Occupational Therapy
Help individuals develop, recover, or maintain the skills needed for daily living and meaningful activities through personalized interventions.
Persuing the Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) Degree
This is a terminal degree that takes 3 years of occupational therapy school after the bachelor’s degree. Preparation for occupational therapy school involves curricular and extracurricular experiences that demonstrate communication and leadership skills, community service, and familiarity with the occupational therapy profession.
The University of Mississippi Occupational Therapy program is housed at our sister campus, University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) in Jackson, MS.
For more about the field of occupational therapy, visit the Occupation Outlook Handbook.
Incoming freshmen indicate their interest in occupational therapy on the UM application. Others complete the short online form to be assigned to an HPAO advisor and notified about HPAO programs and services.
Enroll in HPAO
Welcome to Pre-Occupational Therapy
Whether you're just beginning to explore a career in occupational therapy or actively preparing for OT school, you'll find the resources and guidance you need here. We're dedicated to helping you navigate your academic journey, build strong foundational skills required for Occupational Therapy School, and take the next steps toward a future career in eye care.
Meredith Ann Pyle
Learning Specialist
To enter occupational therapy school, you will need:
- Specific courses required by occupational therapy school (below),
- Experience in a occupational therapy setting, such as shadowing an occupational therapist,
- A competitive Graduate Record Exam (GRE) score,
- Letters of evaluation that address personal qualities and characteristics of the applicant, and
- Evidence of leadership and community involvement.
Occupational Therapy Pre-Requisite Courses
The courses below are required for the UM Medical Center’s occupational therapy program. You will need to research other occupational therapy programs if you plan to apply elsewhere.
Required Courses
| BISC 206 Human Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 credit hours |
| BISC 207 Human Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 credit hours |
| PHYS 213/223 General Physics I with Lab (You may substitute PHYS 211/221) | 4 credit hours |
| Advanced Biological Science or Physics Course. (See HPAO Advisor) | 3-4 credit hours |
| PSY 201 General Psychology | 3 credit hours |
| PSY 301 Developmental Psychology | 3 credit hours |
| MATH 115, OR PSY 202 Statistics | 3 credit hours |
Other Courses That Might Be Required
| *BISC 160/160 Biological Science I with Lab | 4 credit hours |
| *CHEM 105/115 General Chemistry I with Lab | 4 credit hours |
| ES 396 Allied Health Terminology | 3 credit hours |
*Requires a minimum ACT Math subscore of 24 (SAT Math subscore of 560 or SAT-R Math subscore of 580); or minimum of B earned in MATH 125; or MATH 121 & 123; or CHEM 101.
How has HPAO Helped You?
The Health Professions Advising Office (HPAO) has been so helpful in guiding my academic and career. Their support has been pivotal in helping me select the most suitable major and minor to align with my interests. My advisor, Meredith Pyle, provided guidance on how to integrate a minor in Sign Language Interpreting into my Pre-Occupational Therapy track. This minor not only enhances my skill set but also significantly enriches my resume, setting me apart in the competitive field of Occupational Therapy. I am not only on track to achieving my academic goals but am also well on my way to fulfilling my ambition of becoming a sign language interpreter. This will undoubtedly complement my role as an Occupational Therapist by allowing me to better serve in diverse communities in the future.
Skylar Jacobs
(B,A, in Psychology, Minor in Sign Language Interpreting)
Meet Some Pre-OT Students
Audrey Fletcher
What is your most memorable experience working with HPAO?
See Audrey’s Answer
Fallon Stevens
Why did you choose OT?
See Fallon’s Answer Skylar Jacobs
Why did you decide to pursue this health profession?
See Skylar’s Answer