| College students who have an idea of what they | | | | Occupational therapy is a highly specialized field, |
| would like to do someday often know exactly | | | | and as such therapists must have at least a |
| what major to choose. However, some struggle | | | | master's degree in the field. The degree must |
| because they do not know what career path | | | | come from an accredited school, and the |
| they want when they enter school. Guidance | | | | program must include at least six months of |
| counselors will often direct them to a "neutral" | | | | fieldwork under a supervisor. |
| major that can lead to any different careers. One | | | | Students who are interested in this line of work |
| of these is psychology. | | | | often wonder what undergraduate program to |
| If you have a bachelor's degree in psychology, | | | | pursue. In high school they should take as many |
| could you purse a career in occupational therapy? | | | | advanced courses as possible, although math is |
| The answer is yes, but you will need further | | | | not especially important. Undergraduate degrees |
| training and certification. | | | | can be in fields like biology, sociology, |
| What Is Occupational Therapy? | | | | anthropology, general liberal arts, and, of course, |
| Occupational therapy is a line of work wherein a | | | | psychology. Psychology as a bachelor's degree |
| therapist helps patients with their everyday tasks. | | | | program provides an excellent base for further |
| These patients suffer from a disabling condition, | | | | study in occupational therapy. |
| such as a developmental delay, physical disability, | | | | Part of the reason that a degree in psychology |
| mental handicap, or emotional problem. This can | | | | works so well is the fact that occupational |
| be something the patient is born with, such as | | | | therapists must understand how to work with |
| mental retardation, or it could be a result of an | | | | people. Psychology training provides a good |
| accident or the natural aging process. | | | | foundation for this. They also must be able to |
| Occupational therapists help patients develop or | | | | read their patients, even when their patients are |
| improve motor skills and reasoning abilities. If | | | | not clearly vocalizing their needs or wants. They |
| some of these functions are lost, the therapist will | | | | need to be able to see how different tasks are |
| work with the patient to compensate for this. | | | | affecting their patients emotionally and |
| The end goal is for the patient to be able to live a | | | | psychologically, and a degree in psychology makes |
| productive and satisfying life as independently as | | | | this much easier to do. |
| the disability allows. | | | | Licensure Requirements |
| Because occupational therapists are working with | | | | All states require occupational therapists to |
| emotionally or developmentally disabled individuals, | | | | receive a license. The requirements for licensure |
| a degree in psychology can help. The therapist | | | | are completion of a master's program from an |
| needs to be able to help the patient deal with his | | | | accredited school and the successful completion of |
| or her emotions, learn cognitive skills, and create | | | | the national certification exam. Again, a degree in |
| helps that will make functioning in the day-to-day | | | | psychology works well into these requirements. All |
| world more possible. Psychological training helps | | | | in all, of the undergraduate degrees that work for |
| with all of these tasks. | | | | this career path, a degree in psychology seems |
| Educational Requirements for Occupational | | | | to be one of the best fits. |
| Therapists | | | | |