As the Occupational Therapy (OT) Department Chair, one question I frequently get is: “Can accelerated track OT students still play sports?” The answer is YES!
In fact, we have several student athletes in our program and I love going to games to cheer them on in one of their favorite occupations. This year, I made it a goal to attend at least one game of each sport I have a student athlete in. I also invited OT faculty and students as a way to build community within our program.
I got to cheer on students in soccer, football, field hockey, volleyball, basketball and softball. Getting to know my students outside of the classroom is so important to me. It’s one way our program supports CUW’s mission of “developing students in mind, body, and spirit.”
The occupational therapy program at Concordia University Wisconsin offers a fast-track to an entry-level master’s (MOT) or doctoral (OTD) degree in occupational therapy (OT) for incoming freshman who know they want to be an OT. This track, called the accelerated track, allows students in the Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Science, pre-OT major to join the graduate OT program in their junior year. This means students in the accelerated track can get their MOT degree in 4.5 years, or an OTD degree in five years.
Expectations are high with the accelerated program, and oftentimes, sacrifices are needed to ensure you have enough time to study and prepare for the requirements of the program. However, rigor doesn’t necessarily mean you have to sacrifice everything else you love. For those individuals who are willing to put in the work, you can make athletics and your pursuit of your OT degree possible, as many others before you have done.
Want in?
At Concordia University Wisconsin, we prepare uncommon OTs who are ready to serve their communities and clients. The OT program at CUW prepares students to obtain employment in a variety of settings. Three tracks are offered in both the master’s and doctoral programs: accelerated, bridge, and post-baccalaureate. Explore your options by clicking on either of the links below.
—Meghan Watry-Christian, PhD, OT-L, serves as chair of the department of occupational therapy at CUW. She received her bachelor’s in psychology from Wisconsin Lutheran College in 2003, a Master of Occupational Therapy degree from CUW in 2007, and PhD in Special Education from Northcentral University in 2019.