Occupational Therapy Degree

All occupational therapy degrees cover core subjects required for general study, including physical, biological, and behavioral sciences, as well as applied occupational therapy theory and skills. All accredited occupational therapy degree programs also require fieldwork as part of the degree.Students may also choose to study a therapy specialty, as the range of individuals that occupational therapists help is quite broad. For example, students can specialize in environmental modification, and their training will focus on adapting workspaces to a patient’s needs.Other students can choose to work with patients with permanent disabilities. These students learn how to help patients use adaptive technologies and aids to adjust to their unique situation.Occupational therapy programs at the graduate level prepare students to work as licensed occupational therapists. Graduate program options include master’s and doctoral programs, offered through universities and online. Master’s programs take 2-3 years, full-time, to complete, while doctoral programs take about 4-7 years, depending upon the type of degree.Applicants to master’s programs need to have a bachelor’s degree in a related field, or with related coursework, and graduate exam test scores. Some doctoral programs require applicants to have earned a master’s degree and to be certified occupational therapists prior to admission. Licensing is required to work in this field.

Education Prerequisites

Students applying for admission to a master’s program in occupational therapy must have a bachelor’s degree with prerequisite coursework in topics like anatomy and physiology, statistics and psychology. Many schools have grade point average requirements for these prerequisite courses. Schools may also prefer students to have volunteered or worked in an occupational therapy practice before enrolling in the program.

Course Topics

Graduate programs in occupational therapy include coursework in body systems, as well as the core theories and ethical practices of the industry.Topics that may be covered in a program include:

1-Kinesiology

2-Neuroanatomy

3-Patient advocacy

4-Occupational therapy theories

5-Occupational development

Salary Information

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for occupational therapists were expected to increase 26% from 2008-2018, due primarily to the growing number of elderly citizens. Occupational therapists may have their own practice or work for clinics, hospitals or other healthcare facilities. In May 2010, the Bureau of Labor Statistic reported that the national median annual wage for occupational therapists was $72,323.

Continuing Education Information

The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that occupational therapists are required to be licensed in all states. While some standards vary by state, all prospective occupational therapists must meet educational and examination requirements. The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that applicants must typically graduate from an approved program and pass a national exam to earn the Occupational Therapist Registered credential. Individuals who want to advance their education may complete a doctoral program in occupational therapy.

Doctorate of Occupational Therapy

Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (OTD) programs differ from Ph.D. programs in that they’re geared toward the professional practice. These programs are limited, as there are only five that are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education. These programs are usually completed in three years, including summers.

Educational Prerequisites

The requirements for OTD programs are similar to other graduate programs in that they require the completion of a bachelor’s degree, along with specific science coursework. Applicants may also be required to have volunteer hours in an occupational therapy clinic.

Course Topics

OTD students learn to work with diverse populations, such as children and senior citizens. Coursework will cover the relationship between the human anatomy and the workplace. Some possible course topics include:

1-Human performance

2-Pathophysiology

3-Ethical reasoning

4-Clinical anatomy

5-Leadership and public policy

Top Schools for Occupational Therapy

1-University of Southern California in Los Angeles

The University of Southern California in Los Angeles is a private research institution that placed 23rd on the U.S. News & World Report list of national universities in 2011. Additionally, USN&WR ranked the university’s Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy department third on its survey of ‘Best Occupational Therapy Programs’ for 2008.

2-University of Illinois in Chicago

The College of Applied Health Sciences at this public university includes the Department of Occupational Therapy, which ranked fourth in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report in 2008.

3-Tufts University – Boston School of Occupational Therapy in Medford

Tufts University’s Boston School of Occupational Therapy placed fifth on U.S. News & World Report’s survey of the ‘Top Occupational Therapy Programs’ for 2008. One of the first occupational therapy schools in the U.S., the school offers both an entry-level and a post-professional master’s degree program in occupational therapy, as well as a certificate and an ODT.