Pre-Occupational Therapy Concentration
The occupational therapist is a health professional that provides service to individuals whose lives have been impaired by physical, psychological or developmental problems. The therapist assists these individuals through appropriate activities suited to their physical capacity, intelligence level and interests. These activities are designed to develop independence, prepare patients for return to work, restore basic functions and aid in adjustment to disabilities. The therapist must have the ability to teach and to communicate with handicapped people, to understand physical sciences and medicine, to use the skills in craft-making and daily living, to make and apply splints, to provide guidance and instruction and to determine and develop appropriate treatment and activities.
Employment opportunities are found in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, intermediate care facilities, community mental health programs, private practice, home-health agencies and educational settings.
Occupational therapy is a master's program and does not require a bachelor's degree prior to acceptance to a program. Students take the specific pre-requisite courses at MSU before applying to the University of Mississippi Medical Center. To be eligible for admission, candidates must:
- provide evidence of 16 hours of observation in at least two occupational therapy clinical departments;
- have a minimum of 60 semester hours of academic credit (exclusive of PE, military science, dogmatic religion, and vocational courses);
- complete the following prerequisite courses with a grade of a C or better: Fundamentals of Public Speaking, English Composition I and II, Two humanities and one fine art, Two social sciences, General Psychology, Child Psychology or Adolescent Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Biology I and II, Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, General Chemistry I with lab, General Physics I, College Algebra, and an elective.
- Other requirements: minimum of G.P.A. of 2.75.
