Course Titles and Descriptions

Below are the general education and core course titles and descriptions for the A.S. in Occupational Therapy Assistant Program.

75 Clock Hours/90 BRN Clock Hours/6 Quarter Credit Hours/4 Semester Credit Hours

Prerequisites: None

This course is the first of two courses covering the structure and function of human organ systems. The basics of the structures and functions of the human body will be discussed during lectures and labs.

Between GE 020A and GE 020B, topics on all major organ systems will be examined while considering them in the state of health versus the state of disease. This course is the prerequisite for GE 020B – Human Body in Health & Disease II.

This is a General Education Course.

75 Clock Hours/90 BRN Clock Hours /6 Quarter Credit Hours/4 Semester Credit Hours

Prerequisites: GE 020A – Human Body in Health & Disease I.

This is the second of two courses covering the structure and function of human organ systems. The basics of the structures and functions of the human body will be discussed during the lecture and lab. Between GE 020A and GE 020B, topics on all major organ systems will be examined while considering them in the state of health versus the state of disease.

This is a General Education Course.

45 Clock Hours/3 Semester Credit Hours

Prerequisites: None

This course discusses the existing theories of growth and development. It focuses on understanding the dynamic sequence of biological, psychological, and sociological changes that occur through the life cycle from birth to death.

This is a General Education Course.

45 Clock Hours/4.5 Quarter Credit Hours/3 Semester Credit Hours

Prerequisites: None

This course gives students the math skills that provide a foundation for more advanced courses. Students will explore writing and solving linear and nonlinear equations, powers and exponents, quadratic equations, polynomials, factoring, graphing, and linear inequalities and functions.

This is a General Education Course.

45 Clock Hours/3 Semester Credit Hours

Prerequisites: None

This course includes studying basic methods and concepts of psychology, which have broad academic relevance and can be applied to studying psychology and other academic disciplines.

This is a General Education Course.

45 Clock Hours/4.5 Quarter Credit Hours/3 Semester Credit Hours

Prerequisites: None

This course will explore the fundamental analog and digital skills of oral and written communication to help create professional written and oral communication within their careers. This is an introduction to various methods used to communicate effectively and create a language that articulates information to connect a speaker to an audience.

This is a General Education Course.

45 Clock Hours/3 Semester Credit Hours

Prerequisites: None

This course introduces communication in interpersonal relationships, group interactions, and formal speaking, with skill development in listening, speech preparation, and oral presentation.

This is a General Education Course.

45 Clock Hours/4.5 Quarter Credit Hours

Prerequisite: Completion of quarter I with a “C” or better.

This course examines the development of occupational therapy as a profession. Occupational therapy will be investigated from the perspective of its historical and cultural context, including philosophy and social movements, political and economic influences, and the rise of American medicine.

The course will illustrate how the areas and methods of occupational therapy training/education and practice have changed over time. Occupational therapy conceptual models and frames of reference will be examined and practiced.

Emphasis will be placed on the use of the OTPF 4 and its relationship with the ICF. The development of occupational science and its origins, along with its impact on occupational therapy daily practice, will be addressed.

45 Clock Hours/4.5 Quarter Credit Hours

Prerequisites: Completion of quarters I and II with a “C” or better.

This course explores activity analysis and the various occupations or activities used as therapeutic interventions in occupational therapy. The course emphasizes awareness of activity demands, contexts, adapting, grading, and safe implementation of occupations or activities.

The student will apply an understanding of the OTPF4 by identifying and analyzing various occupations or activities designed to enhance occupational performance specific to infants through adolescent populations. The learner will also analyze and discuss many theoretical perspectives commonly used in occupational therapy practice, focusing on occupation-based models and their implementation in individuals and groups.

The overarching theme of the course is the importance of occupation in the promotion of health and the prevention of disease and disability.

30 Clock Hours/2 Quarter Credit Hour

Prerequisites: Completion of quarters I and II with a “C” or better.

This course introduces students to basic knowledge and current advances in neuroscience, including the basics of neuroanatomy and neurophysiology. Students gain an understanding and appreciation of the relevance of neuroscience to occupational therapy practice and an understanding of the Body Systems and Body Functions that contribute to human occupational performance.

Emphasis is placed on neuroplasticity and the neurological basis for intervention techniques used in our practice for clients with the most common neurological conditions treated by occupational therapy. The positive and negative effects of medications on rehabilitation will also be discussed.

45 Clock Hours/4.5 Quarter Credit Hours

Prerequisites: Completion of quarters I and II with a “C” or better.

Delineate the roles of the occupational therapy personnel; demonstrate legal and documentation skills; give examples of reimbursement systems; articulate the requirements for certification and licensure; explain quality assurance; apply ethical standards in practice; summarize the roles of the healthcare team and differentiate levels of supervision.

This course discusses pathophysiological changes in acutely ill and chronically ill patients across the lifespan using a systems and inter-systems approach. The course covers identifying pathological changes in assessing patients with major health disruptions, techniques appropriate to patients using a major systems approach, analysis of data, and description of intersystem relationships across the life span as a basis for problem-solving the nursing process.

Basic EKG, arrhythmia determination, and ABG analysis are included.

75 Clock Hours/6 Quarter Credit Hours

Prerequisites: Completion of semesters I and II with a “C” or better.

The overall purpose of this course is to prepare the student to provide occupation-based interventions that address the psychosocial needs of clients across the lifespan. The most common mental health disorders, how they impact occupation and evidence-based interventions will be studied.

Students will develop an understanding of safety, group dynamics, phases of group development, group roles, conflict resolution, problem-solving, and therapeutic groups. Students will learn and practice individual and group interventions across the lifespan.

40 Clock Hours/1 Quarter Credit Hours

Prerequisites: Completion of semesters I and II with a “C” or better.

Fieldwork education is a crucial part of professional preparation and is best integrated into the curriculum design. The fieldwork experience is designed to promote professional reasoning and reflective practice, transmit the values and beliefs that enable ethical practice, and develop professionalism and competence in career responsibilities.

The experience should allow the student to carry out professional responsibilities under the supervision of qualified personnel serving as a role model. (2023 ACOTE Standard C.1.0. Fieldwork Education).

Through Level I Fieldwork experiences, the student will be introduced to clinical practice for individuals with mental health conditions and dysregulated behaviors that limit or affect occupation engagement. As a participant observer, the student will integrate academic experiences with the Occupational Therapy (OT) process in settings serving clients with various psychosocial challenges and degrees of disability.

55 Clock Hours/5.5 Quarter Credit Hours

Prerequisites: Completion of quarters I, II, and III with a “C” or better.

This course is designed to develop and improve each person’s leadership skills. Areas such as goal setting, team building, personal relations, and problem-solving will be covered. Learn what leadership is all about by learning about your leadership style, developing goal-setting skills, communication skills, decision-making skills, teamwork, and much more.

You will develop your leadership skills further by studying time and stress management, parliamentary procedure, peer pressure, self-confidence, assertiveness, and a positive attitude. This course will have a small business plan created by students as a final product.

30 Clock Hours/2 Quarter Credit Hour

Prerequisites: Completion of quarters I, II, and III with a “C” or better.

This course provides students with an introduction to human movement and the biomechanics of the human body. Emphasis on the musculoskeletal system, including skeletal structures, muscles, and nerves, and biomechanical assessment procedures will be studied. This course will provide a fundamental understanding of the human structure and function to assess normal motion and its underlying client factors for thorough activity analysis of desired occupations.

75 Clock Hours/6 Quarter Credit Hours

Prerequisites: Completion of quarters I, II, and III with a “C” or better.

Throughout this course, students can explore the occupational performance of children and adolescents with typical and non-typical development. This course also presents the theoretical foundations, conceptual models, and frames of reference of occupational therapy in pediatric practice, focusing on family-centered practice related to treatment objectives and implementation.

Conditions and issues related to various settings in pediatric practice are discussed; documentation concepts, including but not limited to daily notes and educational materials, are discussed and practiced. Hands-on opportunities during laboratories to practice treatment techniques and equipment are included.

Typical and atypical development are discussed within community, family, and school environments. Students explore occupational therapy processes with children and youth while learning evidence-based, occupational-based, family-centered practice, clinical guidelines, and clinical reasoning skills.

40 Clock Hours/1 Quarter Credit Hours

Prerequisites: Completion of quarters I, II, and III with a “C” or better.

Fieldwork education is a crucial part of professional preparation and is best integrated into the curriculum design. The fieldwork experience is designed to promote professional reasoning and reflective practice, transmit the values and beliefs that enable ethical practice, and develop professionalism and competence in career responsibilities. The experience should allow the student to carry out professional responsibilities under the supervision of qualified personnel serving as a role model. (2023 ACOTE Standard C.1.0. Fieldwork Education)

Through Level I Fieldwork experiences, the student will be introduced to clinical practice for infants, children, and adolescents displaying normal development and comparisons with those in the pediatric and/or adolescent population with developmental conditions that limit or affect engagement in occupations. As a participant observer, the student will integrate academic experiences with the Occupational Therapy (OT) process in settings serving infant, child, and adolescent clients with various occupational challenges and degrees of disability.

75 Clock Hours/6 Quarter Credit Hours

Prerequisites: Completion of quarters I, II, III, and IV with a “C” or better.

This course will introduce students to the occupational therapy process for younger and older adults with physical dysfunction who experience difficulties with everyday occupations. Students will be prepared to deliver care in physical rehabilitation to these populations with different conditions in various current practice settings [e.g., hospital (acute, sub-acute), community (outpatient, home, and long-term care)], and service delivery models.

Students will learn relevant evidence-supported theoretical perspectives, models and frames of reference, evidence-based practice literature, and clinical guidelines in physical rehabilitation. This practice course will help students with client-centered, evidence-based, and ethical decision-making in rehabilitation.

40 Clock Hours/1 Quarter Credit Hour

Prerequisites: Completion of quarters I, II, III, and IV with a “C” or better.

Fieldwork education is a crucial part of professional preparation and is best integrated into the curriculum design. The fieldwork experience is designed to promote professional reasoning and reflective practice, transmit the values and beliefs that enable ethical practice, and develop professionalism and competence in career responsibilities.

The experience should allow the student to carry out professional responsibilities under the supervision of qualified personnel serving as a role model. (2023 ACOTE Standard C.1.0. Fieldwork Education)

Through Level I Fieldwork experiences, the student will be introduced to clinical practice for adults and older adults with physical dysfunctions that limit or affect occupation engagement. As a participant observer, the student will integrate academic experiences with the Occupational Therapy (OT) process in settings serving adult and older adult individuals with physical dysfunction in various occupational challenges and degrees of disability.

60 Clock Hours/4.5 Quarter Credit Hours

Prerequisites: Completion of semesters I, II, III, and IV with a “C” or better.

Students will draw on experience and knowledge gained throughout the curriculum. They will explore the role of occupational therapy while providing services to the elderly, especially in influencing and maintaining the health, well-being, and quality of life of those who experience age-related changes and/or manage chronic disease conditions.

We will address the occupational therapy evaluation done by the OTR and the OTA therapeutic interventions used with his population. Students will examine topics within public health and epidemiology and expand their knowledge of the occupational therapist’s capacity to prevent disability and activity limitations and to promote health, participation, and social inclusion.

Policies that impact this demographic group will also be analyzed for their contribution to health and participation inequities—implementation in individuals and groups. The overarching theme of the course is the importance of occupation in the promotion of health and the prevention of disease and disability.

40 Clock Hours/1 Quarter Credit Hour

Prerequisites: Completion of quarters I, II, III, and IV with a “C” or better.

Fieldwork education is a crucial part of professional preparation and is best integrated into the curriculum design. The fieldwork experience is designed to promote professional reasoning and reflective practice, transmit the values and beliefs that enable ethical practice, and develop professionalism and competence in career responsibilities. The experience should allow the student to carry out professional responsibilities under the supervision of qualified personnel serving as a role model. (2023 ACOTE Standard C.1.0. Fieldwork Education)

Through Level I Fieldwork experiences, the student will be introduced to occupational therapy practice for elderly individuals to promote health and wellness, prevent or minimize the effects of acute and chronic diseases, and maximize independence in daily activities. As a participant observer, the student will integrate academic experiences with the Occupational Therapy (OT) process in a geriatric setting.

40 Clock Hours/4 Quarter Credit Hours

Prerequisites: Completion of quarters I, II, III, IV, and V with a “C” or better.

This course will introduce students to the occupational therapy-wide variety of clinical and non-clinical practice specialties and certifications in occupational therapy, as well as the exploration of emerging clinical and non-clinical practices potentially available in the future of our profession.

We will emphasize the basic premises of our profession: occupational-centered, evidence-based, and client-centered as the common denominator for the emerging practices. During the course, students will explore and reflect on how emerging occupational therapy practices in different settings can/could meet the needs of individuals, groups, and communities and maintain their well-being.

320 Clock Hours/10.5 Quarter Credit Hours

Prerequisites: Completion of quarters I, II, III, IV, and V with a “C” or better.

Level II fieldwork aims to develop competent, entry-level generalist occupational therapy assistants. Level II fieldwork is an integral part of the program’s curriculum design, which includes in-depth experience in delivering occupational therapy services to clients, focusing on applying purposeful and meaningful occupation. It is recommended that the student be exposed to various clients across the lifespan and various settings. (2023 ACOTE Standard C.1.0. Fieldwork Education)

This course is the first fieldwork level II rotation, which concentrates on applying knowledge and skills for the Occupational Therapy Assistant student. In conjunction with 2023 ACOTE Standard C.1.0. Fieldwork Education, the student will complete eight (8) weeks of full-time supervised fieldwork in a setting uniquely different from OTA 600, Fieldwork Level IIB.

The student will work with individuals towards the early portion of the lifespan, pediatrics, and/or adolescent clients/patients with physical dysfunction and/or psychosocial issues.

320 Clock Hours/10.5 Quarter Credit Hours

Prerequisites: Completion of quarters I, II, III, IV, V, and VI with a “C” or better

Level II fieldwork aims to develop competent, entry-level generalist occupational therapy assistants. Level II fieldwork is an integral part of the program’s curriculum design, which includes in-depth experience in delivering occupational therapy services to clients, focusing on applying purposeful and meaningful occupation. It is recommended that the student be exposed to various clients across the lifespan and various settings. (2023 ACOTE Standard C.1.0. Fieldwork Education)

This course is the second fieldwork level II rotation, which concentrates on applying knowledge and skills for the Occupational Therapy Assistant student. In conjunction with 2023 ACOTE Standard C.1.0. Fieldwork Education, the student will complete eight (8) weeks of full-time supervised fieldwork in a setting uniquely different from OTA 510, Fieldwork Level IIA.

The student will work with individuals towards the middle and latter half of their lifespan, adult and/or older adult clients/patients with physical dysfunction and/or psychosocial issues.

20 Clock Hours/2 Quarter Credit Hours

Prerequisites: Completion of quarters I, II, III, IV, V, and VI with a “C” or better

The course will prepare students for the National Board Certification of Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam. The student will learn test-taking strategies, apply clinical and didactic knowledge to case study questions, and take practice exams.