Occupational Science, B.S.
Saint Louis University is one of only a few universities in the United States that offers a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Science. This undergraduate degree provides students with a unique body of knowledge that equips them to excel in SLU’s Master of Occupational Therapy accelerated program and provides them with a competitive advantage with specialized knowledge about the power of occupation upon graduation.
SLU awards students the B.S. in occupational science at the end of their first professional year in the M.O.T. accelerated program. On occasion, students may elect to pursue the B.S. in occupation science as their major. The following links provide information specifically about SLU's B.S. in occupational science program with options to learn about courses that prepare them for the M.O.T. accelerated program, as well as exploring the B.S. in occupational science major separate from the M.O.T. program.
Careers
Most students who complete the B.S. in occupational science go on to earn a graduate degree in occupational therapy, such as SLU’s direct-entry Master of Occupational Therapy. Upon completing a degree from an accredited occupational therapy program, graduates must pass the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) examination. After passing the certification exam, students will become a registered occupational therapist and will have earned the privilege of using the credentials “OTR,” which allow them to apply for a state license to practice.
If pursuing an occupational therapy degree is not the selected career path, then individuals with occupational science degrees are prepared to pursue career opportunities in a variety of fields, such as community-based programming, health and human services, and public health-related roles. Additionally, an undergraduate degree in occupational science may position graduates for application to graduate-level degrees in a variety of social and health science disciplines.
Tuition
| Tuition | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate Tuition | $56,960 |
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 SLU 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 of merit-based scholarships, applicants should apply for admission by Dec. 1 and complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by Feb. 1.
For more information, visit the Office of Student Financial Services.
Accreditation
The BS in Occupational Science program strategically supports SLU's MOT accelerated program, which is accredited by The Accreditation Council of Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). ACOTE is an Associated Advisory Council of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Board of Directors and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation as a programmatic accreditor for the profession of occupational therapy.
American Occupational Therapy Association, (AOTA)
7501 Wisconsin Avenue
Suite 510E
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-652-6611
https://acoteonline.org
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Graduates will be able to describe the occupational nature of humans as occupational beings across the lifespan.
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Graduates will be able to analyze contextual influences on occupational engagement.
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Graduates will be able to examine the relationship between health and occupation.
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Graduates will interpret scholarly literature for application to health through occupation.
All students must earn a grade of "C" or higher in all required program curriculum courses.
| 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 |
| PHIL 2050 | Ethics | 3 |
| or HCE 2010 | Foundations in Clinical Health Care Ethics | |
| PUBH 2100 | Introduction to Global Health | 3 |
| 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 | 121 | |
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.
Students who do not meet the GPA requirements will not be permitted into the M.O.T. program.
If students decide to pursue the B.S. in occupational science only, then they will be advised to take courses that fulfill Occupational Science Depth Requirements.
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 |
| PSY 1010 | General Psychology | 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 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHEM 1080 & CHEM 1085 |
Principles of Chemistry 1 Lecture and Principles of Chemistry 1 Lab (satisfies CORE 3800) |
4 |
| OCS 1010 | Doing, Being, Becoming, and Belonging: Exploration of Self Through Occupation (satisfies CORE 2500) | 2 |
| PUBH 2100 | Introduction to Global Health | 3 |
| PSY 3460 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| STAT 1300 | Elementary Statistics with Computers (satisfies CORE 3200) | 3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Participation in Study Abroad Optional | ||
| CORE 1200 | Eloquentia Perfecta 2: Oral and Visual Communication | 3 |
| CORE 1600 | Ultimate Questions: Theology | 3 |
| CORE 2800 | Eloquentia Perfecta 3: Creative Expression | 3 |
| HSCI 2200 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
| PHIL 2050 or HCE 2010 |
Ethics or Foundations in Clinical Health Care Ethics |
3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| PPY 2540 | Human Physiology | 4 |
| OCS 3120 | The Study of Occupation | 3 |
| OCS 3220 | Contexts of Occupation | 3 |
| IPE 4200 | Applied Decision-Making in Interprofessional Practice | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| OCS 3320 | Development of Humans as Occupational Beings | 3 |
| CORE 3500 | Cura Personalis 3: Self in the World | 1 |
| OCS 3520 | Occupation and Health | 3 |
| OCS 3720 | Occupational Justice | 3 |
| OCS 3820 | Practical Applications in Occupational Science | 3 |
| IPE 4900 | Interprofessional Community Practicum (satisfies CORE 4000) | 3 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Year Four | ||
| Summer | ||
| MOT 5100 | Functional Anatomy for Occupational Therapy | 3 |
| MOT 5150 | Kinesiology | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Fall | ||
| MOT 5170 | Neuroscience in Occupational Therapy | 3 |
| MOT 5200 | Health Conditions and Occupational Implications | 3 |
| MOT 5300 | Foundations of Occupational Therapy Practice | 3 |
| MOT 5350 | Theoretical Perspectives of Occupational Therapy | 3 |
| MOT 5370 | Occupational Therapy Assessments Throughout the Lifespan | 3 |
| MOT 5610 | Quantitative Research Methods in Occupational Therapy | 2 |
| MOT 5611 | Occupational Therapy Graduate Research Project 1 (Optional) | 1 |
| Credits | 17-18 | |
| Spring | ||
| Bachelor of Occupational Science degree awarded upon completion of this semester | ||
| MOT 5030 | Application of Occupational Therapy Practice | 3 |
| MOT 5250 | Administration & Leadership in Occupational Therapy | 3 |
| MOT 5400 | Occupational Therapy Practice with Adults 1 | 3 |
| MOT 5410 | Occupational Therapy Practice in Mental Health | 3 |
| MOT 5450 | Occupational Therapy Practice with Children and Youth 1 | 3 |
| MOT 5620 | Qualitative Research Methods in Occupational Therapy | 2 |
| MOT 5621 | Occupational Therapy Graduate Research Project 2 (Optional) | 1 |
| Credits | 17-18 | |
| Year Five | ||
| Fall | ||
| MOT 5040 | Application of Occupational Therapy Practice 2 | 0,3 |
| MOT 5550 | Occupational Therapy Practice with Adults 2 | 3 |
| MOT 5560 | Occupational Therapy Practice in the Community | 3 |
| MOT 5570 | Specialty Occupational Therapy Practice | 2 |
| MOT 5580 | Emerging and Focused Practice in Occupational Therapy | 3 |
| MOT 5600 | Occupational Therapy Practice with Children and Youth 2 | 0,3 |
| MOT 5631 | Occupational Therapy Graduate Research Project 3 (Optional) | 1 |
| Credits | 11-18 | |
| Spring | ||
| MOT 5700 | Advanced Fieldwork I | 6 |
| MOT 5750 | Advanced Fieldwork II | 3 |
| MOT 5641 | Occupational Therapy Graduate Research Project 4 (Optional) | 1 |
| Credits | 9-10 | |
| Total Credits | 153-163 | |
Contact Doisy College of Health Sciences
Recruitment specialist
314-977-2570
dchs@health.slu.edu