The Health Sciences Major may be used as a pre-professional curriculum for students wishing to apply to an Occupational Therapy Program. The Occupational Therapy Program at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center is a master's level program. Applicants should be close to (minimum of 90 hours) or have a bachelor's degree prior to admission.
SWOSU students may choose the Health Sciences Major to complete these 90 hours at SWOSU or obtain their degree in Health Sciences at SWOSU before applying to the Occupational Therapy Program.
NOTE: The OUHSC requires certain courses or their equivalent for admission to their master’s level program.
Profession
Occupational therapists treat people who are mentally, physically, developmentally, or emotionally disabled. They employ a variety of techniques designed to help individuals develop or maintain daily living skills and to cope with the physical and emotional effects of disability. With support and direction from the therapist, patients learn or relearn many of the “ordinary” tasks that are performed every day at home, at work, at school, and in the community. The aim is to help them establish a lifestyle that is as independent, productive, and satisfying as possible.
Employment
Employment for occupational therapists varies from specially equipped occupational therapy departments of hospitals or clinics, home health care, rehabilitation facilities, nursing homes, residential facilities for handicapped children, school systems, HMO’s, physicians’ offices or private practice.
Curriculum/Accreditation
Upon satisfactory completion of all requirements the graduate is awarded a degree of Master of Occupational Therapy (M.O.T.). The graduate is then able to take the national certification examination conducted under the direction of the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy.