OT 501 Foundations of Occupational Therapy 4 credits
This course reviews the history of OT practice and explores the current use of philosophies, theories, models and frames of reference. Students are introduced to the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework and explore the profession's tenets, ethics, and professional roles as applied to varied practice settings. Regional and global public health care needs are reviewed and students are educated on the application of therapeutic use of self and critical reasoning as applied to evidence-based, client/family-centered care for diverse populations. Students who are in good standing with all 1st semester coursework to date will be assigned a Level I Fieldwork experience later in the semester. This experience involves a 35-40 hour rotation, within a practice setting, focused on applying the knowledge and skills being learned in the 1st semester. Emphasis is placed on gaining a clear understanding of ethical practice and learning about the various disciplines and team roles. Students will analyze practice environments for application of OT practice as they are exposed to organizational management, direct care situations, and documentation processes.
Prerequisite: Admission into Allen College's Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Program.
OT 502 Health & Wellness 2 credits
This course focuses on a life span analysis of societal and public health principles of illness and wellness. Content includes a critical review of current evidence for assessing physiological, psychosocial, cognitive and behavioral concepts and health care trends and the implications for occupational engagement and OT practice. Global health care trends and public health needs are explored. Cultural influences of health, access to care, health care disparity, and the impact of illness are investigated.
Prerequisite: Admission into Allen College's Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Program.
OT 503 Musculoskeletal Anatomy 3 credits
This course includes examination of the anatomical structures of the human body. Emphasis is placed on the musculoskeletal system of those regions of the body primarily addressed in OT practice. Virtual dissection of body systems and musculoskeletal reviews are analyzed.
Prerequisite: Admission into Allen College's Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Program.
OT 504 Applied Kinesiology 3 credits
This course includes a comprehensive study of human movement. An application of the biomechanical frame of reference to evaluate force, torque, range of motion, strength, endurance, sensation, and edema is included. Laboratory experiences include the analysis of movements and performances of functional tasks/occupations.
Prerequisite: Admission into Allen College's Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Program.
OT 509 Patient Care Skills 2 credits
This course engages the student in the development of professional behaviors, basic patient care skills, and initial competencies associated with OT practice. Students will have opportunities to learn skills for ethical and professional behavior; observation and assessment; development of rapport, client-centered care; and therapeutic use of self.
Prerequisite: Admission into Allen College's Master of Science in Occupational Therapy Program.
OT 511 Psychosocial Foundations & OT Practice Applications 4 credits
This course focuses on the psychosocial foundation of OT practice and emphasizes the knowledge and skills necessary for application of psychosocial intervention across all arenas of care. Initial content will focus on reviewing mental health conditions and exploring the impact of mental health on individuals, cultures, and societies. Students will search for and analyze current evidence and have opportunities to apply theories, frameworks, and clinical reasoning skills in assessment and intervention. Emphasis will be placed on developing professional skills and competencies in assessment and intervention used in psychosocial practice. Students in good standing with all 2nd semester coursework to date will be assigned a 35-40 hour rotation within a practice setting focused on applying the psychosocial/neurological knowledge and skills. Students will analyze the impact of psychosocial health on occupational engagement and participation within various contexts. Cultural acceptance of mental health issues will be explored. Opportunities to expand current knowledge of organizational management, direct care situations, and documentation will be provided. Emphasis is again placed on analyzing practice environments for application of OT practice. This Level I experience is designed to enrich didactic coursework through directed observation and participation in selected aspects of the OT process.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of all 1st semester OT graduate courses.
OT 512 Neuroscience Foundations for OT Practice 3 credits
This course focuses on neuroanatomy and neurophysiology, and the current neuroscience evidence, as it applies to occupational therapy assessment and intervention. Additional topics include, but are not limited to, neuroscience as it relates to sensory function, behavior, cognition, and motor control. Application of current neuro-rehabilitation models will also be included.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of all 1st semester OT graduate courses.
OT 513 Integrating Cultural & Global Perspectives 3 credits
This course critically examines the use of reasoning and decision-making in assessment and intervention, with varied cultures, across the life span. Opportunities to explore processes for addressing ethical and cultural issues, managing language barriers, and improving access to care will be provided. Demographic health care needs of various cultures will be analyzed and assessments and treatments will be reviewed for global application. Case based scenarios will be used to apply logical thinking models to effectively address complex health care needs.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of all 1st semester OT graduate courses.
OT 518 Research I: Practice Scholarship 2 credits
This course is an introduction to graduate research. Learners examine the quality of evidence to guide OT practice decisions. The course includes the use of search engines and relevant resources. The scholarship process includes the critique of the quality of evidence related to the developing a research project.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of all 1st semester OT graduate courses.
OT 521 Contemporary Service Delivery & Community Outreach 3 credits
This course focuses on evaluating the evidence and designing programs for occupational therapy services in community and emerging practice settings. Content includes developing needs assessments, designing programs, identifying potential funding resources, and establishing benchmarks. Students will complete a needs assessment for an existing organization, design a program, and submit a proposal.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of all 2nd semester OT graduate courses.
OT 522 Assistive Technology & Design 2 credits
This course focuses on the design and use of assistive technologies, adaptations, and environmental modifications to enhance performance, safety, and independence. Content includes opportunities for evaluating the evidence, fabrication, and adaptation. Personal environments, community environments, and practice settings are analyzed for accessibility, necessary modifications, and compliance with legal requirements.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of all 2nd semester OT graduate courses.
OT 523 OT Practice with Aging Populations 4 credits
This course involves critical examination of current evidence regarding health care needs and interventions for older adults. Students will explore the continuum of current care services for the older adult population. Services include promotion of wellness and illness models of intervention, productive aging, leisure adaptations, and neuro cognition. Topics will cover wellness programs, services in adult day care centers, assistive living environments, long term care, home health, hospice, and community based programs. Ethics, legislation, liability, reimbursement, advocacy, and documentation using Medicare/Medicaid guidelines are included. Students will develop professional competencies in the assessments and interventions. Evidence based assessments and interventions for sensorimotor, behavioral, cognition, social, and older adult care are included. Students in good standing with all 3rd semester coursework to date will also be assigned to a Level I Fieldwork experience in a setting that addresses the needs of older adults. This experience will serve to enrich didactic coursework through directed observation and participation and allow for analysis of practice environments for application of OT practice.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of all 2nd semester OT graduate courses.
OT 528 Research II: Design & Methodologies 2 credits
This course involves advanced exploration of a research topic. Learning experiences include a critical review of related evidence, research methods, instrumentation, study designs, and analysis of results as appropriate for the selected research. Tasks will include critical examination of qualitative and quantitative designs; and methods of analyses and their application in health care studies. Working with a research mentor, and within institutional IRB guidelines, the students will work in small groups to implement an approved research project.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of all 2nd semester OT graduate courses.
OT 601 OT Clinical Practice with Children & Adolescent Populations 4 credits
Course content includes opportunities for evidence-based assessment and intervention of children and youth (0-21 years). Content prepares the student for the application of critical reasoning within a variety of settings that offer services for this population. Experiences serve to synthesize the roles of occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, and other health care providers in this arena. Topics include professional standards of practice, ethics, advocacy, outcomes assessment, ethics, liability, documentation, and reimbursement of services. Experiences also serve to critically analyze the influence of culture in the provision of care. Emphasis is placed development of professional competencies in the assessment and intervention. Evidence-based occupational therapy assessment and care for children and youth is synthesized in this course. Students in good standing with all 4th semester coursework to date will be assigned a Level I Fieldwork experience in a pediatric/school system setting, which serves to enrich the didactic coursework through directed observation and participation in selected aspects of the OT process. Emphasis will be placed on analyzing practice environments for application of OT practice within communities, schools, and practice settings for children and youth.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of all 3rd semester OT graduate courses.
OT 602 OT School System Practice 4 credits
This course involves review of evidence-based services and critical application of the role of the occupational therapist in a school-based setting. Emphasis is placed on understanding the roles of all team members, including the student, parents, guardians, counselors, and teachers. Regulatory guidelines, IEPs, equipment, transitional living needs, and accessibility issues are explored. Professional leadership, advocacy, ethics, supervision and the profession's ability to enhance educational outcomes are included. Relevant OT models of practice appropriate for the population are synthesized. Coursework will focus on development of professional competencies in the assessment and intervention. Evidence-based occupational therapy assessment and care for children and youth is synthesized in this course. Students in good standing with all 4th semester coursework to date will be assigned a Level I Fieldwork experience in a pediatric/school system setting, which serves to enrich the didactic coursework through directed observation and participation in selected aspects of the OT process. Emphasis will be placed on analyzing practice environments for application of OT practice within communities, schools, and practice settings for children and youth.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of all 3rd semester OT graduate courses.
OT 603 Dynamic Practice & Emerging Healthcare Trends 2 credits
Course content covers professional development in the knowledge, values, and skills necessary for practice in emerging practice arenas, such as low vision, ergonomics, driving rehabilitation, primary care, etc. Exploration of the current evidence for provision of these services and the role of the OT in private, community, industrial, and physician practice settings are included. The course emphasizes on-going life-long learning and competencies. The learner is challenged to analyze emerging practice trends and the importance of developing the needed knowledge, skills, and values to prepare for evolving global, national, and regional health care imperative.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of all 3rd semester OT graduate courses.
OT 608 Research III: Application & Data Collection 2 credits
With the support of the research advisor, the course advances the development of the assigned research project and extends the learners' comprehension of the profession's focus on scholarship for practice. Students will employ chosen methods of analysis to examine data collected in their study.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of all 3rd semester OT graduate courses.
OT 611 OT Practice with Adult Populations 4 credits
Content of this course focuses on OT's role with adult clients in collaboratively determine the needs, evidence based assessments, goals, interventions, and discharge plans to address impairments, injuries, or illnesses. Students will apply models of practice and frames of reference in addressing orthopedic, cardiovascular/pulmonary, neurological, and general health care needs. The roles of an occupational therapist, OTA, and other health care providers will be discussed. Information concerning professional standards of practice, ethics, advocacy, outcomes assessment, ethics, liability, documentation, and reimbursement of services is synthesized. Students will have the opportunity to develop evidence-based, professional competencies in evaluation and intervention and analyze the influence of culture in care. Students in good standing with all 5th semester coursework to date will be assigned a fieldwork experience. This Level I experience will allow learners to analyze, evaluate, and synthesize the information and identify client needs, select the appropriate assessments, and establish client centered goals and interventions. Emphasis will be placed on the roles of occupational therapist, occupational therapy assistant, and other health providers and documentation, reimbursement, ethics, and liability will be critically examined.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of all 4th semester OT graduate courses.
OT 612 OT Modalities & Modifications 2 credits
This course involves the application of adjunctive methods to enhance occupational performance. Case-based application of physical agent modalities is included. Current knowledge regarding contraindications and safety procedures is reviewed. Prosthetic training and the design, fabrication, and care of orthotics are explored. Client education in the care and usage of orthoses and prostheses is included. Education concerning professional roles, documentation, reimbursement, safety, and liability is also provided.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of all 4th semester OT graduate courses.
OT 613 OT Practice Management & Leadership 3 credits
This course focuses on advocacy and leadership skills and encourages the student to develop a professional practice that includes a mission, vision, strategic and business plans, applicable policies and procedures, a job description, performance benchmarks and appraisal methods. Related interviews, supervision, leadership models, and appraisal methods are included. Trends in health care systems, management principles, promotion, marketing, liability, consultation, advocacy, and consulting roles are also explored. Development of a 5 year professional development plan including goals for advanced practice certifications and fieldwork education are developed. Ethical scenarios as potential practice liability issues are analyzed. Students will also critically analyze the professional entry competencies for practice, including certification and licensure responsibilities.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of all 4th semester OT graduate courses.
OT 618 Research IV: Analysis & Dissemination 2 credits
In this course students will complete the research project (a culminating experience) and deliver a professional presentation of the study. Students will also develop an article for future publication.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of all 4th semester OT graduate courses.
OT 630 Fieldwork II A 10 credits
This Level II Fieldwork experience is provided to strengthen the didactic learning experiences of the curriculum. Students' professional service delivery of client services under supervision is evaluated. Experiences are selected for the quality and compatibility with the institution's curriculum design. Application of the didactic and Level I fieldwork knowledge, skills, and values are enhanced with client-centered services delivered with professional mentorship and role modeling. Opportunities for discussion and problem-solving (as needed) of fieldwork experiences (including such topics as supervision, evidence use in practice, ethics, methods, and professional roles) will be provided. Discussions may occur on campus or on-line as appropriate. Focus is on developing the necessary entry-level skills for practice.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of all 5th semester OT graduate courses.
OT 670 Fieldwork II B 10 credits
This Level II Fieldwork experience is provided to strengthen the didactic learning experiences of the curriculum. Students' professional service delivery of client services under supervision is evaluated. Experiences are selected for the quality and compatibility with the institution's curriculum design. Application of the didactic and Level I fieldwork knowledge, skills, and values are enhanced with client-centered services with professional mentorship and role modeling. Opportunities for discussion and problem-solving (as needed) of fieldwork experiences (including such topics as supervision, evidence use in practice, ethics, methods, and professional roles) will be provided. Discussions may occur on campus or on-line as appropriate. Focus is on developing the necessary entry-level skills for practice.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of all 6th semester OT graduate courses.