JMU’s Pre-Occupational Therapy minor sets you up for success.
Occupational therapists help people across the lifespan participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities. Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, helping people recovering from injury to regain skills, and providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes. OT’s work in many different environments including hospitals, nursing homes/rehabilitation centers, outpatient clinics, schools and in patients’ homes.
Our Pre-Professional Health Advising is here to help with questions about the minor in Pre-Occupational Therapy.
Declaring the Minor
Incoming freshmen and transfer students can declare pre-OT without verification from PPH Advising. Current students can request declaration of the pre-OT minor (through My Madison) but will need approval for the request to be granted. If the student has completed fewer than 9 hours of the prerequisite courses included in the minor the request will be granted after verification of course work. If the student has completed 9 hours or more of the prerequisite courses, the request will be granted only if the prerequisite GPA is 2.8 or greater.
Progressing in the Minor
Once students have completed 9 hours of the prerequisite courses, they become subject to twice yearly review of their academic progress. Performance queries will be conducted after summer and fall semester grades are posted. If the review indicates successful progress (meeting the standard of a 2.8 prerequisite GPA), they will be invited to formal advising activities. Topics include learning about different OT programs, deciding where to apply and discussing fulfillment of non-academic requirements and recommendations (shadowing, volunteering). Assuming continued progress, students will reach the applicant stage (typically spring of the junior year), during which they will be invited to participate in application related activities.
Pre-OT students who fall below the standard of a 2.8 prerequisite GPA are at high risk of not being admitted to a OT program. Targeted advising for these students focuses on improving/developing academic skills as well as career exploration. If students fall below the standard in a subsequent performance review, they will be administratively dropped from the pre-OT minor. This action will not impede a student from applying to OT programs, nor will it have any impact on a student's degree program as the pre-OT designation is not a major.
Students who wish to re-enter the pre-OT minor may do so as long as they meet the GPA standard (2.8 prerequisite GPA).
Additional Information
Pre-professional health programs do not ensure that all prerequisites for admission to health professions schools are met. Students should inquire with schools of interest, including JMU, to confirm details of admission requirements.
