The following information applies to the Entry-Level Doctor of Occupational Therapy program, which is for students looking to become occupational therapists.
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes of the EL-OTD program are guided by and aligned with the guidelines, the mission of Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences and °®¶¹´«Ã½ University.
- Biological, physical, social, cultural, contextual/environmental and behavioral sciences that support an understanding of engagement in occupation across the lifespan.
- Communication that embraces therapeutic use of self in the intentional relationship to professional oral and written communication; adheres to ethical values and standards, management and the sociopolitical cultural context; and is informed by clinical reasoning and theoretical and scientific evidence.
- Clinical sciences addressing service delivery models in medical, school and community settings to address interruption of functional performance in day-to-day tasks related to a multiplicity of developmental or acquired disorders impacting cognition, behavioral, motoric learning/re-learning, social and developmental disorders.
- Practice expectations, including screening and skilled examination relying on observational, manual, visual, evaluation and clinically reasoned interpretation of findings to construct and deliver an effective plan of care, with focused interventions as an interprofessional team member.
- Graduates must successfully demonstrate entry-level practice competency through 24 weeks of full-time mentored practice and 14 weeks of full-time capstone experience.
- Graduates will learn to think like an occupational therapist as reflected in the final capstone project.
Program outcomes
Graduates of the EL-OTD program will demonstrate the ability to:
- Establish therapeutic relationships with clients and caregivers and professional relationships with colleagues consistent with the Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics and Ethics Standards (AOTA, 2010)
- Evaluate body structures/functions to determine their impact on engagement and participation in activities and activity limitations
- Develop and implement theory-driven and evidence-based body structure/function interventions to prevent, reduce, control or ameliorate impairment and to prepare for safe performance and participation in day-to-day activities
- Screen and assess client’s participation and participation restrictions, activity and activity limitations, functional and structural integrity and impairments, and occupational environment; document the findings and accurately interpret the results
- Formulate, implement and document theory-driven and evidence-based interventions that promote client’s participation in life situations, health and well-being and to prevent participation restrictions
- Analyze day-to-day activities and occupations for their ability to enable client’s independence, safety and satisfaction
- Develop and implement a transition plan in collaboration with clients in preparation for the discontinuation of occupational therapy services, when appropriate
- Collaborate effectively in an interprofessional healthcare delivery model
- Practice occupational therapy in an ethical manner