Program Overview

Occupational Therapy Program Details

The Occupational Therapy program at the University of Illinois Chicago offers a comprehensive education in occupational therapy, preparing students for careers in this field. The program includes a range of courses, fieldwork experiences, and research opportunities.

Program Overview

• The program is designed to provide students with a strong foundation in occupational therapy theory, practice, and research.
• Students learn about the occupational therapy process, including assessment, intervention, and evaluation.
• The program emphasizes the importance of client-centered practice, cultural competence, and evidence-based practice.

Course Descriptions

• OT 494: Special Topics in Occupational Therapy: Selected occupational therapy-related seminar topics of interest or pilot version of new occupational therapy course.
• OT 496: Independent Study: For undergraduate students who wish to pursue an independent study experience for credit.
• OT 500: Theories of Occupational Therapy: Explores theoretical basis of occupational therapy and the impact of theory on clinical practice.
• OT 501: Occupational Performance in Adults and Adolescents: Reviews the primary developmental aspects and roles of adolescence and adulthood.
• OT 502: Medical Conditions: This self-paced course reviews etiology, clinical manifestation, clinical course, and general medical and rehabilitative management of common medical conditions.
• OT 506: Development of a Therapeutic Self: Emphasizes understanding and developing foundational skills in therapeutic use of self and forms of therapeutic reasoning.
• OT 507: Introduction to Occupational Therapy Practice: Overview of the role of the therapist and aspects of occupational therapy practice in multiple settings.
• OT 510: Research in Occupational Therapy: Introduction to basic elements of research design relevant to occupational therapy practice.
• OT 511: Occupational Performance in Children: Covers developmental theories concerning factors influencing the development of occupational performance in infancy, childhood, and early adolescence.
• OT 512: Human Structure and Function: Examines anatomical and physiological basis for occupational performance.
• OT 515: Synthesis I: Provides a problem-based learning context for the development of clinical reasoning skills in occupational therapy.
• OT 516: Occupational Therapy Practice: Psychosocial Aspects of Occupational Performance: Examines occupational therapy practices relevant to psychosocial intervention.
• OT 519: Fieldwork Level IA: Emphasizes application of occupational therapy skills pertinent to use of psychosocial groups in communities.
• OT 520: Community Practicum: Field experience in a community agency serving an urban population.
• OT 522: Occupational Therapy Practice: Functional Movement and Mobility: Application of occupational therapy evaluation and intervention skills to children and adults with occupational performance deficits resulting from mobility and movement dysfunction.
• OT 523: Occupational Therapy Practice: Cognition and Perception in Action: The impact of impaired cognitive and perceptual processes on occupational performance of children and adults with neurological conditions.
• OT 524: Contexts of Occupational Therapy Practice: Trends in health care, reimbursement, legislation, and disability policy and how they affect occupational therapy.
• OT 526: Assistive Technology and the Environment: Assessing the need for, delivering, and evaluating the outcomes of occupationally-based technology and environmental interventions with people with disabilities.
• OT 528: Race, Culture, and Health Disparities: Focuses on developing students’ critical thinking skills as they relate to race, health disparities and engaging in culturally responsive care.
• OT 529: Fieldwork Level IB: A supervised, full-time, 2-wk course.
• OT 530: Advanced Field Experience: Clinical Specialization in Occupational Therapy: Provides opportunity for the student interested in advanced occupational therapy practice to observe a master clinician and participate in treatment and/or clinical research in a specialty area.
• OT 531: Advanced Field Experience in Occupational Therapy Leadership: Practicum experience working with an experienced professional to develop projects or programs in student's area of interest.
• OT 532: Advanced Field Experience: Occupational Therapy Education: Provides opportunity to observe, prepare, and present lectures/labs to occupational therapy students in technical or professional curricula or to develop skills as a clinical educator.
• OT 533: Advanced Field Experience: Occupational Therapy Scholarship: Practicum experience working with an experienced scholar to observe and participate in activities that generated evidence about practice.
• OT 535: Synthesis II: In this problem-based learning course, students engage in small and large group learning to analyze cases.
• OT 538: Introduction to Advanced Practice in Occupational Therapy: Provides exposure to practice in 3 areas of practice requiring advanced clinical reasoning and skills.
• OT 539: Fieldwork Level IC: A supervised, full-time, 2-week practicum.
• OT 540: Advanced Topics in Occupational Therapy Research and Evaluation: In-depth presentation of selected research/measurement strategies.
• OT 542: Client-Centered and Occupation-Focused Practice and Research: Provides an advanced understanding and practical skill set for conducting research and engaging in advanced practice.
• OT 548: Fieldwork Level IIA: First of two supervised full-time 12-week practica with emphasis on application of OT theory.
• OT 549: Fieldwork Level IIB: Second of two supervised, full-time, 12-week practica with emphasis on application of OT theory.
• OT 553: Program Evaluation: Documenting the Impact of Human Services: Examines methods in program evaluation with emphasis on empowerment and participatory evaluation.
• OT 555: Synthesis III: A problem-based learning course in which students engage in self-directed analysis of cases.
• OT 558: Writing for Professional Publications in Occupational Therapy: Addresses processes and issues related to writing for publication in occupational therapy and related journals and magazines.
• OT 561: Disability and Community Participation: Policy, Systems Change, and Action Research: Focuses on the critical examination of disability policy, activism, and research.
• OT 563: Disability and Global Health: Focuses on disability and health equity in a global context.
• OT 564: Leadership and Management in Occupational Therapy: Overview of issues related to management and leadership in varied settings in which occupational therapists practice.
• OT 565: Research Methodology and Outcomes Measures in Rehabilitation Technology: Analyzes the research process in rehabilitation technology and assistive technology.
• OT 568: Learning, Teaching, Curriculum Design, Delivery and Evaluation: Using didactic material and experiential learning, students learn about teaching philosophy and strategies.
• OT 569: Developing and Evaluating Self-Management Programs: This blended, elective course will examine the theories and processes supporting the development and evaluation of self-management programs.
• OT 570: Health Outcomes Assessments: Applies current concepts and models used to critically evaluate outcomes assessments used in health care and research.
• OT 571: Knowledge Translation for Disability and Rehabilitation: Using an equity-focused model, students will form knowledge translation collaboratives.
• OT 590: Proseminar in Occupational Therapy: Topics related to leadership/management, education and advanced practice in occupational therapy.
• OT 592: Doctoral Project Research: Applied scholarship involving planning and implementation of one or more action projects based on theory and evidence.
• OT 594: Special Topics in Occupational Therapy: New course under development and selected seminar topics of current interests to faculty and students.
• OT 595: Seminar in Occupational Therapy: Students participate in faculty-student discussion and activities related to individual areas of research/thesis.
• OT 596: Independent Study: This course is for graduate students who wish to pursue independent study not related to their project/thesis research.
• OT 600: Introductory Occupational Therapy Knowledge and Skills: Introduction to foundational concepts and skills necessary for practice as an occupational therapist.
• OT 601: Communication and Therapeutic Relationships: Examination and development of the skills required to form conscious and effective therapeutic relationships with clients.
• OT 602: Client-Centered Practice Using Occupation-Focused Models: Analysis of core occupation-focused models guiding client-centered occupational therapy practice.
• OT 603: Occupational Development Across the Lifespan: Application of developmental knowledge and concepts related to occupation, occupational performance, roles and the effect of contexts on occupational performance across the lifespan.
• OT 604: Fieldwork Level I-A: This first fieldwork course features experiential learning and structured exposure to diverse occupational therapy practice settings.
• OT 605: Professional Development and Leadership I: Introduces students to leadership theories, interprofessional collaboration, fieldwork requirements and essential practice skills.
• OT 607: Research Foundations for Evidence-based Practice I: Examining Client Factors and Interventions: Introduces students to basic concepts in research, role of research in occupational therapy, and how quantitative inquiry methods inform occupational therapy practice.
• OT 610: Conceptual Practice Models: Overview of the theoretical basis of conceptual practice models and how they are applied in occupational therapy practice.
• OT 611: Occupational Performance and Participation: Evaluation: Types of assessments and evaluations used to inform occupational therapy treatment planning, intervention, and outcome evaluation.
• OT 612: Occupational Performance and Participation: Outcomes and Interventions 1: Fundamental occupational therapy intervention and outcome measurement for basic activities of daily living, health management, leisure, play, work and social participation across the lifespan.
• OT 615: Prof Develop & Leadership 2: Fosters development of leadership, interprofessional collaboration and supervision skills.
• OT 617: Research Foundations 2: Introduces students to basic concepts and strategies for conducting and critically consuming qualitative, mixed methods, and measurement research.
• OT 624: Policy, Payment, Advocacy and Access to Occupational Therapy: Health care and education policies that influence occupational therapy roles and opportunities.
• OT 626: Population Health and Community Participation: Theories, concepts, and system analyses specific to population health.
• OT 628: Group Theory and Process: Fundamentals of group theory and practice guidelines for occupational therapy interventions.
• OT 629: Fieldwork Level I-B: Emphasizes application of occupational therapy skills pertinent to use of psychosocial groups in communities.
• OT 630: Occupational Therapy Process: Application 1: A case-based learning course to apply clinical reasoning skills to a variety of scenarios.
• OT 631: Occupational Performance and Participation: Outcomes and Interventions 2: Occupational therapy interventions to facilitate and measure participation in the occupations of work, play, education and social participation.
• OT 632: Occupational Performance and Participation: Outcomes and Interventions 3: Advanced occupational therapy interventions and outcome measurement for basic and instrumental activities of daily living.
• OT 635: Professional Identity, Development and Leadership 3: Promotes development of leadership skills needed to build effective work environments.
• OT 636: Research Foundations for Evidence-based Practice 3: Knowledge Synthesis for Clinical Practice: Students will synthesize research evidence to inform and advance clinical reasoning and decision making in occupational therapy practice.
• OT 637: Research Foundations for Evidence-Based Practice 4:Assessing Community Needs and Evaluating Programs: Introduces students to basic concepts and strategies for conducting a needs assessment and evaluating programs at the organizational and community levels.
• OT 640: Occupational Therapy Process: Application 2: A case-based course applying clinical reasoning skills and the occupational therapy process with individuals, groups, organizations, and populations.
• OT 641: Occupational Performance and Participation: Outcomes and Interventions 4: Clinical reasoning in complex settings such as acute care hospitals, intensive care units, and specialty care settings.
• OT 645: Professional Development and Leadership 4: Focuses on preparation for level II fieldwork, application of interprofessional team collaboration skills to end of life care, and acquisition of advanced skills needed for occupational therapy practice.
• OT 646: Research Foundations for Evidence-Based Practice 5: Knowledge Translation and Health Communications: Students will learn and apply knowledge translation principles for advocacy, patient and provider education, and clinical practice.
• OT 647: Fieldwork Level I-C: This supervised, full time, 1-week course involves experiential learning with an emphasis on fundamentals of practice, foundations of occupational therapy, and professional behavior.
• OT 648: Fieldwork Level I-D: This supervised, full time, 1 week course involves experiential learning with an emphasis on professional behavior, including effective verbal communication, and beginning screening, evaluation and intervention skills.
• OT 649: Fieldwork Level II-A: Part 1: In this supervised, full-time, 6-week practicum, students apply theory and evidence-based practice skills to develop professional behaviors, psychomotor and clinical reasoning skills necessary for competence as an entry-level occupational therapist.
• OT 650: Fieldwork Level II-A: Part 2: In this supervised, full-time, 6-week practicum, students apply theory and evidence-based practice skills to develop professional behaviors, psychomotor and clinical reasoning skills necessary for competence as an entry-level occupational therapist.
• OT 654: Management & Prog Development: Features best practices in management and program development, marketing, and quality improvement strategies.
• OT 655: Professional Identity, Development and Leadership 5: Features case-based opportunities for students to manage complex situations creating moral distress.
• OT 668: Capstone Project 1: Students work with faculty advisors to refine their capstone proposal and present their capstone proposal in an oral presentation.
• OT 669: Fieldwork Level II-B: In this supervised, full-time, 12-wk practicum required by ACOTE (C) students apply theory and evidence-based practice skills to develop professional behaviors, psychomotor and clinical reasoning skills necessary for competence as an entry-level OT.
• OT 678: Capstone Project 2: Students work with faculty advisors to refine their final capstone report and prepare and deliver an oral presentation.
• OT 679: Capstone Experience: Students complete an individual 14-week capstone experience (CE) supervised by a mentor who has expertise in the focus of the student’s capstone project.
• OT 690: Capstone Seminar: Students create and present a capstone project prospectus that includes a literature review, needs assessment, goals/objectives, and an evaluation plan.
• OT 695: Scholarship of Practice Proseminar: Students engage in the Scholarship of Practice through social learning with peers, faculty and course guests.