Polk > Future Students > Degrees and Programs > Associate in Science and Applied Science > Occupational Therapy Assistant > Courses

Course Descriptions

The Occupational Therapy Assistant Program curriculum has been designed so that the first semester of the program lays the foundation for the subsequent semester. Each semester builds on the knowledge and skills acquired in the previous semesters. Therefore, courses must be taken in proper sequence.

OTH 1001	Introduction to Occupational Therapy/Lab
OTH 1014C	Functional Anatomy and Kinesiology I & Lab
OTH 1019C	Functional Anatomy and Kinesiology II & Lab
OTH 1520C	Pediatric Occupational Therapy & Lab
OTH 1800	Level I Fieldwork, Psychosocial
OTH 1802	Level I Fieldwork, Physical Dysfunction
OTH 2131C	Activity Analysis & Lab
OTH 2300C	Psychosocial Occupational Therapy & Lab
OTH 2420C	Physical Dysfunction
OTH 2125	Therapeutic Modalities & Lab
OTH 2840	Level II Fieldwork, Physical Dysfunction
OTH 2841	Level II Fieldwork, Psychosocial

OTH 1001
Introduction to Occupational Therapy/lab
4 hrs. Lecture; 4 hrs. Lab; 5 credits.
Students are apprised of the historical, philosophical, and clinical development of Occupational Therapy. Areas and settings of practice, OTR & COTA professional roles and behaviors, screening and procedures, treatment interventions and implementation are discussed in detail. Written, verbal, and non-verbal communication, management of OT services, positioning and transfers techniques. National guidelines and state regulations for certification, and maintenance of credentials are examined.

OTH 1014C
Functional Anatomy and Kinesiology I & Lab
3 hrs. Lecture, 3 hrs. Lab; 4 credits. Prerequisite: BSC 2086C
This course is a lecture/laboratory course designed to introduce the student to the basic principles of biomechanics and kinesiology as they pertain to human movement. The student will obtain a greater knowledge of the osteology of the human body and will learn to identify anatomical landmarks through palpation skills. The student will also receive detailed instruction in myology and neurology of the abdomen, back, pelvic girdle, and lower extremities, as well as introduction to the upper extremities, head, and neck. Manual muscle testing, basic therapeutic exercise, and gait evaluation will be included in this course.

OTH 1019C
Functional Anatomy and Kinesiology II & Lab
3 hrs. Lecture, 3 hrs. Lab; 4 credits. Prerequisite: OTH 1014C
This is a lecture/laboratory course designed to give the student detailed instruction in the myology and neurology of the face, neck, shoulder girdle, and upper extremities. The lab portion of the course will teach manual muscle testing and basic therapeutic exercises, and will enable the student to identify anatomical landmarks through palpation skills. The course also covers basic neuroanatomy.

OTH 1520C
Pediatric Occupational Therapy & Lab
2 hrs. Lecture, 2 hrs. Lab; 3 credits
This course examines the role and skills of the OTA in the pediatric field. Normal/abnormal development and congenital/acquired pathologies are discussed. Application of OT evaluation tools, treatment techniques/approaches, communication skills, and documentation methods are demonstrated and practiced. Adaptive equipment and assistive technology used with the pediatric population are examined.

OTH 1800
Level I Fieldwork, Psychosocial
80 hrs. Practicum; 1 credit. Prerequisites: OTH 1001, OTH 2300C
This fieldwork experience consists of two weeks (80 hours) placement in a clinical site, with patients with psychosocial dysfunction. Students are exposed to the clinical, organizational, and operational aspects of the OT department or agency, under the direct supervision of an OTR, COTA, or an experienced/qualified clinician (i.e. PT, PTA, teachers, social worker, counselor, psychologist, etc).

OTH 1802
Level I Fieldwork, Physical Dysfunction
80 hrs. Practicum; 1 credit. Prerequisites: OTH 1001, OTH 1520C
This fieldwork experience consists of 2 weeks (80 hours) placement in a clinical setting with patients with physical dysfunction. Completion of this clinical experience is not contingent upon completion of OTH 1800, as these courses are not sequential. Students are exposed to the clinical, organizational, and operational aspects of the OT department or agency, under the direct supervision of an OTR, COTA, or an experienced/qualified clinician (i.e. PT, PTA, teachers, social worker, counselor, psychologist, etc).

OTH 2131C
Activity Analysis & Lab
3 hrs. Lecture, 3 hrs. Lab; 4 credits. Prerequisites: OTH 1014C, OTH 2300C. Corequisite: OTH 1019C
This course provides students with skills to select appropriate evaluation tools and treatment modalities/tasks specific to patient's age, cultural, and socioeconomic background, to meet treatment goals. The process of analyzing tasks and breaking down their sequential steps into individual components is thoroughly examined and practiced. Methods and rationale for adapting/grading tasks to fit/meet a patient's functional, cognitive, psychosocial, and sensorimotor deficits are examined.

OTH 2300C
Psychosocial Occupational Therapy & Lab
2 hrs. Lecture, 2 hrs. Lab; 3 credits.
The role and skills of the occupational therapy assistant working with specific psychiatric diagnosis, behavioral disorders, and their specific symptom/pathologies are examined. Evaluation tools, frames of reference, treatment interventions/approaches, communication/interaction skills, and documentation methods for the psychiatric patient are practiced and learned.

OTH 2420C
Physical Dysfunction & Lab
4 hrs. Lecture, 4 hrs. Lab; 5 credits. Prerequisites: BSC 2086C, OTH 1802. Corequisite: OTH 1014C.
This course provides the students with skills to perform basic assessment procedures, and treat adults with functional deficits caused by medical, orthopedic, and neurological conditions. Evaluation tools, treatment techniques, and approaches applied to specific diagnosis will be examined and practiced. Orthotic and adaptive devices as well as basic splinting skills will be examined. Emphasis will be given to geriatric conditions and treatment.

OTH 2125
Therapeutic Modalities & Lab
1 hr. Lecture, 2 hrs Lab; 2 credits. Prerequisite: OTH 2420C, OTH 1014C. This is a lecture/laboratory course, which provides an overview of the neurophysiological, musculoskeletal, and cardiovascular basis for the application of the therapeutic exercise. The course introduces the student to various types of exercise, exercise equipment, and general exercise protocols.

OTH 2840
Level II Fieldwork, Physical Dysfunction & Lab
320 hrs. Practicum, 6 credits. Prerequisite: All academic courses.
This 8-week training course provides students with entry level clinical skills to work with patients with diverse medical/physical deficits. Students are assigned to a clinical site, under the direct supervision of an OTR or COTA. Students gain entry level knowledge of evaluative procedures, treatment planning, treatment interventions, management of patient care, management of the OT clinic, methods of documentation, and effective communication and interaction skills with patients and staff.

OTH 2841
Level II Fieldwork, Psychosocial
320 hrs. Practicum, 6 credits. Prerequisite: All academic courses.
This 8-week training course provides students with entry-level clinical skills to work with patients with diverse psychosocial deficits. Students are assigned to a clinical site, under the direct supervision of an OTR or COTA. Students gain entry-level knowledge of evaluative procedures, treatment planning, treatment interventions, management of patient care, management of the OT clinic, methods of documentation, and effective communication and interaction skills with patients and staff. Completion of this clinical experience is not contingent upon completion of OTH 2840 as these courses are not sequential.

PSC and the OTA Program reserve the right to make changes in the regulations, course offerings, curriculum, policies, and rules.