BACHELOR OF SCIENCE in OCCUPATIONAL SCIENCE

Occupational science is the study of human occupation - how we occupy our time through activity, organize ourselves by activity patterns and habits, and create meaning through occupation. Occupation is essential to a healthy and satisfying life. Occupational science is an evolving social science that studies occupation, how and why people engage in occupations, the context in which occupations occur, and the occupational performance that results.

The Occupational Science Program is an undergraduate program. Students who complete the Occupational Science Program may choose to apply to the graduate program in occupational therapy, apply to other graduate programs, or seek employment in non-credentialed health care, education or community positions. Potential careers with an undergraduate degree in occupational science include: supported employment specialist, advocate, support coordinator, or residential director for persons with developmental disabilities; mental health associate or program coordinator in day programs or shelters; senior citizen program coordinator or activity director; independent living skills coordinator; and medical sales representative.

An advisor in the department is assigned when occupational science is declared as the major. Admission to the Occupational Science Program is non-competitive and admission to courses is limited to space available. In Precycle (freshmen and sophomore years) general education courses, support coures, and electives and/or courses associated with a minor are completed. Progression to Cycle 1 (junior year) occurs when Precycle requirements are met: at least 60 hours of coursework completed, an overall GPA of 2.0 or better, and a "C" or better in human anatomy, human physiology, general psychology, and statistics. To progress to Cycle 2 (senior year), all Cycle 1 required major and support courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better. To graduate, all Cycle 2 required major and support courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or better as well as completion of general education and university requirements for graduation. An overall GPA of 2.0 must be maintained throughout the Occupational Science Program.

Students may choose, but are not required, to pursue a minor. There are many minors available including but not limited to Psychology, Gerontology, Health Care Administration, Physical Education, Child and Family Studies, Environmental Health Science, Dance, Women's Studies, American Sign Language Studies, and Spanish. In the senior year students may choose to apply to the graduate program in occupational therapy. This is a competitive application process, and not all occupational science students will be accepted into the Occupational Therapy program.