Pre-Occupational Therapy Resources
Updated 8/7/2023
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The main role of an occupational therapist is to help injured, ill or disabled people of all ages--from newborns to the elderly--regain their ability to perform everyday tasks. Patients may be dealing with mental, physical, emotional, or developmental issues. After assessing the patient, the OT will map out a plan to help the patients meet their goals, which can range anywhere from being able to brush their teeth or grasp a pencil, to walking steadily ("occupations" are these meaningful everyday activities that people do). The need for OTs is expected to increase as baby boomers age and still strive to live life to their fullest. There's also been an increase in the diagnosis of autism, and an increasing demand for school-based OTs. They may work in academia, nursing facilities, schools, hospitals, or mental-health facilities.
At SJU, the admissions requirements are the same for the MOT & DrOT; to compare the two degrees (master's and doctorate), New England Institute of Technology has a great resource.
In order to apply to the SJU DrOT program, you must meet the following requirements:
Have a bachelor’s degree in one of the sciences, sociology, psychology or other related fields from an accredited university or college
Complete all prerequisite courses by the start of the program in May
3.0 Cumulative and 3.2 Prerequisite GPA with at least a C or higher in all prerequisite courses
A minimum of 50 hours of shadow experience with documentation from a licensed occupational therapist professional prior to the start of the program in May.
You may use the Occupational Therapy Shadowing Form to document any additional or required shadowing hours that you complete. Forms from other schools are acceptable so long as they include all of the information needed.
Two letters of reference are required (letters from OT practitioners highly preferred)
OTCAS essay: A statement as to why the student wants to enter the profession of occupational therapy. Within this statement applicants are expected to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of occupational therapy gained from observation, reading, and personal or family experiences.
Prerequisites
Required prerequisite courses should be completed by the end of the spring term preceding enrollment at Saint Joseph's University including:
Anatomy & Physiology, with lab (8 credits)
Abnormal Psychology (3 credits)
Advanced Writing (3 credits)
Intro to Sociology or Cultural Anthropology (3 credits)
Medical Terminology (2 credits)
Physics (with or without lab) (3 credits)
Psychology of Human Growth and Development (Developmental Psychology course that covers the whole human lifespan) (3 credits)
Statistics (3 credits)
Gain Experience
Gain Experience
Interested in shadowing at ATI? There's a location at the LLC at UCity & on City Avenue! Apply for ATI's Student Observation Program
Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania (CHOP)
Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania (CHOP)
Are you seeking a longer experience? Volunteer at CHOP with PT/OT placement
Gain volunteering/shadowing experience by committing at least six months of service or a minimum of 100 volunteer hours. You can apply to volunteer in the following departments: Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Therapeutic Recreation, Art Therapy, Horticulture Therapy or the Nutrition. Learn more about the application process for shadowing opportunities.
Based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Good Shepherd is a nationally recognized rehabilitation leader, offering a continuum of care for people with injuries, complex medical needs and physical and/or cognitive disabilities. More than 60,000 adults and children come to Good Shepherd each year for specialized programs in stroke, orthopedics and sports injuries, brain injury, spinal cord injury, amputation and more.
Consider your skills and talents by volunteering in the following ways from a variety of their sites and outpatient locations:
Companion to our long-term care residents
Patient/resident transporter
Patient ambassador
Clerical assistant
Good Shepherd Penn Partners is a joint venture between Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network and Penn Medicine that offers a variety of unique volunteer opportunities as well:
The Specialty Hospital at Rittenhouse, offering volunteer opportunities in a long-term acute care setting
The Penn Institute for Rehabilitation Medicine, offering volunteer opportunities in an inpatient rehabilitation setting
GSPP Rehabilitation, offering volunteer opportunities in a variety of outpatient locations
Additional Resources
Additional Resources
Pediatric Occupational Therapy Practitioners Promote Play for Families to Benefit Mental Wellness
Play is an important occupation for children - through play children can develop motor, cognitive, and social-emotional skills, as well as creativity and problem-solving ability. Occupational therapy practitioners facilitate a child's participation in play and its impact on their overall well-being by addressing physical, social, and mental health. Occupational therapy practitioners are skilled in helping families and children to more actively participate in healthy play activities, effectively play with their children, and adapt toys and activities for those with disabilities to enable them to participate.
American Occupational Therapy Association
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