Occupational Science/Pre-Occupational Therapy

Department: Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
Occupational Science Program Director: Karen M Sames
Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy Program Director: Kathleen Matuska
Program Options: B.A., B.S.

Occupational science is the study of human occupation (the activities we do everyday; how we occupy our time) across the lifespan and cultures. The occupational science major examines how individuals manage and balance the time allotted in life for care of self and others, work and play, social activities and community participation. As a student in the major, you will explore how engaging in meaningful occupations contributes to physical, psychological and spiritual health and well-being.

The occupational science and occupational therapy faculty members are active in medical and community settings and in regional and national professional associations. Faculty members represent all areas of specialization, including mental health, wellness, public policy, physical disabilities, ergonomics, community health, pediatrics, geriatrics, administration and education. They bring the latest developments impacting the profession to the classroom and have been recognized locally and nationally for their contributions to the profession in teaching, research, publications, innovative practice ideas and leadership. The faculty offer innovative and creative approaches to teaching and are dedicated not only to helping you succeed in college, but inspiring you to excel in your personal and professional lives. Faculty members also have been recognized by the Minnesota Occupational Therapy Association (MOTA) and the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and three are Fellows of the AOTA.

As an occupational science major, you will select one of the following concentrations: interdisciplinary, occupational therapy assistant (OTA) degree completion, or pre-occupational therapy. The interdisciplinary concentration is open to all students. To be eligible to select the OTA degree completion concentration, you must already be an occupational therapy assistant. To be eligible for the pre-occupational therapy concentration, you must complete an application to the major and be accepted into the dual degree undergraduate/
graduate occupational therapy program.

Occupational Science: Interdisciplinary Concentration

This concentration is designed for students who plan to work in non-credentialed healthcare, education and community positions or pursue graduate degrees in related areas. The integration of occupational science courses with liberal arts studies gives you the breadth and depth of knowledge to work with people in a helping relationship. You work with your advisor to plan an interdisciplinary concentration that fits your individual interests and career goals. The core courses in occupational science are combined with courses from at least two other departments on campus to fulfill the concentration requirements. An internship will prepare you to communicate and demonstrate your unique skills to potential employers. Gaining experience through an internship in your area of concentration will be an important way for you to gain practical experience that increases the value you bring to organizations after graduation. You are required to complete one, 80-hour internship experience, but may choose to do additional internships as well. The following are examples of possible interdisciplinary foci:

• Children and Families. This focus is designed for individuals who have an interest in working with children and families. You will examine the ways in which children and their families develop, adapt and interact in the world around them. You learn about the importance of participation in everyday activities (occupations) and how these activities influence the health and wellness of children and their families.

• Healthy Communities. This focus is designed for individuals who believe that enabling active participation in communities by all people is vital to the health and quality of life of the society. You will examine the political, cultural and economic assets and barriers affecting the health of communities. You learn about the importance of the interaction between people and their environment, lifestyle choices and the role of everyday activities (occupations) in building healthy communities.

• Human Ecology. This focus is designed for individuals who are interested in the interaction between people and their environments (physical, social and cultural). You will examine this interaction, the influence each has on the other and the impact on quality of life for individuals and society. You learn about natural and man made environments and how these influence participation in human activities (occupations).

• Public Policy. This focus is for students who are interested in how public policy (health, education and human services) impacts participation of individuals and populations in society. You will learn about the development of public policy, how policies effect the allocation of resources, and the role of advocacy in influencing policy. You will examine existing public policies and ways they create barriers or incentives to engagement in human activities (occupation) and the creation of healthy communities.

• Spirituality. In the OSOT curriculum, spirituality is viewed as that which provides meaning and motivation in life. In this focus, you will examine the relationships among human activities (occupations), spirituality and well-being. You will explore how engagement in occupations influences and is influenced by the mind-body-spirit connections.

• Life Enrichment. This focus is for the student with a variety of interests who seeks further intellectual growth building on the traditional liberal arts education. You will explore the arts and humanities to develop an appreciation for diverse human experiences and the expression of self through engagement in activities (occupations). You learn about the value and meaning of human occupations and their importance in enriching life experiences for the individual and society.

• Student designed. You may also work with your advisor to create your own interdisciplinary concentration.

As an occupational science: interdisciplinary major graduate, you will be qualified to assume a growing number and variety of human-service positions. You could work in a business to enhance working conditions and employee job satisfaction through employee recruitment and retention programs; provide wellness and activity programs to elders in senior housing complexes to enhance their quality of life; coordinate volunteer services in hospitals, senior residences, nursing homes, homeless shelters and battered women shelters; help legislators develop laws to protect and improve the lives of vulnerable populations; mentor at-risk youth to channel their energy into activities and experiences that promote a healthy and promising future; work in sales and product promotion for companies who develop or distribute products designed to enhance living for individuals with or without disabilities; or assist government agencies run programs for people with special needs.

Occupational Science: OTA Degree-Completion Concentration

The OTA degree completion concentration combines the occupational science core courses with courses from your OTA curriculum to satisfy the requirements for the baccalaureate degree. Students in this concentration must complete one, 80-hour internship experience, but may choose to do additional internships as well.

As an occupational science: OTA degree completion student, you’ll have many career options. You could continue to work as an OTA, but assume greater responsibilities at work, leading to greater leadership opportunities. As an occupational science: OTA degree completion graduate, you will also be prepared to work with individuals, families, organizations and communities to promote participation in meaningful occupations. These careers are available in a variety of settings, such as clinics, hospitals and nursing homes; government agencies; mental health centers; healthcare-related businesses, industries and organizations; educational systems; rehabilitation, fitness and wellness centers; insurance companies; group homes/halfway houses; and social service agencies.

Occupational Science: Pre-Occupational Therapy Concentration

This concentration is designed as a dual degree program resulting in a B.A. or B.S. in occupational science and an M.A. in occupational therapy. Students who wish to become registered occupational therapists should choose this option. The core courses in occupational science are taken at the graduate level and are combined with other courses required for the M.A. in occupational therapy. A strong background in liberal arts and sciences provides the foundation for core courses in occupational science and occupational therapy. The dual-degree can be completed in five-and-one-half to six years. Additional information on the dual degree program may be found under Pre-Professional Programs in this catalog.

Occupational therapy is the therapeutic use of occupations (everyday activities) to enable people to participate in life to the fullest. To become an occupational therapist, you must earn a masters degree in occupational therapy, complete a minimum of six months of full-time fieldwork (arranged by the College), and pass a national certification test. Occupational therapists work with people of all ages and ability levels in a variety of medical, education, and community settings, providing individual or group, instructional or consultative services.

See also: Pre-Occupational Therapy, Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy (Graduate catalog), Occupational Therapy Assistant Program. Information on how to apply to the occupational science: pre-occupational therapy major can be obtained from the Graduate Admissions Office, or by contacting the Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy.

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

Core Occupational Science courses:
OSOT 3000 Seminar I: Foundations of Occupational Science
OSOT 3100 Life Occupations
OSOT 3150 Occupational Adaptation
OSOT 3250 Group Dynamics and Leadership
OSOT 4100 Occupational Inquiry
OSOT 4500 Policy and Politics in Human Service Systems
OSOT 4550 Seminar II: Capstone
OSOT 4602 Occupational Science Internship

INTERDISCIPLINARY CONCENTRATION
Core occupational science courses as listed above
Plus 20 credits of interdisciplinary courses chosen in consultation with a department advisor

Required prerequisite supporting courses:
PSYC 1001 General Psychology with Lab
PSYC 2025 Lifespan Developmental Psychology

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANT CONCENTRATION

Core occupational science courses as listed above
Plus 20 credits of approved occupational therapy assistant courses

Required prerequisite supporting courses:
PSYC 1001 General Psychology with Lab
PSYC 2025 Lifespan Developmental Psychology

PRE-OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY CONCENTRATION / DUAL DEGREE PROGRAM

Core occupational science courses at the graduate level as listed below (course descriptions are provided in the College’s graduate catalog):
OSOT 5100 Life Occupations
OSOT 5150 Occupational Adaptation
OSOT 5250 Group Dynamics and Leadership
OSOT 6100 Occupational Inquiry
OSOT 6500 Policy and Politics in Human Service Systems
OSOT 6550 Seminar

Plus the following occupational therapy graduate courses:
OSOT 5050 Foundations of Occupational Therapy
OSOT 5400 Clinical Conditions I
OSOT 5550 Clinical Kinesiology
OSOT 6050 Psychosocial: Assessment and Intervention
OSOT 6150 Motor: Assessment and Intervention
OSOT 6250 Sensation, Perception and Cognition: Assessment and Intervention
OSOT 6350 Clinical Conditions II

Required prerequisite supporting course work:
BIOL 2510 Human Anatomy
BIOL 2520 Human Physiology
INDI 2220 Medical Terminology
PSYC 1001 General Psychology with Lab
PSYC 2025 Lifespan Developmental Psychology
PSYC 3010 Abnormal Psychology
One statistics course selected in consultation with department advisor

Occupational science majors satisfy the Writing Requirement for Majors by completing OSOT 3100 (or OSOT 5100) and OSOT 3000/4550 (or OSOT 6550). You complete the Liberal Arts and Sciences Core Writing Requirement with two other writing-intensive courses (CORE 1000 and CORE 3990).

URL: http://minerva.stkate.edu/academiccatalog0709.nsf/pages/occupational_science_pre_occupational_therapy
This page was created on 05/02/2007 and last updated on 11/28/2007.
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