The goal of the Department of Occupational Therapy is to provide information and guidance to support students in their educational planning as they work to achieve career and life goals. After having gone through proper Advising, please go to the OT Programs for more information on the various degrees the department offers. If you have questions pertaining to a specific degree line, please contact the appropriate coordinator (information on the left hand side of this webpage).

Attention Pre-Occupational Therapy Students

The Occupational Therapy Undergraduate Degree Program is Discontinued.

The Department of Occupational Therapy has announced its plan to discontinue the BS in OT (Pattern I -- BS/MS track) effective Fall 2013.  While in the discontinuation process the Department has authorized the campus to remove this degree program from CSU Mentor in Fall 2012 so that entering students will not be confused or misled. 

Students who are currently at SJSU and have been pursuing the BS in OT, as well as those entering SJSU in Fall 2012, may still pursue and complete this degree; please see the advising link for instructions on how to proceed.  Students entering a California Community College through this year (Fall 2012), who maintain continuous enrollment in pursuit of the BS OT, may still pursue and complete this degree if they transfer to SJSU; please see the advising section below for instructions on how to proceed. 

Students seeking this degree should be aware that the State of California requires an MS OT as a minimum for licensure in California.  The department has an alternative degree program to prepare students to successfully prepare for the MS OT and subsequent licensure.  If your goal is to become a licensed Occupational Therapist in California, please contact the department about your options before making your choice of major. 

The department will continue to offer group and individual advising sessions to assist students in planning a program of study that will allow them to complete their bachelor's degree in a timely manner and prepare them to apply to the occupational therapy Master's degree program (Entry-level Masters).  It is important for each student to attend advising sessions in order to plan their optimal academic program. Please check this website for dates and times of advising sessions.  You can also contact the undergraduate admissions advisor, Gigi Smith. 

Please note that these changes do not affect the Entry-Level Master's program. Prerequisite courses and other application requirements remain the same. Specific information about the Entry-Level Masters program can be found by clicking on this link.  You can also contact the graduate admissions coordinator, Karen Papesh.

undergraduate pre-ot Advising Sessions

ADVISING INFORMATION FOR UNDERGRADUATE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY MAJORS

With the discontinuation of the Bachelor's degree program in occupational therapy (OT), the OT department is committed to supporting undergraduates students who have declared a major in OT in completing their undergraduate degree in a timely manner and preparing themselves to apply to the Entry-Level Masters program in OT.  We have scheduled several advising sessions for Fall semester 2013.

*Attention non-OT majors interested in pursuing a career in occupational therapy. There are two information meetings scheduled designed to cover key points for pursuing a future career in occupational therapy, including how to apply for the Entry Level Master’s (ELM) program here at SJSU.  All information sessions will be held at the Central Classroom Building (CCB) 210 except as indicated.  Hope to see you there!
(Campus Map to locate CCB)

*Attention OT Majors: The following dates are the advising dates scheduled for next semester.  Please mark your calendars.  Advising is mandatory! 

If you are unable to attend any of the sessions please email Professor Gigi Smith or her Graduate Assistant Jenna Jue ASAP.  Looking forward to seeing you in the coming semester.  

OT Major Advising Sessions (Location:  All information sessions will be held at the Central Classroom Building (CCB) 210 except as indicated.)

• September 10th at 12:00 noon
• September 18th at 4:30

If you are a declared OT major and have elected to change your major, but have not been officially admitted into your new department, please notify Professor Gigi Smith via email to remove your hold.

ADVISING Office Hours (Spring 2013)
Undergraduate Pre-OT Advisor, Professor Gigi Smith

• Central Classroom Building(CCB), Room 207 -
  Thursdays, 9:30 am - 12:00 noon and 4:30 - 5:00 pm.
  Wednesday mornings - by appointment only.

Undergraduate Pre-OT Admissions Assistant, Vanessa Rabatin

• Central Classroom Building (CCB), Room 207 -
  Wednesdays, 9:30 am - 12:30pm
  Thursdays, 1:00 - 4:00pm.

 

Entry-Level Master's Group Advising Sessions

Group advising sessions for students who are planning to apply to the Entry-Level Master's program will be held on the dates listed below:

• An advising session will be held on Tuesday, April 16, 2013 - 5:30 - 7:00pm at SJSU's Central Classroom Building (CCB), Room 210   (Campus Map to locate CCB)

“Thank you so much for an informative session. I know we had gone over a lot of that info already, but it was great to hear it again, and to hear some of the questions the other potential students had. It's amazing what you forget to ask when you're by yourself. And just being in the classroom with everyone only increased my enthusiasm!” ~ Prospective ELM applicant

• Entry-Level Master's Group Advising Session Video
  NOTE: Be sure to read over all the links related to the Entry-Level Master's (ELM) program to make sure you have all the required information before applying to our program. The group advising video is meant to be in addition to the information presented on our website; it is not meant as an alternative.

These sessions provide information about the Entry-Level Master's program, the admissions process, prerequisite courses, and other issues of interest. There is no need to RSVP for these sessions. We hope to see you there!

1. All group advising sessions will be held in the OT department, Central Classroom Building (CCB), Room 210.  Link to recommended parking: Parking Services
2. Individual advising sessions and departmental visits can be scheduled. Contact the Graduate Assistant to request an individual session.
3. The neuroanatomy course prerequisite can be fulfilled by taking Biology 109 at San Jose State University. An online format is available for students who are not enrolled at SJSU through Open University (Special Sessions). Neuroanatomy, neurobiology, or neurophysiology courses from other universities may also fulfill this prerequisite. Send the course syllabus to the Graduate Assistant as early as possible for review (email, mail or fax--408 924-3088).

SJSU Advising

• Advising Hub (for Entry-Level Master's)
• For any questions regarding your Graduate Admissions application (i.e. if they have received your transcripts) contact: Jessica Hernandez
  Phone: (408) 924-2406