OT Curriculum
Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program Curriculum
The OTD curriculum consists of 107 credits completed in sequence across 8 semesters and includes didactic courses, fieldwork, and doctoral capstone studies. Curricular threads organize and structure courses and learning experiences to effectively develop students into professionals ready for entry-level occupational therapy practice.
Curricular Threads
- Foundational Knowledge
- Saint Vincentian Values
- Skills for Practice
- Professional Reasoning and Problem Solving
- Leadership and Scholarship
Experiential Curriculum
Fieldwork
- Level I Fieldwork consists of four experiences integrated across four semesters, focusing on direct observation and participation in the occupational therapy process in mental health, adult rehabilitation, children and youth, and productive aging practice areas.
- Level II Fieldwork consists of two full-time, 12-week experiences designed to develop entry-level competence and proficiency as an occupational therapist at students' assigned fieldwork sites.
Doctoral Capstone
- The doctoral capstone consists of a 14-week full-time immersive site experience and
related capstone project designed to provide students with in-depth exposure within
one or more of the following areas:
- Clinical Practice Skills
- Research Skills
- Administration
- Leadership
- Program and Policy Development
- Advocacy
- Education
Academic Plan
Fall Year 1 (16 Credits)
| Credit Hours | Course Number | Course Name |
| 3 | OTD 619 | Foundations of Occupational Therapy |
| 3 | OTD 621 | Analysis of Occupational Performance |
| 3 | OTD 623 | Human Development and Occupation |
| 3 | OTD 625 | Theories and Models In Occupational Therapy |
| 3 | OTD 626 | Applied Anatomy and Kinesiology |
Spring Year 1 (17 Credits)
| Credit Hours | Course Number | Course Name |
| 4 | OTD 630 | Occupational Therapy in Children and Youth |
| 3 | OTD 632 | Professional Reasoning I |
| 3 | OTD 633 | Therapeutic Interventions I |
| 3 | OTD 635 | Professional Development I |
| 3 |
OTD 622 |
Neuroscience |
| 1 |
OTD 639 |
Level IA Fieldwork I |
Summer Year 1 (8 Credits)
| Credit Hours | Course Number | Course Name |
| 2 | OTD 710 | Occupational Therapy in Mental Health |
| 2 | OTD 712 | Professional Reasoning II |
| 2 | OTD 713 | Therapeutic Interventions II |
| 1 | OTD 719 | Level 1B Fieldwork |
| 1 | OTD 728 | Capstone I |
Fall Year 2 (17 Credits)
| Credit Hours | Course Number | Course Name |
| 4 | OTD 720 | Occupational Therapy in Rehabilitation and Participation |
| 3 | OTD 723 | Therapeutic Intervention III |
| 3 | OTD 733 | Advanced Topics in Occupational Therapy |
| 3 | OTD 725 | Professional and Ethical Issues in Health Care |
| 3 | OTD 644 | Research in Occupational Therapy |
| 1 |
OTD 729 |
Level IC Fieldwork |
Spring Year 2 (17 Credits)
| Credit Hours | Course Number | Course Name |
| 4 | OTD 730 | Occupational Therapy in Productive Aging |
| 3 | OTD 722 | Administration and Management in Occupational Therapy |
| 3 | OTD 735 | Professional Development II |
| 2 | OTD 745 | The Occupational Therapy Educator |
| 3 | OTD 734 | Research Integration and Knowledge Translation in OT |
| 1 | OTD 739 | Level ID Fieldwork |
| 1 | OTD 748 | Capstone II |
Summer Year 2 (10 Credits)
| Credit Hours | Course Number | Course Name |
| 9 | OTD 815 | Level IIA Fieldwork |
| 1 | OTD 828 |
Capstone III |
Fall Year 3 (10 Credits)
| Credit Hours | Course Number | Course Name |
| 9 | OTD 820 | Level IIB Fieldwork |
| 1 | OTD 829 | Capstone IV |
Spring Year 3 (12 Credits)
| Credit Hours | Course Number | Course Name |
| 10 | OTD 830 | Doctoral Capstone Experience |
| 2 | OTD 831 | OTD Capstone Project |
Course Descriptions
This course introduces occupational therapy through the lens of the profession's history, and philosophical underpinnings, exploration of the scope and meaning of occupation, and existing and evolving roles for and contributions of occupational therapy practice and scholarship. This courses focuses on foundational knowledge and skills associated with the occupational therapy profession and practice including therapeutic use of self, interviewing skills, intraprofessional collaboration, and inclusivity and justice. An overview of standards of practice for occupational therapy and an introduction to documentation standards is presented.
This course focuses on the analysis of performance of daily tasks and occupations.
Skilled observation of performance and task analysis will be developed with emphasis
on understanding the contribution of performance patterns, performance skills, client
factors and contexts that support participation in valued occupations.
This course provides an overview of human development from birth to older adulthood.
Physical, cognitive and psychological development across the lifespan is explored
through an occupational perspective.
This course presents prominent theories and models for occupational therapy. Emphasis
is placed on the application of theories and models in preparation for professional
reasoning and decision-making for practice. Principles of teaching and learning will
be covered.
This course provides a study of the human body and its systems with an emphasis on
neuromuscular and skeletal systems (anatomy) and foundation of biomechanical principles
of movement (kinesiology) in relation to occupational performance across the lifespan.
Through lecture and lab instruction, students will acquire knowledge and skills in
musculoskeletal screening and assessment as well as demonstrate the ability to interpret
and apply findings to support individuals' engagement in activities along the continuum
of health.
This course provides an overview of occupational therapy practice in children and
youth. Theories and models will provide a framework for the application of evidence-based
evaluation and interventions in various practice settings.
This course focuses on professional reasoning for the selection, application, and
interpretation of assessments and measures for evaluation. Quantitative statistics
and qualitative analysis will be utilized.
This course explores various treatment approaches in occupational therapy and will
focus on interventions to optimize occupational performance. Concepts of activity
grading, occupations as a means and end, and therapeutic challenge are presented.
This course focuses on opportunities for reflection and integration of knowledge and
skills acquired through the first year of the OTD curriculum. A professional portfolio
will be developed along with a professional development plan.
This course provides an in depth understanding of the nervous system including the
major components and their integrative functions. Emphasis will be placed on clinical
application, relationship of structure to function, disease and damage, and concepts
of neuroplasticity.
This course is an integrated fieldwork experience that focuses on direct observation
and participation in the occupational therapy process in children and youth. Supervision
by fieldwork educators provides opportunities to develop professional behaviors and
skills.
This course provides an overview of occupational therapy practice in mental health.
Theories and models will provide a framework for the application of evidence-based
occupational therapy process with prevalent mental health conditions. Group theory
and process will be emphasized.
This course provides an overview of professional reasoning in occupational therapy
practice when working with people and populations within the context of population
health. Specific emphasis focuses on understanding populations and the opportunities
to support health and wellness, disease prevention, and overall quality of life through
engagement in meaningful life experiences. Occupation-based and health-promoting theory
and practice models will provide a framework for application of the occupational therapy
process, including professional/clinical reasoning, when working with people and populations.
This course explores various interventions and treatment approaches in occupational
therapy and will focus on interventions aimed at compensation. Concepts of adaptation
and modification are presented along with an introduction to assistive technologies
and devices used to enhance occupational performance.
This course is an integrated fieldwork experience that focuses on direct observation
and participation in the occupational therapy process in mental health. Supervision
by fieldwork educators provides opportunities to develop professional behaviors and
skills.
This course focuses on introducing students to the capstone experience requirements
and process for development of the capstone project. Students establish the basis
for the doctoral capstone which includes exploration of focus areas, identifying a
site of interest and relevant need for the population served, generating direction
for the examination of a topic or population of interest, and critically appraising
relevant literature.
This course provides an overview of occupational therapy practice working in areas
of habilitation and habilitation to support meaningful participation in daily living.
Occupation-based theory and practice models will provide a framework for application
of the occupational therapy process, including professional/clinical reasoning, when
working with people and populations affected by acute and chronic health conditions.
This course focuses on the selection and application of preparatory methods and tasks
used to support participation in daily life. Multiple opportunities to design, fabricate,
and apply various upper extremity splints to common conditions is afforded and an
introduction to the principles and administration of physical agent modalities is
covered.
This course explores advanced topics and areas of occupational therapy practice.
This course provides an overview for professional, legal, and ethical issues in health
care. Policies and issues affecting practice in various health care environments will
be discussed.
This course provides an introduction to the research process and evidence-based practice.
Emphasis is placed on understanding the contribution of research to professional reasoning
and decision-making for practice.
This course is an integrated fieldwork experience that focuses on direct observation
and participation in the occupational therapy process in physical disability and rehabilitation.
Supervision by fieldwork educators provides opportunities to develop professional
behaviors and skills.
This course provides an overview of occupational therapy practice in productive aging.
Various theories and models will provide a framework for the application of the occupational
therapy practice with older adults.
This course presents concepts in administration and management within health care
and provides an overview of various business aspects of occupational therapy practice
by exploring topics such as health care systems, strategic planning, reimbursement
and payment, personnel management, and program evaluation and development.
This course provides an overview of details for becoming occupational therapists and
explores topics such as preparation for the NBCOT exam, licensure, continuing education,
professional development, advocacy, and leadership opportunities. Required knowledge
and skills in preparation for Level II Fieldwork will be assessed through a comprehensive
exam/professional portfolio presented to the OTD faculty for evaluation.
Advanced study of the essential function of the occupational therapist as an educator
through an in-depth examination of the teaching-learning processes during client education
and training as well as an exploration of academic practice in occupational therapy
education. Emphasizes underlying principles, theories, approaches, and preparation
strategies applicable to these distinct educational contexts such as health and cultural
literacy, pedagogy, andragogy, and instructional design.
As the second course with a focus on evidence-based practice, this course will provide
a deeper examination of research concepts, questions and issues with a focus on research
integration and knowledge translation as applied to occupational therapy practice
and professional priorities. Engaged in the research process, students will demonstrate
research competencies through clinical/critical question formation, finding and evaluating
evidence, interpreting and synthesizing information, and prepare written and oral
scholarly works to disseminate findings and recommendations. Students will consider
ethical practice policies and processes related to research. Students will understand
grant acquisition as a funding option supporting scholarship and program development.
This course is an integrated fieldwork experience that focuses on direct observation
and participation in the occupational therapy process for productive aging. Supervision
by fieldwork educators provides opportunities to develop professional behaviors and
skills.
In this second course of the doctoral capstone preparatory sequence, students begin
to work collaboratively with the capstone team to design a capstone project and proposal
for a related in-depth capstone experience to develop and apply advanced skills in
a self-identified professional focus area. Preparation for the doctoral capstone includes
a literature review, needs assessment, IRB submission, and initial development of
individual learning objectives and evaluation plan for the evolving project.
This course is the first full-time Level II Fieldwork designed to develop entry-level
competence and proficiency as an occupational therapist at the assigned site. Supervision
by fieldwork educators provides opportunities to further develop professional behaviors
and skills.
Students further their preparation for the doctoral capstone and continue to collaboratively
lead the capstone team while refining and finalizing any remaining components from
OTD 738 Capstone II, including securing final IRB approval for their chosen project,
finalizing learning objectives and the evaluation plan, and developing an initial
professional dissemination plan for their capstone work
This course is the second full-time Level II Fieldwork designed to develop entry-level
competence and proficiency as an occupational therapist at the assigned site. Supervision
by fieldwork educators provides opportunities to further develop professional behaviors
and skills.
During this final doctoral capstone preparatory course, students finalize a cohesive
and logical plan to implement their culminating doctoral capstone project and experience.
This process includes the completion of a supervision plan, proposal for implementation,
and a plan for evaluation and professional dissemination, agreed upon by the capstone
team.
This course is an in-depth, full-time experience in one or more of the following:
clinical practice skills, research skills, administration, leadership, program and
policy development, advocacy, education, or theory development.
This course focuses on presentation of and demonstration of advanced knowledge obtained
through the doctoral capstone.
Have Questions? Contact Us.
Jessica Sweet
Health Care Admissions
jessica.sweet@stmary.edu
913-758-6328
Follow USM OT on Instagram Follow the SOTA on Instagram
Follow USM OT on Facebook
USM FAFSA Code: 001943
Have Questions? Contact Us.
Jessica Sweet
Health Care Admissions
jessica.sweet@stmary.edu
913-758-6328
Follow USM OT on Instagram Follow the SOTA on Instagram Follow USM OT on Facebook
USM FAFSA Code: 001943