This major helps graduates prepare to be occupational therapy assistants who are qualified to be employed by agencies that provide occupational therapy and related services. The goal of occupational therapy is to enable the client to be as independent as possible in the daily performance of self-care, productive, and leisure occupations. General education, basic science, and occupational therapy courses are followed by supervised field experience.
Most states also require licensure as a condition for employment.
To enter this major, students must have a high school diploma or its equivalent. To be admitted to degree candidacy, the applicant must have completed educational background requirements called Carnegie Units or Secondary School Units. Students are responsible for proof of liability insurance and other requirements specified by the facility providing supervised field experience. The size of each entering class is limited so that optimal clinical experiences and practical application situations can be maintained. Students enter the program only during the fall semester and are expected to progress through the program in the prescribed manner.