Completion of the required coursework or attainment of the minimum grade point average does not guarantee admission to a professional program. Pre-OT and pre-PT students must complete all the requirements for a bachelor’s degree, including a major, in addition to the preprofessional studies.

Pre-Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy enables people of all ages to participate in daily living. With strong knowledge of a person’s psychological, physical, emotional, and social makeup and attention to contextual influences, occupational therapists use a holistic perspective to evaluate how a condition (or risk for one) affects a client’s body and mind. During the evaluation process, occupational therapists collaborate with clients to identify outcomes that are important to them.

Occupational therapy intervention uses meaningful everyday life activities (occupations) to promote health, well-being, and clients’ ability to participate in the important activities in their life. Intervention activities are driven by a person’s priorities and may include:

• Building skills needed for activities of daily living (such as bathing, dressing, and eating)
• Training and coaching caregivers and family members
• Supporting return to work, school, and leisure activities
• Educating clients about techniques to aid in memory, concentration, and executive functioning (e.g., planning and prioritizing, functional cognition)
• Modifying homes to support clients’ functioning and safety
• Supporting care transitions (for example, from the hospital to home)

Occupational therapists provide services to people of all ages and work in a variety of settings including, but not limited to, clients’ homes, hospitals, outpatient centers, schools, and community organizations. Occupational therapists are skilled health care professionals and life-long learners who use research and scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of their interventions. A career in occupational is rewarding and dynamic. Professional practice may include a variety of roles such as clinician, educator, researcher, consultant, and/or administrator.

To learn more about occupational therapy, visit the American Occupational Therapy Association website. 

The preprofessional coursework listed below prepares students to apply to the professional program in the Department of Occupational Therapy in the College of Applied Health Sciences after completion of the undergraduate degree. Students should contact OTDept@uic.edu or (312) 413-0124 for further information.

Pre-occupational therapy students may choose any major but should work with a preprofessional advisor to plan a course of study that fulfills pre-occupational therapy studies requirements as well as the requirements for the major.

a

Students completing an undergraduate degree at UIC must complete the General Education requirements. Students should consult the General Education section and their college/department sections of the catalog for more information on fulfilling these requirements.

b

This course is approved for the Analyzing the Natural World General Education category.

c

If prerequisites were completed more than three years prior to beginning occupational therapy coursework, it is highly recommended that applicants review a current text prior to enrollment so that they have up-to-date knowledge. If prerequisites were completed more than eight years ago, it is recommended that applicants retake the course(s) or complete an intensive self-study prior to enrollment.

d

This course is approved for the Understanding the Individual and Society General Education category.

e

PSCH 343 is limited to psychology majors. Other options include SOC 201 (for sociology majors), KN 200 (for KN majors) and STAT 101 and STAT 130.

Other minimum admissions requirements include an earned bachelor’s degree in any field, CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) certification with Health Providers Status, 3.00/4.00 GPA for all baccalaureate and graduate coursework is expected, three letters of recommendation, and a personal statement, and UIC-specific essay. Applicants with a GPA of below 3.00  who display strengths in other areas may be considered for admission. Students must apply for admission to the program approximately one year before planned enrollment.

Pre-Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is a health profession whose primary purpose is the promotion of optimal human health and function through the application of scientific principles to prevent, identify, assess, correct, or alleviate acute or prolonged movement dysfunction. Physical therapy encompasses areas of specialized competence and includes the development of new principles and applications to more effectively meet existing and emerging health needs. Other professional activities that serve the purpose of physical therapy are research, education, consultation, and administration.

The physical therapist, working in cooperation with other health professionals, serves the individual needs of the client and the health needs of society. The physical therapy profession depends heavily on knowledge and application of the basic medical and behavioral sciences, coupled with specialized knowledge and skills in the clinical arts and sciences.

Physical therapists may work as staff, supervisors, or self-employed practitioners who serve clients directly; as administrators of clinical departments, health agencies, or educational programs; as healthcare agency consultants; as clinical or academic teachers; or as researchers.

They may work in hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, schools for children with disabilities, neighborhood health centers, physicians’ offices, nursing homes and convalescent centers, private and public health agencies, sports settings, and universities.

Pre-physical therapy students may choose any major but should work with an advisor to plan a course of study that fulfills the pre-physical therapy studies requirements as well as the requirements for the major. Students are advised to declare an educational goal of pre-physical therapy upon entering UIC which will alert them to specific workshops and other pertinent information.

The pre-physical therapy requirements follow and should be completed as part of the undergraduate degree program.

a

Students completing an undergraduate degree at UIC must complete the General Education requirements. Students should consult the General Education section and their college/department sections of the catalog for more information on fulfilling these requirements.

b

This course is approved for the Analyzing the Natural World General Education category.

c

Each of the following pairs of courses will be considered one course in meeting the LAS General Education requirements: CHEM 122/CHEM 123; CHEM 124/CHEM 125.

d

PSCH 343 is limited to psychology majors. Other options include SOC 201 (for sociology majors), KN 200 (for KN majors), STAT 101 and STAT 130.

e

This course is approved for the Understanding the Individual and Society General Education category.

In addition, applicants must complete a minimum of 40 hours of documented volunteer or observation experiences in a variety of physical therapy facilities. Current certification in CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) with Health Provider Status is recommended prior to beginning the professional program. Students must also have earned a bachelor’s degree prior to enrolling in the program.

The minimum GPA for application to the program in physical therapy is 2.50/4.00 in science and nonscience courses. The competitive GPA, however, is considerably above this level. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) taken within five years of the date of application. Students must apply for admission to the program approximately one year before planned enrollment. Students should call (312) 996-6646 for additional information.