Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA)

OTA 101. Fundamentals of Occupational Therapy Assistant I. 3 Credit Hours.

Foundations of Occupational Therapy Assistant I is an introduction to occupational therapy, its philosophy, goals, and focus in relation to basic treatment in geriatrics, psychosocial dysfunction, physical disabilities, and developmental pediatrics. Beginning skills in the practice of occupational therapy are taught. (Weekly clinical hours will be arranged).
Prerequisites: Admission to the OTA program, BIO 207 and PSY 200 with minimum grades of "C", and Reading Proficiency

OTA 102. Fundamentals of Occupational Therapy Assistant II. 4 Credit Hours.

Fundamentals of Occupational Therapy II provides students with knowledge and beginning skills in occupational therapy treatment related to psycho-social dysfunction across the lifespan. Students learn basic psychiatric terms, diagnoses, and behaviors as well as how occupational performance is affected. Practice with selecting and implementing group intervention, assessing areas of occupation, and analyzing occupational performance, as well as clinical experiences in a psychosocial setting are included.
Prerequisites: OTA 101, OTA 103, PSY 205, all with a minimum grade of "C" and Reading Proficiency

OTA 103. Adaptive Activities I. 2 Credit Hours.

Adaptive Activities I introduces the student to the therapeutic use of purposeful activities in occupational therapy including performance skill and pattern analysis, occupational profile analysis, contexts and environments, and methods of instruction.
Prerequisites: Admission to the OTA program, BIO 207 and PSY 200 with minimum grades of "C" and Reading Proficiency

OTA 104. Adaptive Activities II. 2 Credit Hours.

Adaptive Activities II builds on the information learned in Adaptive Activities I. Topics focus on assistive technology and adaptive devices related to problem areas commonly seen in physical dysfunction across the lifespan. Skills learned in this course include, but are not limited to, selecting, designing, fabricating, modifying, and recommending adaptive equipment related to seating, positioning, and splinting. Students learn to select, implement, and instruct clients and caregivers in client-centered interventions that allow completion of functional tasks and occupations.
Prerequisites: OTA 101, OTA 103, PSY 205, all with a minimum grade of "C", and Reading Proficiency

OTA 203. Fundamentals of Occupational Therapy III. 4 Credit Hours.

Fundamentals of Occupational Therapy III presents the basic principles of assessment, interpretation, and intervention implementation for deficits and performance limitations associated with physical dysfunction due to various diagnoses. The lectures and assignments are designed to enhance the clinical reasoning skills necessary for good client-centered decision-making.
Prerequisites: OTA 102, OTA 104, OTA 207, BIO 208, PTA 222, and SOC 201 with minimum grades of "C" or better, and Reading Proficiency
Corequisites: OTA 208

OTA 204. Fundamentals of Occupational Therapy IV. 4 Credit Hours.

Fundamentals of Occupational Therapy Assistant IV provides the student with a foundation in motor development as a basis for selecting treatment techniques and outcomes for the pediatric population. Students are given the opportunity to explore evaluation and treatment procedures in pediatrics, including developmental and perceptual motor skills, observation, screening, assessment, self-care, design, and use of adaptive equipment along with play/leisure treatment strategies.
Prerequisites: OTA 102, OTA 104, OTA 207 with minimum grades of "C" and Reading Proficiency

OTA 207. Health and Disease. 4 Credit Hours.

Health and Disease provides an overview of disease conditions typically encountered in occupational therapy practice. Etiology, symptoms, and the physical as well as psychological reactions to these conditions are explored, along with basic influences contributing to healthy living. There will be an emphasis on recognizing and using appropriate medical terminology and the role and function of the occupational therapy assistant within the treatment process.
Prerequisites: BIO 207, OTA 101, OTA 103, PSY 205, all with a minimum grade of "C" and Reading Proficiency

OTA 208. Adaptive Living Skills. 2 Credit Hours.

Adaptive Living Skills allows students hands-on practice with occupation-based intervention principles that are used to improve occupational performance affected by physical and/or cognitive dysfunction. The focus of this course is to gain entry level occupational therapy assistant skills needed to select and implement strategies that restore identified deficits in occupational performance - to grade and/or adapt activities, modify environments, and use adaptive equipment and assistive technology to enhance occupational performance (i.e. activities of daily living, functional mobility, community mobility, work, leisure, sleep/rest, education, etc.) for clients across the lifespan.
Prerequisites: BIO 208, PTA 222, OTA 102, OTA 104, OTA 207, SOC 201 all with minimum grades of "C" and Reading Proficiency
Corequisites: OTA 203

OTA 213. Occupational Therapy Assistant Practicum I. 4 Credit Hours.

This full-time 8 week fieldwork practicum is designed to bridge the student from classroom to clinic in preparation for entry level practice as an occupational therapy assistant. Under the supervision of an experienced occupational therapy practitioner, the student participates in an in-depth experience providing occupational therapy services to clients, focusing on the application of purposeful and meaningful occupation. It is designed to promote problem-solving and clinical reasoning appropriate to the occupational therapy assistant role and to develop professionalism and competence in career responsibilities.
Prerequisites: OTA 203, OTA 204, OTA 208, OTA 215, all with a minimum grade of "C", and the completion of all general education requirements for the occupational therapy assistant program and Reading Proficiency
Corequisites: OTA 216

OTA 214. Occupational Therapy Assistant Practicum II. 4 Credit Hours.

This is the second of two full-time 8 week fieldwork practicum designed to bridge the student from classroom to clinic in preparation for entry level practice as an occupational therapy assistant. Under the supervision of an experienced occupational therapy practitioner, the student participates in an in-depth experience providing occupational therapy services to clients, focusing on the application of purposeful and meaningful occupation. It is designed to promote problem-solving and clinical reasoning appropriate to the occupational therapy assistant role and to develop professionalism and competence in career responsibilities.
Prerequisites: OTA 203, OTA 204, OTA 208, OTA 215 with minimum grades of "C", and the completion of all general education requirements for the occupational therapy assistant curriculum and Reading Proficiency
Corequisites: OTA 216

OTA 215. The Management of Occupational Therapy. 2 Credit Hours.

The Management of Occupational Therapy explores the roles of the occupational therapy assistant in health care delivery. A variety of topics like current trends, documentation, reimbursement, credentialing, ethical standards, and Total Quality Management (TMR) are explored to provide students a foundation in the management of occupational therapy service. Other critical themes touched upon include ethical issues, multicultural diversity, occupational therapist and occupational therapy assistant collaboration and supervision, interprofessional team collaboration, and evidence-based practice. (Credit is only allowed for either OTA 215 or OTA 212.)
Prerequisites: OTA 102, OTA 104, OTA 207, SOC 201, BIO 208, and PTA 222 with minimum grades of "C" and Reading Proficiency

OTA 216. Level II Fieldwork Seminar. 1 Credit Hour.

This is a program culminating course designed to facilitate the transition from student to OTA practitioner. Basic knowledge and skills necessary to enter the workplace are reviewed. There is an emphasis on legal, ethical and professional issues. Certification and licensure preparation as well as job seeking skills are investigated.
Prerequisites: OTA 203, OTA 204, OTA 208, OTA 215, all with a minimum grade of "C", and Reading Proficiency
Corequisites: OTA 213 and OTA 214