Texas Tech University

Pre-Occupational Therapy

The Profession

Occupational therapy is skilled treatment that helps individuals achieve independence in all facets of their lives. Occupational therapists provide people with the skills they need to live independent and satisfying lives. Occupational Therapists assist clients in performing activities of all types, ranging from using a computer to caring for daily needs such as dressing, cooking, eating, and driving. Occupational therapist's services typically include: customized treatment programs to improve one's ability to perform daily activities, comprehensive home and job site evaluations with adaptation recommendations, performance skills assessments and treatment, adaptive equipment recommendations and usage training, and guidance to family members and caregivers. This definition of the Occupational Therapy profession as well as the expected education of future OTs is supported by the AOTA organization.

Being Pre-Occupational Therapy

Pre-Occupational Therapy is an academic designation at Texas Tech University; it is not a degree-granting major. As Pre-OT students prepare to apply to OT programs, they have the option to major in any area they choose as long as they take the prerequisite courses required to enter OT school along with the courses necessary to complete their chosen degree at Texas Tech University.

A bachelors degree is required prior to beginning the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Health Professions Occupational Therapy program. Students should check regularly with the programs to which they plan to apply, as prerequisites and application procedures may change.

Regardless of which degree-granting major a Pre-OT student chooses at Texas Tech, they will always have a PPHC Advisor on their team. If you have any questions whatsoever about being Pre-OT, contact your assigned PPHC Advisor today!

Prerequisite Courses

Prerequisite courses for the TTUHSC School of Health Professions Occupational Therapy Program::

COURSE NAME Texas Tech University Texas Common Course Numbering System
HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I ZOOL 2403 BIOL 2401, 2101, 2301
HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II ZOOL 2404 BIOL 2402, 2102, 2302
PHYSICS or BIOMECHANICS PHYS 1403 or KIN 4301 PHYS 1401, 1101, 1301
DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY* PSY 4301  
ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY* PSY 4305  
STATISTICAL METHODS MATH 2300 MATH 1342, 1442, 2342, 2442

* - PLEASE NOTE THAT DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY AND ABNORMAL PSYCHOLOGY REQUIRE COMPLETION OF GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY (PSY 1300) BEFORE REGISTRATION.  GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY, HOWEVER, IS NOT A PREREQUISITE FOR THE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PROGRAM

Other Requirements

Applicants are expected to have some knowledge of the occupational therapy profession. This can be acquired in several ways: volunteer work, paid employment, and /or observation in occupational therapy settings/ services. It is in the best interest of the applicant to complete a substantial number of experiential hours in occupational therapy (a minimum of 40 hours, preferably in a variety of different settings) prior to the application deadline for the program.

Two Letters of Recommendation are required for the Occupational Therapy program.  One of these letters must be from an Occupational Therapist.  Letter writers should be professional personnel who:

  1. Have observed you related to volunteer or paid work
  2. Is a previous or present employer
  3. is a previous or present instructor or counselor. 

A minimum cumulative GPA of a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and a minimum science prerequisite GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is required for the Occupational Therapy program.

Frequently check with the programs to which you plan to apply. Prerequisites and/or application procedures can change.

Occupational Therapy Schools

To learn more about professional degree programs in occupational therapy both in Texas and elsewhere, please visit the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) directory here

Success Roadmap

PPHC Advisors have created a year-by-year PDF guide to being Pre-Occupational Therapy.

Application Information

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