Pre-Occupational Therapy
A 20-credit minor that pairs Human Anatomy and Physiology with the developmental, statistical, and clinical foundations OT graduate programs assume.
About the Minor
ACU’s Pre-Occupational Therapy Minor is built specifically for students preparing to apply to graduate occupational therapy programs. The 20-credit minor walks through the foundational coursework OT graduate programs consistently assume: the full Human Anatomy and Physiology sequence (BIO 301 and BIO 302), Medical Terminology (BIO 335), Human Development (CHD 312), Statistics for Behavioral Studies (PSY 210), and Abnormal Psychology (PSY 322). Eight credits of additional general biology prerequisites (BIO 181 and BIO 182) can be completed as part of your academic major or as general electives.
The minor’s positioning is deliberate. Occupational therapy graduate programs typically require evidence of biology, anatomy and physiology, statistics, psychology, and developmental coursework — all of which ACU’s minor delivers in a single coordinated package. Pair the minor with any undergraduate major (commonly Psychology, Biology, Family Studies, Exercise Physiology, or Child Development) to graduate with both an undergraduate degree and the OT prerequisites in place.
Confirm with your target OT graduate program(s) which specific prerequisites they require — programs vary slightly. The minor is designed around the most common shared requirements.
What You'll Learn
Master Human Anatomy and Physiology
Complete both BIO 301 and BIO 302 with integrated labs — the foundational A&P sequence every OT program assumes.
Apply Medical Terminology
Build the working medical vocabulary OT clinical settings and graduate coursework both require.
Understand Human Development
Trace cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development across the lifespan — central to OT work with clients of every age.
Apply Statistics
Develop the statistical reasoning OT graduate programs and evidence-based practice both require.
Recognize Abnormal Psychology
Build clinical literacy in mental disorders and their treatment patterns — essential context for OT practice.
Pre-OT Through a Biblical Worldview
A Biblical Worldview takes occupational therapy seriously — both as work that helps people regain function and as work that takes the dignity of every client seriously.
Clients as Image-Bearers
Every OT client — the child with developmental delays, the adult recovering from injury, the older person managing chronic conditions — carries the dignity of being made in God's image. The minor's developmental and abnormal-psychology courses cultivate that conviction as the working assumption."
Grounds your OT preparation in respect for the people you'll eventually serve.Body, Mind, and Function
Occupational therapy works at the intersection of physical, cognitive, emotional, and social functioning. The A&P sequence and abnormal psychology together give you preparation for that whole-person view — which is how Scripture treats human beings."
Equips you to think about OT as whole-person care, not just physical rehabilitation.Helping as Vocation
OT work is helping work — the patient, careful, daily labor of restoring function to people whose lives have been disrupted. A Biblical Worldview treats that as meaningful vocation, not just employment.
Anchors your pre-OT preparation in the conviction that the work matters.Where This Minor Takes You
The Pre-Occupational Therapy Minor is built specifically as preparation for graduate OT programs — and the foundational coursework it provides supports several adjacent career paths as well.
Master's or Doctor of Occupational Therapy
Apply to MOT or OTD graduate programs with the prerequisite coursework most programs require already in place.
Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs
Build foundation for OTA programs that lead to associate-level credentials in OT support roles.
Allied Health Graduate Programs
The same prereq package supports applications to physical therapy, speech-language pathology, and rehabilitation-counseling graduate programs.
Healthcare Adjacent Roles
Step into healthcare-adjacent positions while applying or pursuing graduate study — patient care technician, therapy aide, residential support roles.
Christian Healthcare Ministry
Pair OT preparation with Christian Ministries to serve in mission medical settings, disability ministry, or Christian healthcare organizations.
Pediatric or Geriatric Specializations (Post-Graduate)
The minor's combination of developmental and clinical preparation supports pediatric, school-based, and geriatric OT specializations after graduate work.
Why Students Choose This Minor
The Pre-Occupational Therapy Minor at ACU is specifically designed to package OT prerequisites cleanly — not as a general health-sciences minor, but as targeted preparation.
OT Prereq Package in One Minor
Most undergraduates assemble OT prereqs course by course. This minor packages them as a single coordinated 20-credit pathway.
Full A&P I and II Sequence
BIO 301 and BIO 302 with integrated labs — the foundational A&P sequence OT graduate programs uniformly assume.
Medical Terminology Built In
BIO 335 ensures you graduate with clinical vocabulary already in place — useful for both OT applications and the first year of graduate study.
Statistics + Abnormal Psychology
PSY 210 and PSY 322 cover the behavioral-statistics and clinical-psychology prereqs most OT programs require.
Pairs With Any Major
Especially common pairings: Psychology, Biology, Family Studies, Exercise Physiology, Child Development.
Getting Started
The Pre-Occupational Therapy Minor builds on the BIO 181 → BIO 182 → BIO 301 → BIO 302 chain — starting BIO 181 freshman year keeps everything on schedule.
Talk With Your Academic Advisor
Map the 20 minor credits plus the 8 prereq credits into your degree plan, and identify your target OT graduate programs to confirm their specific prereq requirements.
Begin BIO 181 Freshman Year
BIO 181 is the prereq that unlocks BIO 182 and (eventually) BIO 301. The chain takes three or four semesters — start early.
View BIO 181 →Add the A&P Sequence Junior Year
BIO 301 and BIO 302 are required and stack on the general biology prereqs. Plan them for junior year so you have time to apply to graduate programs senior year.
Add PSY 210, PSY 322, BIO 335, and CHD 312
These can be taken in any order alongside the biology sequence — most students spread them across sophomore and junior year.
Explore More Options
Ready to Prepare for OT Graduate School?
The Pre-Occupational Therapy Minor packages the prerequisite coursework graduate OT programs assume into a single coordinated 20-credit pathway. Apply or reach out today.
