BSU Catalog Home | Pre-Professional Program

Pre-Occupational Therapy

Dr. Kerry Openshaw (Advisor)

1. The pre-occupational therapy student should fulfill all requirements for a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree at Bemidji State University. The student should declare an academic major. Pre-occupational therapy is not an academic major. Although the major may be in any field of study, experience indicates that a Biology major will provide the student with an advantage while attending occupational therapy school and in preparing for the Allied Health Professions Admission Test (AHPAT). The AHPAT or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is taken in the spring of the junior year.
2. Many universities are dropping their undergraduate occupational therapy programs and replacing them with a graduate program. Most students enter occupational therapy school after completing a baccalaureate degree. In addition, some occupational therapy schools may require more courses than listed below. It is the responsibility of the pre-occupational therapy student to become aware of these additional requirements and to plan his or her pre-occupational therapy curriculum accordingly.
3. The pre-occupational therapy student should work closely with the pre-occupational therapy advisor so all course requirements are filled prior to entrance into occupational therapy school. Delay in meeting with the pre-occupational therapy advisor will likely result in delayed entrance into occupational therapy school.
4. In addition to a strong background in behavioral sciences, English, and humanities, the following courses are specifically required for entrance into most occupational therapy schools:
   BIOL 1211, 1212, 2110, 2360
   CHEM 1111, 1112
   ENGL 1001, 1002
   MATH 1170
   PHYS 1101, 1102
   PSY 1100, 2217, 2237
   SOC 1104, 1105
5. The following courses are strongly recommended to be included in the student's pre-occupational therapy curriculum:
   ACCT 1100
   BIOL 1300, 3920
   MATH 2610
   PHED 3100, 3110, 3200, 3400, 4150
   THSP 1100
6. A suggested pre-occupational therapy academic schedule is listed below; numbers in parentheses are semester credits:

Freshman

BIOL 1211, 1212; F, S; (4,4)
CHEM 1111, 1112; F, S; (4,4)
ENGL 1001, 1002; F, S; (4,4)
MATH 1170; F; (3)
PSY 1100; S (4)
Electives: Consult your Pre-Occupational Therapy Advisor

Sophomore

BIOL 1300; F or S; (2)
BIOL 2110, 2360; F, S; (4,4)
BIOL 3920; F; (1)
PHYS 1101, 1102; F, S; (5,5)
PSY 2217, 2237; F, S; (3,4)
SOC 1104, 1105; F, S; (3,3)
Electives: Consult your Pre-Occupational Therapy Advisor

Junior and Senior

Consult your Pre-Occupational Therapy Advisor