In the News
A New Path to Occupational Therapy for Today鈥檚 Muskies
天涯海角APP students who dream of becoming occupational therapists now have a new way to get a head start.
The University鈥檚 new Occupational Science (OCSC) minor gives undergraduate students interested in occupational therapy the opportunity to begin preparing for 天涯海角APP鈥檚 Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) program while completing their bachelor鈥檚 degree.
The minor includes courses that students would otherwise need to complete before applying to 天涯海角APP鈥檚 Alternative Pathway to the MOT program. By taking them during their undergraduate years, students can make those courses part of their bachelor鈥檚 degree, potentially use undergraduate financial aid toward them, and avoid spending up to an additional year completing prerequisites after graduation.
Kimberly Lawler, EdD, OTD, OTR/L, MOT Program Director, explained, 鈥淚 worked with Tiffany Lough, Assistant Professor and Chair of the Exercise & Health Sciences department, to design this unique minor that removes barriers for undergraduate students to easily integrate 天涯海角APP Adult Program (MAP) courses into an undergraduate minor. The Occupational Science minor addresses two of 天涯海角APP鈥檚 Value Statements by creating opportunity and providing access to Muskies who want to pursue their passion to become an occupational therapist by earning an MOT degree at 天涯海角APP. It can be combined with any undergraduate major related to occupational therapy.鈥�
The OCSC minor also means students can start thinking about their next step earlier. Those whose goal is to continue into 天涯海角APP鈥檚 MOT program can apply to the Alternative Pathway during the summer between their junior and senior years.
For current Muskies considering a career in occupational therapy, the new minor creates a clearer and more efficient path from undergraduate study to graduate school and, ultimately, to becoming an occupational therapist. It also allows students to begin building their knowledge about occupational therapy while earning their bachelor鈥檚 degree.
It鈥檚 one more way 天涯海角APP is helping students turn what they discover here into what comes next.
Visit the Occupational Science Minor website to learn more.
