Contact Information:
Admissions Office
601 25th Avenue S.
Minneapolis, MN 55454
(651) 690-7803

Fieldwork is the opportunity to apply the theory learned in class to the clinical or community experience. The CSC OTA fieldwork component is unique, in that it follows a "learn it-do it" model. Students complete three fieldwork experiences, which are integral to the curriculum and must be completed in a timely fashion. In fieldwork, our students:
· Gain confidence through the practical application of newly learned skills.
· Improve problem solving and clinical reasoning skills.
· Transition from the "student role" to the "therapist role".

Level I
CSC OTA Program is unique in that the Level I experience is concurrent with classes in the first year. This provides an opportunity for students to be out on fieldwork two days a week and back in the classroom three days a week where they can discuss on-going experiences and questions around issues that they have. Although the Level I fieldwork is the first experience, students do learn how to approach and converse with clients with ease and confidence, work cooperatively with staff and they develop skills in planning and adapting activities.

The Level I experience includes working with the developmentally delayed population on Tuesdays and the elderly population on Thursdays. Some of the possible sites include schools, nursing homes and adult day care.

Level II
There are two Level II fieldwork experiences that occur in the second year of the program. These experiences are working with clients with both physical rehabilitation needs and psychosocial needs. During these experiences the students begin to apply and integrate the knowledge and skills learned in the classroom. They participate in the occupational therapy process including assessment, program planning, intervention, discontinuation, service management, continuing education, and public relations.

Future Trends
The OTA Program is striving to incorporate more fieldwork sites in emerging practice areas in order to utilize students’ knowledge and strengths, especially in encouraging the promotion of occupational therapy in the community. As the profession of OT reinforces meaningful use of occupation as a means, rather than an end product, the OTA Program also continues to explore possibilities for exciting fieldwork sites that employ this model as well.

One of these community psychosocial sites that provided a two-month fieldwork experience for our students was Person to Person. The student who was recently assigned to this non-profit organization reported that the facility serves low-income families to help with homeless prevention and independent living skills. Their mission is to promote self-sufficiency with their “neighbors” (clients). The student’s eyes were open to “the culture of poverty and its effects on the people who are experiencing it”.

OTA Fieldwork Requirements
All students enrolled in the OTA Program must meet certain requirements that are needed prior to being assigned to their fieldwork experiences. These include:
· Current immunizations
· Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training
· Background checks as a part of the State Rule 11
· HIPAA training.