Occupational Therapy (Pre-OT) Major

Occupational Therapy (Pre-OT) is a track preparing students to help people regain daily-living skills after injury or illness. It is a major within Health & Medicine.

The Occupational Therapy pre-major track prepares students to pursue graduate study in occupational therapy. The field focuses on helping people of all ages regain the ability to perform everyday activities—eating, dressing, working, playing, and self-care—after illness, injury, or disability. Students explore how physical and mental abilities affect daily functioning, how environments and tools can be adapted to support independence, and how purposeful activities can aid recovery. The major examines practical questions: What barriers prevent someone from returning to work? How can therapy help a stroke survivor regain hand function? What adjustments help someone with arthritis manage household tasks?

Students drawn to this major typically value hands-on problem-solving, enjoy working directly with people, and are interested in rehabilitation and wellness. The coursework usually begins with foundational sciences—anatomy, physiology, psychology, and human development—to build understanding of how bodies and minds work. As students progress, they move toward occupational therapy concepts, clinical reasoning, and supervised practice in real-world settings. This progression ensures students develop both the scientific knowledge and practical skills needed for graduate-level training.

Typical coursework

Course requirements vary by school, but a Occupational Therapy (Pre-OT) program commonly includes topics such as:

• Human anatomy
• Psychology
• Human development
• Occupational science
• Activity analysis
• Patient care basics

Most programs also include general-education requirements and, in many fields, a capstone project, internship, or research experience.

Degree levels

Occupational Therapy (Pre-OT) is commonly offered at these levels:

• Bachelor's
• Master's
• Doctoral

Availability differs by institution, and program names can vary (for example, a Bachelor of Arts versus a Bachelor of Science track).

Common career directions

Graduates with a Occupational Therapy (Pre-OT) background pursue a range of paths. Some roles related to this field of study include:

• Occupational therapy aide
• OT applicant
• Rehabilitation assistant

Many careers require additional steps beyond the major — such as a graduate degree, a license, or a certification — and many graduates work in fields unrelated to their major. What you study is one factor among many in where your career goes.

General career information is drawn from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook. Career paths vary widely by person, school, and region; this is not a list of guaranteed jobs or earnings.

Other majors in health & medicine

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