Pre-occupational Therapy

Advisor: Don Fischer

Occupational therapy employs “occupation” or purposeful activity to help people of all ages with physical, developmental, or emotional dysfunctions and assists people to prevent, lessen, or overcome disabilities.

Occupational therapists direct the patient’s participation in selected tasks to restore, reinforce, or enhance performance and learning of those skills and functions essential for daily activities. Working cooperatively with other members of the health team, occupational therapists help patients improve their basic motor skills, reasoning, and functional abilities, while utilizing purposeful activity in a variety of settings to reduce physical and psychosocial disability.

Specific information regarding prerequisite and recommended courses, minimum GPA and prerequisite GPA, Graduate Record Exam (GRE), and occupational therapy experience requirements can be found on the individual occupational therapy program webpages. Also, if you completed advanced placement (AP) courses while in high school, make sure to read the occupational therapy program’s policy regarding advanced placement (AP) courses.

Regional Occupational Therapy Programs

• University of Minnesota
• Saint Catherine’s University
• University of North Dakota
• College of St. Scholastica
• University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse
• Concordia University Wisconsin
• University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
• University of South Dakota 

See a complete list of accredited master’s level programs and entry-level doctoral programs in occupational therapy.