Occupational Science, B.S.
The Saint Louis University occupational science, B.S. is awarded to SLU students who choose not to or are unable to continue on the accelerated path to the master’s in occupational therapy.
Careers
Most students who complete the Occupational Science B.S. go on to earn a Master of Occupational Therapy. Upon completing an accredited master’s degree program or entry-level clinical doctorate degree in occupational therapy, graduates must pass the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) examination. After passing the exam, students will receive the designation of OTR: occupational therapist, registered.
In most states, practitioners must hold a current license or limited permit to work. Typically, therapists must fulfill continuing education requirements to maintain certification and/or licensure.
Employment of occupational therapists is expected to increase by 12% between 2022 and 2032, much faster than the average occupation, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
About half of occupational therapists work in occupational therapy offices or in hospitals. Others work in schools, nursing homes and home health services. Additional opportunities include consultation to industry, community settings, teaching and research. The salary of an occupational therapist varies based on location, years of experience and type of employment. The 2022 median annual salary for an occupational therapist was $93,180, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Tuition
| Tuition | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate Tuition | $54,760 |
Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:
Information on Tuition and Fees
Scholarships and Financial Aid
There are two principal ways to help finance a Saint Louis University education:
- Scholarships: Awarded based on academic achievement, service, leadership and financial need. In addition to University scholarships, the Doisy College of Health Sciences offers scholarships to sophomores, juniors, seniors and graduate students.
- Financial Aid: Provided in the form of grants and loans, some of which require repayment.
For priority consideration for merit-based scholarships, applicants should apply for admission by Dec. 1 and complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1.
For more information, visit the Office of Student Financial Services.
Accreditation
This program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education, (ACOTE), an Associated Advisory Council of the Executive Board of the American Occupational Therapy Association, (AOTA).
American Occupational Therapy Association, (AOTA)
7501 Wisconsin Avenue
Suite 510E
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-652-6611
https://acoteonline.org
For more information about SLU's occupational therapy program outcomes, matriculation rate, graduation rate, certification exam pass rate and employment rate, please see the program outcomes document.
- Graduates will be able to describe the occupational nature of humans and their evolution as occupational beings across the lifespan.
- Graduates will be able to analyze environmental and contextual influences on occupational engagement and occupational justice.
- Graduates will be able to examine the contribution of occupational engagement to the health and well-being of people and populations.
- Graduates will be able to interpret research literature to support the role of occupational science as a foundation for occupational therapy.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate University Core | 32-35 | |
| Foundation | ||
| ANAT 1000 | Basic Human Anatomy | 3 |
| BIOL 1240 & BIOL 1245 | General Biology: Information Flow and Evolution and Principles of Biology I Laboratory | 4 |
| CHEM 1080 & CHEM 1085 | Principles of Chemistry 1 Lecture and Principles of Chemistry 1 Lab | 4 |
| ENGL 1900 | Advanced Strategies of Rhetoric and Research | 3 |
| HCE or PSY 3XXX/4XXX | Health Care Ethics or Psychology Elective | 3 |
| HSCI 2200 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
| HSCI 2500 | Human Development across the Lifespan | 3 |
| IPE 2100 | Interprofessional Collaboration and Healthcare in Global Context | 3 |
| IPE 4200 | Applied Decision-Making in Interprofessional Practice | 3 |
| IPE 4900 | Interprofessional Community Practicum | 3 |
| ORES 2320 | Interprofessional Health Outcomes Research | 2 |
| PHIL 2050 | Ethics | 3 |
| or HCE 2010 | Foundations in Clinical Health Care Ethics | |
| PPY 2540 | Human Physiology | 4 |
| PSY 1010 | General Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 3460 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| STAT 1300 | Elementary Statistics with Computers | 3 |
| Occupational Science courses | ||
| OCS 1000 | Humans as Occupational Beings | 2 |
| OCS 1010 | Doing, Being, Becoming, and Belonging: Exploration of Self Through Occupation | 2 |
| OCS 3120 | The Study of Occupation | 3 |
| OCS 3220 | Contexts of Occupation | 3 |
| OCS 3320 | Development of Humans as Occupational Beings | 3 |
| OCS 3520 | Occupation and Health | 3 |
| OCS 3720 | Occupational Justice | 3 |
| OCS 3820 | Practical Applications in Occupational Science | 3 |
| Choose one track: | 30 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
B.S. in Occupational Science Track
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Science Depth Requirement | 12 | |
Students should choose 12 credits at the 3000- or higher level in any of the following course codes: ANTH, HCE, HSCI, IPE, PSY, PUBH, or SOC | ||
| General Electives | 18 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
Master of Occupational Therapy Track
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MOT Coursework | 30 | |
Students who plan to progress into the Master of Occupational Therapy can count up to 30 credits of graduate coursework for both their B.S. and M.O.T.. Courses included are: | ||
| Application of Occupational Therapy Practice | ||
| Application of Occupational Therapy Practice 2 | ||
| Functional Anatomy for Occupational Therapy | ||
| Kinesiology | ||
| Neuroscience in Occupational Therapy | ||
| Health Conditions and Occupational Implications | ||
| Administration & Leadership in Occupational Therapy | ||
| Foundations of Occupational Therapy Practice | ||
| Theoretical Perspectives of Occupational Therapy | ||
| Occupational Therapy Assessments Throughout the Lifespan | ||
| Occupational Therapy Practice with Adults 1 | ||
| Occupational Therapy Practice in Mental Health | ||
| Occupational Therapy Practice with Children and Youth 1 | ||
| Occupational Therapy Practice with Adults 2 | ||
| Occupational Therapy Practice in the Community | ||
| Specialty Occupational Therapy Practice | ||
| Emerging and Focused Practice in Occupational Therapy | ||
| Occupational Therapy Practice with Children and Youth 2 | ||
| Quantitative Research Methods in Occupational Therapy | ||
| Occupational Therapy Graduate Research Project 1 | ||
| Qualitative Research Methods in Occupational Therapy | ||
| Occupational Therapy Graduate Research Project 2 | ||
| Occupational Therapy Graduate Research Project 3 | ||
| Occupational Therapy Graduate Research Project 4 | ||
| Total Credits | 30 | |
Undergraduate Continuation Standards
The required GPA minimum for freshmen is 2.70, for sophomores is 2.80 and for juniors is 2.90. All students must earn a grade of "C" or higher in all required program curriculum courses.
Students who do not meet the GPA requirements will not be permitted into the M.O.T. program.
Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.
Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.
This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| BIOL 1240 | General Biology: Information Flow and Evolution | 3 |
| BIOL 1245 | Principles of Biology I Laboratory | 1 |
| CORE 1500 | Cura Personalis 1: Self in Community | 1 |
| CORE 1700 | Ultimate Questions: Philosophy | 3 |
| ENGL 1900 | Advanced Strategies of Rhetoric and Research | 3 |
| OCS 1000 | Humans as Occupational Beings | 2 |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| ANAT 1000 | Basic Human Anatomy | 3 |
| CORE 3400 | Ways of Thinking: Aesthetics, History, and Culture | 3 |
| HSCI 2500 | Human Development across the Lifespan | 3 |
| IPE 2100 | Interprofessional Collaboration and Healthcare in Global Context | 3 |
| MATH 1200 | College Algebra | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHEM 1080 & CHEM 1085 |
Principles of Chemistry 1 Lecture and Principles of Chemistry 1 Lab |
4 |
| OCS 1010 | Doing, Being, Becoming, and Belonging: Exploration of Self Through Occupation | 2 |
| ORES 2320 | Interprofessional Health Outcomes Research | 2 |
| PSY 1010 | General Psychology | 3 |
| STAT 1300 | Elementary Statistics with Computers | 3 |
| Occupational Science Depth Requirement course | 3 | |
| Credits | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| Participation in Study Abroad Optional | ||
| CORE 1200 | Eloquentia Perfecta 2: Oral and Visual Communication | 3 |
| HSCI 2200 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
| PHIL 2050 or HCE 2010 |
Ethics or Foundations in Clinical Health Care Ethics |
3 |
| General Electives | 6 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| IPE 4200 | Applied Decision-Making in Interprofessional Practice | 3 |
| OCS 3120 | The Study of Occupation | 3 |
| OCS 3220 | Contexts of Occupation | 3 |
| OCS 3320 | Development of Humans as Occupational Beings | 3 |
| PPY 2540 | Human Physiology | 4 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| CORE 1600 | Ultimate Questions: Theology | 3 |
| CORE 3500 | Cura Personalis 3: Self in the World | 1 |
| HCE or PSY 3XXX/4XXX | Health Care Ethics or Psychology Elective | 3 |
| OCS 3520 | Occupation and Health | 3 |
| OCS 3720 | Occupational Justice | 3 |
| OCS 3820 | Practical Applications in Occupational Science | 3 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Fall | ||
| PSY 3460 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| CORE 2800 | Eloquentia Perfecta 3: Creative Expression | 2-3 |
| Occupational Science Depth Requirement course | 3 | |
| General Electives | 6 | |
| Credits | 14-15 | |
| Spring | ||
| IPE 4900 | Interprofessional Community Practicum | 3 |
| Occupational Science Depth Requirement course | 6 | |
| General Electives | 9 | |
| Credits | 18 | |
| Total Credits | 127-128 | |
Contact Doisy College of Health Sciences
Recruitment specialist
314-977-2570
dchs@health.slu.edu