnormal Psychology

-Sociology

-Anthropology

-Human Grown and Development

-Recommended: Chemistry and Medical Terminology

University of Southern California

Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy

1540 Alcazar Street, CHP-133

Los Angeles, CA 90089-9003

(323) 442-2850 or (866) 385-4250

usc.edu/ot

Each course totaling three or four semester units (with the exception of medical terminology which may be 1 or 2 units) as follows:

-Human Anatomy with laboratory

-Human Physiology

-Introductory (General) Psychology

-Developmental Psychology or Human Development

-Abnormal Psychology

-Introductory Sociology or Introduction to Social Anthropology

-Medical Terminology

-Gerontology or Adult Development (Recommended but not required)

Recommended Upper Division Coursework in Psychology:

-Psy 340 (Social Psychology) or Psy 344 (Psychology and Culture)

-Psy 332 (Adolescent/Adult Development)

-Psy 333 (Developmental Psychopathology)

-Psy 350 (Abnormal Psychology)

-Psy 361 (Neuropsychology)

-Psy 388 (Sensation and Perception)

-Psy 407 (Health Psychology)

-Psy 495 (Community Psychology)

-Psy 499 (Research Lab)

Information for this handout was adapted from The American Occupational Therapy Association website (usc.edu/ot) and the University of Southern California website (usc.edu/ot).

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