Occupational Therapy Assisting (OTA) Courses
OTA 100 Introduction to Occupational Therapy
- Units:1
- Hours:18 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2024
This course has been designed to provide the student with information needed to determine if occupational therapy (OT) is a suitable career option. The student is introduced to human occupation as participation in everyday life activities. In addition, the course will address how health, wellness, disease, and disability affect engagement in life tasks and how OT interventions are used to maximize performance within chosen activities. The role of the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) is defined, with explanation of the history of OT as well as current and emerging practice settings. Professional activities, requirements, ethics, and behaviors are also discussed. Students will complete a virtual clinical observation activity.
OTA 110 Functional Biomechanics for the OTA
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:OTA 150 and 152 with grades of "C" or better
- Corequisite:OTA 111
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2024
In this course the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) student will explore components of human movement, including joint structure and function, muscle action, motor and reflex development, and balance and sensory influence. In addition to the body structures involved in movement, students will examine the motor and process skills and sensory and neuromusculoskeletal client factors required for engagement in occupation across the lifespan. Students will complete a formal biomechanical activity analysis as it relates to occupational performance.
OTA 111 Functional Biomechanics Lab for the OTA
- Units:1
- Hours:54 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:OTA 150 and 152 with grades of "C" or better
- Corequisite:OTA 110
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2024
In this course the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) student will use an analysis and problem-solving approach to functional human movement across the lifespan. Through hands-on laboratory activities, students will develop skills in assessment of client factors affecting engagement in occupations. Students will explore basic intervention methods and strategies for remediation of and compensation for biomechanical deficits and impairments.
OTA 120 Fundamentals of Occupational Therapy Assistant Practice
- Units:2.5
- Hours:45 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:OTA 123 and LIBR 307 with grades of "C" or better.
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2024
In this course the student will develop knowledge and understanding of the various contexts in which Occupational Therapy (OT) services are provided. Participation in the management and reimbursement of OT services within the scope of the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) is addressed as well. Included is discussion of the principles of management and systems as they relate to providing OT services to individuals and within organizations. Professional responsibilities are examined with an emphasis on development of professional attitudes and behaviors.
OTA 121 Contemporary Models of Practice in Occupational Therapy
- Units:1
- Hours:18 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:OTA 120 with a grade of "C" or better
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2024
Significant changes in health care have resulted in a move away from the medical and institutional models to community-based models. This course will provide the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) student with a foundation of knowledge that will allow the student to pursue practice opportunities in community-based and other non-traditional and emerging practice settings. In this course, the student will gain an understanding of the various disciplines involved in these settings, the role of or potential for occupational therapy (OT) services within these organizations and funding sources. The student will explore legislative aspects of OT in community-based and non-traditional services, further developing their professional advocacy skills. Students will also explore the profession's philosophical beliefs about inclusion and OT service accessibility.
OTA 122 Introduction to Clinical Practice in Non-Traditional Settings
- Units:1
- Hours:54 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:AH 106 with a grade of "C" or better
- Enrollment Limitation:Students must have completed all degree and college graduation requirements with the exception of OTA courses and be officially accepted into an OTA program cohort.
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2024
Through Level I fieldwork experiences, students will be introduced to non-traditional practice for individuals with conditions that limit or affect engagement in occupations. As participant observers, students will integrate academic experiences with Occupational Therapy (OT) process in fieldwork settings serving non-traditional clients, those not in typical clinical settings. Through interactions with clients and staff, students will develop skills in observation of occupational performance, clinical safety, therapeutic communication and clinical relationships, professional behavior and boundary-setting, and the self-awareness necessary to be a successful OT practitioner. Students will be required to complete 40 hours of clinical fieldwork during weekday business hours and attend 14 hours of on-campus discussion group. Note: Fieldwork sites may require current documentation for the following requirements: a physical examination, immunizations, a TB test, CPR certification for health personnel (level C), background check, fingerprinting, drug screen, proof of health insurance, and proof of automobile insurance if driving is involved as part of the clinical experience. Students are responsible for their own transportation to/from the fieldwork site.
OTA 123 Fundamentals of Clinical Documentation
- Units:1
- Hours:18 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:See enrollment limitations
- Enrollment Limitation:Students must have completed all degree and college graduation requirements with the exception of core OTA courses and be officially accepted into an OTA program cohort.
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2024
In this course, the Occupational Therapy Assistant student will develop basic skills in clinical documentation. Students will be introduced to various documentation formats as required by different treatment settings and reimbursement systems. Students will be required to distinguish between subjective and objective reports and development of the clinical opinion and a plan based on these reports. The "Occupational Therapy Practice Framework" will be used as a tool critical to developing fluency in documentation terminology.
OTA 124 Introduction to Electronic Documentation for the OTA
- Units:0.5
- Hours:9 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:OTA 120 and 123 with grades of "C" or better
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2024
The use of electronic medical record (EMR) is an expected skill in health care practice as service providers establish compliance with federal mandates for medical information management. This course will provide the occupational therapy assistant student with an introduction to EMR formats, methods, reimbursement requirements, and legal issues. This course prepares the student for learning the basics of the EMR in preparation for Level II fieldwork.
OTA 131 Occupational Therapy Theory and Process in Psychosocial Dysfunction
- Units:5
- Hours:72 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:See enrollment limitations
- Corequisite:OTA 132
- Enrollment Limitation:Students must have completed all degree and college graduation requirements with the exception of OTA courses and be officially accepted into an OTA program cohort.
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2024
This course examines the role of the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) when working with individuals who have mental health conditions, cognitive impairments, trauma histories, and/or disregulated behaviors in a range of settings and contexts. Students will explore areas of occupation, performance skills, performance patterns, contexts, activity demands, and client factors that affect engagement in occupation throughout the lifespan and how these are influenced by psychosocial factors. Occupational Therapy (OT) process will be addressed to include an understanding of an occupational profile, analysis of occupational performance, intervention planning and implementation, and methods to elicit therapeutic outcomes. Students will also advance their skills in activity analysis and the use of professional literature and resources, as well as their awareness of the theoretical models that influence clinical decision-making.
OTA 132 Introduction to Clinical Practice in Psychosocial Dysfunction
- Units:1
- Hours:54 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:See enrollment limitations
- Corequisite:OTA 131
- Enrollment Limitation:Students must have completed all degree and college graduation requirements with the exception of OTA courses and be officially accepted into an OTA program cohort.
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2024
Through Level I fieldwork experiences, students will be introduced to clinical practice for individuals with mental health conditions and disregulated behaviors that limit or affect engagement in occupations. As participant observers, students will integrate academic experiences with Occupational Therapy (OT) process in settings serving clients with a variety of psychosocial challenges and degrees of disability. Through interactions with clients and staff, students will develop skills in observation of occupational performance, clinical safety, therapeutic communication and clinical relationships, professional behavior and boundary-setting, and the self-awareness necessary to be a successful OT practitioner. Students will be required to complete 40 hours of fieldwork via virtual clinical simulations and attend 14 hours of synchronous online discussion groups.
OTA 140 Theoretical Foundations of Physical Dysfunction
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:OTA 110 and 111 with grades of "C" or better
- Corequisite:OTA 141 and 142
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2024
This course introduces the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) student to neurological, orthopedic, and medical conditions that result in physical disabilities. Students will explore areas of occupation, performance skills, performance patterns, contexts, activity demands, and client factors that affect engagement in occupation throughout the lifespan and how these are influenced by physical dysfunction. Students will also develop skills in the use of professional literature and resources, as well as an awareness of the theoretical models that influence clinical decision-making.
OTA 141 Occupational Therapy Process in Physical Dysfunction
- Units:4
- Hours:54 hours LEC; 54 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:OTA 110 and 111 with grades of "C" or better
- Corequisite:OTA 140 and 142
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2024
This course examines the role of the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) when working with individuals who have orthopedic, neurological, or medical conditions. Occupational Therapy (OT) process will be addressed, to include an understanding of an occupational profile, analysis of occupational performance, as well as intervention planning, implementation, and approaches. Students will also develop skills in selected assessments, clinical documentation, and the selection and use of therapeutic activities and media to elicit engagement in occupation and therapeutic outcomes.
OTA 142 Introduction to Clinical Practice in Physical Dysfunction
- Units:1
- Hours:54 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:OTA 110 and 111 with grades of "C" or better
- Corequisite:OTA 141
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2024
Through Level I fieldwork experiences, students will be introduced to clinical practice for individuals with physical disabilities that limit or affect engagement in occupation. As participant observers, students will integrate academic experiences with Occupational Therapy (OT) process in settings serving clients with a variety of physical challenges and degrees of disability. Through interactions with clients and staff, students will develop skills in observation of occupational performance, clinical safety, therapeutic communication and clinical relationships, professional behavior and boundary-setting, and the self-awareness necessary to be a successful OT practitioner. Students will be required to complete 40 hours of fieldwork via virtual clinical simulations and attend 14 hours of synchronous online discussion groups.
OTA 150 Occupational Therapy Process and Practice in Developmental Disabilities and Pediatric Conditions
- Units:2.5
- Hours:36 hours LEC; 27 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:See enrollment limitations
- Corequisite:OTA 152
- Enrollment Limitation:Students must have completed all degree and college graduation requirements with the exception of OTA courses and be officially accepted into an OTA program cohort.
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2024
This course introduces developmental disabilities and common conditions of children and adolescents referred for occupational therapy treatment. The scope of occupational therapy, the types of practice settings, and the role of the occupational therapy assistant in pediatrics and developmental disabilities are also covered. Common frames of references, evaluation tools and procedures, and intervention strategies used in pediatric occupational therapy practice are presented.
OTA 152 Introduction to Clinical Practice in Pediatric Conditions
- Units:0.5
- Hours:27 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:See enrollment limitations
- Corequisite:OTA 150
- Enrollment Limitation:Students must have completed all degree and college graduation requirements with the exception of OTA courses and be officially accepted into an OTA program cohort.
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2024
Through Level I fieldwork experiences, students will be introduced to clinical practice for individuals with pediatric or developmental conditions that limit or affect engagement in occupation. As participant observers, students will integrate academic experiences with Occupational Therapy (OT) process in settings serving clients with a variety of occupational challenges and degrees of disability. Through interactions with clients and staff, students will develop skills in observation of occupational performance, clinical safety, therapeutic communication and clinical relationships, professional behavior and boundary-setting, and the self-awareness necessary to be a successful OT practitioner. Students will be required to complete 20 hours of clinical fieldwork and attend 7 hours of on-campus discussion group. Note: Fieldwork sites may require current documentation for the following requirements: a physical examination, immunizations, a TB test, CPR certification for health personnel (level C), background check, fingerprinting, drug screen, proof of health insurance, and proof of automobile insurance if driving is involved as part of the clinical experience. Students are responsible for their own transportation to/from the fieldwork site.
OTA 160 Fieldwork Level II for the Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Units:6
- Hours:324 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:OTA 131 and 132 with grades of "C" or better
- Corequisite:OTA 162
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2024
This course concentrates on the application of knowledge and skills for the occupational therapy assistant (OTA) student. The student is placed in a supervised fieldwork setting, which provides the student with the opportunity for carrying out professional responsibility with appropriate supervision and professional role modeling. Students complete 320 hours of supervised fieldwork in a facility working with patients with physical and/or psychosocial dysfunction. Students will be placed in two distinctly different clinical settings for OTA 160 and OTA 161 in order to experience a broad range of clinical expectations and scenarios, while progressively refining and advancing skills from one course to the next. Fieldwork sites are assigned by the fieldwork coordinator. This course is graded Pass/No Pass. Note: Fieldwork sites may require current documentation for the following requirements: a physical examination, immunizations, a TB test, CPR certification for health personnel (level C), background check, fingerprinting, drug screen, proof of health insurance, and proof of automobile insurance if driving is involved as part of the clinical experience. Students are responsible for their own transportation to/from the fieldwork site.
OTA 161 Fieldwork Level II for the Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Units:6
- Hours:324 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:OTA 121, 141, and 142 with grades of "C" or better
- Corequisite:OTA 163
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2024
This course concentrates on the application of knowledge and skills for the occupational therapy assistant (OTA) student. The student is placed in a supervised fieldwork setting, which provides the student with the opportunity for carrying out professional responsibility with appropriate supervision and professional role modeling. Students complete 320 hours of supervised fieldwork in a facility working with patients with physical and/or psychosocial dysfunction. Students will be placed in two distinctly different clinical settings for OTA 160 and OTA 161 in order to experience a broad range of clinical expectations and scenarios, while progressively refining and advancing skills from one course to the next. Fieldwork sites are assigned by the fieldwork coordinator. This course is graded Pass/No Pass. Note: Fieldwork sites may require current documentation for the following requirements: a physical examination, immunizations, a TB test, CPR certification for health personnel (level C), background check, fingerprinting, drug screen, proof of health insurance, and proof of automobile insurance if driving is involved as part of the clinical experience. Students are responsible for their own transportation to/from the fieldwork site.
OTA 162 Practice Skills for First Rotation OTA Level II Fieldwork
- Units:0.5
- Hours:27 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:None.
- Corequisite:OTA 160
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2024
This course, taken in conjunction with OTA 160, provides the OTA student with structured activities to support success in clinical activities during Level II fieldwork. Students will review the occupational therapy assessment and treatment needs of various populations through the lifespan. To ensure currency in a range of topics, this course will also include activities related to OTA scope of practice, documentation, regulations, productivity, and reimbursement. National certification exam and licensing preparation activities will also be included.
OTA 163 Practice Skills for Second Rotation OTA Level II Fieldwork
- Units:0.5
- Hours:27 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:None.
- Corequisite:OTA 161
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2024
This course, taken in conjunction with OTA 161, provides the OTA student with structured activities to support success in clinical activities during Level II fieldwork. Students will review the occupational therapy assessment and treatment needs of various populations through the lifespan. To ensure currency in a range of topics, this course will also include activities related to OTA scope of practice, documentation, regulations, productivity, and reimbursement. National certification exam and licensing preparation activities will also be included.
OTA 295 Independent Studies in Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Units:1 - 3
- Hours:54 - 162 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:None.
- Enrollment Limitation:Only students officially enrolled in the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program, and in good-standing, are eligible for this course.
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2024
This course allows an individual student enrolled in the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program to study, research, and participate in clinical or community activities beyond the scope of regularly offered classes, pursuant to an agreement among the college, faculty members, and the student.
OTA 299 Experimental Offering in Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Units:0.5 - 4
- Prerequisite:None.
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2024
This is the experimental courses description.