Occupational Therapy
     Occupational therapists are health care professionals who assist individuals whose abilities to function in the areas of self-care, work, or play/leisure are threatened or impaired. As an occupational therapist, one assumes the roles of therapeutic facilitator, manager of occupational therapy services, and contributor to the health profession of occupational therapy. Those who choose occupational therapy as their life work should have a genuine interest in people.
     Purposeful activity (occupation) is used to prevent or mediate dysfunction throughout the life cycle. The occupational therapist assesses an individual's capacities and limitations; plans and implements treatment to improve function; reassesses the patient/client's progress; and continues or terminates service or refers the individual to other agencies or professionals.
     It is required that the applicant have an awareness of the field through either volunteer or paid work experience in occupational therapy.
     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, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220. AOTA's phone number is (301) 652-AOTA. Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupation 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.
     All students enrolled in the professional program are required to successfully complete two Level II fieldwork placements as part of their degree requirements. In order to be in compliance with the Essentials and Guidelines for an Accredited Educational Program with the ACOTE, these Level II fieldwork placements must be completed within 24 months following completion of the academic portion of the curriculum.

Admission Requirements
     In addition to meeting the SHRS general requirements for undergraduate admission, applicants must successfully complete the following prerequisite courses and have a minimum of 100 hours of volunteer or paid experience in Occupational Therapy (two or more clinical settings).

Prerequisite Courses
     (All prerequisite courses must be completed by the end of Spring Term to be eligible for application.)

	Biological sciences	8 semester credits--courses must include labs and must be acceptable for biology majors.
	Chemistry	8 semester credits--courses must include labs and must be acceptable for chemistry majors.
	Physics	3 semester credits
	Psychology (general)	3 semester credits
	Psychology (develop- mental or child)	3 semester credits
	Psychology (abnormal)	3 semester credits
	Statistics (elementary)	3 semester credits
	General Writing or	3 semester credits
	Equivalent or placing out on the University of Pittsburgh's Writing Placement Test

Highly Recommended Courses
     Anthropology and sociology
     Introductory anatomy and physiology
     Philosophy or logic

Occupational Therapy Curriculum

	Summer Session II: Sophomore Year
	OT 1501	OT Principles and Practice	3 cr.
	HRS 1022	Human Anatomy	4 cr.
			------
		TOTAL	7 cr.
	Fall Term: Junior Year
	OT 1514	Activity Analysis	3 cr.
	OT 1510	Group Process	2 cr.
	OT 1503	Human Growth and Development 1	2 cr.
	OT 1507	Clinical Psychiatry	2 cr.
	OT 1508	Mechanisms of Disease	2 cr.
	HRS 1000	Introduction to Research	2 cr.
	HRS 1023	Human Physiology	4 cr.
			------
		TOTAL	17 cr.
	Spring Term: Junior Year
	OT 1505	Human Growth and Development 2	2 cr.
	OT 1512	OT Evaluations and Interventions 1	4 cr.
	OT 1515	OT Fieldwork Application 1	2 cr.
	OT 1509	Neuromuscular Skeletal Disorders	3 cr.
	OT 1511	Introduction to Neurosciences	4 cr.
			------
		TOTAL	15 cr.
	Summer Session I: Junior Year
	OT 1520	Neurophysiological Interventions	3 cr.
	OT 1518	Adaptive Activities	2 cr.
			------
		TOTAL	5 cr.
	Fall Term: Senior Year
	OT 1522	OT Evaluations and Intervention 2	4 cr.
	OT 1524	OT Evaluations and Intervention 3	4 cr.
	OT 1525	OT Fieldwork and Application 2	2 cr.
	OT 1526	Research Applications in Occupational Therapy	1 cr.
	OT 1528	OT Professional Seminar	3 cr.
	HRS 1005	Administration and Supervision	3 cr.
			------
		TOTAL	17 cr.
	Spring Term: Senior Year
	OT 1540	OT Fieldwork Education B	12 cr.
	OT 1542	OT Fieldwork Education A	12 cr.
			------
		TOTAL	24 cr.
	Summer Term: Senior Year
	OT 1544	*OT Fieldwork Education C (optional)	4-6 cr.
			------
		TOTAL	4-6 cr.
		TOTAL CREDITS	85-91 cr.

*This course is not a substitute for OT 1540 or 1542. All arrangements for fieldwork assignments must be made in advance with the clinical coordinator of the department.

Occupational Therapy Course Descriptions

OT 1501 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE

3 cr.

  Six hours lecture, three hours observation weekly, Summer Session II
  Prerequisite: enrollment in the occupational therapy program or permission of instructor
An introduction to the history, philosophy, and development of the profession of occupational therapy. Focus is placed on roles and functions of occupational therapists, occupational performance, and medical terminology.

OT 1503 HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT 1

2 cr.

  Two hours lecture weekly, Fall Term
  Prerequisites: OT 1501; HRS 1022 or permission of instructor
Study of human development from conception through adolescence. Focus is on normal sensorimotor, psychosocial, cognitive, language, and physical maturation. Opportunities for observation of normal children and adolescents are provided.

OT 1505 HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT 2

2 cr.

  Two hours lecture weekly (with observation), Spring Term
  Prerequisite: OT 1503
Continuation of OT 1503 focusing on young adulthood through the mature years. Study emphasizes normal psychosocial and physical developmental processes. Observational experiences are provided.

OT 1507 CLINICAL PSYCHIATRY

2 cr.

  Two hours lecture weekly, Fall Term
  Prerequisites: OT 1501; HRS 1022
Discusses major aspects of psychiatric disorders. Course focuses on etiology, clinical course, management, prognosis, and effects of these disorders.

OT 1508 MECHANISMS OF DISEASE

2 cr.

  Two hours lecture weekly, Fall Term
  Prerequisites: OT 1501; HRS 1022; Corequisite: HRS 1023
This course considers the cause of disease, both intrinsic in the alteration of physiological and cell biological characteristics and extrinsic in response to the effects of pathogens and other environmental agents.

OT 1509 NEUROMUSCULAR SKELETAL DISORDERS

3 cr.

  Three hours lecture weekly, Spring Term
  Prerequisites: HRS 1022, 1023; Corequisite: OT 1511
Discusses major aspects of neurological and orthopaedic disorders. Course focuses on etiology, clinical course, management, prognosis, and effects of these disorders.

OT 1510 GROUP PROCESS

2 cr.

  One hour lecture, four hours lab weekly, Fall Term
  Prerequisites: OT 1501; HRS 1022; Corequisite: OT 1514
Study of group dynamics, structure, and function for application in a therapeutic setting. Group activities are explored through experiential learning.

OT 1511 INTRODUCTION TO NEUROSCIENCES

4 cr.

  Four hours lecture weekly, one two-hour lab weekly, Spring Term
  Prerequisites: HRS 1022, 1023 or equivalents; Corequisite: OT 1509
Concepts of normal sensorimotor integration, including the influence of neural centers on motor activity and postural control, are considered, and clinical manifestations of dysfunctions of major neural elements are discussed.

OT 1512 OT EVALUATIONS AND INTERVENTIONS 1

4 cr.

  Three hours lecture, four hours lab weekly, Spring Term
  Prerequisites: OT 1503, 1507, 1510 and 1514; Corequisite: OT 1515
Study of selected occupational therapy theories, principles, assessments, and treatment procedures that the therapeutic facilitator uses with psychosocial dysfunctional clients in prevention, remediation, and maintenance. Experiential learning is provided in a laboratory setting.

OT 1514 ACTIVITY ANALYSIS

3 cr.

  Two hours lecture, four hours lab weekly, Fall Term
  Prerequisites: OT 1501; HRS 1022; Corequisite: OT 1510
Emphasizes functional interrelationships of the muscular, skeletal, and articular systems, examining both normal and pathologic functions. Course provides experience analyzing activities of self-care, work/school, and play/leisure.

OT 1515 OT FIELDWORK APPLICATION 1

2 cr.

  One-hour seminar, six hours clinical weekly, Spring Term
  Prerequisites: OT 1503, 1510, 1507, 1514; Corequisite: OT 1512
Experience in psychosocial dysfunction is offered. Students have the opportunity to assess and plan treatment for selected clients. One hour is spent in class discussions about the student's experiences.

OT 1518 ADAPTIVE ACTIVITIES

2 cr.

  Two hours lecture, eight hours lab weekly, Summer Session I
  Prerequisites: OT 1505, 1509, 1512, 1511
In-depth analysis of therapeutic activities of self-care, work/school, and play/leisure and their performance components (cognitive, psychosocial, and sensorimotor). Activities will include self-care, pre-vocational and homemaking skills, and the adaptive use of orthotic devices.

OT 1520 NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL INTERVENTIONS

3 cr.

  Four hours lecture, eight hours lab weekly, Summer Session I
  Prerequisites: OT 1511, 1515
A theoretical approach to the various neurophysiological concepts related to evaluation and treatment of clients. Such approaches as Rood, Bobath, Brunnstrom, Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation, Sensory Integration, and Motor Learning are studied. Laboratory experiences are provided.

OT 1522 OT EVALUATIONS AND INTERVENTIONS 2

4 cr.

  Three hours lecture, four hours lab weekly, Fall Term
  Prerequisites: OT 1505, 1512, 1515, 1518, 1520; HRS 1000; Corequisite: OT 1525
Study of selected theories, principles, assessments, and treatments that the therapeutic facilitator uses with physically dysfunctional adults in prevention, remediation, and maintenance.

OT 1524 OT EVALUATIONS AND INTERVENTIONS 3

4 cr.

  Three hours lecture, four hours lab weekly, Fall Term
  Prerequisites: OT 1512, 1515, 1518, 1520; Corequisites: OT 1522, 1525
Study of selected theories, principles, assessments, and treatment procedures that the therapeutic facilitator uses with the pediatric population in prevention, remediation, and habilitation.

OT 1525 OT FIELDWORK APPLICATION 2

2 cr.

  One-hour seminar, six hours lab weekly, Fall Term
  Prerequisite: OT 1515; Corequisite: OT 1522
Experiences in adult physical dysfunction and pediatric habilitation. Students have the opportunity to assess and plan treatment for selected clients. One hour is spent in class discussion about the student's experiences.

OT 1526 RESEARCH APPLICATIONS IN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

1 cr.

  One hour lecture weekly, Fall Term
  Prerequisites: HRS 1000; OT 1512, 1515, 1518, 1520; Corequisites: OT 1522, 1524, 1525
Investigation of existing research in occupational therapy literature, with focus on research principles, techniques, statistical analysis, and interpretation as applied to occupational therapy knowledge and practice.

OT 1528 OT PROFESSIONAL SEMINAR

3 cr.

  Three hours lecture weekly, Fall Term
  Prerequisites: OT 1501, 1511, 1512, 1515, 1518, 1520; HRS 1000, 1022, 1023
Emphasis on the role and functions of the contributor to the profession of occupational therapy focusing on the issues of the profession and assessing community resources.

OT 1540 OT FIELDWORK EDUCATION A

6 or 12 cr.

  40 hours weekly, Spring or Summer Term
  Prerequisite: successful completion of all OT and HRS required courses except fieldwork.
An in-depth learning experience in approved health care agencies, focusing on the evaluation and treatment of individuals with psychosocial dysfunction. Arrangements for the experience are made with the fieldwork coordinator. The sequencing of OT 1540 and OT 1542 may be interchanged.

OT 1542 OT FIELDWORK EDUCATION B

6 or 12 cr.

  40 hours weekly, Spring or Summer Term
  Prerequisites: (same as for OT 1540)
An in-depth learning experience in approved health care agencies, focusing on the evaluation and treatment of individuals with physical dysfunction. Arrangements for the experience are made with the fieldwork coordinator. The sequencing of OT 1540 and 1542 may be interchanged.

OT 1544 OT FIELDWORK EDUCATION C (elective)

variable credits

  40 hours weekly, Spring Term
  Prerequisites: OT 1540, 1542
A four to six weeks' learning experience in selected area of student's special interest. This experience is not a substitute for Fieldwork Education A and B. Arrangements must be made in advance with the fieldwork coordinator of the Department of Occupational Therapy.

OT 1599 INDEPENDENT STUDY

variable credits

  By appointment, all terms and sessions
Provides students an opportunity to explore in depth an area of particular interest to them. It is the student's responsibility to find a faculty member willing to undertake such a tutorial.