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Program Snapshot
Academic CredentialAssociate in Arts (AA)
Total Credit Hours60
Average Time to Complete2 yrs.
Academic PathwayScience, Technology, Engineering & Math
AdvisorTerri Bunch
Assistant Professor
850.769.1551 ext. 5148
tbunch@gulfcoast.edu

Senior Administrative AssistantKathy Bleday
850.872.3851
kbleday@gulfcoast.edu

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Occupational Therapy, AA

Interested in Helping Others Recover From a Disability?

Occupational therapists help people throughout their lives to participate in things they want and need to do after a disabling event has altered their life. As an occupational therapist, you will intervene by using everyday activities (occupations) in therapeutic ways to enhance the life of your client. You will be able to help children with disabilities to fully participate in school and social situations, help those recovering from injury to regain common and specific occupational skills, and provide support to older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes.

Gulf Coast State College is here to help you build a solid foundation that will prepare you to continue your studies in occupational therapy at a four-year institution. We offer the necessary prerequisites for the state of Florida university baccalaureate programs.

How do You Become an Occupational Therapist?

To become a certified occupational therapist, you must graduate from an accredited school of occupational therapy with a master’s or doctoral degree. Completion of a bachelor’s degree is usually required before starting a master's or doctoral program. It is assumed students will complete prerequisite courses required or recommended by schools of occupational therapy during their pursuit of a bachelor’s degree.  Gulf Coast State College in Panama City, Florida, offers many of the required or recommended prerequisite courses a student can take in pursuit of an Associate in Arts Degree before transferring to a four-year institution to complete a bachelor’s degree.

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Occupational Therapy Course Requirements

English I & II
Visual and Performing Arts
Philosophy/Religion
Literature
Calculus I
College Algebra
Chemistry
Biology
Sociology
History
Government
Anatomy and Physiology Courses
Biology Courses
Physics Courses
Math Courses

A complete list of courses with descriptions can be found in the Catalog

What can you do with an Occupational Therapy AA Degree?

In this field, people find careers as:

Occupational Therapists
Assistant Rehabilitation Director

Gulf Coast alumni of this program have continued their education at:

University of Florida
Florida State University
University of South Florida
University of Central Florida

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Gulf Coast State College does not discriminate against any person in its programs, activities, policies or procedures on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, marital status, religion, age, gender, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. All questions or inquiries regarding compliance with laws relating to non-discrimination and all complaints regarding sexual misconduct or discrimination, may be directed to Lee Wood, Executive Director, Human Resources/Title II/504/Title IX Coordinator and Employment Equity Officer, Gulf Coast State College, 5230 W. US Highway 98, Panama City, FL 32401.