Bachelor of Occupational Therapy | Courses, subjects, career

What is occupational therapy?

Occupational health is a branch of medicine concerned with the safety and well-being of employees at work. You will graduate with the ability to anticipate and avoid hazards in professional settings. As an occupational health student, you’ll learn about biological, chemical, physical, and psychological dangers and how to implement adequate safety measures. Keep reading to learn more about Bachelor of Occupational Therapy.

Why study occupational therapy?

Without a doubt, occupational therapy is one of the most rewarding professions. Practitioners can work closely with patients and assist them in a meaningful, real-life setting. As the demand for OTs grows, there will be abundant job opportunities and security. 

You’ll have the chance to work with a diverse group while gaining real-world experience. After finishing your program and obtaining your accreditations, you’ll be ready to enter the workforce, where you’re sure to find a job waiting for you. The field is constantly evolving, making it an excellent choice for those who enjoy challenges at work.

Program structure

One can study occupational health at the undergraduate and graduate levels. One-year certificate programs and two-year associate degrees provide solid foundations in the field. They also offer a helpful pathway into entry-level employment or further education.

Bachelor’s degrees are more comprehensive and in-depth programs of study. They study for a minimum of three or four years if they attend a university in the United States. If you pursue your BSc in the United States, you will study liberal arts modules alongside your occupational health major.

The universities will use lectures, seminars, workshops, and workplace visits to teach you. You may need to complete a professional placement to gain hands-on experience. In the program, you’ll take theoretical and practical modules.

• Principles and practices of occupational health practice
• Occupational health management
• Workplace health-risk management
• Health surveillance
• Workplace health promotion
• Mental well-being in the workplace
• Absence management
• Occupational ergonomics

Eligibility

Many universities around the world offer the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy program. Many students prefer to study abroad because of the better infrastructure, lab facilities, and learning methods. However, it would help if you made some considerations before enrolling in an international university-

• Candidates must have completed their 10th and 12th grades at a recognized educational institution.
• They must take the GRE and pass it with a score higher than the college’s cutoff.
• Candidates must also demonstrate their English proficiency by passing the TOEFL or IELTS exam.
• Candidates must also present their statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, previous exam mark sheets, medical certificates, etc.

Courses

Here are the courses you may come across in Bachelor of Occupational Therapy-

Health Sciences: Pre-Physical/Occupational Therapy- BA/BSc

The Pre-Physical Therapy/Occupational Therapy Option to the Health Sciences degree is designed for students who intend to pursue a graduate degree in one of these disciplines. 

While graduates are not limited to this one option, the program’s focus is to satisfy the standard prerequisites for physical therapy and occupational graduate programs. In addition to meeting requirements and providing a scientific foundation for a graduate program, they introduce students to assessment and therapeutic techniques they can use in their professional education.

Occupational Therapy- BSc (Hons)

An occupational therapist (OT) works with adults and children of all ages who have a variety of physical and mental health conditions in settings such as hospitals and the community, education, charities, and private practice. This course can help them to be better at their job.

Public Health: Occupational Health and Safety- BSc

Students majoring in Public Health, earning a degree with specialization and job skills, apply to one of three professional fields of study- community health, healthcare administration, or occupational health and safety.

Health Science, Pre-Occupational Therapy- BSc

Graduate students would aspire to work in a health profession that promotes the long-term health and well-being of individuals, groups, and communities through occupation. The primary goal embodied in the concept of ‘occupation’ is the practitioner’s use of activities constructive to the client within their context. 

As a result, they provide occupational therapy services in the contexts of daily living activities, education, work, play, relaxation, and social participation. Practitioners assist individuals in increasing their everyday function, improving/supporting their health and development, and preventing disability by promoting practical performance skills within environments and using tasks tailored to their individualized abilities and needs.

Bachelor in Occupational Therapy

The goal of the Occupational Therapy study program is to educate and train specialists who will have comprehensive knowledge of occupational therapy, the fundamentals of research, and the practical skills required for the work of an occupational therapist, the analysis of a person’s occupational performance, and the formulation of occupational therapy’s goals and objectives.

Subjects

Here is a breakdown of the subjects you might learn-

Year l	Year ll
Anatomy (Theory and practical)	Pharmacology
Physiology	Microbiology and Pathology
Biochemistry	Biostatistics and Research Methodology
Psychology- l	Psychology-ll Developmental and Organizational Psychology
Occupational Therapy-1 (Theory and practical)	Occupational Therapy-2 (Theory and practical)

Year lll	Year lV
Clinical Orthopedic & Rheumatology	Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry
Clinical Neurology	Community Medicine and Sociology
Bioengineering	General Medicine
Occupational Therapy in Orthopedics (Theory/ Practical	General Surgery
Occupational Therapy in Neurology (Theory/ Practical)	Occupational Therapy in Mental Health (Theory/ Practical)
Occupational Therapy in Rehabilitation (Theory and practical)	Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics and Developmental Disabilities (Theory and practical)

Career

Here are some career prospects-

Pediatric

The pediatric occupational therapist’s role is to assist infants, children, and adolescents in a variety of settings. They help children in developing the skills needed to become self-sufficient adults. Pediatric occupational therapy promotes the development of cognitive, fine motor, gross motor, self-care, and social skills.

Mental health services

Occupational therapy in mental health services assists people of all ages diagnosed with a mental illness. They teach patients how to deal with stress and lead productive lives by balancing their daily responsibilities. This OT improves existing skills, opens new opportunities, promotes wellness, restores skills, changes the environment, and prevents relapse.

Neurological

Neurological occupational therapy helps patients manage daily activities that require physical, social, and emotional participation. It can comprehend the difficulties that patients with neurological impairments face.

Learning disabilities

Children with learning disabilities will struggle in school, playing with others, and interacting socially with friends. An occupational therapist assists such children in improving their sensory processing skills (understanding, responding to, and registering sensory information), fine motor skills (writing skills), attention, and social behavior

Key takeaways

• Occupational therapy prioritizes people’s psychological and emotional well-being as well as their physical needs.
• Candidates who complete the course can work in social welfare by assisting injured and ill patients in their recovery.
• Occupational therapists are in high demand in today’s global health scenario. Occupational therapy is such a noble profession that many people choose it as a means of social service.

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FAQs

Q1. What is your salary after pursuing a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy?

Answer- Occupational Therapists earn an average salary of $87,480 .

Q2. Is BOT a good choice?

Answer- Because of the high demand for graduates of these roles, the BOT course salary abroad is advantageous. Students can pursue advanced studies to improve their chances of landing a job abroad.

Q3. What else can occupational therapists do?

Answer- Occupational therapists are frequently employed as clinical educators in hospitals and in field trainer roles, where they cover territories and teach patients or clinicians (or both) how to use medical devices or assistive devices.