Curricular Threads and Goals
The Clarkson Occupational Therapy Program has five curricular threads and related goals that are interwoven throughout the curriculum. The threads and goals reflect the values and priorities of our program, as well as the unique philosophy and mission of Clarkson University. Each goal is introduced, applied, and synthesized by the end of the didactic curriculum.
Thread 1: Professional Identity
Goal 1-1: Demonstrate professional behaviors, attitudes, and actions that are reflective of the ethical standards, values, and scope of the profession.
Goal 1-2: Advocate for the profession through participation and membership in community and professional organizations.
Goal 1-3: Develop a plan to ensure lifelong learning.
Thread 2: Innovation and Technology
Goal 2-1: Implement innovative solutions to barriers using technological resources.
Goal 2-2: Educate clients and their families in the safe use and maintenance of assistive technologies and adaptive equipment.
Thread 3: Evidence-informed Practice
Goal 3-1: Critically appraise qualitative and quantitative research.
Goal 3-2: Use a combination of research evidence, professional expertise, and data driven decision making to inform assessment and intervention decisions throughout the continuum of care.
Thread 4: Occupation-based practice
Goal 4-1: Articulate the value of occupation as means and ends, which is integral to the health and well-being of individuals, groups, and populations.
Goal 4-2: Develop and implement occupation-based interventions that support clients’ habits, routines, and roles within their contexts.
Goal 4-3: Exercise sound professional judgment and clinical reasoning.
Thread 5: Interprofessional Practice
Goal 5-1: Collaborate skillfully with clients, interprofessional team members, families, and community members to ensure high quality client- and population-centered care.
Coursework:
Fall I
OT 501- Gross anatomy (4 credits)
OT 511 Development and Occupational Performance Across the Lifespan (2 credits)
OT 521 Mental Health and Occupational Performance (2 credits)
OT 531 Theory and Practice (3 credits)
OT 541 Evidence-based Practice I (3 credits)
OT 551 Fundamentals of Occupational Performance (3 credits)
OT 591 Professional Communication and Practice (2 credits)
Total: 19
Spring I
OT 503 Neuroscience (4 credits)
OT 533 Applied Kinesiology for Occupational Therapists (2 credits)
OT 553 Cognition and Occupational Performance (2 credits)
OT 563 Adult Conditions I (2 credits)
OT 583 Experiential Learning Lab: Adult Assessment and Intervention (3 credits)
OT 603 Activity Analysis (3 credits)
Total: 16
Summer I
OT 605 Assistive Technology (2 credits)
OT 595 Interprofessional and Emerging Practice (2 credits)
OT 630, 631, 632 Engineering Pathways to Clinical Practice I (2 credits)
OT 700a Fieldwork Level I (2 credits)
Total: 8
Fall II
OT 537 Experiential Learning Lab: Pediatric Assessment (2 credits)
OT 557 Upper Extremity Rehabilitation and Orthotics (2 credits)
OT 567 Adult Conditions II (2 credits)
OT 587 Experiential Learning Lab: Adult Neuro Assessment and Intervention (3 credits)
OT 597 Special Topics in Advanced Practice (2 credits)
OT 640, 641, 642 Engineering Pathways to Clinical Practice II (2 credits)
OT 700b Fieldwork Level I (2 credits)
Total: 15
Spring II
OT 539 Professional Practice, Leadership, Management and Activism (3 credits)
OT 549 Evidence-based Practice II (3 credits)
OT 579 Group Dynamics (3 credits)
OT 589 Experiential Learning Lab: Pediatric Intervention (3 credits)
OT 599 The Lifelong Learner (2 credits)
OT 650, 651, 652 Engineering Pathways to Clinical Practice III (2 credits)
Total: 16
Summer II
OT 705 Fieldwork Level IIA (9 credits)
Total: 9
Fall III
OT 710 Fieldwork Level IIB (9 credits)
Total: 9
Total Program Credits: 92
Specialty Tracks
Students will have the opportunity to pursue one of three Clarkson OT Specialty Tracks of study, which will allow them to become immersed in advanced study in their area of interest.
- Technology for Health-Related Quality of Life Track: Students will become clinicians who can design and implement new products utilizing cutting edge technology to assist with client participation in desired activities.
- Occupational Therapist as a Researcher Track: Students will become clinicians who can design and implement research studies that enhance the profession.
- Innovative Practitioner Track: Students will become clinicians who can use innovative principles and inter professional collaboration to design new products, new programs, or a new way of delivering occupational therapy services.
Fieldwork
All students are required to complete supervised fieldwork experiences as part of the Clarkson Occupational Therapy program. Fieldwork provides an opportunity to complement your academic preparation with the application of theory and course content to practice, to further develop and refine clinical skills, and to establish professional relationships with supervisors and future colleagues. Fieldwork consists of Level I placements after the first two semesters of instruction and Level II placements following the completion of all coursework. The student fieldwork manual and related information (i.e. fieldwork dates and site data) will be available to students through our Clarkson OT E-Value website, as well as the OT 700, 705 & 710 Moodle sites.
Fieldwork experiences occur in sequence throughout our program and are designed to give the student the best learning opportunity. Students must participate in the fieldwork experiences in the appropriate sequence (refer to the curriculum). Students must complete all Level II fieldwork requirements within one year after completion of the academic coursework. If circumstances arise and a student needs to complete fieldwork outside of the one-year timeline, students can petition and the case will be reviewed by the faculty. Approval is needed to extend fieldwork placements.