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The University of Sydney
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13. Occupational Therapy

Courses of study

The discipline of Occupational Therapy offers two undergraduate degrees:

  • The Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy) course offered on a full-time basis over four years. The course prepares students to practise as an occupational therapist
  • The Bachelor of Health Science (Occupational Therapy) offered in Singapore as a conversion course to enable diplomates to attain a degree.

A graduate professional entry degree is also offered through:

  • The Master of Occupational Therapy is an alternative professional entry pathway suitable for students with relevant undergraduate qualifications. See Chapter 25 for further information.

A range of postgraduate study options have also been developed:

  • The Graduate Certificate and Master of Health Sciences, with an Occupational Therapy stream that allows for specialisations in numerous areas, have been designed to provide specific professional development for occupational therapists who wish to extend their knowledge, skills and attitudes as practitioners, teachers and learners. See Chapter 20 for further information.

Research programs include:

  • PhD studies
  • Master of Applied Science

For further information on the research degrees offered by the faculty, see Chapter 31.

Professional information

Occupational Therapy prioritises enabling people’s full participation in life as fully as they would like.

Occupational therapists help to overcome barriers and create opportunities for people of all ages that may have been constrained by injury, illness or other circumstances. Often, it is the environment that ‘disables’ people, including the built environment, social attitudes and assumptions, or public policies and institutional practice. At other times, the activity may be too complex or demanding. New abilities, adapted techniques or assistive devices may be required. Occupational therapists help a diversity of clients in many different settings to optimise participation and meaning in their daily lives.

Further information

Telephone: +61 2 9351 9161
Website: www.fhs.usyd.edu.au/

Bachelor of Applied Science (Leisure and Health)

 

No first year intake from 2007
Continuing students seeking enrolment advice should contact the program coordinator.

Table 13.1: Bachelor of Applied Science (Leisure and Health) Off-campus

Unit of study Credit points A: Assumed knowledge P: Prerequisites C: Corequisites N: Prohibition Session
Course code SH103: Pass course; off-campus/flexible mode, part-time, 6 years

Year 6 (last offered in 2009)

Semester 1
BIOS3042
Biological Sciences IIIA
2      Semester 1
OCCP3071
Professional Practice IIIE
5    P OCCP3070 Professional Pactice IIID

Note: Department permission required for enrolment

Semester 1
Elective [3] (see note)
SEMESTER 1 TOTAL: 10 CREDIT POINTS
Semester 2
BIOS3043
Biological Sciences IIIB
2    P BIOS2096 Body Functions and Disease
Semester 2
OCCP3052
Research Project in Leisure and Health
4   
Note: Department permission required for enrolment
This unit is only available to students after completion of 4 semesters (full-time equivalent) of the course
Semester 2
OCCP3072
Professional Practice IIIF
6    P OCCP3071 Professional Practice IIIE

Note: Department permission required for enrolment
This unit of study is for off-campus students only
Semester 2
SEMESTER 2 TOTAL: 12 CREDIT POINTS
Note
In consultation with the program coordinator, students in the final year will be required to select 3 credit points of electives from the Faculty, the wider University or other centre of tertiary study.

Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy)

 

Occupational therapy involves understanding and promoting human occupations (self care, school/work, play/leisure) by improving the match between people's capabilities, the tasks they need and want to do and the resources available for performing those tasks and roles. Occupational therapists work with people of all ages who have experienced developmental difficulties, illness or injury that prevent them from doing what they need and want to do every day.

Study in occupational therapy includes: theories of what people do in daily life and why; knowledge of the development of human capabilities (eg, cognitive, motor, psychosocial) and the ways in which injury and illness typically disrupt them; activity and environmental analysis; and theories and techniques for promoting participation on daily life.

Occupational therapists work with people of all ages whose lives have been disrupted by developmental deficits, the ageing process, physical injury, illness or psychological or social disability. Occupational therapists work in healthcare and community settings, schools, work environments and in private practice. Some occupational therapists are researchers; some are educators.

Admission requirements

There are no specific admission requirements to the Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy) course. The general admission requirements in Chapter 3 apply. However prospective students may benefit from undertaking biology at HSC level.

Honours

For information specific to the occupational therapy honours program students are advised to contact the honours course coordinator. Entry is based on academic performance in years one and two of the pass course. The occupational therapy honours program includes the first five semesters of the pass program followed by three semesters when the student is specifically enrolled in the honours program. In order for honours students to have adequate time to pursue their research studies, a number of modifications including internal exemptions, timetabling flexibility and Professional Practice IV flexibility are offered. Students undertake Professional Practice IV at a suitable time in relation to their research studies and in consultation with their supervisor and the Professional Practice IV unit coordinator.

Course outline

The course outlines for the Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy) Pass and Honours are presented in Tables 13.2, 13.2.1 and 13.3. Units of study are described in Chapter 19.

Table 13.2: Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy) Pass

Unit of study Credit points A: Assumed knowledge P: Prerequisites C: Corequisites N: Prohibition Session
Course code SH111: Pass course; full-time, 4 years

Year 2 (last offered in 2009)

Semester 1
BACH1143
Designing Health Research
3      Semester 1
Semester 2
BIOS1139
Functional Anatomy B
3    A BIOS1136 Functional Anatomy A
Semester 1
BIOS1141
Neuroscience II
3      Semester 1
OCCP2041
Human Occupations IIA
3      Semester 1
OCCP2076
OT Theory and Process II
4      Semester 1
OCCP2077
Occupations/Roles Across the Lifespan II
3      Semester 1
OCCP2080
Components of Occ Performance IIA
5      Semester 1
SEMESTER 1 TOTAL: 24 CREDIT POINTS
Semester 2
BACH1145
Quantitative Health and Social Research
3    A Basic mathematics
Semester 1
Semester 2
BACH2127
Health Policy and Service Delivery
3    P BACH1098 Introduction to Health Sociology or BACH1130 Foundations of Health Sociology
Semester 1
Semester 2
BACH2128
Cognition and Cognitive Impairment
3    A BACH1132 Foundations of Health Psychology or BACH1133 Introduction to Health Psychology
Semester 2
BIOS1127
Body Systems I
3    A BIOS1126 Human Biology and Biochemistry
Semester 2
EXSS2015
Kinesiology for Occupational Therapy
3    P BIOS1136 Functional Anatomy A, BIOS1139 Functional Anatomy B
Semester 2
OCCP2042
Human Occupations IIB
3    A Child development
Semester 2
OCCP2044
Components of Occ Performance IIB
3      Semester 2
OCCP2081
Professional Practice II
3    P OCCP1094 Professional Practice I, OCCP1091 Components of Occupational Performance 1A
Semester 2
SEMESTER 2 TOTAL: 24 CREDIT POINTS

Year 3 (last offered in 2010)

Semester 1
OCCP3061
Professional Practice IIIA
12    P OCCP2081 Professional Practice II

Note: Department permission required for enrolmentin the following sessions:Semester 2,

Semester 1
Semester 2
Summer Main
OCCP3065
Professional Practice IIIB
12    P OCCP2081 Professional Practice II

Note: Department permission required for enrolmentin the following sessions:Semester 2,

Semester 1
Semester 2
Summer Main
SEMESTER 1 TOTAL: 24 CREDIT POINTS
Semester 2
BACH1147
Qualitative Health and Social Research
3      Semester 1
Semester 2
BACH2126
Maladaptive Behaviours/Behaviour Change
4    A BACH1132 Foundations of Health Psychology or BACH1133 Introduction to Health Psychology
Semester 1
Semester 2
EXSS3019
Applied Physiology
3      Semester 2
OCCP3032
Occ Therapy Theory and Process III
3      Semester 2
OCCP3064
Human Occupations III
3      Semester 2
OCCP3066
Components of Occ Performance III
5      Semester 2
Elective [3] (see note)
SEMESTER 2 TOTAL: 24 CREDIT POINTS

Year 4 (last offered in 2011)

Semester 1
Professional electives
Students choose three professional electives of 8 credit points each from the following. Availability of electives may vary from year to year.
OCCP4056
OT in Learning & Co-ord Difficulties
8      Semester 1
OCCP4062
Community Based Rehabilitation
8   
Note: Department permission required for enrolment

Semester 1
OCCP4063
Evaluation of OT Programs
8      Semester 1
OCCP4068
OT in Occ Health, Safety & Rehab
8    P OCCP3064 Human Occupations III
Semester 1
OCCP4075
Mental Health Interventions
8    A OCCP1091 Components of Occ Performance IA, OCCP2044 Components of Occ Performance IIB, OCCP3066 Components of Occ Performance III
Semester 1
OCCP4076
Technology for Living
8   

Internet activity is required as part of this course
Semester 1
OCCP4077
Professional Elective - General
8      Semester 1
OCCP4078
People with Intellectual Disability
8      Semester 1
SEMESTER 1 TOTAL: 24 CREDIT POINTS
Semester 2
OCCP4051
Professional Practice IV
24    P OCCP3061 Professional Practice IIIA, OCCP3065 Professional Practice IIIB

Note: Department permission required for enrolmentin the following sessions:Semester 1,

Semester 1
Semester 2
Summer Main
SEMESTER 2 TOTAL: 24 CREDIT POINTS
Note
Pass students choose electives to the value of 6 credit points during the first three years of the course. Honours students choose 3 credit points. The electives are chosen from outside the Occupational Therapy undergraduate course.

Table 13.2.1: Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy) Honours

Unit of study Credit points A: Assumed knowledge P: Prerequisites C: Corequisites N: Prohibition Session
Course code SH112: Honours program; full-time, 4 years

Year 2 (last offered in 2009)

As per Pass course

Year 3 (last offered in 2010)

Semester 1
OCCP3061
Professional Practice IIIA
12    P OCCP2081 Professional Practice II

Note: Department permission required for enrolmentin the following sessions:Semester 2,

Semester 1
Semester 2
Summer Main
OCCP3065
Professional Practice IIIB
12    P OCCP2081 Professional Practice II

Note: Department permission required for enrolmentin the following sessions:Semester 2,

Semester 1
Semester 2
Summer Main
SEMESTER 1 TOTAL: 24 CREDIT POINTS
Semester 2
BACH2126
Maladaptive Behaviours/Behaviour Change
4    A BACH1132 Foundations of Health Psychology or BACH1133 Introduction to Health Psychology
Semester 1
Semester 2
EXSS3019
Applied Physiology
3      Semester 2
OCCP3029
Honours Research Seminar I
3      Semester 2
OCCP3032
Occ Therapy Theory and Process III
3      Semester 2
OCCP3064
Human Occupations III
3      Semester 2
OCCP3066
Components of Occ Performance III
5      Semester 2
Research elective [3] (see note)
SEMESTER 2 TOTAL: 24 CREDIT POINTS

Year 4 (last offered in 2011)

Semester 1
OCCP4019
Honours Research Seminar II
4      Semester 1
OCCP4071
Professional Practice IV (Hons)
20    P OCCP3061 Professional Practice IIIA, OCCP3065 Professional Pactice IIIB
Semester 1
SEMESTER 1 TOTAL: 24 CREDIT POINTS
Semester 2
OCCP4072
Honours Thesis
24      Semester 2
SEMESTER 2 TOTAL: 24 CREDIT POINTS
Note
The unit OCCP4070 Research Elective Independent Study is an approved elective.

Table 13.3: Bachelor of Applied Science (Occupational Therapy)

Unit of study Credit points A: Assumed knowledge P: Prerequisites C: Corequisites N: Prohibition Session
Course code SH135: Pass course; full-time, 4 years

Year 1 (first offered in 2009)

Semester 1
HSBH1003
Health, Behaviour and Society
6    N BACH1130 Foundations of Health Sociology, BACH1132 Foundation of Psychology for the Health Sciences, BACH1133 Introduction to Health Psychology, BACH1134 Health, Illness and Social Inquiry
Semester 1
OCCP1096
Understanding Occupation-People-Context
6      Semester 1
OCCP1097
Analysing Occupation and Performance
6      Semester 1
Elective (non OT) [6] (see note 1)
SEMESTER 1 TOTAL: 24 CREDIT POINTS
Semester 2
BIOS1168
Functional Musculoskeletal Anatomy A
6      Semester 1
Semester 2
OCCP1098
Teaching Occupations and Performance
6      Semester 2
OCCP1099
Occupational Peerformance: Healthcare 1
6      Semester 2
OCCP1100
Professional Practice I
6      Semester 2
SEMESTER 2 TOTAL: 24 CREDIT POINTS

Year 2 (first offered in 2010)

Semester 1
Health, Science and Research 1 [6]
Occupational Performance: Healthcare 2 [6]
Occupational Performance: Home & Family [6]
Professional Practice II [6]
SEMESTER 1 TOTAL: 24 CREDIT POINTS
Semester 2
BIOS1171 Neuroscience [6]
Occupational Performance: Community [6]
Occupational Performance: Child & Family [6]
Elective (non-OT) [6] (see note 2)
SEMESTER 2 TOTAL: 24 CREDIT POINTS

Year 3 (first offered in 2011)

Semester 1
OCCP3061 Professional Practice IIIA [12]
OCCP3065 Professional Practice IIIB [12]
SEMESTER 1 TOTAL: 24 CREDIT POINTS
Semester 2
Occupational Performance: Education [6]
Occupational Performance: Productivity [6]
Occupational Performance: Retirement [6]
Elective (non-OT) [6] (see note 2)
SEMESTER 2 TOTAL: 24 CREDIT POINTS

Year 4 (first offered in 2012)

Semester 1
Health Promotion Through Occupation [6]
Elective (OT or non-OT) [6] (see note 2)
Elective (OT or non-OT) [6] (see note 2)
Elective (OT or non-OT) [6] (see note 2)
SEMESTER 1 TOTAL: 24 CREDIT POINTS
Semester 2
Professional Practice IV [18]
Evaluation in Professional Practice [6]
SEMESTER 2 TOTAL: 24 CREDIT POINTS
Notes
1. Students entering the program without a science background are strongly recommended to take BIOS1167 Human Cell Biology as the Year 1 elective, in preparation for BIOS1171 Neuroscience in Year 2.
2. Students are required to complete 36 credit points of electives over the course of the degree. At least 6 credit points must come from the Behavioural or Social Sciences (or equivalent) and a minimum of 6 credit points must come from the Biomedical Sciences (or equivalent). Otherwise, students may choose from not-OT units of study as well as Year 4 OT elective units of study (see Table 13.2).

Professional practice

 

Professional practice is an integral part of the occupational therapy and leisure and health programs. Fieldwork education may consist of block placements and other guided learning experiences. These experiences provide students with an opportunity to practice skills and take responsibility commensurate with their background knowledge and level of development acquired during the course. Fieldwork block placements are periods of two to ten weeks where students attend a setting five days a week full time for approximately 37.5 hours per week. The placements occur during semester time and during recess periods, at all levels of the courses, and are located in both metropolitan, country facilities and, in some cases, overseas facilities.

Occupational Therapy professional practice/fieldwork education
Professional Practice I

Lectures/tutorials and a 5-day placement either during inter-semester recess or at other times during the year.

Professional Practice II

Lectures/tutorials and a 2-week block placement during inter-semester recess. Placements may also occur at different times of the year, subject to availability. Students are also required to complete peer interview/assessment projects.

Professional Practice IIIA and IIIB

Lectures/tutorials, online education and two 7-week block placements during Semester 1. Placements may also occur at different times of the year, subject to availability. Students are also required to attend university before and after placements for professional practice briefing and debriefing classes.

Professional Practice IV

Lectures/tutorials, online education and an 8-week (pass program) or 6-week (honours program) placement during Semester 2. Students are required to attend university for a number of lectures and tutorials before and after placement and to complete assessments both on placement and on-campus.

Uniforms

Occupational Therapy students

Students may need to obtain uniforms to be worn while undertaking hospital placements where uniforms are required. Not all fieldwork sites require students to wear uniforms. Polo shirts, with the University crest and course name, can be obtained through the relevant student associations. A faculty name badge is required to be worn at all times during fieldwork placements. These badges can be obtained from the Students' Union.

Women

Short sleeves white blouse; navy blue culotte skirt or navy blue trousers; navy blue cardigan or jumper; navy, black or white closed shoes.

Men

White short sleeved shirt; navy blue trousers; navy blue cardigan or jumper; black or brown shoes.