Overview
The entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctorate Degree is designed to prepare students to become Occupational Therapy practitioners.
Graduates will learn how to help people attain their desired level of participation in life regardless of age, race, ethnicity, culture, or socioeconomic background. They will learn Occupational Therapy practice across the lifespan and across practice settings. They will become scholarly and innovative thinkers, and will articulate clearly through written and verbal communication the value of the profession.
In addition to the graduate faculty, the faculty members in the program are:
Feretti, Ann Marie; Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Rehabilitation & Movement Science; Ed.D., University of St. Augustine
Hawko, Nicola; Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Rehabilitation & Movement Science; OTD, University of Alabama at Brimingham
Maynard, Margaret; Clinical Assistant Professor, Capstone Coordinator, Department of Rehabilitation & Movement Science; OTD, Boston University
Degrees
Krebs, Kimberly; Clinical Assistant Professor, Academic Fieldwork Coordinator, Department of Rehabilitation & Movement Science; OTD, University of Southern California
Priganc, Victoria; Associate Professor, Program Director, Department of Rehabilitation and Movement Science; PHD, Nova Southeastern University
Courses
OT 7100. Foundations for OT Practice. 2 Credits.
The history of occupational therapy, and exploration of theories and frames of reference that guide practice. Introduction to documentation, ethical practice, professionalism, goal writing, APA, and scholarly writing. Prerequisite: Occupational Therapy Doctoral student.
OT 7110. Functional Anatomy. 4 Credits.
Students will develop a working knowledge of the structure of the human body. Cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, renal and urinary, and immune systems will be reviewed. Musculoskeletal and nervous systems will be reviewed detail in terms of normal and abnormal function. Functional implications will be explored. Prerequisite: Occupational Therapy Doctoral student.
OT 7120. Mvt and Occup Performance. 3 Credits.
Exploration of how movement deficits impact functional performance. Kinesiology, biomechanical concepts and everyday physics are incorporated with anatomy concepts to help students understand normal and abnormal movement patterns. Goniometers, manual muscle testing, observation, and palpation will be utilized to assess normal and abnormal movement patterns. Prerequisite: Occupational Therapy Doctoral student.
OT 7130. Dev of Humans as Occ Beings. 2 Credits.
Exploration of normal development of humans from birth to death through the lens of occupational science. Motor development, biological variables, social development, social determinants of health, environmental factors, and health-related factors are explored as students understand variables that influence occupational participation throughout the lifespan. Prerequisite: Occupational Therapy Doctoral student.
OT 7140. Psych & MH Influence on Occup. 3 Credits.
Explores the ways in which psychosocial variables and mental health can influence occupation; the history of occupational therapy in mental health; and the influence of psychosocial variables on health. Students learn motivational interviewing and mindfulness, and practice running groups. Prerequisite: Occupational Therapy Doctoral student.
OT 7180. Analyze Activity & Performance. 2 Credits.
Explains how to break down activities into minute pieces to gain an understanding of barriers that may impact desired participation. Performance skills and patterns, contexts and environments, and client factors will be analyzed as students explore the occupational therapy practice framework. Prerequisite: Occupational Therapy Doctoral student.
OT 7200. Therapeutic Interventions. 3 Credits.
Covers a variety of therapeutic interventions that can assist clients with everyday living. Includes concepts such as wheelchair fitting, orthosis fabrication, prosthetic management, modalities, telehealth, and assistive technology. Teaches 3D design and printing. Prerequisite: OT 7100.
OT 7240. Vis&Cog-Percep Infl Occupation. 3 Credits.
Examines how vision, cognition, and perception can be an underlying barrier to performance in desired activities. Visual screening, visual attention, visual field deficits, executive functioning, awareness and attention deficits, visual-spatial impairments, cognitive function, neurocognitive disorders, memory deficits, and perceptual problems are addressed. Prerequisite: OT 7100.
OT 7250. Older Adults as Occup Beings. 6 Credits.
Examines occupational performance for older adults and treatment strategies. Common health conditions and psychosocial conditions are addressed. An experiential learning course with class happening in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and senior-citizen centers to provide hands-on experiences. Prerequisite: OT 7100.
OT 7350. Cultural Immersion. 2 Credits.
Immersion in a practice setting to explore cultural, socioeconomic, racial, ethnic, and diversity factors that impact occupational performance. Students may engage in local projects, or participate in a travel-study course. Students uncover methods to improve occupational performance in community and emerging practice areas. Prerequisite: OT 7200.
OT 7370. Research I: Identifying Gaps. 2 Credits.
Students begin the formulation of research groups and identify a research faculty mentor. Students explore the literature on a focused topic, work with their research groups and faculty mentor, formulate their research question, and write their IRB proposal. Prerequisite: OT 7200.
OT 7400. Teaching and Advocacy. 2 Credits.
Teaches advocacy techniques, teaching strategies, marketing concepts, and health literacy concepts. Students utilize this knowledge to explain and advocate for the occupational therapy practice to a variety of stakeholders. Prerequisite: OT 7350.
OT 7450. Young Adults as Occup Beings. 6 Credits.
Examines occupational performance for young adults and treatment strategies. Common health conditions and psychosocial conditions are addressed. An experiential learning course with class happening in rehabilitation facilities, hand therapy clinics, and additional centers to provide hands-on experiences. Prerequisite: OT 7350.
OT 7470. Research II: Implementing. 2 Credits.
Student groups from OT 7370 implement their research project. Students will learn to conduct research, implement recruitment strategies, gather and analyze data, and draw conclusions from the findings. Prerequisite: OT 7370.
OT 7480. Designing Creative Ther Interv. 2 Credits.
Uses traditional or modern crafts or activities to design a creative therapeutic intervention. Students will choose a skill, craft or activity that is new to them, learn it, analyze it, and demonstrate how that skill or craft can be utilized in a therapeutic manner. Prerequisite: OT 7350.
OT 7490. OT Practice Management. 3 Credits.
Examines the practice management side of occupational therapy including electronic medical systems, the interprofessional team, the role of the occupational therapy assistant, reimbursement systems, legislative and regulatory issues, financial management, business planning, strategic planning, program evaluation, marketing, liability, and supervision. Prerequisite: OT 7350.
OT 7491. Doctoral Dissertation Research. 1-18 Credits.
Research for the Doctoral Dissertation.
OT 7550. Children as Occup Beings. 6 Credits.
Examines occupational performance for children and treatment strategies. Common health conditions and psychosocial conditions are addressed. An experiential learning course with class happening in pediatric rehabilitation facilities and school settings to provide hands-on experiences. Prerequisite: OT 7450.
OT 7560. Living Life to the Fullest. 3 Credits.
Students utilize knowledge gained throughout the program to explore advanced cases and helping people with complex scenarios live their life to the fullest. Technology, occupational science, and occupational therapy theories will be utilized as students piece together assessment and intervention of clients with advanced, complex cases. Prerequisite: OT 7450.
OT 7570. Research III: Disseminating. 2 Credits.
Student groups prepare their research for presentation at the University of Vermont. Includes formatting research (1) as a poster presentation for a national conference, (2) as a presentation, and (3) submitting research posters to a regional, national, or international conference. Prerequisite: OT 7470.
OT 7590. Becoming Life Long Pract. 3 Credits.
Students prepare to become professionals and life-long learners by reflecting on their experiential learning courses and exploring who they are as therapists. Students learn the registration and licensure process, the value of participation in national organizations, and life-long learning. Prerequisite: OT 7450.
OT 7600. Cap I: Prof Scholar & Explor. 2 Credits.
First in a capstone series. Students are introduced to Boyer's four areas of scholarship: Scholarship of Discovery, Scholarship of Integration, Scholarship of Applications, Scholarship of Teaching. Students choose one area that will guide their capstone project. Prerequisite: OT 7200.
OT 7610. Cap II: Devel & Support Evide. 1 Credit.
Second in the capstone series. Students will find evidence to support the capstone. Quantitative and qualitative literature will be critiqued and synthesized into a comprehensive literature review. Students develop the capstone proposal. Prerequisite: OT 7600.
OT 7620. Capstone III: Proposal Defense. 1 Credit.
Students finalize their capstone proposal. Includes the literature review, goals/objectives, implementation plan, and an evaluation plan. Students must successfully defend their capstone proposal to a committee. Prerequisite: OT 7610.
OT 7630. Capstone IV: Capstone Experien. 7 Credits.
Capstone experience required for all entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctoral students. Students will spend a minimum of 14-weeks or 560 hours with their identified capstone mentor to implement and evaluate their capstone project. Most students will be off-campus for their capstone experience. Prerequisite: Level II fieldwork.
OT 7700. Fieldwork I. 1 Credit.
Concurrent with a traditional level I fieldwork experience. Students participate in seminars focused on professional identity and behavior, simulated case scenarios, and reflective exercises linked to the fieldwork experience. Prerequisite: OT 7200. Co-requisite: OT 7701.
OT 7701. Fieldwork I Clinical Placement. 1 Credit.
A traditional level I fieldwork experience. Students will be placed in a clinical setting for 10 days, within a 2-month period during the summer semester, and observe occupational therapy practice with a clinician. Prerequisite: OT 7200. Co-requisite: OT 7700.
OT 7710. Fieldwork Level IIA. 9 Credits.
The first Level II fieldwork experience. Students are placed full-time (minimum 30 hours/week or 360 hours total) at a clinic under the guidance of a Level II Fieldwork Supervisor. This Level II fieldwork experience is a minimum of 12 weeks. Prerequisites: OT 7700, OT 7550.
OT 7720. Fieldwork Level IIB. 9 Credits.
The second Level II fieldwork experience. Students are placed full-time (minimum 30 hours/week or 360 hours total) at a clinic under the guidance of a Level II Fieldwork Supervisor. This Level II fieldwork experience is a minimum of 12 weeks. Prerequisite: OT 7710.
OT 7990. Special Topics. 1-18 Credits.
See Schedule of Courses for specific titles.
OT 7991. Internship. 1-18 Credits.
On-site supervised work experience combined with a structured academic learning plan directed by a faculty member or a faculty-staff team in which a faculty member is the instructor of record, for which academic credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
OT 7993. Independent Study. 1-18 Credits.
A course which is tailored to fit the interests of a specific student, which occurs outside the traditional classroom/laboratory setting under the supervision of a faculty member, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.
OT 7995. Graduate Independent Research. 1-18 Credits.
Graduate student work on individual or small team research projects under the supervision of a faculty member, for which credit is awarded. Offered at department discretion.