student in class

Pre-Occupational Therapy

Make a difference in a patient's life, help others gain independence and choose a career with options.

UND’s Pre-Occupational Therapy program provides the building blocks for a career as an occupational therapist. This rigorous program prepares you for the national board exam, in which 100% of UND graduates have passed in the previous three years.

Program type:
Pre-Professional Program
Format:
On Campus
Est. time to complete:
3 years
Credit hours:
90

Why study pre-occupational therapy?

Application Deadlines
Fall:
Feb. 1* | April 15^
Spring:
Dec. 15
Summer:
May 1

*Freshman Priority Deadline
^Transfer Priority Deadline

As an incoming freshmen, you can earn your Doctor of Occupational Therapy in just six years! With a six-year program offered in Grand Forks, ND, and a satellite campus in Casper, WY, UND's pre-occupational therapy program is composed of two segments:

The first three years of the curriculum are considered to be Pre-Occupational Therapy (pre-professional) and include the following courses:

  • Abnormal Psychology
  • Two semesters of Human Anatomy and Physiology with lab
  • Arts & Humanities elective
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • College Composition
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Introduction to Occupational Therapy
  • Psychology
  • Public Speaking
  • Sociology
  • Statistics

Following completion of the Pre-Occupational Therapy coursework, you need to be accepted into the Occupational Therapy (O.T.D.) program which consists of three academic years (including two summer sessions). Admission to the program is competitive with consideration given to pre-professional performance in the sciences, general graduation requirements, leadership potential, volunteer work and personal qualifications.

Through the course of your education, you're expected to develop the knowledge, skills and adaptive capacity needed to address occupational challenges individuals face in meeting their daily needs such as self-care, driving, home management, employment and leisure activities. You'll develop critical thinking and reflective skills needed for success in UND's occupational therapy doctorate program and life-long learning in a rewarding career.

For more information on the Occupational Therapy program at UND, visit the School of Medicine & Health Sciences..

Pre-Occupational Therapy at UND

  • Hands-on learning emphasized in all stages of your studies, including anatomy with cadaver lab.

  • Connect with classmates in the Student Occupational Therapy Association and Pi Theta, an honorary organization.

  • Two three-month supervised internships at medical or community clinics

  • Multiple one-week clinical fieldwork experiences

  • Clinically-relevant scholarly project developed in third year of the program.

Occupational Therapy Careers 

18%

Expected job growth for occupational therapists through 2026

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

84k

Median pay for occupational therapists after earning your professional or doctoral degree

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

By becoming a graduate of UND's Occupational Therapy program, you'll have the chance to pursue a career in any of the following settings:

  • Adult physical rehab
  • Rehabilitation in pediatric, adult and geriatric rehab facilities
  • Child and adult mental health practice
  • Child development
  • Public health
  • Ergonomics and work evaluation/conditioning
  • School-based practice settings

UND graduates are recruited for employment because of their broad knowledge base, communication skills, work ethic and range of entry-level capabilities.

Pre-Occupational Therapy Courses

BIOL 150. General Biology I. 3 Credits.

Basic concepts of biology with emphasis on the process of science, metabolism, cell biology, plant and animal form and function, and physiology. Broadly designed to satisfy the needs of those pursuing biological and preprofessional curricula. F.

PSYC 111. Introduction to Psychology. 3 Credits.

A survey of the scientific study of behavior and mental processes, with consideration of the nature and scope of psychology as a science and a profession. F,S.

BIMD 220. Human Anatomy & Physiology I. 3 Credits.

A survey of the anatomy and physiology of the major human organ systems and the foundational concepts required to understand them. Each concept is presented through the lens of a diverse human population. Completed as part of a set with BIMD 221, but courses may be taken in any order. Prerequisites or Corequisites: Either BIOL 150 and BIOL 150L or CHEM 116 and CHEM 116L or CHEM 121 and CHEM 121L. F.

OT 200. Introduction to Occupational Therapy. 2 Credits.

History, scope, objectives, and functions of Occupational Therapy. F,S.

SOC 110. Introduction to Sociology. 3 Credits.

A systematic examination of the social components of human behavior, including the norms, laws, cultural patterns, and economic forces that organize everyday life. Students will analyze theories of society, the structure of social institutions, social conflict and stratification, as well as social interactions among diverse groups of people. F,S,SS.

BIMD 221. Human Anatomy & Physiology II. 3 Credits.

A survey of the anatomy and physiology of the major human organ systems and the foundational concepts required to understand them. Each concept is presented through the lens of a diverse human population. Completed as part of a set with BIMD 220, but courses may be taken in any order. Prerequisites or Corequisites: BIOL 150 and BIOL 150L or CHEM 116 and CHEM 116L or CHEM 121 and CHEM 121L.

Explore More Options

After completing your first three years, continue your education with UND's Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program.

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