Please refer to the current SIUE catalog or the Biology Department Web Page for detailed specialization requirements for biology majors.

Links to Sites of Interest to Pre-Occupational Therapy Students

Regional Occupational Therapy Programs

• University of Illinois at Chicago OT Program
• Saint Louis University OT Program
• Washington University OT Program

Other OT Sites

• American Occupational Therapy Association

Let me know (cbwilso@siue.edu) if you know of other sites that might be of interest to prePT students.

Applying to Occupational Therapy Graduate Programs

Students should apply to occupational therapy graduate programs in the summer or fall of the year before they plan to begin the program. Do not wait until just before the deadline to apply--apply close to the earliest time they accept applications. Investigate the web sites for programs that are of interest to you to make sure that you take the prerequisite courses required--not all programs require the same courses.

For example, the UIC program specifies one course in antropology or sociology, two courses in psychology (child psychology and abnormal psychology), one course in statistics, and a year of anatomy and physiology (either one semester of each or two semesters of combined A & P). At SIUE, the child and abnormal psychology courses require general psychology as a prerequisite. Either Statistics 107 or 244 is acceptable, but Stat 244 is required for biology majors.

Some schools require human anatomy and physiology (at SIUE, Biol 240a and b, for which the prerequisite is Biol 111 or equivalent); some allow separate vertebrate anatomy and physiology courses (at SIUE, Biol 389 and 340). Biol 240ab do not count toward a biology major; Biol 389 and 340 do.

Most programs require the GRE as an admissions test. A substantial number of hours of occupational therapy clinical observation before application is recommended. Experience working with an occupational therapist will provide valuable support for your application. While most pre-OT students major in psychology or kinesiology, any major is acceptable. In biology, the integrative biology specialization (BIOI) is probably the one most adaptable to the needs of pre-OT students.