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Two Drake Pre-Occupational Therapy students practice using assistive devices around campus

Pre-Occupational Therapy Program

The path to helping patients lead more independent, engaged lives begins with Drake University’s Pre-Occupational Therapy program.

College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences | On-Campus

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What You'll Learn

Occupational therapists (OTs) empower individuals from childhood into adulthood to live their lives to the fullest. If you see yourself guiding patient outcomes in this role, you’ll prepare to enter the profession through a two-step process: fulfilling prerequisite requirements as an undergraduate for admission into an accredited Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program.

Drake’s Pre-OT program ignites the first step of your journey. The Drake Direct OTD track builds from the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences to cover core subjects, equip you to apply to Drake’s OTD program, and introduce the foundational tools you’ll need for success in the profession and related fields.

In addition to Drake’s core curriculum, courses in lab sciences, mathematics, human anatomy, and the healthcare system lay the groundwork for OT and other allied health careers. Specialized tracks in Public Health or Clinical and Medical Sciences customize your education according to your goals and interests.

Along the way, a range of opportunities for professional and clinical experience clarify your direction and add to your training. Whether you continue your studies at Drake, pivot to another institution, or enter the field following graduation, our Health Sciences major provides the preparation you need to excel.

Admission Requirements

About the Pre-Occupational Therapy Program at Drake

  • Benefit from applied education, including job shadowing and career exploration, integrated into the early years of the program.
  • Receive expert guidance, with a faculty mentor and an enrollment advisor walking beside you through career planning, course selection, and professional development.
  • Secure a guaranteed seat in Drake’s professional OTD program, provided admission requirements are met.
  • Study at your pace. Choose between three- and four-year tracks to complete your bachelor’s degree.
  • Take a proven path. Students in Drake’s OTD program have graduation and NBCOT pass rates near 100%.

Program Facts

  • On campus
  • 122.5 total credits

Program Options

Drake offers several undergraduate routes to the OTD program. Explore your options to see which best matches where you are and how you’d like to get there.

B.S. in Health Sciences, Pre-Occupational Therapy

This track offers significant flexibility through a number of electives while providing the necessary courses in science, math, and psychology. It also includes an in-depth health sciences internship for hands-on experience in a clinical setting. Available as a three- or four-year program.

Pre-Occupational Therapy—Public Health

Through this track, you’ll combine the essential coursework for entry into the occupational therapy program with a substantial introduction to the central areas of public health, allowing you to approach patient care from a holistic perspective.

Pre-Occupational Therapy—Clinical and Medical Sciences

Immerse yourself in biology, chemistry, economics, anatomy, physiology, and various aspects of patient care delivery to embark on a number of pre-professional directions.

Occupational Therapy, OTD

Designed for those with at least three years of undergraduate coursework, including specified prerequisites, this three-year, full-time program equips you to assess clients, develop treatment plans, and monitor their progress through rigorous coursework and clinical assignments.

Meet the Faculty

Tap into professional expertise and personalized support. You’ll learn and grow as you work with professors dedicated to the OT field and your success.

Leslie Jackson, OTD, MEd, OT/L, FAOTA

Leslie Jackson, OTD, MEd, OT/L, FAOTA

Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy; Department Chair, Occupational Therapy

Rachel Allen-McHugh, OTD, MOT, OTR/L, RYT-200

Rachel Allen-McHugh, OTD, MOT, OTR/L, RYT-200

Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy; Vice Chair, Occupational Therapy

Christine Urish, PhD, OTR/L, BCMH, FAOTA

Christine Urish, PhD, OTR/L, BCMH, FAOTA

Professor, Occupational Therapy

All Faculty Members

Outside the Classroom

Alongside intensive coursework that ensures you have the knowledge needed for the Occupational Therapy Doctorate program, parallel experiences boost your professional readiness and strengthen your confidence.

A Drake Pre-Occupational Therapy student learns to assist patients from a faculty mentor in a simulation classroom

Mentorship

From your first year, you’ll be paired with an Occupational Therapy faculty mentor and an advisor from the Office of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, giving you access to support and guidance for building your course load and completing your application.

A group of Drake Pre-Occupational Therapy students stand outdoors before an organizational meeting

Professional Student Organizations

Enhance your career readiness by joining professional organizations like the Drake University Student Occupational Therapy Association (DUSOTA) while still an undergraduate.

In a simulation classroom, Drake Pre-Occupational Therapy students learn to assess a patient, using a mannequin lying on a hospital bed

Volunteering and Career Exploration

Get a close-up view of the profession. As a Pre-OT student, you’re encouraged to seek out volunteer and other career exploratory experiences that place you in contact with various community and patient populations.

Careers & Skills

The Pre-Occupational Therapy program is built to prepare you to gain admission and excel in Drake’s OTD program. You’ll check off all prerequisites, getting exposure to essential science and math topics plus strengthening your communication, research, and analysis skills.

Occupational therapists are in high demand, with jobs projected to grow 11% in the years ahead.

Opportunities

  • Home healthcare providers
  • Hospitals
  • Mental health clinics
  • Outpatient clinics
  • Schools
  • Skilled nursing facilities

Skills

  • Clinical reasoning and care
  • Communication
  • Foundational knowledge in biomedical sciences
  • Leadership
  • Professionalism and ethical practice
  • Research
A Drake Pre-Occupational Therapy student pushes a classmate in a wheelchair around campus to learn how to use an assistive device

Salary & Growth Outlook

$

Median salary for occupational therapists in 2024. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) Note: Professional degree needed. This figure is not reflective of entry-level OT salaries.

“Drake has given me a safe environment to branch out and develop my professional identity while learning the skills necessary to become an entry-level practitioner.”
Lauren Pritchard, OTD’24

Related Programs

Explore additional programs that tailor your studies for a rewarding career in healthcare.

Pre-Pharmacy, BS

Prepare for the frontlines of patient care with two years of undergraduate study that seamlessly segue into our Pharm.D. program—a pathway that trims the total time to become a pharmacist from eight years down to six.

Health Sciences: Clinical and Medical Sciences, BS

Intending to serve patients as a physician, allied health professional, or aspire to make scientific breakthroughs? The Bachelor of Health Sciences, Clinical and Medical Sciences Track may be for you.

Pre-Nursing, BS & ABSN

This degree combination allows you to graduate in four years plus a summer with two degrees: a BS in Health Sciences/Clinical and Medical Sciences and an ABSN, making you better prepared for the healthcare field.

Take the Next Step

Enter a clearly defined path toward a career as an occupational therapist in Drake’s Pre-OT program.

Contact us

Lauren Sharp, MAC (she/her/hers)
Director of Enrollment Services
lauren.sharp@drake.edu
515-271-2247

Request Info Visit Apply
Drake Pre-Occupational Therapy students hold a study session with laptops around a table in a common area with large windows