Pre-Occupational Therapy Program

Start your journey towards becoming an occupational therapist with Wayne State College's Pre-Occupational Therapy program. Get the coursework and guidance you need to prepare for graduate school.

Occupational therapy degree concept featuring an OT working with a young patient

Explore the Pre-Occupational Therapy program

Occupational therapists do rehabilitation work to help patients with injuries or disabilities. The OT focuses on improving the patient’s ability to do day-to-day activities, often working in a clinical setting but increasingly in a patient’s home. Upon completion of a bachelor’s degree, you may choose to pursue either a master’s or doctoral degree in Occupational Therapy. Both degrees educate you to be an effective clinician; however, the occupational therapy doctorate degree (OTD) prepares you to conduct research in occupational therapy, helping patients through discovery of new techniques and treatment.

Many students plan to enter the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Creighton University, or the University of South Dakota, but there are many other schools offering occupational therapy degrees. Information about the prerequisites for other OT schools can be found at www.aota.org. The demand for occupational therapists is very high and is forecast to grow over the next several decades.

Local occupational therapy (DPT) programs

View program courses

Fast facts

Recommended majors:


Delivery format: On campus (Wayne)


School: Science, Health, and Criminal Justice


Departments: Health, Human Performance, and Sport

Prepare for your future

Your undergraduate path to becoming an occupational therapist

Rural Health Opportunities Program (RHOP)

The Occupational Therapy track within RHOP is designed for rural Nebraska students interested in returning to rural areas to practice occupational therapy. In this program, you’ll complete your bachelor’s degree at Wayne State before entering occupational therapy school at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) in Omaha or Kearney to complete your Doctor of Occupational Therapy (ODT) degree and be eligible to take the national certification examination. Participants in RHOP receive a full-tuition scholarship at WSC, guaranteed admission to UNMC, job shadowing and internship experiences, one-on-one advising, and early registration privileges.

Rural Health Opportunities Program

Honors Program

Honors students complete an independent research project, usually spanning their junior and senior years. Your research can take you just about anywhere - in the lab or library, in the community, or in the U.S. or abroad! Honors work can also be very practical. Prospective employers and graduate admissions committees often look carefully at an undergraduate record for evidence of extra initiative and genuine intellectual strength.

Learn more about the Honors Program

Pre-Occupational Therapy internships and job shadowing

Our outstanding Career Services Office is available to help you find internships and career opportunities. Pre-Occupational Therapy students recently completed internships at the following locations:

  • Burgess Health Center (Onawa, Iowa)
  • Students International (Nicaragua)

Career services and internships

Topics covered in the Pre-Occupational Therapy program

  • Human anatomy and physiology
  • Biological systems and structures
  • Body composition assessment
  • Functional movement assessment
  • Health status and risk factor identification
  • Prevention and care of injuries
  • Injury evaluation and rehabilitation
  • Exercise technique and prescription
  • Biomechanical or motion analysis
  • Nutritional assessment
  • Fitness appraisal

Graduates of the Pre-Occupational Therapy program work in their field or continue their studies using the skills they learned while at Wayne State College. Each year, occupational therapy (OT) schools welcome WSC graduates into their organizations.

Recent grads are pursuing advanced degrees at the following OT schools:

  • Allen College (Waterloo, Iowa)
  • A.T. Still University (Mesa, Ariz.)
  • College of St. Mary (Omaha, Neb.)
  • Drake University (Des Moines, Iowa)
  • Kansas City Medical Center (Kansas City, Kan.)
  • Nebraska Methodist College (Omaha, Neb.)
  • University of Mary (Bismarck, N.D.)
  • University of Nebraska Medical Center (Kearney, Neb.)
  • University of South Dakota (Vermillion, S.D.)

Career possibilities

  • Occupational therapist
  • Rehabilitation specialist
  • Health services manager
  • Sports therapist
  • Art therapist
  • Rehabilitation therapist
    Percent of WSC graduates  employed or in grad school within 6 months of graduation

    job or grad school placement rate
    within six months of graduation

    Data based on most recent
    employment outcomes survey

     

    2024-25 Estimated Annual Cost of Attendance

    $196

    cost per credit hour

    Tuition: $5,880

    Fees: $2,290.50

    Food plan: $4,690

    Housing: $4,730

    Total: $17,590.50
    These figures do not include indirect cost estimates. To view a breakdown of estimated additional costs you may incur while attending WSC that are not billed to your student account, visit the Cost of Attendance page.
    Cost of attendance

    Most Affordable College in Nebraska

    - College Affordability Guide, 2024

    Wayne State is considered the most affordable four-year college or university in Nebraska. With same rates for in- and out-of-state students, our tuition guarantee, and our generous scholarship packages, it is clear to see how WSC earned the title. In fact, the average remaining annual cost of attendance for 2024-25 is $2,268 for undergraduate students after financial aid and scholarships.

    Pre-Occupational Therapy Program of Study

    The following majors are recommended for students planning to attend occupational therapy school. Additional electives may be recommended. Participation in the Pre-Occupational Therapy program at WSC does not guarantee acceptance to a school of medicine.

    Sample courses for Pre-Occupational Therapy students

    Students may be advised to take the following courses while pursuing one of the recommended majors. Please consult with your advisor to draft a final plan of study, and be sure to check with your intended medical school to make sure you're meeting all prerequisite course requirements

    • Credits: 4

      Description: Study of the anatomic structure of the human organism. The 11 organ systems of the human and representative quadrupeds will be examined in detail with lecture, dissection, and other laboratory exercises. Dissection is required of all students taking this course. An understanding of human anatomy is beneficial for students that will ultimately enroll in advanced courses of cell biology, histology, comparative vertebrate embryology and anatomy, and parasitology. Having training in human anatomy is also beneficial for students interested in health-related and biomedical careers. 3 hours lecture and 3 hours lab. Class fee of $20 required.

      Prerequisite: BIO 110 Biology Concepts

    • Credits: 4

      Description: A study of the fundamental physiological processes of the human body. Functions of the 11 organ systems will be studied. 3 hours lecture and 3 hours lab. Class fee of $20 required.

      Prerequisites: BIO 220 Human Anatomy, CHE 106 General Chemistry I

    • Credits: 3

      Description: An introduction to the careers commonly pursued with a major in Applied Human and Sport Physiology or Exercise Science. Topics will include the historical background professional associations, career opportunities, and academic advising for such careers. This course will include up to 10 hours of out-of-class job shadowing experience.

    • Credits: 3

      Description: This course explores knowledge and hands-on skills which can be used to prevent, recognize, assess, and treat common injuries and illnesses associated with sport and recreational activities. Class fee of $10 required.

      Prerequisite: PED 105 Anatomy and Physiology I or BIO 220 Human Anatomy

    • Credits: 3

      Description: A study of the major physiological systems and their response to exercise for Physical Education K-12, K-6, 7-12, and Wellness majors and students in these areas also taking Coaching minor or Endorsement. This includes the application of physiological concepts to physical training.

      Prerequisite: PED 105 Anatomy and Physiology I or BIO 220 Human Anatomy, and PED 205 Anatomy and Physiology II or BIO 340 Human Physiology

    • Credits: 3

      Description: A kinesiological approach to the anatomical and mechanical analysis of human movement. Movement terminology as well as muscular and neuro-muscular function in sport will be studied. Special emphasis will be placed relating biomechanics to movement evaluation in K-12 health and physical education.

      Prerequisite: PED 105 Anatomy and Physiology I or BIO 220 Human Anatomy

    • Description: Designed to provide students with theoretical and practical knowledge of the physiological, biomechanical, and administrative aspects of designing and supervising strength and conditioning programs for various populations.

      Prerequisite: PED 227 Weight Training, and PED 304 Sport Physiology or PED 305 Exercise Physiology

    • Credits: 3

      Description: This course provides the student with knowledge and skills for developing and supervising safe and effective evidence-based health and rehabilitative exercise for patients and clients with cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, and other clinical co-morbidities. The student will gain knowledge in the pathophysiology and pharmacology of common non-communicable diseases, with an understanding of the evidence-based exercise prescription for these clinical populations. Skills will include blood pressure measurement and ECG rhythm interpretation.

      Prerequisite: PED 105 Anatomy and Physiology I and PED 205 Anatomy and Physiology II, or BIO 220 Human Anatomy and a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA

    • Credits: 3

      Description: This course provides an introduction to orthopedic injuries and the orthopedic injury examination process for the lower extremity. The course will include injury nomenclature as well as clinical anatomy, knowledge and hands-on skills for the injury examination process, and injury management.

      Prerequisite: PED 105 Anatomy and Physiology I or BIO 220 Human Anatomy, and PED 351 Biomechanics

    • Credits: 3

      Description: This course provides an introduction to orthopedic injuries and the orthopedic injury examination process for the upper extremity and trunk. The course will include injury nomenclature as well as clinical anatomy, knowledge and hands-on skills for the injury examination process and injury management.

      Prerequisite: PED 105 Anatomy and Physiology I or BIO 220 Human Anatomy, and PED 351 Biomechanics

    • Credits: 3

      Description: An introduction to musculoskeletal injury rehabilitation. This course will address basic rehabilitation concepts as well as a variety of techniques and applications.

      Prerequisite: PED 351 Biomechanics, and PED 456 Lower Extremity Evaluation or 457 Upper Extremity Evaluation

    • Credits: 3

      Description: This course is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively assess physical fitness, develop exercise prescriptions, and conduct applied research in the field.

      Prerequisite: A grade of B or better in PED 470 Fitness Evaluation and Assessment, proof of current First Aid and CPR, and a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA

    • Credits: 3

      Description: Approaches to the assessment and treatment of emotional, social, psychotic, organic, and development
      disorders are examined

    Suggested minors

    Students in the Pre-Occupational Therapy program may add a minor to complement their program of study. Students who recently followed the Pre-Occupational Therapy track paired their major with one or more of the following minors:

    View all majors and minors

    Related programs

    Students interested in the Pre-OT program may also be interested in:

    Pre-Chiropractic
    Pre-Public Health
    Pre-Physical Therapy

    Students in the WSC Student Center

    Transfer to Wayne State

    Our generous transfer credit policy will allow you to get credit for what you've already earned.

    Transferring to Wayne State

    Get in touch

    Department of Health, Human Performance, and Sport
    Rice Health and Physical Education Building, Room 013H
    Phone: 402-375-7301

    Visit the Department

    Clubs for Pre-Occupational Therapy students

    Students gather at a table outside the library

    Awards and Rankings

    Recognized for excellence

    Best Colleges for Health Sciences in Nebraska

    CampusReel recognized Wayne State as one of the Best Colleges in Nebraska for Health Sciences based on alumni salaries after graduation, student loan debt, and other metrics.

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    Best College for Health Sciences in Nebraska, 2024

    A Best College of Distinction

    Wayne State was recognized as a Best College of Distinction for our excellence in student engagement, teaching, community, and successful graduate outcomes.

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    Best College of Distinction, 2024-25

    A Top Public College in the Midwest

    WSC was identified as one of the top public universities in the Midwest for 2025 by U.S. News & World’s Best Colleges ranking report.

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    A 2025 Top Public College/University in the Midwes

    Where you'll learnDepartment facilities

    WSC students in the human performance lab

    Human Performance Lab

    Our state-of-the-art human performance lab supports classroom lab activities, train students in the field, and conduct research.

    Carhart Science Building at WSC

    Carhart Science Building

    The Carhart Science building holds several state-of-the-art classrooms and labs for students in math, science, and pre-professional health programs.