Bachelor of Occupational Therapy

Awareness about mental health is quite evident in the contemporary world. While earlier seen as a taboo, mental disorders are now taken as something all of us need to be conscious of. Therapy and depression counselling is gradually becoming an efficient way of combating mental illnesses. Occupational Therapy is one such prominent type of therapeutic method that utilized to help individuals tackle their physical, sensory, or cognitive issues. Further, it assists them in identifying those barriers that are impacting their emotional, physical, or social needs. Through this blog, we will take you through what a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy entails, top universities offering this program and its variants as well as the scope it offers!

Also read: Occupational Therapy Courses

Bachelor of Occupational Therapy: Overview

As a prominent specialization in healthcare, Occupational Therapy is a unique field of study that focuses on guiding an individual in solving those issues that are hampering their daily activities. A Bachelor of Occupational Therapy is an undergraduate program that spans a duration of 3-4 years and equips students with the knowledge and skills required to help mentally and physically challenged people in leading a better life. Further, by pursuing this degree course, you will be trained to deal with patients having physical, emotional, mental, and neurological limitations.

Why Study Bachelor of Occupational Therapy?

Some of the reasons why a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy is a great potential course in terms of career opportunities are listed below.

1. Good Compensation is on the path of creating a future with a bachelor of occupational therapy.
2. Although the career of occupational therapy is focused on the healthcare sector, the students can also avail of the opportunity to work in various other sectors such as education, NGOs, etc.
3. Studying this course also allows students to upgrade their knowledge and skills which are always useful in terms of building one’s career.
4. Job satisfaction that comes with the career field of occupational therapy is an advantage in itself that can be achieved by pursuing and studying a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy.
5. Moreover, students having completed a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy can also move forward to an entrepreneurship path.

Bachelor of Occupational Therapy: Eligibility Criteria

In order to apply for a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, there are certain prerequisites that you must fulfill to be deemed eligible for this program. These course requirements mainly vary from one university to another and below we have listed down some of the basic eligibility criteria that you must know before opting for this course:

• The applicant must have completed their 10+2 in science stream with PCB subjects and from a recognized board of education with minimum marks prescribed by their chosen university.
• If you are planning to apply for an undergraduate degree in Occupational Therapy abroad, then you must also submit English Proficiency test scores such as IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, etc. along with a Statement of Purpose (SOP). Moreover, Letters of Recommendation (LORs) might also be required.
• In India, several entrance exams such as MET and SVNIRTAR NIOH Common Entrance Test can also be taken to pursue Bachelor of Occupational Therapy per the particular university.

Note: The aforementioned eligibility requirements are only for indicative purposes. Students are advised to go through the university website to know the prerequisites in detail.

Bachelor of Occupational Therapy: Subjects Covered

Since a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy is an interdisciplinary program between psychology as well as medical science, you will study a varied range of disciplines during this course. Below we have listed some of the major subjects which are usually covered in this degree program:

• Rehabilitation
• Biochemistry
• Orthopaedics
• Anatomy
• Fundamentals of Occupational Therapy
• Psychology
• Kinesiology
• Pharmacology
• Neurosurgery
• General Surgery
• Pathology

Recommended Read: Occupational Health and Safety

Bachelor of Occupational Therapy: Course Variants

Since it is a specialised degree program, there is a multitude of variants available for a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy. Take a look at the following list of course variants for this undergraduate degree:

• Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy (Honors)
• Bachelor of Health Science (Occupational Therapy)
• Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy)
• BSc (Honours) Occupational Therapy
• BSc (Hons) Pre-Registration Occupational Therapy
• Creative and Therapeutic Arts BA (Hons)
• Pre-Occupational Therapy
• Bachelor of Health Sciences

Recommended Read: How to Become a Psychotherapist?

Popular Universities

Health centres are always in need of skilled occupational therapists who can help those facing depression as well as take care of physically challenged people along with assisting them in carrying out their daily tasks. If you aim to pursue Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, here are the top universities offering this degree program and its related variants: 

Name of University	QS World University Rankings 2023
The University of Sydney	41
The University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney)	45
University of Brighton	801 – 1000
Griffith University	300
James Cook University	461
Cardiff University	166
University of Bradford	701 – 750
Coventry University	651 – 700
The University of Queensland	50
Northumbria University	651 – 700

Additional Universities:

• Maryville University
• Sacred Heart University
• Leeds Beckett University
• Edith Cowan University
• Flinders University
• Saint Louis University
• University of Plymouth
• Parkland University

Must Read: Psychology Courses

Employment Areas

After completing a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, graduates can explore numerous opportunities in both the public and private sectors. Here are the key employment areas that frequently require occupational therapists:

• Schools
• Healthcare Centers
• Hospitals
• Residential and Nursing Homes
• Prisons
• Daycare Facilities
• Charities & Non-profit organizations
• Colleges & Universities

Moreover, you can also opt for a postgraduate qualification in this field and then set up your independent practice as an occupational therapist as well.

Jobs and Salary

The following are the type of jobs that students can avail of, accompanied by average salaries.

Job Profile	Average Salary
Speech therapist	INR 3.6 lakh
Occupational therapist	INR 3 lakh
Physiotherapy assistant	INR 2.7 lakh
Counseling psychologist	Respiratory Therapist
Physiotherapy Assistant	INR 3.5 lakh

Books on Occupational Therapy

Some of the books that students can refer to are listed below.

Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire

Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Process, 2nd Edition by American Occupational Therapy Association

Clinical and Professional Reasoning in Occupational Therapy by Barbara Schell

Head Cases: Stories of Brain Injury and Its Aftermath by Michael Paul Mason

FAQs

Hence, we hope that this blog has provided you with the pivotal features of a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy. If you aim to pursue a course in Psychotherapy or its related specialisations, book an e-meeting with our experts at Leverage Edu and let us guide you in finding the suitable course and university combination that aligns with your preferences and aspirations!