Academics

OTD 620: Psychosocial and Community Practice (4 Semester Credits) 

This course examines the historical and current models of occupational therapy practice to promote psychosocial health and wellbeing in the community. Students will develop an understanding of evaluation and treatment methods for clients with psychosocial dysfunction that include occupation-based interventions for individuals, groups, and populations. Students will explore the relationship between psychosocial and physical health and its application to various occupational therapy practice settings.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Semester 1.1 courses 

OTD 670: Fieldwork Level IA Experiential Lab: Psychosocial and Community Practice (1 Semester Credit Hour)

This course emphasizes the development of clinical reasoning, therapeutic use of self, and the occupational therapy process, focusing on the socialization of professional behavior and attitudes. Simulation and faculty-led experiences promote an organized approach to implementation of the occupational therapy process, including evaluation, intervention, and targeting of outcomes. This course includes service delivery models within mental health settings.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Semester 1.1 courses 

OTD 606: Health and Wellness Promotion (3 Semester Credit Hours) 

This course will focus on health management including preventative health, wellness, and fitness for individuals, communities, and populations. Students will gain an understanding of occupational therapy’s role in injury and disease prevention to enhance the health of persons, groups, and populations including epidemiological factors that impact public health. Strategies to promote health literacy and education to support health and wellness are addressed.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Semester 1.1 courses

OTD 640: Concepts of the Occupational Therapy Process (2 Semester Credit Hours) 

This course examines the process of occupational therapy practice described in the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework to achieve health, wellbeing, and participation in life. Students will analyze occupational therapy theories, models of practice, and frames of references used in the evaluation and treatment of clients. Students develop foundational skills including activity analysis, documentation skills, and goal writing to promote sound delivery of occupational therapy services.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Semester 1.1 courses

OTD 608: Human Movement and Occupational Performance (3 Semester Credit Hours)

This course applies the knowledge of human anatomy to human posture and movement. Students develop an understanding of human movement in relation to occupational performance, function, and dysfunction. Foundational evaluation techniques are developed in lab immersions including palpation skills, goniometry, and manual muscle testing.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Semester 1 courses

OTD 660: Healthcare Policy and Case Management in Occupational Therapy (2 Semester Credit Hours)

This course covers basic principles of the health care systems, policies, and sociopolitical climate impacting occupational therapy services for person, group, populations, and organizations. Students gain knowledge of state and federal systems, regulatory bodies, policies, and payer sources that influence occupational therapy service delivery. Students critically analyze current models and systems of occupational therapy and reflect on strategies to promote the future of the profession. The occupational therapy continuum of care will be analyzed in relation to case management and referral processes to advance occupation-based services for individuals, groups, populations, and organizations.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Semester 1 courses

OTD 652: Research II: Methods, Design, and Analysis (2 Semester Credit Hours)

This course builds upon foundational knowledge of the research process to critically design a research proposal focused on methodology, research design, and statistical analysis. The second of two research courses in the Hanover OTD curriculum focuses on designing a research proposal and IRB application, ethical conduct of research, choosing appropriate methodology, and quantitative and qualitative data analysis. designing Students will additionally be introduced to various methods to report and disseminate research to support skills of clinical practice.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Semester 1 courses

OTD 610: Neurological Foundations (2 Semester Credit Hours)

This course examines foundational knowledge of neuroanatomy including structure and function of the central and peripheral nervous systems in relation to occupational performance. Contemporary concepts of brain function that support occupation are explored with emphasis on sensory, perception, motor, and cognitive processes. Lab activities emphasize elements of the neurologic examination with an introduction to commonly employed measures and tools for assessment.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Semester 1 courses

OTD 622: Neurorehabilitation (3 Semester Credit Hours)

This course examines occupation-based and evidence-based approaches to the care of clients with neurological injuries and conditions. Students develop an understanding of evaluation and treatment methods for clients with various neurological diagnoses to promote occupational performance. Neurological diagnoses include, but are not limited to, cerebral vascular accidents, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and degenerative diseases. Emphasis will focus on the impact of cognitive, motor, visual-perceptual, and sensory dysfunction has on occupational performance and intervention techniques to promote engagement in occupations.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Semester 2.1 courses

OTD 624: Physical Disabilities (4 Semester Credit Hours)

This course emphasizes evaluation and intervention for adults with physical impairments to promote occupational performance. Students will develop foundational knowledge of physical rehabilitation screening, evaluation, and occupation-based intervention planning. Students examine evaluation and intervention approaches including restorative, adaptive, and compensatory strategies for the adult population to maximize occupational performance in clients’ daily lives.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Semester 2.1 courses

OTD 672: Fieldwork Level IB Experiential Lab: Physical Disabilities (1 Semester Credit Hour)

This course emphasizes the development of clinical reasoning, therapeutic use of self, and the occupational therapy process, focusing on the socialization of professional behavior and attitudes. Simulation and faculty-led experiences promote an organized approach to implementation of the occupational therapy process, including evaluation, intervention, and targeting of outcomes. This course includes service delivery models for adult populations in various settings.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Semester 2.1 courses

OTD 662: Program Development and Management in Occupational Therapy (2 Semester Credit Hours)

This course examines the role of an occupational therapist in management and supervisory positions. Students will explore strategies for effective supervision of interprofessional and intraprofessional personnel, fieldwork students, and occupational therapy assistants. Program development in occupational therapy including assessing need, organizing and developing a business plan, obtaining funding and grant writing, financial management, marketing and promoting services, documentation for maximizing reimbursement for services delivered, program evaluation, and appeals letters will be explored and analyzed.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Semester 2.1 courses

OTD 626: Children and Youth (4 Semester Credit Hours)

This course highlights Occupational Therapy theory and the rationale of evaluation and intervention for physical, developmental, sensory integrative, perceptual, cognitive, and psychosocial function and dysfunction as it applies to children and youth and their families. This course builds upon foundational human development to focus on clients from birth through the transition from school age to adulthood. Topics include multicultural, cultural, socioeconomic, and ethical factors for the wellbeing of children and youth and their families.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Semester 2 courses

OTD 674: Fieldwork Seminar IC Experiential Lab: Children and Youth (1 Semester Credit Hour)

This course emphasizes the development of clinical reasoning, therapeutic use of self, and the occupational therapy process, focusing on the socialization of professional behavior and attitudes. Simulation and faculty-led experiences promote an organized approach to implementation of the occupational therapy process, including evaluation, intervention, and targeting of outcomes. Service delivery models for children, youth, and their families will be explored.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Semester 2 courses

OTD 628: Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation and Occupational Performance (3 Semester Credit Hours)

This musculoskeletal rehabilitation course presents the etiology, symptoms, evaluation, and interventions of various orthopedic conditions commonly treated in occupational therapy settings. Students will examine topics including hand and upper extremity diagnoses, manual therapy, therapeutic exercises, preparatory methods, ergonomics, and joint mobilization and develop assessment skills for various symptoms including pain, edema, joint mobility, and sensory impairment. Students develop intervention skills focused on restorative, adaptive, and compensatory strategies for orthopedic conditions to maximize occupational performance in clients’ daily lives.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Semester 2 courses

OTD 664: Professional Development, Teaching, and Lifelong Learning (2 Semester Credit Hours)

This course examines the principles of lifelong learning, professional development, and the teaching and learning process for individuals, groups, and populations. Content will focus on ongoing professional development and engagement to support the role of an occupational therapy educator (teaching, service, and scholarship). Topics including healthcare literacy, instructional design, curriculum development, strategic planning for academic programs, accreditation standards, and program evaluation will be covered.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Semester 2 courses  

OTD 642: Application of the Occupational Therapy Process (2 Semester Credit Hours)

This course integrates knowledge of the previous coursework to advance professional reasoning and ethical decision making. Students synthesize knowledge of the Occupational Therapy Domain and Process including evaluation and intervention from various practice settings, theory and frames of reference, ethical decision making, and leadership skills to advance professional reasoning skills and evidence-based practice.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Semester 3.1 courses

OTD 630: Orthotic Fabrication and Physical Agent Modalities (2 Semester Credit Hours)

This course examines the use of orthotic fabrication and physical agent modalities as treatment methods to improve occupational performance. Orthotic fabrication and physical agent modalities for a variety of orthopedic, neurological, degenerative, and congenital disorders are covered. Licensure requirements and competency related issues for use of physical agent modalities in occupational therapy practice are addressed.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Semester 3.1 courses

OTD 632: Technology in Occupational Therapy (2 Semester Credit Hours)

This course examines the use of technological interventions, assistive technology, advanced technology, and universal design to facilitate occupational performance. Students develop clinical reasoning skills to assess need for technology, adapt or construct technology, and/or seek out referral sources and funding for technology that aids in clients’ daily lives. Technological interventions covered in this course will support activities of daily living, mobility, communication, social interactions, and executive functions, among others.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Semester 3.1 courses

OTD 666: Professional Leadership and Advocacy (2 Semester Credit Hour)

This course covers the principles of leadership and advocacy essential for individual and professional growth and advancing the profession of occupational therapy. Students integrate knowledge of state and federal systems, policies, regulatory bodies, and payer sources to promote occupational therapy’s role at local, state, national, and international levels. Students will examine leadership strategies and demonstrate knowledge through exploration of networking with professional organizations and leadership and advocacy opportunities at local, state, national, and international levels.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Semester 3.1 courses 

OTD 676: Level IIA Fieldwork (12 Semester Credit Hours)

This twelve-week fieldwork experience aims to integrate coursework into clinical practice to ensure students demonstrate functional development of entry-level practice skills. Students will employ professional thinking and problem-solving skills to analyze and apply acquired knowledge to effect change in occupational performance and modify targeted outcomes with their clients.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Semester 3 courses

OTD 680: Doctoral Mentorship I (3 Semester Credit Hours)

This is the first of two doctoral mentorship courses designed to assist the student in developing a scholarly Doctoral Capstone Experience and Project. The Doctoral Capstone Experience and Project development is facilitated by utilizing a needs assessment of a topic, a thorough literature review, development, and confirmation of learning objectives unique to the project, plan for supervision, and confirming sites for the Doctoral Capstone Experience.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Semester 3 courses  

OTD 678: Level IIB Fieldwork (12 Semester Credit Hours)

This twelve-week fieldwork experience aims to integrate coursework into clinical practice to ensure students demonstrate functional development of entry-level practice skills. Students will employ professional thinking and problem-solving skills to analyze and apply acquired knowledge to effect change in occupational performance and modify targeted outcomes with their clients.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Semester 4 courses

OTD 682: Doctoral Mentorship II (3 Semester Credit Hours)

This is the second of two doctoral mentorship courses designed to assist the student in developing a Doctoral Capstone Experience and scholarly Doctoral Capstone Project. The focus of this course is on the methods and procedures unique to the capstone project as well as finalizing the Doctoral Capstone Experience plan. This is facilitated using a proposal for implementation and evaluation using a collaborative and reflective effort on occupational therapy practice and research issues.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Semester 4 courses

OTD 668: Professional Competencies (1 Semester Credit Hour)

This course examines competency skills required for occupational therapists at state and national levels. Students will explore requirements for state licensure, National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy™ (NBCOT), and other competency-based requirements in the occupational therapy profession. The course includes preparation for the NBCOT board exam and future employment as an occupational therapist.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Semester 4 courses 

OTD 684: Doctoral Capstone Experience (14 Semester Credit Hours)

This course is designed to facilitate an in-depth Doctoral Capstone Experience in one area such as legislation and policy, clinical practice, advocacy, research, administration, leadership, program and policy development, advocacy, education, and/or theory development. The emphasis will be on the synthesis of all course material and professional knowledge mentored by a subject matter expert in the student’s selected area. This experiential placement is consistent with the interest of the student, under the guidance of an external mentor and/or faculty advisor. The experience creates and enhances the student’s professional skills and abilities allowing them to acquire advanced knowledge in the chosen area in preparation for graduation as a Doctor of Occupational Therapy.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Semester 5 courses

OTD 686: Doctoral Capstone Project (3 Semester Credit Hours)

This course is designed to assist the student in implementing a scholarly Doctoral Capstone Project and disseminating results. The focus of this course is on data collection, data analysis, and/or program evaluation, development of a scholarly presentation or project, and preparation for dissemination. The culmination of this course is the dissemination of the project results.

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Semester 5 courses 

Total Credit Hours: 105