OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY(O-T)

Assistant Professors: Dougherty-Harris, McCannon;  Lecturer:  Temple (Program Director).

 

www.uwlax.edu/ot

 

Occupational therapists are health professionals who work with individuals to maximize performance in their everyday life tasks when impacted by injury, disease, or other health risk.  Occupational therapists are part of a healthcare team that may also include physicians, physician assistants, physical therapists, speech pathologists, and recreational therapists.  "Occupation" refers to those everyday meaningful tasks that individuals do everyday.  The goal of occupational therapy is to help individuals successfully engage in these goal-directed, purposeful tasks that comprise daily life.

The occupational therapy program is designed to offer a high-quality curriculum which includes a substantial science core; offer clinical experiences across the life-span; and prepare graduates to accept positions in rural or under-served regions.

 

The curriculum of the program is comprised of pre-professional, professional, and fieldwork components plus additional General Education requirements.  The professional component of the curriculum is an approved writing-in-the-major program and, thus, meets graduation writing emphasis requirements.  All fieldwork must be completed within 24 months following completion of academic coursework.

The clinical laboratory science program incorporates a significant amount of writing throughout the required courses instead of identifying particular courses as writing emphasis courses. Students who complete the clinical laboratory science major, will fulfill the university writing emphasis requirement.

Occupational Therapy Major ---(Science and Allied Health)

Pre-professional requirements ---

The following courses are required for admission to the professional curriculum.  Completion of all General Education courses; BIO 105*, 312, 313; CHM 103*; PHY 103*, 104; MTH 151*, 145* or 250*; PSY 100*, 212 or 310, and PSY 312, 304; PHL 100* or SOC 110*. (Satisfies college core requirements.)

Professional requirements --- 92 credits minimum.

CSC 421; O-T 401, 402, 404, 405, 406, 410, 411, 412, 413, 414, 422, 425, 426, 441, 443, 446, 461, 462, 463, 464, 465, 466, 470, 471, 480.

Retention in the major requires that a "C" grade or higher is obtained in all professional level courses.

Twenty-four students will be admitted annually to the occupational therapy program.  Application to the program occurs in January each year with classes starting the following June.  At the time of application, candidates must have the preprofessional requirements completed, or be able to demonstrate a plan to complete these courses prior to enrollment in the program.  Candidates must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 and have demonstrated some prior health care experience.  Factors considered in the admission process include:  

1. Academic preparation

2. Knowledge of healthcare and O-T

3. Communication skills

4. Creativity

5. Professional abilities

6. Potential for future practice in  rural and under-served areas

7. Letters of recommendation

8. Personal and group interviews

Specific deadlines and application materials are available in Room 4031 Health Science Building and on the Occupational Therapy program Web site at www.uwlax.edu/ot.

 

The occupational therapy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 4720 Montgomery Lane., PO Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220; (301) 652-AOTA).  Students graduating from the program are eligible to sit for the national certification examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of the exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR).  Most states require licensure in order to practice; however state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination.     A felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification exam or to attain state licensure.

Important Information:  Beginning January 1, 2007, occupational therapy programs will only be accredited at the post-baccalaureate degree level.  The last baccalaureate class at UW-L will be admitted to the O-T program in 2004 and will graduate in 2006.  Interested applicants should check with the occupational therapy program yearly for the most current pre-admission requirements.

*This course will also fulfill General Education requirements. May substitute BIO 103 for BIO 105.

O-T 401 Cr. 1

Introduction to Occupational Therapy

This course orients students to the fundamentals of occupational therapy. Topics will include basics in the study of occupations, history of the occupational therapy profession and brief overviews of the conceptual frameworks relating to occupational therapy. Prerequisite: admission to O-T program. Offered summer session.

O-T 402 Cr. 2

Sensorimotor Development

Detailed analysis of occupational development throughout the life span with specific emphasis on normal sensori-motor development in childhood and adolescence. The interweave of motor development with other developmental areas such as cognitive, social, and emotional development will be addressed form a multicultural perspective. Prerequisite: admission to O-T program. Offered Sem. I.

O-T 404 Cr. 3

Therapeutic Techniques I

An in-depth analysis of occupational performance with an emphasis on activity analysis and therapeutic media. Concepts of meaningfulness in activity and function in activity will be explored. Students will develop basic skills in therapeutic media. Lect. 1, Lab. 4. Prerequisite: O-T 401 or consent of the instructor. Offered Sem. I.

O-T 405 Cr. 4

Occupations Theory

The second in a series of courses designed to integrate knowledge pertaining to occupations theory, this course emphasizes theory and techniques used in the treatment of occupational dysfunction in young adulthood. Students will study models of practice and frames of reference used in occupational therapy. Clinical fieldwork experiences will be associated with this course. Lect. 2, Lab. 2, Disc. 1.5. Prerequisite: O-T 401 and admission to O-T program. Offered Sem. I.

O-T 406 Cr. 1

Occupational Therapy Practice I

The laboratory component of O-T 405, basic handling and assessment techniques for the occupational therapist will be covered. Lab. 2. Prerequisite: O-T 405 or concurrent enrollment. Offered Sem. I.

O-T 410 Cr. 3

Research Designs in Occupational Therapy

Applies scientific method to research problems in O-T practice. Systematic application of hypothesis formation and decision making will occur through the use of research design principles. Application of research design principles to practice and program outcome assessments will be addressed. Prerequisite: admission to O-T program or consent of the instructor. Offered Sem. II.

O-T 411 Cr. 3

Biomechanical Applications

The mechanical principles and theories are utilized to develop analytical skills to assess human movement. Lect. 2, Lab. 2. Prerequisite: CSC 421. Offered Sem. II.

O-T 412 Cr. 3

Pediatric Rehabilitation

Abnormal occupational performance of a child as a result of disease or injury in childhood/adolescence will be examined. Students will identify various models of occupational therapy practice typically used to treat childhood disease or injury. Lect. 2, Lab. 2. Prerequisite: O-T 402, 405. Offered Sem. II.

O-T 413 Cr. 4

Occupations and Pediatrics

Occupations of childhood and adolescence undergoing atypical development as a result of disease or injury will be critically analyzed within this course. Case study analysis and fieldwork experiences will assist the student in applying the occupational therapy process to the area of pediatrics. Lect. 2, Lab. 2, Disc. 3. Prerequisite: O-T 405. Offered Sem. II.

O-T 414 Cr. 2

Therapeutic Techniques II

Students will refine skills in task analysis, adaptive techniques, and the use of therapeutic activities in regard to therapeutic potential and age. Emphasis will be on utilizing computer technology and specific craft techniques as therapeutic media used with occupational dysfunction. Lect. 1, Lab. 2. Prerequisite: O-T 404. Offered Sem. II.

 

O-T 422/PT 522 Cr. 3

Physiology

A comprehensive study of physiological principles, exercise interaction of various body systems and discussion of implications for rehabilitative therapy. (Cross-listed with P-T 522; may only earn credit in O-T 422 or P-T 522, not both.) Offered summer session.

O-T 425 Cr. 3

Neuroanatomy

This course will introduce the student to the anatomical basis of neuroscience with emphasis on rehabilitation. Structure and physiological function of the central nervous system will be correlated for normal and abnormal processes. Patient examples and research literature will be utilized to foster appropriate clinical decision-making skills in students. Lect. 2, Lab. 3. Prerequisite: CSC 421. Offered Sem. I.

O-T 426/P-T 526 Cr. 2

Pathophysiology

This course will provide the student with information about general inflammatory processes and specific pathologies of the various organ systems. Orientation will be toward developing the ability for differential diagnosis in a therapy practice setting and determination of when further diagnostics may be indicated. Patient problems will be utilized as appropriate. Prerequisite: O-T 422, or CSC 421 and O-T 425. (Cross-listed with P-T 526; may only earn credit in O-T 426 or P-T 526, not both.) Offered Sem. II.

O-T 441/P-T 541 Cr. 1

Applied Communications in Allied Health Professions

Series of learning experiences related to inter-personal and communication skills; verbal, non-verbal and professional documentation will be emphasized. Prerequisite: admission to the O-T program. (Cross-listed with P-T 541; may only earn credit in O-T 441 or P-T 541, not both.) Offered Sem. I.

O-T 443/P-T 643 Cr. 2

Health Care Systems

This course reviews the present state of the health care industry. The course focuses on the departmental fiscal management as well as assistant/ employee supervision. The operation of a therapy department is discussed in relation to fee structure, equipment acquisition, professional liability, and reimbursement issues. Quality assurance and practice issues are also discussed. Prerequisite: admission to the O-T program or P-T program.  (Cross- listed with P-T 643; may only earn credit in O-T 443 or P-T 643, not both.) Offered Sem. I.

O-T 446/P-T 646 Cr. 1

Professional Ethics

Exploration of the ethics of professional practice with strategies for ethical decision making. (Cross-listed with P-T 646; may only earn credit in O-T 446 or P-T 646, not both.) Offered Sem. I.

O-T 461 Cr. 4

Occupations and Psychosocial Dysfunction

This course will include the study of occupation with an emphasis on O-T application to the mental health population. A laboratory component of the course will be used to explore the group process and provide an opportunity for practice using evaluation tools. A problem based learning component of the course will address the O-T process through systematic case study analysis. Lect. 2, Lab. 2, Disc. 1.5. Prerequisite: O-T 405. Offered Sem. I.

O-T 462 Cr. 3

Adult Rehabilitation

The effects of acute and chronic disability on occupational therapy performance will be explored in the context of the adult rehabilitation patient. Evaluation and treatment of the adult individual with rehabilitative needs will be emphasized. Prerequisite: O-T 406, 412. Offered Sem. I.

O-T 463 Cr. 3

Practice and Measurement

This course serves as the laboratory experience for O-T 462. Students will practice assessment tools and treatment intervention methods typically used with adults with occupational dysfunction. Lect. 1, Lab. 4. To be taken concurrently with O-T 462. Offered Sem. I.

O-T 464 Cr. 4

Occupations and Adulthood

The study of occupational dysfunction with the adult population will be covered in this course.  Students will analyze case studies and justify therapy options with the adult population.  Practice experience in a clinic setting will be included within the course. Lect. 2, Lab. 2, Disc. 3. Prerequisite: O-T 405, 413. Offered Sem. I.

O-T 465 Cr. 4

Occupations and Aging

Occupational performance in the aging population will be explored with emphasis on the impact of disease or injury in the aged population.  Specific focus will be on analysis of the socio-cultural, environmental and personal life roles of the elderly as well as those disease/ dysfunction processes that frequently impact this population. Students will practice the occupational process of observation, evaluation, analysis and treatment of this population in clinical and community field work experiences. Lect. 2, Lab. 3. Prerequisite: O-T 464. Offered Sem. II.

O-T 466 Cr. 2

Occupational Therapy Practice II

This course serves as the laboratory component for O-T 465. Students will be exposed to assessment and intervention techniques applicable to the elderly population. To be taken concurrently with O-T 465. Lab. 4. Offered Sem. II.

O-T 470 Cr. 2

Capstone Seminar in Occupational Therapy

A seminar-style course designed for students to review and discuss basic concepts necessary for a career in occupational therapy and to assess their major in occupational therapy.  This course will cover basic concepts of resume and cover letter writing, supervision issues, credentialing processes, and current topics in occupational therapy. Students are expected to actively participate in an assessment of their major, and participate in discussions on major issues and developments in occupational therapy.  Prerequisite: admission to O-T program, senior standing. Recommended for seniors in the final semester. Offered Sem. II.

O-T 471 Cr. 2

Research and Symposium in Occupational Therapy

Clinical study under the direction and supervision of a member of the occupational therapy faculty. This course will allow the student to pursue a choice for additional in-depth study in a specialty area under faculty guidance. Formal presentation of findings to a peer professional group will occur. Prerequisite: O-T 410. Offered Sem. II.

O-T 480 Cr. 3-12

Fieldwork

This Level II fieldwork experience provides the student with a twelve-week clinical placement in a practice setting under the supervision of a university supervisor and an approved practicing therapist. Students are challenged to apply concepts and theories of occupational therapy practice in a full-time fieldwork placement. Students are required to complete six months of full time fieldwork within 24 months of the didactic portion of the curriculum. Repeatable for credit — no maximum. Prerequisite: completion of requirements in O-T program. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading.

O-T 499 Cr. 1-3

Independent Study

Independent study under the direction and supervision of a member of the occupational therapy faculty. Activities related to occupational therapy including additional independent research may be pursued. Prerequisite: admission by consent of the instructor. Repeatable for credit-—maximum 6.