Occupational Therapy Course

What Can I expect from occupational therapy courses?

Preparing for a Bachelor’s degree through one of the accredited occupational therapy schools will involve a general battery of science and liberal arts classes that will round out the student’s academic experience. Although liberal arts and humanities courses may not seem directly pertinent to the work of occupational therapists, these courses work to expand the academic and experiential knowledge of student as they prepare to enter the post graduate arena where they will share the company of other worldly academics. The humanities also add to a richer understanding of the human experience that will allow for a greater level of empathy and human connectedness with clients.

Expect undergraduate courses in occupational therapy to include biology, chemistry, and physics, as well as the social sciences and humanities.

What can I expect from Bachelor’s level occupational therapy courses?

Earning a Bachelor’s degree in the pursuit of a career in occupational therapy is effectively the first collegiate step towards entering the profession. At the Bachelor’s level expect courses in biology, psychology, sociology, anthropology, liberal arts and the humanities.

What can I expect from Master’s level occupational therapy courses

With the rare exception of those who choose to pursue PhD programs, the Master’s degree is the final requirement for practicing occupational therapy in accordance with the standards imposed by all state licensing bodies and national certifying agencies. It is in these postgraduate occupational therapy training programs that aspiring OTs hone specialized skills with the intention of pursuing more narrowly focused forms of therapy. Although all general occupational therapy Bachelor’s programs prepare students for working with both children and the elderly, postgraduate programs can be designed specifically around a specialty such as pediatric or geriatric occupational therapy.

Can I specialize in occupational therapy for injury rehabilitation?

Some aspiring occupational therapists choose to specialize in injury rehabilitation. This specialized form is of particular interest to active duty and former military men and women who have chosen to make occupational therapy the focus of either their military of civilian careers. Although the majority of clients who seek the services of occupational therapists for the purpose of injury rehabilitation are not veterans with debilitating injuries sustained in combat, in recent years a renewed focus has been placed on taking care of this important segment of American society.

What can I expect form occupational therapy courses in mental health?

Master’s level postgraduate occupational therapy programs that focus on mental health will involve some courses unique to this specialty. The medical community is astounded by the dramatic increase in the occurrence of autism among young Americans. This has become one of the major focuses of this profession in recent years, and this unfortunate trend is expected to continue. When pursuing a mental health specialty with a focus on autism, expect courses that delve more deeply into behavioral psychology and early childhood development.