What you'll learn in Pre-Occupational Therapy studies at UW-Platteville

Provide a vital healthcare service and find a career in a growing industry with the Pre-Occupational Therapy program in the University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Department of Biology. You’ll explore how purposeful activity can be used as the basis for treatment and prevention of a wide variety of physical, developmental, and emotional disabilities. As you prepare to go on to an occupational therapy school, you’ll gain experience developing plans that enable patients to practice self-care, learn personal and social behavior skills, and gain more independence.

Outside of the classroom, you can build on your experience through student clubs and organizations, or undergraduate research. Plus, we offer a wide variety of campus support programs like STEM Living Learning Communities, mentoring, and others, that allow you to create a student experience unique to you and your goals.

Careers in Occupational Therapy

Pre-occupational therapy schools train students who want to go on to study occupational therapy, so they can help people with disabilities, injuries, and illnesses learn (or relearn) skills to become more independent. This type of career can be demanding, but it can be incredibly rewarding to work one-on-one with patients, to create and implement therapy care plans, and see the results of those plans.

Earning a degree in occupational therapy will prepare you for a range of exciting careers under the occupational therapist umbrella. You can choose to specialize, working only with patients who have a certain type of disability or impairment, or opt for a role as a generalist. Some of the careers you might consider in this field include:

  • Acute care occupational therapist
  • Ergonomist
  • Hospital inpatient occupational therapist 
  • Low vision therapist
  • Medical sales representative
  • Occupational therapist PRN
  • Occupational therapy aide
  • Occupational therapy assistant
  • Outpatient occupational therapist
  • Pediatric occupational therapist
  • Senior occupational therapist
  • Social worker
  • Special education teacher
  • Therapy care manager
  • Travel occupational therapist
  • Vision therapist
  • Vocational rehabilitation specialist

Occupational therapists typically work in hospitals, outpatient clinics, and schools.

Discover by doing

Students enrolled in pre-occupational therapy courses at UW-Platteville have numerous chances to learn both inside and outside of the classroom. You can put what you learn into practice in real life through internships and university events, and complete undergraduate research.


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