Semester 1

This course is one of a four-part series that focuses on the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required of an occupational therapist in practice, and the development of professionalism. A profession is much more than a job. This series will prepare you to embrace the dynamic nature of the occupational therapy profession, the evolving healthcare environment, and key considerations for occupational therapy practice, research, education and policy. You will begin to think like an occupational therapy practitioner, and an integral member of the healthcare team. 

Evidence-Based Practice I is the first part of a two-part series that provides students with a thorough understanding of basic research principles, the importance of research to the profession of occupational therapy, and how to navigate and analyze professional research. Through engagement in continual learning and evidence-based practice with intellectual open-mindedness, students will: explain the importance of research in occupational therapy; define basic terms; identify basic research designs and validity threats; categorize research designs; select appropriate statistics for given research questions; search effectively for research on topics within the field; use research terms
correctly; compare and contrast sources of research and their importance, quality, and relevance; and critique the research of others. Students will apply ethical reasoning to make decisions about research and the application to clinical practice. The course is aligned with the AOTA and the program’s values to make decisions and practice professionally by understanding the purpose and usage of APA formatting, interpreting ethical issues in research, and correctly citing the work of others. 

Personal transformation is a course where you will learn and practice some of the “soft skills” required of an occupational therapy professional. Soft skills are often highly valued by employers and can be the reason you get a job or get that promotion. Soft skills are things in addition to the skills you will learn in terms of “DOING” OT. They include things like communicating effectively, being flexible, being motivated, showing a good attitude, and successfully relating to others. To examine these skills in yourself requires self reflection. This course will require frequent self-reflection in relation to a variety of assessments of your strengths and areas for growth and development. You will consider your personal values, your communication style, and your personality type. We believe that the process of becoming an occupational therapist in this program will transform you. You will be documenting this transformation across the program through your portfolio. In addition, professional self-reflection should lead to carefulplanning for continued learning a nd growth across the rest of your career. This course will continue across 4 semesters, culminating in the completion of your academic portfolio and initiating your professional portfolio and professional development plan. 

This first semester course is designed to promote reflection on the educational process and the individual student's future occupational therapy practice. Students will complete reflective self-assessments and analyze them to determine their therapeutic personality traits and modes necessary for developing a professional identity and skill base. Understanding the nature of the therapeutic relationship as an intentional process is taught for successfully developing client and group dynamics. Course formats will include seminars, discussions, and in class and online course activities. 

This three-part course will integrate the foundational knowledge of human anatomy and conditions as well as application of this knowledge through activity analysis. This course examines the organization, development, and function of the nervous, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, immune and lymphatic systems of the human body as well as assessment techniques commonly performed by occupational therapists in clinical practice to measure the body’s vital life functions. The course will also cover mental and physical health conditions that occupational therapists may encounter when working with clients across the life span. Additionally, this course will introduce students to the skill of activity analysis. Activity analysis is the essence of what an occupational therapist does; fundamental to all aspects of occupational therapy practice; an essential tool for occupational therapists in assessing and supporting occupational performance with clients. Activity analysis examines the essential components of an activity to identify the steps, demands and opportunities for therapeutic interventions. Frames of reference integrated into occupational therapy practice are utilized as an anchor for weekly course content. The course is designed to build a common language and foundation forfuture coursework requiring occupational therapy assessment choices and intervention strategies for clients with mental and physical conditions. Human conditions will be examined in the context of their effects on human development and body structures and functions; etiology; epidemiology; prognosis; associated mental and physical deficits/disability; impact on occupational engagement; pharmacological and non pharmacological interventions, and research. Conditions will be covered in isolation as well as in combination with comorbidities, and the impact one or more conditions have on human occupations will be discussed. Cultural comparisons will highlight how treatment of mental health and physical conditions/ deficits/disabilities are perceived within diverse cultures. Activity analysis will be informed by the terminology and activity demands as presented in the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework, 4th Edition (AOTA, 2020). Part A of this course will emphasize applied functional anatomy and neuroanatomy. 

This three-part course will integrate the foundational knowledge of human anatomy and conditions as well as application of this knowledge through activity analysis. This course examines the organization, development, and function of the nervous, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, immune and lymphatic systems of the human body as well as assessment techniques commonly performed by occupational therapists in clinical practice to measure the body’s vital life functions. The course will also cover mental and physical health conditions that occupational therapists may encounter when working with clients across the life span. Additionally, this course will introduce students to the skill of activity analysis. Frames of reference and models integrated into occupational therapy practice are utilized as an anchor for weekly course content. Activity analysis will be informed by the terminology and activity demands as presented in the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework, 4th Edition (AOTA, 2020).Part B of this course will emphasize physical disability and mental health conditions and their impact on daily occupations. It is designed to build a common language and foundation for future coursework requiring occupational therapy assessment choices and intervention strategies for clients with mental and physical conditions. Human conditions will be examined in the context of their effects on human development and body structures and functions; etiology; epidemiology; prognosis; associated mental and physical deficits/disability; impact on occupational engagement; pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, and research. Conditions will be covered in isolation and in combination with comorbidities, and the impact one or more conditions have on human occupations will be discussed. Cultural comparisons will highlight how the treatment of mental health and physical conditions/ deficits/disabilities are perceived within diverse cultures. 

The history and development of the occupational therapy profession is dynamic, evolving, and has always been grounded in the core principles of occupation. Activity analysis is the essence of what an occupational therapist does; it is fundamental to all aspects of occupational therapy practice; it is an essential tool for occupational therapists in assessing and supporting occupational performance with clients. The purpose of this course is to introduce you to the language of human occupation and introduce you to the skill of activity analysis. “Occupational therapy is defined as the therapeutic use of everyday life occupations with persons, groups, or populations (i.e., the client) for the purpose of enhancing or enabling participation. Occupational therapy practitioners use their knowledge of the transactional relationship among the client, their engagement in valuable occupations, and the context to design occupation-based intervention plans.” (AOTA, 2019). Occupational therapy focuses on enabling clients to maximize/optimize their capacity to participate in life occupations and activities that are important and meaningful to them and promotes overall health and wellness. As future occupational therapists, you will be helping clients of all ages participate in different aspects of life, in activities they need and want to do, regardless of disability or dysfunction, through the therapeutic use of everyday activities and occupations. In this course, the terms occupation and activity are defined and examined broadly. You will “untangle” the concepts of activity and occupation, purposeful activity, tasks, occupational performance, and function. Activity
analysis is recognized as a process of examining the essential components of an activity to identify the steps, the demands and opportunities for therapeutic interventions. We will explore our understanding of occupation used in purposeful and meaningful ways, in facilitating the health and well-being of individuals. You will examine our professional heritage of occupation and review the historical development of activity/task analysis as a valuable tool in the process of occupational therapy, for use with all clients, across all contexts. The format for activity analysis will include terminology and activity demands as presented in the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework, 4th Edition (AOTA, 2020). You will learn about activity synthesis, ways to evaluate the nature and demands of a range of activities, as well as how to evaluate activity preferences of individuals. In addition, you will have multiple opportunities to analyze, adapt, and learn how to teach activities.