Course of Study
The Health Sciences
- The health science sequence helps the student build a foundation for practice within
a health profession.
- In the Summer semester, courses begin with a mastery of anatomical structures through dissection, while
simultaneously palpate one another to increase their knowledge.
- In Fall semester, Kinesiology integrates the principles of kinetics and kinematics with their knowledge
of anatomy to analyze human movement. Students utilize this knowledge learning tools
to measure movement and strength in individuals.
- Experiential Movement Labs are integrated throughout the curriculum to help students
develop a kinesthetic foundation for using their own effective body mechanics and
for developing interventions for clients.
- In Spring Semester, Human Neuroanatomy, Neurophysiology, and Medical Sciences courses build foundational
skills for understanding underlying OT evaluation and treatment.
Occupational Therapy Foundations
- Curriculum begins with foundational concepts, theories, and skills required for OT
practice
- Exploration of student's own values as it relates to cultural diversity and professional
ethics and working collaboratively as members of a health care team.
- Using a clinical reasoning process through the application of OT principles to case
studies, problem solving laboratory experiences, and clinical assignments as they
learn the district value of OT practice.
- Students learn to administer occupational performance assessment tools that apply
across all practice areas, and begin to develop their understanding of occupational
context through an exploration of sociocultural variables that influence occupational
performance.
- Student develop knowledge and skill in self-care assessment, as well as treatment
planning and environmental adaptations to improve clients' capacities to perform daily
tasks.
- They work collaboratively to learn to work in client groups
- Students take a variety of course to implement current technology into OT practice,
and apply principles of human information processing to analyze activities, evaluate
cognitive and perceptual performance, and design therapeutic interventions to promote
functional performance in future clients.
Integration of Occupational Therapy - Theory and Practice
- During this course sequence, students focus on developing specific knowledge and skills
that are appropriate to the various practice areas in OT building on their foundational
skills.
- Simultaneously, they refine their clinical reasoning skills and begin to internalize
the skills, behaviors, and values that will enable them to develop professional self-images
as occupational therapists.
- Cultural diversity and professional ethics issues that affect current practice are
explored.
- Each Theory and Practice course has a concurrent Level I Fieldwork with integrated
clinical assignments that are carried out in the Fieldwork site.
- Fieldwork seminars meet regularly in conjunction with the Theory and Practice courses
to provide students an opportunity to reflect and develop more advanced clinical reasoning
skills, problem solve clinical issues, and to further develop their professional self-
image through peer discussions.
- The Community Practice sequence has its own field-based experience which introduces
students to OT practice in community settings and prepares students to develop and
market innovative services.
- Administration and Professional Issues allows students to apply principles of management
and supervision in the provision of OT services, and to examine professional ethics,
current legislation, and health care systems influence OT practice.
- Level II Fieldwork courses are the culminating integrative experience. They follow
the second year with two sequential three-month placements during the Summer and Fall
semesters
- A mid semester Fieldwork Seminar discusses issues commonly explored are the development
of a professional self- image, clinical staffing and pacing concerns, role delineation,
larger health care delivery issues, advanced clinical reasoning processes, affective
responses during the fieldwork experience, and the effectiveness of academic preparation
for fieldwork.
- An optional specialty placement from one to three months in length is available for
students wishing further experience in a specialized area of practice.
Theory and Application of Research
- Master's Project Sequence includes practical experience in all aspects of conducting
a research study or developing an educational or clinical product.
- Beginning with Research Methods, given in the fall semester of the first year, students
learn basic quantitative and qualitative research design and the application of research
concepts to occupational therapy, including how to critically appraise and integrate
current research evidence into practice.
- In the Master's Project I-IV courses, students work closely with their faculty advisors
to implement research studies.
- This includes writing a formal proposal, collecting data, analyzing results, presenting
poster and platform presentations, and writing a paper on the project in a format
suitable for publication.