Occupational Therapy is a health care profession which allows you to empower individuals who have sustained an injury, disease or developmental delay, to achieve their maximal level of independence in daily life activities, by the use of occupation, purposeful activity, exercise and modification of the environment. Occupational therapy is concerned with health promotion and the prevention of health problems in those individuals who may be at risk. The course is aimed to restore the best possible performance and participation in the activities of everyday life which are valued and given meaning by individuals and their culture. Occupations broadly fall under the categories of work, self-care, education and leisure. Intervention relies on a comprehensive assessment which helps to establish the baseline capabilities of the client. Information concerning physical abilities, perceptual, cognitive, psychosocial functioning, environmental aspects and occupational history, is evaluated to enable the therapist to draw up a comprehensive treatment plan.
Occupational Therapy is a health care profession which is concerned with empowering individuals who have sustained an injury, disease or developmental delay, to achieve their maximal level of independence in daily life activities, by the use of occupation, purposeful activity, exercise, the modification of the environment and education. Occupational therapy is also concerned with health promotion and the prevention of health problems in those individuals who may be at risk.
As a prospective occupational therapist, you will work with all age groups starting from birth and continuing to old-age, and in all the different health care areas which can be as diverse as hand-injury clinics, schools and the mental health sector. Intervention is aimed to restore the best possible performance and participation in "occupations", a term which, from the occupational therapy perspective, refers to activities of everyday life which are valued and given meaning by individuals and their culture. Very broadly occupations fall under the categories of work, self-care, education and leisure.
Intervention relies on a comprehensive assessment which helps to establish the baseline capabilities of the client. Information concerning physical abilities, perceptual, cognitive, psychosocial functioning, environmental aspects and occupational history, is evaluated to enable the therapist to draw up a comprehensive treatment plan.
Occupational therapy intervention may aim to improve the function of the components involved in the carrying out of occupations such as strength, movement, coordination, endurance, perception and memory; or modify the skills involved in the carrying out of such occupations. Clients may also be guided to adapt their habits, routines and lifestyles in order to help accommodate their level of function. Education of the family, carers or co-workers also forms part of the occupational therapist's job. Another important contribution is the modification of the environment which may involve adjustments to the home, work-place, school or even the community to allow individuals with disabilities to function optimally in their immediate surroundings.
Communication and Academic Skills Programme
The communication and academic skills programme complements students’ main course of study. It introduces them to writing and presenting as situated within academic contexts sensitive to specific disciplines and develops their competences for future careers.
| Year (This/these unit/s start/s in Semester 1 and continue/s in Semester 2) | |||||
| Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||
| HSC1002 | Disease Prevention and Control | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| PSY1313 | An Overview of Psychology | 6 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| PSY1615 | Developmental Psychology - Child and Adolescent | 6 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| Semester 1 | |||||
| Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||
| ANA1500 | General Anatomy 1 | 2 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| ANA1503 | Regional Anatomy: Thorax | 2 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| ANA1505 | Regional Anatomy: Upper Limb | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| IHC1002 | Introduction to First Aid | 2 ECTS | |||
| LIN1063 | Academic Reading and Writing in English | 2 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| OCT1000 | Communicating through the Creative Arts: Skills for Self-Development in Occupational Therapy Practice | 2 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| OCT1035 | Foundations of Occupational Therapy 1: Professional Identity, History and Paradigms | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| PHB1101 | Body Fluids, Cells, Cardiovascular and Respiratory Physiology | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| Semester 2 | |||||
| Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||
| ANA1506 | Regional Anatomy: Lower Limb | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| DBS1001 | Disability Issues for Health Professionals | 2 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| IHC2013 | Health Promotion and Health Education | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| OCT1012 | Human Occupation Across the Lifespan | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| OCT1014 | Practicum and Seminar | 2 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| PHB1102 | Renal Physiology and Haematology | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| Summer Period | |||||
| Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||
| OCT1013 | Block Clinical Placement | 2 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| Year (This/these unit/s start/s in Semester 1 and continue/s in Semester 2) | |||||
| Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||
| OCT2023 | Introduction to Psychosocial Dysfunction | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| Semester 1 | |||||
| Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||
| CPH2402 | Pharmacology for Allied Health Care Professionals | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| OCT2014 | Practicum and Seminar 1 | 3 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| OCT2021 | Foundations of Occupational Therapy 2: Terminology Theories and Practice Frameworks | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| OCT2043 | Kinesiology: Application to Human Movement in the Context of Activity | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| PAT2121 | Pathology | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| PSY2405 | Psychology of Learning for Health Carers | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| PSY2641 | Psychology of Helping | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| Semester 2 | |||||
| Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||
| ANA1508 | Regional Anatomy: Neuroanatomy (including Dissection) | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| ANA2509 | Regional Anatomy: Head, Neck and Vertebral Column | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| HSC1003 | An Introduction to Research Methods in the Health Sciences | 2 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| OCT2000 | Application of the Creative Arts in Occupational Therapy Practice | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| OCT2015 | Practicum and Seminar 2 | 3 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| OCT2022 | Introductory Concepts to Physical and Paediatric Practice | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| OCT2026 | Basic Clinical Skills | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| Summer Period | |||||
| Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||
| OCT2010 | Block Clinical Placement | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| Year (This/these unit/s start/s in Semester 1 and continue/s in Semester 2) | |||||
| Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||
| OCT3022 | Advanced Psychosocial Clinical Skills | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| Semester 1 | |||||
| Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||
| HSC3002 | Research Methods in the Health Sciences | 2 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| OCT3015 | Practicum and Seminar 1 | 3 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| OCT3023 | Conditions in Psychosocial Dysfunction | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| OCT3027 | Performance Skills and Client Factors in Neurorehabilitation | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| OCT3028 | Occupational Performance Areas and Contexts | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| OCT3055 | Psychopathology | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| OCT3057 | Medical Speciality Area: Neurology | 2 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| OCT3058 | Medical Speciality Area: Orthopaedics | 2 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| OCT3059 | Medical Speciality Area: Paediatrics | 2 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| Semester 2 | |||||
| Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||
| OCT3016 | Practicum and Seminar 2 | 3 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| OCT3026 | Advanced Application of Theory in Paediatric Practice | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| OCT3029 | Occupational Therapy in Upper Extremity Rehabilitation | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| OCT3046 | Conditions of Human Physical Dysfunction | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| OCT3047 | Occupational Therapy Practice in Geriatrics | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| OCT3060 | Interventions in Acute and Sub-acute Medical Care | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| OCT3102 | Psychosocial Aspects of Physical Disability | 2 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| Summer Period | |||||
| Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||
| OCT3014 | Block Clinical Placement | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| Year (This/these unit/s start/s in Semester 1 and continue/s in Semester 2) | |||||
| Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||
| OCT4200 | Dissertation | 10 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| Semester 1 | |||||
| Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||
| OCT4021 | Advanced Skills Laboratories - Upper Limb Rehabilitation and Arthritic Conditions | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| OCT4022 | Advanced Skills Laboratories - Neurorehabilitation | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| OCT4023 | Advanced Skills Laboratories - Paediatric Practice | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| OCT4024 | Advanced Skills Laboratories - Psychosocial Practice | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| OCT4027 | Professional Behaviour and Leadership for Occupational Therapists | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| OCT4038 | Aspects of Person-Environment Fit in relation to Occupational Performance | 2 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| OCT4103 | Professional Issues | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| Semester 2 | |||||
| Compulsory Units (All students must register for this/these unit/s) | |||||
| DBS3001 | Universal Design: Access for All | 2 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| OCT4010 | Block Clinical Placement | 10 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| OCT4019 | Assistive Technology | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| OCT4025 | Occupation Focused Role Emerging Practice | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||
| OCT4026 | Framing Practice through an Occupation-based Perspective | 4 ECTS | (NC) | ||
Requirement for award of B.Sc. (Hons) in Occupational Therapy: 240 ECTS credits
This programme of study is governed by The General Regulations for University Undergraduate Awards, 2019 and by the Bye-Laws for the award of Bachelor of Science (Honours) - B.Sc. (Hons) - under the auspices of the Faculty of Health Sciences.
