Pre-Occupational Therapy
The DBU Pre-Occupational Therapy Program equips students for occupational therapy school in a variety of ways.
Advisor | Testimonials | FAQs
Determining Your Calling to Occupational Therapy School
Through the Pre-Occupational Therapy program, students can determine God’s calling on their life and whether occupational therapy is the path for them. Meet with professors and advisors to discuss career opportunities and how you can use your giftings.
Preparing You Academically for Occupational Therapy School
Establish the foundation needed to be successful in occupational therapy school and beyond. Through Pre-Occupational Therapy classes, whether participating in a human anatomy course or analyzing physics, students will leave DBU equipped with skills needed for occupational therapy school.
Preparing You Personally and Professionally for Occupational Therapy School
Connect with students in similar disciplines as you participate in service opportunities or other student organizations. Take advantage of the possible internships to gain real-world experience that help enhance your learning.
Preparing You for the Advanced Occupational Therapy Programs (MOT, OTD)
Take advantage of the connections that DBU offers whether it is the individualized attention of an advisor or partnerships with local clinics. Students will receive personalized guidance from the Pre-Occupational Therapy advisor to help them make decisions such as where to go to occupational therapy school or how to best use your degree in that field.
Pre-Occupational Therapy Advisor
Dr. Adam Ross
Chair, Assistant Professor, Undergraduate Kinesiology
Dr. Ross serves as the Chair of the Department of Kinesiology, as well as the Director and advisor of the BS Health Sciences and BA/BS Kinesiology degrees. Dr. Ross has 12 years of professional experience in the world of athletic performance development, working for Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning, Baylor University, the Houston Astros Baseball Organization, Florida State University, and Dallas Baptist University.
adamr@dbu.edu
(214) 333-5937
Pre-Occupational Therapy Alumni Testimonials
Avery Beckham
Occupational Therapy Intern, Cutting Edge Pediatric & Adult Therapy
Avery graduated from DBU in 2024. She is currently an occupational therapy intern at Cutting Edge Pediatric & Adult Therapy.
"I absolutely loved my time at DBU! Through my professors' leadership, encouragement, and intentionality, along with the academic rigor, I have been challenged in a way that has prepared me for the next step of applying to Occupational Therapy school. In addition, the Christ-centered community found here is like no other, and I cannot imagine being at any other school for my undergraduate years!"
Eve Doudcian
Doctoral Student, Baylor
Eve graduated from DBU in 2024. She is currently pursuing her Doctor of Occupational Therapy Degree at Baylor University.
"The Pre-OT program at DBU has made me feel confident in my future. The incredible professors make each class engaging, and they genuinely want to see all of their students succeed. The small lab sizes make it easy to gain lots of experience and ensure a close bond within the major!"
Audrey Whitson
Occupational Therapist, Baylor Scott & White Medical Center
Audrey graduated from DBU in 2018 and from Texas Women's University in 2021. She is currently an occupational therapist at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Grapevine.
"I will always remember my time at DBU because it was special. My professors prepared me for being an occupational therapist not just with knowledge, but with a foundation of truth in Christ. I was welcomed, challenged, and given the tools I needed to succeed in my career. My memories of DBU are fond and I am proud to call it my alma mater!"
Pre-Occupational Therapy FAQs
The Health Sciences degree is offered by the Department of Kinesiology through the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. The purpose of the Health Sciences Program is to serve as a degree focused on pre-professional preparation for entrance into graduate programs. This program, specifically through an identified area of concentration, will help students recognize and meet specific entrance requirements for health-related degree programs at the master's or doctoral level. Students should meet with their advisor to discuss their concentration and steps after graduation.
Through the BS Health Sciences degree program at Dallas Baptist University, along with many degrees, students have the opportunity to gain practical experiences through both for-credit and not-for-credit internships and observation experiences. Students are able to meet with their advisors to find a location that best fits their professional pursuits, location, and personal interests.
Occupational therapists are professionals who seek to assist individuals of various ages to regain the ability to participate in activities they want and need to do through the utilization of therapeutic use of everyday activities (AOTA). Some common interventions in occupational therapy include but are not limited to assisting disabled children to learn how to participate fully in school settings as well as social interactions, rehabilitating individuals after an injury as they regain skills needed for daily living and working, and supporting the aging or elderly through physical and/or cognitive changes. The path to becoming an occupational therapist requires an advanced degree, either a Master's of Occupational Therapy (MOT) or a Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (OTD), as well as state licensure. With an expected job growth rate of 12% through 2032 and an average median salary of $93,180 per year (bls.gov, 2024), this is certainly an expanding field where you can exercise your calling to serve others through human movement and rehabilitation.
Although Dallas Baptist University will not be your final stop on your journey to becoming an occupational therapist, we are well-equipped to provide you with everything you need to feel confident as you apply to these advanced degree programs during your final semesters of undergraduate preparation.
Advanced Degree Preparation
- As you pursue your undergraduate degree, it would be wise to focus on building tools to prepare you for applying to your advanced degree program. Depending on the level of degree and the specific program you are pursuing, applications often focus on the following components:
- Academic Record (GPA and Pre-Requisites)
- Observation Hours
- Letters of Recommendation
- GRE Score
Pre-Requisite Courses
- While admission to a Masters of Occupational Therapy or Doctor of Occupational Therapy program does not require applicants to hold a specific degree or come from a specific major, there is a long list of pre-requisite courses that are needed in order to meet entry requirements and set yourself apart as a qualified candidate. To aid in your preparation for applying to your advanced program, DBU has a directed BS in Health Sciences degree that has a concentration in Pre-Occupational Therapy aiming to provide a Christ-centered education as you complete your pre-requisites and earn your undergraduate degree. In this degree, you will be immersed in a study emphasizing the science and application of the principles of human movement and psychology, among many other sub-disciplines, to create a greater depth of understanding.
Observation Hours
- Most occupational therapy programs require observation hours, with many requiring up to 40-50 hours.
The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex is one of the fastest-growing and most dynamic metropolitan areas in the United States. This population growth brings a great need in many career fields, one of which is careers in health science-related disciplines. Studying for your preparation in occupational therapy in the DFW area creates an excellent opportunity for experiential learning through volunteering, scheduled observation hours, or structured internship programming. All of these are critical to the Dallas Baptist University Health Sciences degree programming and your successful application to terminal degree programs as you seek to serve in the field of Occupational Therapy. The BS in Health Sciences degree at Dallas Baptist University has an intentional approach to experiential learning as we have practical experience built into your course requirements. In your pursuit of this degree, you will find yourself living, learning, and serving in one of the most dynamic areas in the United States as you prepare to act out God’s call for your life.