Curriculum

Course Descriptions

OT 500 Foundations of Occupational Therapy (2 credits) Students explore the foundations of the occupational therapy profession with an emphasis on the history, philosophical base, and the code of ethics. The way in which society’s current and future occupational needs can be met will be examined and students will gain insight into the unique contributions of occupational therapy through an examination of occupational science literature.

Pre-requisites: Admission into the Occupational Therapy Program

OT 501 Psychosocial and Physical Influences on Occupational Performance (4 credits) Students examine a variety of psychosocial and physical factors that influence occupational performance, including a formal medical or DSM diagnosis, trauma, homelessness, joblessness, literacy, poverty, access to healthcare, community access, and incarceration.  Medical terminology is introduced and integrated into this course.

Pre-requisites: Admission into the Occupational Therapy Program

OT 510 Kinesiology & Occupational Analysis (4 credits) The focus of this course is the study of normal functional human anatomy (muscle origins, insertions, innervations, actions) applied to the principles of kinesiology.  Biomechanical forces as they act upon the body will be incorporated into this study of normal movement and occupational performance. Students will gain experience and beginning skills in the analysis of normal movement in the context of occupations.

Pre-requisites: Admission into the Occupational Therapy program

OT 520 Development of Occupational Participation (2 credits) This course emphasizes the development of occupational performance across the lifespan, integrating concepts from developmental psychology into the study of human occupation. Students gain in-depth knowledge about the influence of meaningful activity on human development as well as the manner in which human development shapes the acquisition of everyday occupations throughout an individual’s life. Students examine the developmental milestones not typically studied in a developmental psychology course, including grasp, sucking and swallowing, and reflex inhibition as they relate to writing, eating, and other purposeful movements which are necessary to engage in everyday living.

Pre-requisites: Admission into the Occupational Therapy Program

OT 525 Evaluation Process in Occupational Therapy (4 credits) Students explore measurement as part of the evaluation process through this survey course designed to provide in-depth knowledge about the psychometric properties of a variety of evidenced-based assessment tools, principles of assessment including the interpretation of criterion-referenced and norm-referenced standardized test scores, the factors that might bias assessment results, and relating assessment results to a variety of audiences. In this course students are introduced to the assessment process as a highly reflective process that allows for the integration of theory and practice.

Pre-requisites: OT 500: Foundations of Occupational Therapy
Co-requisites: OT 552: Level I Fieldwork and Reflection B

OT 530 Environmental Factors, Modifications, & Adaptations in Occupational Therapy (4 credits) Occupational therapists evaluate and adapt environments in order to promote participation in everyday activities. In this course, students will gain an in-depth knowledge of the physical elements of our world and their relationship to function, including technology, products (assistive devices and orthosis), as well as natural and man-made spaces. Students will study the impact of the American with Disabilities Act and Universal Design principles on creating an inclusive community for everyone.

Pre-requisites: OT 542: Activity Analysis & Group Dynamics

OT 535 Occupational Therapy Theory & Models of Practice (2 credits) In this course, students will actively engage in a study of the major models of practice in occupational therapy that guide practice and an exploration of how theory supports these models as guides to evaluation and intervention decisions. The study of occupational therapy theory development, the importance that theory plays in clinical decision-making, and in developing a strong occupational therapy professional identity will be explored.

Pre-requisites: OT 500: Foundations of Occupational Therapy

OT 540 Clinical Neuroscience (4 credits) This course will explore the functional organization and physiology of the human nervous system.  The neurobiological framework for understanding human behavior will also be examined. Students who complete this course will recognize important symptoms and signs associated with neurological disease. In addition, students will understand the clinical significance of the organization of anatomical structures and the interconnections that bind structures together in the nervous system. 

Mastery of these concepts will enable students to localize lesions within the central and peripheral nervous systems and predict the neurological deficits associated with such lesions. An important outcome will be to achieve long-term acquisition of neuroscience concepts such that students perform well in health-related professions.

Pre-requisites: Admission into the Occupational Therapy Program

OT 541 Occupational Performance I: Pediatrics (4 credits) This is the first course in a three-semester lifespan sequence focused on clinical reasoning in the occupational therapy process to enhance lifestyle performance and quality of life with the construction of the occupational profile, an analysis of occupational performance, the construction and implementation of the intervention plan, an ongoing review of intervention, and outcome assessment for individuals and populations from birth through adolescence with physical and mental health challenges.

Pre-requisites: OT 525: Evaluation Process in Occupational Therapy
Co-requisites:  OT 553: Level I Fieldwork and Reflection C

OT 542 Activity Analysis & Group Dynamics (4 credits) In this course, students actively engage in a variety of activities across the lifespan to master the activity analysis and group dynamics which serves as a foundational skill to all areas of occupational therapy practice. This course will help the student build a firm foundation for the critical analysis of the power of occupation as it relates to health and well-being. The real and symbolic meaning of activities and objects in a variety of contexts will be explored as students examine a variety of activities including Occupations (ADL, IADL, Rest & Sleep, Work, Social Participation, Play, Leisure, Education), competitive and noncompetitive games, hobbies, crafts, mindfulness activities, expressive arts and media, as well as the tools and objects that are used for each of these.

Pre-requisites: OT 500: Foundations of Occupational Therapy

OT 551 Level I Fieldwork and Reflection A (1 credit) This first course in the fieldwork and professional series offers integrated practical learning through the Interprofessional Education Sessions and community based experiences. Students will reflect on their experiences as an emerging occupational therapist emphasizing professional behaviors that promote meaningful collaborative working relationships. In the first course of this series, emphasis is placed on communication, establishing the therapeutic relationship, and interviewing skills.

Pre-requisites: Admission into the Occupational Therapy program

OT 552 Level I Fieldwork and Reflection B (1 credit) This second course in the fieldwork and professional series offers integrated practical learning through the Interprofessional Education Sessions as well as community-based experiences. Students are given the opportunity to reflect on and examine their experiences as an emerging occupational therapist emphasizing reflective practice and professional behaviors that promote meaningful collaborative working relationships. In this second course, emphasis is placed on reflection, the application of theory, human development, assessment, intervention, and contextual influences within the treatment setting. Students will utilize a strengths-based approach in their professional development.

Pre-requisites: OT551 Level I Fieldwork and Reflection A

OT 553 Level I Fieldwork and Reflection C (1 credit) This third course in the fieldwork and professional series offers integrated practical learning through the Interprofessional Education Sessions and fieldwork experiences in pediatric/adolescent and adult settings. Emphasis is placed on reflection, professional behaviors as emerging professionals, meaningful collaborative working relationships, cultural competence, and development of clinical reasoning skills. 

Pre-requisites: OT552 Level I Fieldwork and Reflection B

OT 605 Management of Occupational Therapy Services (2 credits) In this first course in a two-semester sequence, students build a foundation to plan, organize, staff, direct, and manage occupational therapy services as they actively participate in the design of an occupational therapy program proposal with an emphasis on occupation based programming.

Pre-requisites: OT 500: Foundations of Occupational Therapy

OT 606 Advanced Management of Occupational Therapy Services (2 credits) In this second part of a two-semester sequence, students gain in-depth knowledge to manage and lead occupational therapy programs with an emphasis on factors and trends that impact the delivery of occupation-based services. Students actively collaborate and construct the second part of their program proposal initiated in the previous semester.

Pre-requisites: OT 605: Management of Occupational Therapy Services

OT 611/ HLAT 511 Evidence-Based Practice I (1 credit) This course will introduce the student to the role and importance of research in the rehabilitation professions. Course content will include defining research terminology, basic epidemiology, development of search terms, human subjects training and the development of a research question.

Pre-requisites: Admission into the Occupational Therapy program

OT 612 Evidence-Based Practice II (3 credit) In this course students will learn the basics of developing and implementing a research study that will support evidence-based practice in Occupational Therapy. Through a collaborative team approach to learning and writing, students will develop a research question, design a study to investigate their question, initiate data collection, with IRB approval. Furthermore, students will demonstrate the ability to interpret basic descriptive and inferential statistics. 

Pre-requisites: OT 611/HLAT 511: Evidenced-Based Practice I

OT 614 Evidence-Based Practice III: Data Analysis to Dissemination (2 credits) In this course students will analyze, interpret and discuss research data. Students will develop skills in research dissemination through the development of a research poster and submission of research to a conference or a journal. 

Pre-requisites: OT 611/HLAT 511: Evidenced-Based Practice I, OT 612: Evidenced-Based Practice II

OT 620 Advocacy and Occupational Justice (2 credits) Students gain an in-depth knowledge about advocacy and equitable access to occupational engagement for individuals and populations in order to promote health and well-being which will prepare the student for transformative leadership roles. Barriers to engagement in meaningful occupations will be explored as students gain the knowledge to be politically competent practitioners.

Pre-requisites: OT 500: Foundations of Occupational Therapy

OT 622 Occupational Justice and Community Health (4 credits) Students will analyze the impact of health disparities, political, geographic, and demographic factors on the delivery of occupational therapy services. Students will actively engage in the process of advocacy by applying community organizing and advocacy strategies to a specific issue to address occupational justice. This experiential course provides an exploration of community based occupational therapy program development and evaluation. Students will engage with a population in the community to design and implement an outcome-based activities program.

Pre-requisites: OT 500: Foundations of Occupational Therapy

OT 630 Advanced Professional Ethics in Occupational Therapy (2 credits) This course studies ethical theory and ethical decision making within the discipline and profession of occupational therapy by critically examining situational problems and by reflectively exploring ethical solutions that are coherent with and supported by the core values, principles, and guidelines of the Code of Ethics and Ethical Standards of the profession. The course will examine ethical dilemmas that arise within different areas of the profession and the problem of moral distress and its various causes.

Pre-requisites: OT 500: Foundations of Occupational Therapy

OT 635 Transformative Leadership in Occupational Therapy (2 credits) This course offers an in-depth study of leadership theories, leadership characteristics, and a critical analysis of the literature on leadership in occupational therapy. Transformative leadership will also be explored as students prepare to become change agents in their professional careers in clinical and educational settings. Students will be challenged to bring a sense of curiosity to and reflect on their personal leadership qualities and be open to discussing these. (this course will increase to 2 credits for the class of 20

Co-requisites:  OT 681 Level II Fieldwork in Occupational Therapy A

OT 642 Occupational Performance II: Adults (4 credits) This is the second course in a three-semester lifespan sequence focused on clinical reasoning in the occupational therapy process to enhance lifestyle performance and quality of life through the construction of the occupational profile, an analysis of occupational performance, the construction and implementation of the intervention plan, an ongoing review of intervention, and outcome assessment for adult individuals and populations with physical and mental health challenges.

Pre-requisites: OT 525: Evaluation Process in Occupational Therapy
Co-requisites:  OT 654: Level I Fieldwork and Reflection D

OT 643 Occupational Performance III: Contextual Applications (4 credits) This is the third course in a three-semester lifespan sequence focused on clinical reasoning in the occupational therapy process to enhance lifestyle performance and quality of life through the construction of the occupational profile, an analysis of occupational performance, the construction and implementation of the intervention plan, an ongoing review of intervention, and outcome assessment across the lifespan and intervention settings individuals and populations with physical and mental health challenges.

Pre-requisites: OT 525: Evaluation Process in Occupational Therapy

OT 645 Occupational Performance IV: Functional Cognition (2 credits) This course provides students an in depth study on functional cognition and its relation to successful participation in occupation. Students will develop competence in evidenced based assessment and intervention related to specific cognitive conditions across the lifespan.

Pre-requisites: OT541 Occupational Performance I: Pediatrics
Co-requisites:  OT642 Occupational Performance I: Adults 

OT 654 Level I Fieldwork and Reflection D (1 credit) This fourth course in the fieldwork and professional series offers integrated practical learning through the Interprofessional Education Sessions as well as fieldwork experiences focusing on the community setting. Students will work with diverse populations in various environments such as schools, homeless shelters, senior centers, and mental health facilities. Emphasis is placed on broadening students' understanding of the role of OT beyond conventional clinical settings and to develop foundational skills essential for professional practice. 

Pre-requisites: OT553 Level I Fieldwork & Reflection C
 

OT 671 Research Mentorship in Occupational Therapy I (1 credit) This is the first course in a research series that provides the foundation for the emerging occupational therapy practitioner to develop the knowledge and skills to be a competent practice scholar through the development of a scholarly research proposal. 

Pre-requisites: None 

OT 672 Research Mentorship in Occupational Therapy II (1 credit) This is the second course in a research series that provides the foundation for the emerging occupational therapy practitioner to develop the knowledge and skills to be a competent practice scholar through the collection, interpretation, and dissemination of data. 

Pre-requisites: OT 671: Research Mentorship in Occupational Therapy I 

OT 681 Level II Fieldwork in Occupational Therapy A (4 credits) This is a supervised and mentored Level II fieldwork experience in a setting that provides occupational therapy services. Students synthesize prior learning in a setting where they complete occupational profiles, evaluate clients, formulate and implement occupational therapy intervention plans, and plan for discharge. Students also gain experience with administrative responsibilities associated with documentation, billing, and the day to day operation of an occupational therapy service. 

Pre-requisites: Permission of the OT Fieldwork Coordinator

OT 682 Level II Fieldwork in Occupational Therapy B (4 credits) This is a supervised and mentored Level II fieldwork experience in a setting that provides occupational therapy services. Students synthesize prior learning in a setting where they complete occupational profiles, evaluate clients, formulate and implement occupational therapy intervention plans, and plan for discharge. Students also gain experience with administrative responsibilities associated with documentation, billing, and the day today operation of an occupational therapy service. 

Pre-requisites: Permission of the OT Fieldwork Coordinator