Pre-Occupational Therapy
High-tech. Hands-on. Support every step of the way. Get the tools you need to succeed at Mount Mary University. Be part of an occupational therapy program that makes you a top priority with classes taught by scholars and leaders in the field. You’ll access high-tech, hands-on equipment, get personalized attention, and create lifelong friendships along the way. With a strong legacy of developing occupational therapists since 1941, Mount Mary is the university to move your future forward!
Mount Mary’s Pre-Occupational Therapy majors are specifically designed to provide strong preparation for admission into the graduate Occupational Therapy program at Mount Mary. Graduates complete required coursework not only to earn a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology or Psychological Science, but also to complete the required prerequisite courses needed for admission to the program.
Undergraduate students who have entered Mount Mary with up to 60 credits and complete their undergraduate degree at MMU may qualify for an early admission decision. Those meeting specific requirements can secure a seat in the graduate Occupational Therapy Program without completing the full competitive admission process. See Occupational Therapy Early Admission Decision Process for more details.
View a sample program plan to see what courses you'll take in our Occupational Therapy program.
Pre-Occupational Therapy
High-tech. Hands-on. Support every step of the way. Get the tools you need to succeed at Mount Mary University. Be part of an occupational therapy program that makes you a top priority with classes taught by scholars and leaders in the field. You’ll access high-tech, hands-on equipment, get personalized attention, and create lifelong friendships along the way. With a strong legacy of developing occupational therapists since 1941, Mount Mary is the university to move your future forward!
Mount Mary’s Pre-Occupational Therapy majors are specifically designed to provide strong preparation for admission into the graduate Occupational Therapy program at Mount Mary. Graduates complete required coursework not only to earn a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology or Psychological Science, but also to complete the required prerequisite courses needed for admission to the program.
Undergraduate students who have entered Mount Mary with up to 60 credits and complete their undergraduate degree at MMU may qualify for an early admission decision. Those meeting specific requirements can secure a seat in the graduate Occupational Therapy Program without completing the full competitive admission process. See Occupational Therapy Early Admission Decision Process for more details.
View a sample program plan to see what courses you'll take in our Occupational Therapy program.
Mount Mary University’s Human Biology major, Pre-Occupational Therapy Concentration emphasizes scientific inquiry and brings real-world experience into the classroom and laboratory to prepare you to achieve personal and professional success. As a Human Biology major with a Pre-Occupational Therapy Concentration, you’ll get to participate in many hands-on labs, as well as undergraduate research projects. The major prepares you for success in healthcare, research, writing, education, public health, or management careers.
Mount Mary University offers two tracks to becoming an occupational therapist – the Master of Science (M.S.) and the Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD).
The accredited Master of Science (M.S.) and Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) programs are co-ed degree programs designed for individuals with a bachelor’s degree in any field who want to become a certified (registered) occupational therapist (OTR).
The Professional Entry in Occupational Therapy Programs (M.S./OTD) feature:
- On-campus coursework and individual attention from faculty to support you to achieve success
- A faculty-arranged, 6-month fieldwork experience where you can put textbook knowledge into practice
- Online distance learning during your fieldwork that connects classroom knowledge to fieldwork practice
- Faculty who have exceptional practice expertise, preparing graduates to navigate complex practice in diverse settings
- State of the art technology to enhance your educational experiences
The OTD program features:
- 67 credits, 24 months to completion, two days per week block schedule on campus*, and a culminating project portfolio
Learn more about our M.S. Professional Entry in Occupational Therapy at this link.
The OTD program features:
- 87 credits, 30 months to completion, two days per week block schedule on campus*, and a doctoral capstone experience and project
*Block schedule does not apply does not apply during Level II fieldwork (full-time) or doctoral capstone experience completion
Learn about our Doctorate of Occupational Therapy at this link.
Master of Science (M.S.): The entry-level occupational therapy master’s degree program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652- AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).
After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
Students must complete 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork within 24 months following completion of the didactic portion of the program.
Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD):The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652- AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.
Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
Students must complete 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork and an individual 14-week capstone experience within 24 months following the completion of the didactic portion of the program. The doctoral capstone experience must be completed by 12 months from the time the student is eligible to begin the doctoral capstone experience. The doctoral capstone experience must be started after completion of all coursework, Level II fieldwork and preparatory activities defined in 2018 ACOTE OTD Standard D.1.3.
Biology and Biochemistry
Kathleen Boyle, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biology
Phone: (414) 930-3528
Email: boylek@mtmary.edu
Expertise: Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Genetics, Virology
Jeremy Edison, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Division Chair and Director, Mathematics
Email: edisonj@mtmary.edu
Phone: (414) 930-3463
Christine Hoffmann, DC, MHA
Assistant Professor of Sciences
Phone: (414) 930-3361
Email: hoffmanc@mtmary.edu
Expertise: Anatomy, Physiology, Exercise Physiology, Neurobiology
Victoria Fisher-Keough
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry
Phone: (414) 930-3550
Email: fisherv@mtmary.edu
Expertise: Biochemistry, Chemical Education, Environmental Science, Criminalistics
Rachel Jones Lipinski, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry
Phone: (414) 930-3353
Email: joneslr@mtmary.edu
Expertise: Biochemistry, Glycochemistry, Chemical Biology, Organic Chemistry
Louise C. Kessler, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biology
Phone: (414) 930-3301
Email: kesslerl@mtmary.edu
Expertise: Microbiology, Prokaryotic Gene Regulation, Cell Biology, Molecular Techniques
Rita M. Quinones de Magalhaes, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biology
Phone: (414) 930-3365
Email: magalhar@mtmary.edu
Expertise: Fire Ecology, Plant Ecology, Intro Bio, Metacognition, Inclusive Practices
Anne E. Vravick, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Food Science
Phone: (414) 930-3497
Email: vravicka@mtmary.edu
Expertise: Food Science, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Toxicology
Psychological Science
Amy Lauer, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Psychological Science and Division Chair: Behavioral and Social Sciences
Phone: (414) 930-3347
Email: lauera@mtmary.edu
Expertise: Behavioral neuroscience, learning theory, neurobiology of drugs & addiction
Ethan Harrod, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Psychological Science
Phone: (414) 930-3235
Email:harrode@mtmary.edu
Expertise: Social psychophysiology, cultural differences, minority health
Maggie Sas, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Psychological Science
Phone: (414) 930-3164
Email: sasm@mtmary.edu
Expertise: Self-regulation, success skills, relationships, wellbeing throughout the lifespan
Occupational therapy is a health profession that allows you to help people of all ages live satisfying and productive lives by redesigning daily occupations or tasks to maximize their independence in living. Occupational therapists work in schools, hospitals, nursing facilities, home health care and behavioral health care settings. They plan activities and approaches to help people who are experiencing mental, physical, developmental or emotional conditions.
To be an occupational therapist, you need to be a good listener, enjoy working with people with illness or life challenges, be an excellent communicator and creative problem solver, enjoy both art and science, and be fascinated by how the human body works and the healing processpower of human engagement.
Occupational therapists enter the profession with either a master’s degree or doctoral degree (OTD) from an accredited institution, be nationally certified, and obtain state licensure in order to obtain employment. Mount Mary occupational therapy graduates have an excellent job placement rate throughout Wisconsin and other regions of the country.
Occupational therapists are in high demand nationally, and Mount Mary occupational therapists are in even higher demand. Many organizations have stated a preference for hiring Mount Mary graduates due to their reputation for being exceptional, creative practitioners.
According to 2024 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for occupational therapy professionals is $98,340.
Note: this figure represents professionals who have earned master's degrees or above.
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