Occupational Therapy Assistant

OTA 200 Foundations of Occupational Therapy 3-0-3
This course presents an introduction to occupational therapy; including history, philosophical base, values, ethics, practice framework, and clinical reasoning. Students will learn selected theories and frames of reference as they pertain to interventions in mental health, physical disabilities, pediatrics, and community practice areas. An overview of the occupational therapy process, including assessment, treatment planning, treatment implementation, and discontinuation of intervention will be presented. Role delineation and collaboration of the occupational therapy assistant with other occupational therapy and health care personnel are discussed. Prerequisite: Acceptance to the Occupational Therapy Assistance Program. Corequisites: OTA professional coursework must be completed in sequence as outlined on the academic map.

OTA 205 Medical Conditions in Occupational Therapy 3-0-3
This course will provide a framework for students to learn about common medical conditions seen by occupational therapy practitioners and to facilitate learning of these conditions from an occupational therapy perspective. It is not intended to emphasize treatment of a diagnosis, however students will learn about specific factors unique to given conditions that may impact an individual’s occupational roles and functions. These factors must be understood and analyzed regarding the relative impact on the individual’s occupational performance. The knowledge gained from this course is a necessary pre-requisite to Physical Disabilities Practice. Prerequisite: Acceptance to the Occupational Therapy Assistance Program. Corequisites: OTA professional coursework must be completed in sequence as outlined on the academic map.(SP)

OTA 210 Activity Analysis and Therapeutae Media in Occupational Therapy 3-0-3
This course is designed to foster various occupations or activities used as therapeutic interventions in occupational therapy. Emphasis on awareness of activity demands, contexts, adapting, grading, and safe implementation of occupations or activities. This course also provides knowledge and use of tools, equipment, and basic techniques of therapeutic media. Emphasis is given to analysis and instruction of activities frequently used as occupational therapy media in multiple community and clinical settings. Prerequisite: Acceptance to the Occupational Therapy Assistance Program. Corequisites: OTA professional coursework must be completed in sequence as outlined on the academic map.

OTA 215 Mental Health and Geriatric Care Practice 3-2-4
This course presents the role of the Occupational Therapy
Assistant in the psychosocial area as well as the Geriatric population of Occupational Therapy practice. Students will learn selected frames of reference, and explore the effects of psychosocial dysfunction on areas of occupation. Students will learn skills necessary to assess, implement and document intervention in a variety of mental health and geriatric settings. Client factors, including culture and diversity, therapeutic interactions and methods are studied. Students will develop skills in administering individual and group interventions, professional communication, conflict  negotiation, and advocacy. This course integrates the Occupational Therapy process and collaboration with the Occupational Therapist through its review of advanced, appropriate select Occupational Therapy therapeutic interventions and techniques used to enhance functional ability and independence in daily life tasks and occupation for the Geriatric and Mental Health populations. The Student incorporates knowledge of the influences of environment, individual, family, culture and access to Occupational Therapy services on occupational performance. Lab activities, in-class activities, and level I fieldwork opportunities will enable students to participate in and apply psychosocial and Geriatric principles to practice Prerequisite: Acceptance to the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program. Corequisites: OTA professional coursework must be completed in sequence as outlined on the academic map.

OTA 220 Pediatric and Adolescent Practice 1-9-4
Treatment of pediatric and adolescent conditions. Normal and delayed development of the infant, child and adolescent are explored. The lab component incorporates theoretical principles and provides opportunities for students to develop assessment, intervention planning and implementation, and documentation skills to address a range of childhood sensory-motor, cognitive, and psychosocial performance deficits. Students will learn to adapt the environment, tools, materials, and occupations to meet the self-care, work/play, and leisure needs of the pediatric and adolescent population. Lab activities, site visits and Level I fieldwork opportunities will enable students to participate in and apply pediatric and adolescent treatment principles to practice. Prerequisite: Acceptance to the Occupational Therapy Assistance Program.
Corequisites: OTA professional coursework must be completed in sequence as outlined on the academic map.

OTA 250 Functional Kinesiology  1-3-3
In this course, students use and apply their knowledge of anatomy and physiology to study muscle groups and their function relative to performing various activities. Analysis of functional movement patterns required for work, self-care, play, and leisure activities is emphasized. Principles and techniques of manual muscle testing and range of motion are practiced, specifically as they relate to the impact on daily activities. Principles of energy conservation, joint protection and work simplification are presented. Prevention, health maintenance and safety procedures relevant to functional activities are reviewed. Prerequisites: Acceptance to the Occupational Therapy Assistance Program. Corequisites: OTA professional coursework must be completed in sequence as outlined on the academic map.

OTA 255 Physical Disabilities Practice 1-9-4
This course provides in-depth opportunities for students to develop assessment, intervention planning, intervention, and documentation skills to address a wide range of adult and geriatric physical disabilities and conditions typically treated by occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistants. Topics include, but are not limited to, stroke, spinal cord injury, fractures and joint replacement, head injury, and cardiopulmonary disorders. The use of splinting, orthotics, modalities, and assistive technology in treatment will also be presented. Students will learn to adapt the environment, tools, materials, and occupations to meet the self-care, work, play, and leisure needs of the adult and geriatric population. Lab activities and Level I fieldwork opportunities will enable students to participate in and apply physical disabilities treatment principles to practice. Prerequisites: Acceptance to the Occupational Therapy Assistance Program. Corequisites: OTA professional coursework must be completed in sequence as outlined on the academic map.

OTA 260 Community Practice 1-6-3
Students will learn the basic roles and functions of an occupational therapy practitioner and the role of occupational therapy in medical, educational, and community models, as well as emerging areas of practice that are predicted to grow in the future. Students explore a variety of work settings, and/or types of practice including OT role delineations in community based and non-traditional settings. The student will study specialty areas through case discussion, enhancement of treatment techniques, review of literature, and current trends. Site visits and volunteer opportunities will enable students to participate in and apply occupational therapy assessment and intervention principles to a wide range of community settings including vocational, vocational rehabilitation, home health, and emerging community practice areas. Emphasis will be on community settings in the students’ state and geographic region. Prerequisite: Acceptance to the Occupational Therapy Assistant program. Corequisites: OTA professional coursework must be  completed in sequence as outlined on the academic map.

OTA 265 Ethics, Management and Leadership 2-3-3
This course focuses on the OTA role in managing and directing occupational therapy services. It covers ethical provision of services, departmental operations, program development, supervisory requirements, personnel development and supervision, professional team building, quality assurance, compliance with regulations, reimbursement, and national and state credentialing requirements. Techniques for developing a resume and job interview skills are practiced. The importance and responsibility for on-going OTA professional development, ethical practice, contributing to research and evidence based practice, attention to emerging practice issues and areas, and international perspectives are explored. Prerequisite: Acceptance to the Occupational Therapy Assistance Program. Corequisites: OTA professional coursework must be completed in sequence as outlined on the academic map.

OTA 270 Pre-Clinicals & Professionalism 1.5-4.5-2
Pre-Clinical & Professionalism for the OTA is a comprehensive course designed to develop both the professional and clinical competencies required for entry-level OTA practice. Students learn practical professional skills including critical thinking, use of scholarly literature to make evidence-based decisions, and application of OT theory to guide intervention. Emphasis is placed on effective written and verbal communication, documentation, discharge planning, therapeutic use of self, consumer and professional advocacy, and ethical reasoning in daily practice. The course also provides intensive preparation for clinical practice through competencies, case studies, simulated labs, and treatment planning activities. Students practice assessment skills, goal setting, intervention planning, and the use of occupation-based and preparatory methods to support functional independence in daily living tasks. In addition, the course includes structured preparation for future Level II Fieldwork, foundational readiness for passing the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) Examination, and meeting state licensure requirements. Through integrated professional skills training and pre-clinical technical development, students gain the knowledge, behaviors, and hands-on abilities essential for competent entry-level occupational therapy assistant practice. Prerequisite: Acceptance to the Occupational Therapy Assistance Program. Corequisites: OTA professional coursework must be completed in sequence as outlined on the academic map.

OTA 290 Level II Fieldwork A 0-40-8
Full-time clinical fieldwork experience in mental health, physical disabilities, geriatric, pediatric and/or community based practice working under the supervision of an OTR and/or COTA. Focus is on achieving entry-level competence in planning and implementing interventions. Prerequisite: Acceptance to the Occupational Therapy Assistance Program. Corequisites: OTA professional coursework must be completed in sequence as outlined on the academic map.

OTA 295 Level II Fieldwork B 0-40-8
Full-time clinical fieldwork experience in mental health, physical disabilities, geriatric, pediatric and/or community based practice working under the supervision of an OTR and/or COTA. Focus is on achieving entry-level competence in planning and implementing interventions. Prerequisite: Acceptance to the Occupational Therapy Assistance Program. Corequisites: OTA professional coursework must be completed in sequence as outlined on the academic map.