/ Center for Community and Global Health/ Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy

Recommended Coursework for Master’s in Occupational Therapy

Interested to find out more about a career in occupational therapy? Check out this website here.

Students can enroll in occupational therapy programs with any undergraduate major. However, many courses required for admission to health-professional schools are sequential, so good planning is key.

We have found that most occupational therapy programs require or recommend the below courses, however, pre-requisites can vary, sometimes greatly, from school to school. It is a good idea to check directly with the schools you plan to apply to.

Recommended Courses	LC Course
1-year of Biology w/ lab	BIO 202 (4 credits): Biological Core Concepts: Mechanisms (Pre-req: Bio 110 and Chem 120) and An upper-level Biology course with lab such as: BIO 361 (5 credits): Cell Biology (Pre-reqs: Bio 110, Bio 201, Bio 202, and Chem 120. Math 131, Math 255, or CS 171) or BIO 369 (5 credits): Developmental Biology (Pre-reqs: Bio 110, Bio 201, Bio 202, Chem 120. Math 131, Math 255, or CS 171)
1 semester Physiology	BIO 375 (5 credits): Physiology (Pre-reqs: Bio 110 and Bio 202)
1-semester Anatomy	Offered through the Oregon Alliance of Independent Colleges and Universities. See your pre-health advisor for options.
1-year Physics w/ lab	PHYS 141 (5 credits): Introductory General Physics I (Pre-req: Math 131) and PHYS 142 (5 credits): Introductory General Physics II (Pre-reqs: Phys 141 or Phys 151. Math 131)
1-semester Statistics	ECON 103 (4 credits): Statistics (Pre-req: QR 101) or MATH 255 (4 credits): Statistical Concepts and Methods (Pre-req: Math 131) or PSY 200 (4 credits): Statistics I (Pre-req: None)
1 semester Psychology or Sociology	PSY 100 (4 credits): Introduction to Psychology (Pre-req: None) or SOAN 100 (4 credits): Introduction to Sociology (Pre-req: None)
1-year Lifespan Psychology/Human Development (must include birth to death)	PSY 230 (4 credits): Infant and Child Development (Pre-req: Psy 100) and PSY 330 (4 credits): Adolescent and Adult Development (Pre-reqs: Psy 230 and Psy 300)

Below is a list of experiences to make oneself a competitive applicant for a Master’s in Occupational Therapy.

Other Experiences	Hours
Direct Observation	100 hours minimum recommended. Direct observation hours can be obtained by observing in several occupational therapy settings, and by shadowing occupational therapists in their workplace.
GRE test	May be required by some schools. More information can be found here

Recommended Timeline for Master’s in Occupational Therapy

Here is a recommended timeline to help you navigate the application process for a Master’s in Occupational Therapy. Although student-classification years are listed, you can start working towards this program at any time – while this timeline is designed as a helpful template, it can be adjusted based on your personal journey.

Please note that all occupational therapy schools are different and may have varying application cycles and requirements, so be sure to research each program you’re interested in.

Summer after Junior Year
Winter of Junior Year
Recommended time for applicants to take the GRE	Recommended 2-3 months of studying prior to taking the exam Some programs do not require the GRE GRE is valid for 5 years Can be retaken every 21 days, up to 5 times in a 12-month period
June - September Most Applications open The OTCAS portal is here	Most schools use this centralized Occupational Therapy Application portal Be sure to check if your schools have separate application processes
Winter of Senior Year
December Deadline for OTCAS applications
Spring of Senior Year
April - May Acceptances begin
Fall after Senior Year
August Start Occupational Therapy Program