Occupational Therapy Subjects List 2025: Check Semester-wise Subjects & Syllabus
Parul ThapaAssistant Manager
Occupational Therapy is a discipline of medicine that focuses on treating and rehabilitating people who are physically, emotionally or psychologically disabled. The BSc in Occupational Therapy is a UG course also known as BOT. The course teaches students everything they need to know about occupational therapy and rehabilitation methods. The courses are available at leading colleges for undergraduates (BOT) and postgraduates as Masters of Occupational Therapy or MOT.
Students can continue reading this article to know everything about the Occupational Therapy syllabus and subjects.
List of Subjects in Occupational Therapy
The principles of occupational therapy, as well as anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, pathology, microbiology, orthopaedics and surgery, medicine, psychiatry and psychology, are all taught in this course. The details of each subject are listed below:
Typical Core Subjects for Occupational Therapy
|
Subject title |
Subject details |
|---|---|
|
Psychology |
Read about the use of psychological principles and management of abnormal conditions in people of all ages. |
|
Anatomy |
The description of bones, joints, muscles, the brain, cardiopulmonary and nerve systems will be taught in classes. |
|
Biochemistry |
Study biological processes at the cellular and molecular levels using chemistry. |
|
Physiology |
Physiology is all about the scientific analysis of a biological system's functions and processes. |
|
Pharmacology |
You will learn how medication therapy affects patients, along with the fundamental principles of pharmacology. |
|
Pathology |
It generally includes the study of illness, including various biological research topics and medical procedures. |
|
Microbiology |
The subject discusses the types of microscopic organisms and their effects on the health of humans. |
|
Biostatistics |
It includes planning biological studies, gathering and analysing data from such experiments. |
|
Bioengineering and Biostatistics |
This subject covers how to use ideas from chemistry, biology, maths and engineering to identify and solve issues in biology, health care, medicine, etc. |
|
Sociology |
You will study society, human social behaviour, social patterns, human engagement and cultural aspects of daily life. |
Typical Elective Subjects for Occupational Therapy
|
Subject Title |
Subject Details |
|---|---|
|
Psychology-1
|
It helps to understand human behaviour and also strengthens the ability to understand and interpret behavioural patterns. |
|
Bioengineering
|
It will provide information on how to use and apply mechanical principles for investigating biological processes and human movement. |
Detailed Syllabus For Occupational Therapy
The Bachelor of Occupational Therapy syllabus is divided into 8 semesters and is completed in four years. Also, 1 year of mandatory internship is included in the BOT course syllabus to provide students with practical experience. Both practical and theoretical courses, split into core and optional subjects, are part of the BOT syllabus. The following is a list of B.Sc of Occupational Therapy subjects organised by semester -
|
Semester |
Core/Elective |
Subject title |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Core |
Anatomy (Theory/ Practical) Physiology Biochemistry |
|
2 |
Core
|
Pharmacology Microbiology and Pathology Biostatistics and Research Methodology |
|
3 |
Core Elective
|
Occupational Therapy-1 (Theory/ Practical) Psychology-1
|
|
4 |
Core
|
Psychology-2 (Organisational Psychology) Practical
|
|
5 |
Core
|
Rheumatology Bioengineering Neurology |
|
6 |
Core
|
Clinical Psychiatry General Medicine Community Medicine and Sociology General Surgery
|
|
7 |
Core
|
Occupational Therapy in Neurology (Theory/ Practical) Occupational Therapy in Rehabilitation (Theory/ Practical)
|
|
8 |
Core |
Occupational Therapy in Paediatrics and Developmental Disabilities (Theory/ Practical) Occupational Therapy in Mental Health (Theory/ Practical)
|
Specialisations offered in Occupational Therapy
The two-year diploma and degree programmes resulting in the M.Sc in occupational therapy or MOT and the PG diploma courses are available after completing a BOT or B.Sc with at least 50% marks. There are specialisations available after the MSc course, and one can pursue Paediatrics, Adult rehabilitation, Hand therapy, Vision rehabilitation, Ergonomics and many more. Given below is a list of specialisations to consider -
|
Specialisation |
Subjects |
|---|---|
|
Paediatrics |
|
|
Musculoskeletal |
|
|
Rehabilitations |
|
|
Ergonomics |
|
|
Psychiatric |
|
Note - This info is taken from various sources and can vary.
Books and Authors Related to Occupational Therapy
The books included in the syllabus of Occupational Therapy courses include coursebooks and reference books. Because Occupational Therapy is a vast discipline with many specialties, students read various practical and theoretical books during their UG or PG studies. Some highly recommended books are given below -
|
Subject |
Book title |
Author |
|---|---|---|
|
Physiology |
Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology |
John E, Michael E |
|
Anatomy |
Atlas Of Human Anatomy |
Frank H. Netter |
|
Biochemistry |
Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry |
David Nelson and Michael Cox. |
|
Pharmacology |
Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics for Veterinary Technicians |
Robert L. Bill |
|
Microbiology |
Microbiology: An Introduction |
Gerard J. Tortora, Berdell R. Funke, Christine L. Case |
|
Pathology |
Weir & Abrahams' Imaging Atlas of Human Anatomy |
Jonathan D. Spratt, Lonie R Salkowski, Marios Loukas and Tom Turmezei |
|
Clinical Orthopaedics |
Decision Making in Orthopaedic Trauma |
Meir Marmor
|
|
Rheumatology |
Ultrasonography of the Hand in Rheumatology
|
Peter Vince Balint, Peter Mandl |
|
Biostatistics |
Biomedical & Pharmaceutical Sciences with Patient Care Correlations |
Reza Karimi
|
|
Bioengineering |
The Cell as a Machine
|
Michael Sheetz, Hanry Yu |
Entrance Exams for Occupational Therapy
The central and state-level exams to get seats in BSc in Occupational Therapy degrees at India's top colleges are listed here. Passing the 10+2 test with excellent grades is the basic requirement for these exams. Every exam has its own set of cutoff conditions for those scores.
-
CMCVEE: The Christian Medical College, Vellore, conducts the CMC Vellore Entrance Examination for students who want to get admission to the college's BOT course. The entrance exam is an online computer-based MCQ exam. In General Ability, there are 120 questions divided into two groups. Section I has 60 questions and Section II consists of 60 questions.
-
IPU CET- It is an online college entrance exam for admission to a variety of UG and PG courses. Examination pattern- The test will be conducted online and consist of 150 MCQs to be answered in 150 minutes.
Compared to IIT JEE and NEET, the above entrance exams are easier to crack. Students can prepare for the exam by taking a variety of high-quality mock exams available on the official website.
Occupational Therapy: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. Does Occupational Therapy require NEET?
A. An occupational therapy course does not require the aspirant to pass the NEET examination. Passing the 10+2 test with Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English with at least 45 to 50 per cent marks is usually necessary to become an occupational therapist.
Q. Do Masters in Occupational Therapy require MBBS?
A. Masters in occupational therapy is a 2 year postgraduate programme. you need to have completed a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy degree from a recognised university or medical college with a minimum qualifying score of 55 per cent to take admission.
Q. What is the main purpose of Occupational Therapy?
A. OT helps people of all ages with physical, sensory and cognitive issues. Occupational therapists assist people with problems that impair their emotional, social and physical well-being. It can help people regain independence in many aspects of their lives.
Q. What is BSC in Occupational Therapy?
A. Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy is a four-year programme designed to develop competent Occupational Therapists who can assist in treating physically or cognitively challenged patients. They are in charge of providing treatment because patients can live their lives to the fullest.
Q. Who can study Occupational Therapy?
A. During 10+2/ Senior Secondary, the candidate's core subjects must be Chemistry, Physics, and Biology/ Mathematics. Provisional admission to the programme may be granted to those taking their 10+2/Senior Secondary Examinations.
Q. What subjects are needed for Occupational Therapy?
A. To work as an occupational therapist, you'll need a master's degree or a higher level of education in the field. Biology, psychology, anthropology, sociology, liberal arts, and anatomy are all good disciplines for students who desire to pursue an occupational therapy master's degree.
Q. What's the difference between Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy?
A. Fine motor abilities, or motions of the small muscular system, are the focus of occupational therapists. Gross motor abilities, or movements involving the body's big muscles, are the focus of a physiotherapist.
Q. What skills do occupational therapists need?
A. Occupational therapists deal with mental health patients regularly. They must possess strong communication skills, compassion, interpersonal skills, patience, and adaptability to understand and cure a patient's problem.
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- Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (B.O.Th.)Seth Gordhandas Sunderdas Medical College and KEM Hospital
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 2 months ago
Physiotherapy focuses on improving movement, strength, and physical function after injuries, surgeries, or illnesses. It deals with the rehabilitation of muscles, bones, and nerves through exercises and manual therapy.
Occupational Therapy, on the other hand, emphasizes helping patients perform daily
A
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What is the difference between Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy?