Course Requirements Overview
This is a guide to common pre-occupational therapy course requirements.
Professional schools have a variety of prerequisites required for admission to their programs. On this page, we include information about timelines for pre-occupational therapy requirements and the options available.
- Individual schools may require or recommend additional courses.
- All Prerequisites must be completed with a letter grade of C or higher.
- Schools vary on Credit-By-Exam (AP/IB/CLEP) policies and preferences for prerequisites.
- School requirements can change. See individual school websites and admissions guides under “Research Occupational Therapy Schools Before You Apply.” We always recommend checking for any updates.
Recommended Pre-Occupational Therapy Courses
Most Texas OT schools require:
- Biology: Lecture – 3 hrs; Lab – 1 hrs (University of Incarnate Word)
- Anatomy: Lecture – 3 hrs; Lab – 1 hrs
- Physiology: Lecture – 3 hrs; Lab – 1 hrs
- General Chemistry: Lecture – 6 hrs; Lab – 2 hrs
- Psychology: Lecture - 6 hrs
- Social Sciences: Lecture – 3 hrs
- General Physics/Biomechanics: Lecture – 3 hrs
- Math: Statistics – 3 hrs
- English: Rhetoric (Composition) and Literature – 6 hrs
(OT School Prerequisite Course Timelines is available at the bottom of this page.)
Some occupational therapy schools require humanities and social/behavioral science courses. We strongly recommend taking courses in the following areas.
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Ethics
- Analytical problem-solving
- Critical thinking
- Writing, interpersonal communications, and presentation skills
- Cultural studies
- Spanish and other language studies relevant to your career goals
UT Austin courses are typically taken to fulfill requirements.
Subject | Lecture | Lab/Notes |
---|---|---|
Biology |
BIO 311 D and BIO 325 is not specifically required, but it is a UT Austin prerequisite for other required upper-division Biology courses. |
|
Anatomy |
UT Austin prerequisite for this course: BIO 325 or BIO 325H AND CH 301 or CH 301H AND [either] SDS 302, or 328M OR M 408C, 408K, or 408N. |
|
Physiology |
UT Austin prerequisite for this course: BIO 311C AND BIO 325 or BIO 325H AND CH 301 or CH 301H AND [either] SDS 302, or 328M OR M 408C, 408K, or 408N. |
|
Chemistry |
CH 301 is not specifically required, but it is a UT Austin prerequisite for required upper-division Biology courses. |
|
Physics |
(May be able to substitute Kinesiology courses - Biomechanics KIN 320 OR Human Movement KIN 425K)
|
Starting FALL 2021, PHY 105M/N will replace lab numbers PHY 102M/N, PHY 103M/N, and 117M/N.
|
Medical Terminology |
|
See schools for information about completion of this course. |
Statistics |
|
Note: Calculus or SDS 302F or SDS 320E will satisfy math prereq for BIO 446L & BIO 365S. Students with calculus credit have more statistics course options. Most Texas OT schools accept the following: SDS 302F, 320E, M 316, EDP 371, PSY 418, SOC 317L, STA 309, 309H.v |
Rhetoric (Composition) |
|
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Literature |
|
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Social & Behavioral Sciences |
|
Some programs may accept sociology or anthropology in place of one psychology course.
|
Occupational Therapy School Prerequisite Course Timelines
See the Occupational Therapy Schools Prerequisite Courses Timelines below.
This timeline includes pre-occupational therapy course requirements for admission to most Texas and U. S. occupational therapy schools. Completing the pre-occupational therapy courses and extracurricular activities generally requires six semesters or longer, regardless of the student’s age or year in college. Your personal timeline may differ from this sample. Work with your academic advisor to incorporate these courses into your degree plan.
Important Note:
Timelines do not include all course options and details.
To be sure that you are fulfilling all requirements, see individual school websites. Research occupational therapy schools before you apply!
Additional Course Information
- Currently a UT student and thinking of taking courses away from UT?
- Are Extension Courses okay for health prereqs?
- Other Pre-Health non-science courses of interest