Curriculum and Graduation Requirements

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

The CSUDH Entry-level Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) degree is comprised of 98 units offered in 7 consecutive trimesters, which include 12-week summer sessions. It requires successful completion of 80 credits of course work and 18 credits completion of Level II fieldwork.

Students enrolled in the MSOT degree program must have at least a “C” to pass each course. No course with a grade lower than a “C” will be applied to the degree program. In addition, students must have a minimum GPA of “B” or 3.0 to fulfill degree requirements. In order to be eligible for graduation, students must be in good academic standing. A student who is on academic probation may not be granted a master’s degree.

MSOT CAPSTONE PROJECT (previously COMPREHENSIVE EXAM)

A capstone project is the culminating activity requirement that needs to be successfully passed, in addition to all didactic and fieldwork courses, for a student to be granted a Master of Science degree in Occupational Therapy.

MSOT CURRICULUM

The required courses need to be completed in a sequence listed below by course number, title, and descriptions.

https://catalog.csudh.edu/academics/occupational-therapy/ 

MSOT Information Printable Sheets 

Semester 1 (Spring) (16 units)


OTR 500 (2 units) Person, Environment, Occupation Interactions
Emphasizes the importance of occupational engagement to health and the relationship that exists between individuals, occupations, and environments. Students will be challenged to explore the person-environment-occupation model centered on persons and the occupations they fulfill within their everyday environments.


OTR 502 (2 units) The History of Occupation
A historical survey of the development of the profession and the study of the occupational nature of human beings. Review of how leaders of the profession have articulated occupation and therapeutic applications across time.


OTR 504 (3 units) Activities Across the Lifespan (Flow)
Introduction to how activities used as meaningful occupations can be used as therapeutic interventions.
Individual and group experience with media and how to identify, analyze, and adapt activities for their potential as treatment modalities is emphasized.


OTR 506 (3 units) Interactive Reasoning and Group Leadership
Introduction to the historical, theoretical underpinnings and application of group work to populations spanning the lifespan.


OTR 508 (1 unit) Professional Development Seminar – Portfolio I: Introduction to E-Portfolio
Portfolio I introduces students to the skills and requirements necessary for development of an individual e-portfolio of learning experiences and outcomes. Specifically, the course aims to 1) orient students to the step-by-step process of portfolio development and completion, 2) introduces critical thinking and reflective learning methods and 3) provides students with foundational experiences for self-directed learning.


OTR 510 (2 units) Introduction to Frameworks for OT Practice
Introduction to fundamental theoretical concepts of occupational therapy practice, philosophy,
terminology, professional role delineation, ethics, scope and models of practice.


OTR 512 (3 units) Human Anatomy
Advanced study of human body by means of review of Web based materials specific to dissection and identification of select specimens and structures of the body.


Semester 2 (Summer) (17 units)


OTR 515 (3 units) Occupation Across the Lifespan I – Adolescence
Explores development of activity patterns associated with adolescent occupational choice, roles,
routines, habit formation and attributed meaning. Focus is on adolescent development and life transition.


OTR 517 (1 unit) Assessments in Occupational Therapy Practice - Adolescence
This course focuses on OT clinical evaluation with the adolescent population.  Students will develop clinical reasoning and skill to select and administer standardized and non-standardized interview, observational, self-report and assessment tools in the processes of referral, screening, evaluation and documentation. 

OTR 519 (2 units) Interventions in Occupational Therapy Practice – Adolescence
This course focuses on OT clinical interventions with the adolescent population.  Students will develop clinical reasoning and skill in treatment planning, implementation, reviewing progress, discharge planning, and documentation. 


OTR 521 (2 units) Conditions Affecting Health I – Adolescence
Theoretical approaches and models of practice commonly used with this population will be discussed in association with conditions that affect adolescent’s ability to engage in meaningful occupations common to this developmental level.


OTR 523 (1 unit) Case Seminar I – Adolescence
Seminar format to provide opportunities for students to hear first-hand occupational profiles and
personal narratives of adolescents and their families as they are engaged in discussions of issues relative to problems in domains of occupational engagement.


OTR 525 (1 unit) OT Research I – Qualitative Research Methods for Health
Professionals
Introductory comparisons of qualitative research methods are presented and applied. Students will explore the role of qualitative research in developing a deeper understanding of client populations and the development of theory in occupational therapy. Research design, data collection strategies, and methods of analysis will be discussed.


OTR 527 (4 units) Foundations of Kinesiology for Occupational Therapists
The course consists of lectures, activity analyses, and case studies designed to provide students with diverse opportunities to integrate key concepts of kinesiology into an understanding of how movement and loss of movements may impact performance of complex, everyday occupations.


OTR 529 (1 unit) Level I Fieldwork – Adolescence
Fieldwork offers on-site clinical experiences with populations commonly served in OT practice settings for adolescents. Clinical experiences support co-requisite coursework and will rely on first semester course materials.


OTR 530 (1 unit) Professional Development Seminar– Portfolio II: Ethics
Portfolio II is an introduction to ethics theory and principles as applied to common occupational therapy clinical situations and opportunities to analyze and solve ethical dilemmas. Overview of legal principles that may impact ethical decision-making.


Semester 3 (Fall) (17 units)


OTR 535 (3 units) Occupations Across the Lifespan II – Pediatrics
Provides the theoretical foundations and frames of reference to understand pediatric populations and their family’s occupations. Explores the developmental impact of contexts, family, and child factors that promote or limit engagement in occupations and co-occupations from infancy through school age.


OTR 537 (2 units) Assessments in Occupational Therapy Practice - Pediatrics
This course focuses on OT clinical evaluation with the pediatric population.  Students will develop clinical reasoning and skill to select and administer standardized and non-standardized interview, observational, self-report and assessment tools in the processes of referral, screening, evaluation and documentation. 


OTR 539 (2 units) Interventions in Occupational Therapy Practice - Pediatrics
This course focuses on OT clinical interventions with the pediatric population.  Students will develop clinical reasoning and skill in treatment planning, implementation, reviewing progress, discharge planning, and documentation.

OTR 541 (2 units) Conditions Affecting Health II – Pediatrics
The application of knowledge of at-risk and diagnostic conditions to the occupational performance of children and their families. The role of genetics, body structures, functions, and the environment in the presence of developmental issues from conception through adolescence will be addressed.


OTR 543 (1 unit) Case Seminar II – Pediatrics
Seminar provides opportunities for students to hear first-hand from families and children with special needs and discuss issues relative to diagnosis, occupational therapy assessment and intervention, service delivery, as well as the contexts in which children and their families participate.


OTR 547 (5 units) Neurological Foundations of Occupation
Foundational knowledge of how the human nervous system serves as the foundation for occupational choice and occupational engagement. Designed to provide opportunities to learn the structures and functional organization of the nervous system related to the performance of everyday occupations.


OTR 550 (1 unit) Level I Fieldwork – Pediatrics
Fieldwork offers on-site clinical experiences with populations commonly served in OT practice settings with infant through school-aged children. Clinical experiences support co-requisite coursework and will rely on first semester course materials.


OTR 552 (1 unit) Professional Development Seminar – Portfolio III: Qualitative
Research Project
Portfolio III links student interests with co-requisite coursework and the development of a
research paper and professional quality presentation. Simultaneously, the student is
mentored through planned research activities by the course instructors.


Semester 4 (Spring) (15 units)


OTR 553 (1 unit) Professional Development Seminar – Portfolio IV: Evidence-Based
Practice in Occupational Therapy
Portfolio IV links student interests with co-requisite coursework and the development of an
understanding of the concept of Evidence-Based Rehabilitation as applied to occupational therapy practice. Simultaneously, the student is mentored through planned learning activities by the faculty advisor and the development of an evidence-based research paper. The course includes: (1) the development of questions relevant to specific issues in occupational therapy practice, (2) learning and application of tools and strategies in searching for research evidence, (3) analysis and critique of research outcomes, and (4) application of research outcome to practice scenarios.


OTR 555 (3 units) Occupations Across the Lifespan III – Adults
Provides the theoretical foundations and frames of reference to understand adult populations and their family’s occupations. Explores the impact of contexts, family, and other factors that promote or limit engagement in occupations and co-occupations of adult populations.


OTR 557 (2 units) Assessments in Occupational Therapy Practice - Adults
This course focuses on OT clinical evaluation with the adult population.  Students will develop clinical reasoning and skill to select and administer standardized and non-standardized interview, observational, self-report and assessment tools in the processes of referral, screening, evaluation and documentation. 

OTR 559 (2 units) Interventions in Occupational Therapy Practice - Adults
This course focuses on OT clinical interventions with the adult population.  Students will develop clinical reasoning and skill in treatment planning, implementation, reviewing progress, discharge planning, and documentation.

OTR 561 (2 units) Conditions Affecting Health III – Adults
A professional course that focuses on common occupational performance dysfunctions secondary to medical, biophysical, and psychosocial conditions in adults 18-55 years old.


OTR 563 (1 unit) Case Seminar III – Adults
Seminar format to provide opportunities for students to hear first-hand the life stories of adults living with disabilities acquired through illness, disability or trauma.


OTR 571 (1 unit) Level I Fieldwork – Adults
Offers on-site clinical experiences with populations commonly served in OT practice settings with adult clients. Clinical experiences support co-requisite coursework and will rely on first semester course materials.


OTR 545 (3 units) OT Research II Quantitative Research Methods for Health Professionals
This course reviews clinical research methodology and designs as the foundation of evidence-based practice in occupational therapy. The emphasis of the course is on interpreting and utilizing research results as well as understanding statistics and the impact of research on evidence-based practice.
Students will develop a feasible research proposal related to occupational therapy practice.


Semester 5 (Summer) (15 units)


OTR 554 (1 unit) Professional Development Seminar – Portfolio V: Quantitative
Research Project
Portfolio V involves completion of a quantitative research project as part of the professional
development portfolio. The course also provides an opportunity to present written and oral summary of completed portfolio activities and research papers to faculty and students.


OTR 575 (3 units) Occupations Across the Lifespan IV – Geriatrics
Focused on theoretical foundations of occupational therapy used in working with the geriatric
population. Explores the value and meaning of occupation to the health and wellbeing of elderly and frail elderly adults within cultural and temporal contexts.


OTR 577 (1 unit) Assessments in Occupational Therapy Practice - Geriatrics
This course focuses on OT clinical evaluation with the geriatric population.  Students will develop clinical reasoning and skill to select and administer standardized and non-standardized interview, observational, self-report and assessment tools in the processes of referral, screening, evaluation and documentation. 

OTR 579 (2 units) Interventions in Occupational Therapy Practice - Geriatrics
This course focuses on OT clinical interventions with the geriatric population.  Students will develop clinical reasoning and skill in treatment planning, implementation, reviewing progress, discharge planning, and documentation. 

OTR 581 (2 units) Conditions Affecting Health IV – Geriatrics
A professional course focused on common occupational performance dysfunctions secondary to
medical, biophysical, and psychosocial conditions in the elderly and frail elderly adult (older than 55 and 85 years respectively).


OTR 583 (1 unit) Case Seminar IV – Geriatrics
Life narratives of elders and frail elders and their family members will be facilitated to engage in
discussions on issues relative to their personal life situations, occupational history and profile.


OTR 591 (1 unit) Level I Fieldwork – Geriatrics
Fieldwork offers on-site clinical experiences with populations commonly served in OT practice settings with elderly clients. Clinical experiences support co-requisite coursework and will rely on first semester course materials.


OTR 567 (2 units) Administration and Management in Occupational Therapy
Presentation and discussion of current concepts and trends in the administration and management in occupational therapy practice. Challenges students to explore the various facets of occupational therapy management in a constantly changing health care environment.


OTR 569 (2 units) Applications of Adaptive and Assistive Technology
RESNA technology competencies for occupational therapists, state and federal laws effecting
availability or acquisition of assistive technology, assessments used in evaluation for technology
prescription, seating and wheelchair measurements, computer input devices, augmentative
communication, environmental controls, use of universal design.


Semester 6 (Fall) (9 units)


OTR 592 (9 units) Fieldwork II A
Completion of 12 weeks of full-time equivalent supervised Fieldwork Level II practicum in a community or clinical setting.  With the supervision of the Fieldwork Educator (FE), student will conduct client evaluations, delivery of OT services, progress notes, documentation, reports and/or provision of resources as assigned at the placement site.  CR/NC grading.

Semester 7 (Spring) (9 units)


OTR 593 (9 units) Fieldwork II B
Completion of 12 weeks of full-time equivalent supervised Fieldwork Level II practicum in a community or clinical setting.  With the supervision of the Fieldwork Educator (FE), student will conduct client evaluations, delivery of OT services, progress notes, documentation, reports and/or provision of resources as assigned at the placement site.  CR/NC grading.

MSOT Capstone Project (Comprehensive Examination)