What courses should I take for my prerequisites?

[An Idealist]

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I've been trying to figure out what career I'd like to pursue, and after considering a bunch of different options, I find that I'm really interested in OT. I've been looking up the prereqs for master's programs (I know this forum is for OTDs, but I think I've seen others post on here about master programs as well), and I see that they vary, sometimes a lot, depending on the school.

Generally, I think the prereqs are as follows: A&P I&II, developmental psych, abnormal psych, statistics, general bio with lab, general chem with lab, and (recommended) physics.

With the general bio and chem, I'm just wondering if I should take both I&II, or just the first semester of each. On the school websites of the programs, they mainly just ask for the first semester with a lab. Just wondering what others are doing in this case.

What I'm really not sure about though, is what stats course to take. The description for the one I'm thinking of taking says: Sampling, estimation, tests of hypotheses, including one- and two-sample t-tests, two- and three-way tables for nominal and ordinal data, linear regression, analysis of variance through two-way with interaction, appropriate statistical software. It's a 200-level course. Is this course okay?

 

[jewel11786]

A regular statistics course should be fine or you can take one through a Sociology or Psychology department (my stat course was part of my Sociology degree and my school counted it). I would definitely take physics and the other courses you mentioned are appropriate. I would look at different OT program pre-req requirements to get an idea of what you'll need to take. Make a list of the schools you're interested in applying to and take all those courses. You may also have to take an intro to psych course depending on the program along with the other psych courses you mentioned. You may also want to take a kinesiology course for your own knowledge, as it may be helpful in OT or if you decide to go into PT.

 

[mlc54]

It really depends on what schools you will be applying to. None of the schools I applied to required biology, chemistry, OR physics, so I never took them. In addition to the classes you mentioned, I also took intro. to psych and neurology with a lab (as part of my undergrad degree) as well as medical terminology and intro. to sociology (to fulfill pre-reqs after graduating from college).

Also, I took Psych Stats. You may have to look on the different program's websites to see what they will accept for this, but every program I applied to (9 in total) accepted Sociology and Psych stats. I don't think the level mattered as much as the number of credits and the material that was covered (and of course, your grade in the class).

Again, it really depends on what programs you are interested in. I would suggest looking into programs and getting a feel for what the ones you are genuinely interested in require. But the classes you mentioned sound like a great start! Good luck!

 

[An Idealist]

It really depends on what schools you will be applying to. None of the schools I applied to required biology, chemistry, OR physics, so I never took them. But I did take a course in medical terminology and intro. to sociology (along with the other courses you mentioned). In addition to the classes you mentioned, I also took intro. to psych and neurology with a lab (as part of my undergrad degree) as well as medical terminology and intro. to sociology (to fulfill pre-reqs after graduating from college).

Also, I took Psych Stats. You may have to look on the different program's websites to see what they will accept for this, but every program I applied to (9 in total) accepted Sociology and Psych stats. I don't think the level mattered as much as the number of credits and the material that was covered (and of course, your grade in the class).

Again, it really depends on what programs you are interested in. I would suggest looking into programs and getting a feel for what the ones you are genuinely interested in require. But the classes you mentioned sound like a great start! Good luck!

I actually compiled this chart of schools I'm interested in and their requirements (a productive result of my frequent procrastination!). SUNY Downstate, which is one of my top choices, is actually one of the only schools on my list that requires gen bio and chem. If I didn't want to go to Downstate, then I could forego them, but that's just my life being its usual difficult self. 🙄

Yeah, about stats, I guess I was just freaking out a bit because I looked at the reqs for Indiana U, and it requires a stats class at the 300-level or higher. It doesn't look like the other schools I've looked up say anything about the level of stats, but I just wanted to check with others on that.

Btw, does anyone know anything about whether or not schools accept AP credits ? My school gave me credit for psych 100 because I took AP psych.

 

[reb0rn75]

Yes, schools should accept AP scores, but you may have to get a certain AP score in order for it to count. For example, Columbia would accept my AP English credit, but I think it would only accept it with a 5 on the exam.

 

[RedDevilOT]

I actually did the same thing as you. I know I needed to take summer classes this summer to be able to apply for 2013 so I made a spreadsheet of all the OT schools I was interested in and then listed all their requirements. Then I compared them side to side to see what made the most sense to take this summer.

Across the board, every school required Anatomy and Physiology 1 and 2, Statistics, Abnormal Psych, Developmental Psych, and a sociology course. So I'm definitely taking those. Surprisingly, only one of the schools I'm applying to (Towson) required Physics. So my plan is to apply to Towson without having completed that prerequisite. If I get in and it's my top choice, I'll simply take Physics the summer before school starts in 2014.

As far as taking AP credit, I would look on the websites. I've seen some that do and some that don't. If in doubt, e-mail the school directly.

 

[An Idealist]

So I know I already asked this, but I'm stressing over which stats course to take. I have 2 options:

1) Stats 113 Elementary Probability and Statistics: "An introduction to applied statistics and statistical computing. Hands-on data analysis. Graphical inference. The five number summary, box plots, scatterplots, normal probability plots. Elementary probability. Statistical estimation and hypothesis testing. Linear regression. Students are expected to analyze real data sets and write reports."

2) Stats 213: Intro to Applied Statistics: "Sampling, estimation, tests of hypotheses, including one- and two-sample t-tests, two- and three-way tables for nominal and ordinal data, linear regression, analysis of variance through two-way with interaction, appropriate statistical software."

My school offers a DPT, and I was looking at the prerequisites out of curiosity, and my school's DPT only requires Stats 113 elementary probability and statistics. Before seeing this, I was just going to take Stats 213 because I thought that would be what was expected of me. But would the 100-level class satisfy the stats requirement? Sorry for over obsessing; it's just in my nature

 

[OTTXGirl]

So I know I already asked this, but I'm stressing over which stats course to take. I have 2 options:

1) Stats 113 Elementary Probability and Statistics: "An introduction to applied statistics and statistical computing. Hands-on data analysis. Graphical inference. The five number summary, box plots, scatterplots, normal probability plots. Elementary probability. Statistical estimation and hypothesis testing. Linear regression. Students are expected to analyze real data sets and write reports."

2) Stats 213: Intro to Applied Statistics: "Sampling, estimation, tests of hypotheses, including one- and two-sample t-tests, two- and three-way tables for nominal and ordinal data, linear regression, analysis of variance through two-way with interaction, appropriate statistical software."

My school offers a DPT, and I was looking at the prerequisites out of curiosity, and my school's DPT only requires Stats 113 elementary probability and statistics. Before seeing this, I was just going to take Stats 213 because I thought that would be what was expected of me. But would the 100-level class satisfy the stats requirement? Sorry for over obsessing; it's just in my nature

Most schools look for your Stats class to cover ANOVA. I would inquiry about which one of the two covers that.

 

[c2902]

Most schools look for your Stats class to cover ANOVA. I would inquiry about which one of the two covers that.

The the second course the OP listed covers it - analysis of variance is listed in the course description.