OTDR Course Descriptions

OTDR 510 Patient/Client Care Management

3 credit hours

This class introduces principles and techniques of basic patient care, therapeutic communication and touch, and inter-professional collaboration skills.

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OTDR 511 Anatomy Applied to Occupation

5 credit hours

This class applies known human anatomy to occupational performance. Covers assessments related to palpation, muscle testing and goniometry, with a focus on analyzing the impact of dysfunction to occupational performance.

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OTDR 512 Occupational Engagement and Theories of Practice

3 credit hours

This class introduces typical occupational activities that individuals and groups engage in throughout the lifespan. Topics include discussion of developmental stages and how occupations are influenced by changes, normal and atypical.

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OTDR 513 Evidence-Informed Practice

3 credit hours

This course combines instruction in clinical problem solving and critical thinking to introduce evidence-informed skills of practice: logic, problem synthesis, hypothesis generation, reflective-practice and decision-making. Includes analysis of evidence and research design.

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OTDR 514 Domains of Occupational Therapy

3 credit hours

This course examines the historical foundation and philosophical base of occupational therapy. The profession’s core values and code of ethics are introduced. The Occupational Practice Framework is examined, with a focus on occupations, client factors, performance skills, and the influences and effects that environment, context and performance patterns have on persons, groups and populations. Explores the importance of lifelong learning in developing professional behavior and communication skills.

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OTDR 521 Scholarly Design

3 credit hours

This course focuses on the development of writing and reasoning skills related to research planning and design. Skills progress through an evaluation of existing research to developing a scholarly project/study, inclusive of understanding the components of an IRB proposal and sound research plan. The course includes participation in a doctoral seminar for the OTD students. Prerequisite: OTDR 513 Evidence Informed Practice

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OTDR 522 Process of Occupational Therapy

4 credit hours

This course examines the Occupational Practice Framework, with emphasis on the components of evaluation, intervention and target outcomes. Explores the service delivery settings, frames of reference and models which guide occupational therapy treatment. Explores various professions that work on health care teams with occupational therapists. Ethical considerations in regard to treatment and documentation within the healthcare system are explored. An experiential lab component integrating foundational concepts in varied community settings is included. The course includes participation in a doctoral seminar for OTD students

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OTDR 523 Conditions Impacting Occupational Performance

4 credit hours

Selected medical conditions throughout the lifespan and how they impact occupational performance are discussed. Diagnosis, clinical features and medical treatment, including pharmacology, are reviewed. Case studies, student presentations of evidence-based articles on medical management, and hands-on practice of appropriate diagnostic assessments are included.

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OTDR 524 Human Movement for Occupational Performance

3 credit hours

This class focuses on foundational knowledge regarding kinesiology and movement task analysis. Includes presentation of historical and contemporary motor control theories to synthesize how occupation-based treatment is influenced and supported by motor control principles Prerequisite: OTDR 511 Anatomy Applied to Occupation

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OTDR 531 Clinical Neuroscience

4 credit hours

This class focuses on foundations of neuroanatomy and neurophysiology and their applications to neurological conditions seen in clinical practice.

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OTDR 533 OT Methods I: Assistive Technology

3 credit hours

This course introduces a variety of assistive technology devices with application throughout the lifespan. Universal design and environmental modifications are explored in depth. Focuses on the role of the occupational therapists’ use of technology to assist and prepare a client for independence in occupational engagement and performance.

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OTDR 536 Wellness and Health Promotion

3 credit hours

This course focuses on ways to promote health and wellness through behavioral change and identification of barriers to change. Health promotion planning will include individual, group and population-based interventions. Examines risk behaviors that can compromise health throughout the lifespan. Applications to clinic/home/community situations and participation in selected complementary and alternative health interventions are included.

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OTDR 544 OT Methods II: Orthotics, Prosthetics and Modalities

3 credit hours

This course presents the theory and evidence-based clinical application of physical agent modalities, orthotics and prosthetics, and emphasizes principles of differential diagnosis and wound/tissue healing when selecting and applying the appropriate physical agent modality. Focuses on the design and application of orthotic devices to enhance occupational performance and participation.

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OTDR 550 Fieldwork IIA

11 credit hours

The first of two off-campus fieldwork experiences, this course places an emphasis on the application of occupational therapy theory and skills acquired in the didactic coursework to a clinical setting. Students will demonstrate entry-level competency and standards of practice within this practice area. Weekly online interaction with faculty facilitates student learning through reflective practice.

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OTDR 560 Fieldwork IIB

11 credit hours

This course is the second of two off-campus fieldwork experiences, with an emphasis on the application of occupational therapy theory and skills mastered in IIA in a different clinical setting. Students will demonstrate entry-level competency and standards of practice within this second practice area. Includes weekly online interaction with faculty to facilitate student learning through reflective practice. Prerequisites: Successful completion of OTDR 550 Fieldwork IIA

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OTDR 567 Administration and Management

3 credit hours

This course covers the application of managerial and administrative principles to rehabilitation services within a changing healthcare environment and the impact upon the delivery of services in a variety of practice settings. Primary topics addressed include: organizational and legal structures, supervision and management, quality assurance, fiscal management, human resources, collaboration and team functions, and marketing.

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OTDR 631 OTD Seminar 1

1 credit hour

Integrate knowledge of delivery models, policies, and systems related to various current and emerging practice settings. Make clinical decisions through application and synthesis of theory and evidence-based reasoning for individuals and populations.

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OTDR 632 Clinical Applications of OT in Pediatrics and Adolescence

5 credit hours

This course presents the theory and rationale of competency-based assessments and interventions for physical, developmental, sensory integrative, perceptual/cognitive, and psychosocial dysfunctions as it applies to early lifespan development. Applies pediatric frames of reference to specific problems, including gross, fine and oral-motor skills; behavioral and social issues, handwriting, sensory integrative, visual, cognitive, and psychosocial problems within the framework of the multicultural family. Fieldwork Level I experience will integrate course content and clinical application. This course includes participation in a doctoral seminar for OTD students

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OTDR 633 Clinical Applications in Psychosocial and Community Settings

5 credit hours

This class presents the theory and rationale of competency and evidence-based OT assessment and intervention for psychosocial dysfunctions across the lifespan. Examines community-based settings, life-style redesign, and therapeutic use of self. Level I fieldwork experiences enable students to observe, integrate and apply concepts of the course in clinical situations. The course includes participation in a doctoral seminar for OTD students.

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OTDR 634 Scholarly Implementation & Dissemination

3 credit hours

This class focuses on the development, integration and implementation of data-collection skills and the evaluation of the quality and equity of data related to research design and methodology. The course includes participation in a doctoral seminar for the OTD students. Prerequisite: OTDR 521 Scholarly Design

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OTDR 640 OTD Seminar 2

1 credit hour

Plan and participate in professional development, leadership, and advocacy opportunities related to current and emerging practice areas including interprofessional practice. Compose a scholarly report identifying, adapting, or developing new strategies to address occupational therapy’s ability to respond to society’s changing needs.

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OTDR 641 Clinical Applications in Adulthood

5 credit hours

This course presents the theory and rationale of evidence-based assessment and intervention for physical, developmental, perceptual/cognitive, and psychosocial and neurological dysfunctions as it applies to middle lifespan. Fieldwork Level I experience will integrate course content and clinical application. This course includes participation in a doctoral seminar for OTD students. 

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OTDR 642 Clinical Applications in Gerontology

5 credit hours

This course presents the theory, rationale and evidence supporting assessments and interventions with aging adults, including physical, perceptual/cognitive, and psychosocial dysfunctions as it applies to late lifespan. Fieldwork Level I experience will integrate course content with clinical application. This course includes participation in a doctoral seminar for OTD students.

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OTDR 643 Scholarship of Practice

3 credit hours

This course explores the spectrum of “scholarship” (discovery of new knowledge; development of new technologies, methods, materials, or uses; and the integration of knowledge leading to new understanding) and its relationship to clinical practice.It addresses the importance of generating knowledge that is responsive to the priorities of society, consumers and clinicians, and which explicitly supports and advances clinical practice. Students will explore the literature to identify their profession’s research priorities as well as best practices in clinically focused scholarship. The emphasis of this course is to instill in students the importance of developing collaborative relationships to promote scholarship in support of practice. Prerequisite: OTDR 634 Scholarly Implementation and Dissemination

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OTDR 653 OTD Seminar 3

1 credit hour

In this class, students will collaborate and reflect on issues related to clinical practice, including service delivery, supervision, and ethical considerations across a variety of practice settings. They will participate in scholarly inquiry to reinforce evidence-based practice and support knowledge translation.

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OTDR 664 OTD Seminar 4

1 credit hour

In this course students will develop professional development plans appropriate for individual use based upon self-assessment reflection and future career goals. They will continue scholarly inquiry toward capstone projects and exploration of experiential application of project ideas.

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OTDR 670 Doctoral Capstone Project

2 credit hours

Students will defend the proposal of their doctoral pilot project that they will complete while on residency. They will incorporate feedback from the defense into a final project submission for committee approval. Students will take the NBCOT preparation examination, and they must pass an oral comprehensive exam as part of this course prior to starting residency.

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OTDR 672 Leadership and Advocacy

3 credit hours

This course provides students with the opportunity to apply leadership strategies needed to shape the role of occupational therapy in our national healthcare delivery system. Reflection, critique and self-directed learning are used to enhance students’ leadership skills. Principles and importance of advocacy are presented as essential for individual and professional growth.

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OTDR 673 Residency 1 Experiential Component

4 credit hours

Faculty will assist students in the development of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the resident mentor and the student. The MOU will include a method of evaluating performance during the residency that is based on individualized learning objectives.

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OTDR 683 Residency 2 Experiential Component

12 credit hours

The residency experience offers an opportunity to advance occupational therapy skills through an in-depth mentorship experience. Mentors will be individuals with expertise consistent (SME/subject matter experts) with the student's selected area of focus. This residency experience will be designed to advance clinical practice skills, research, administration, leadership, advocacy, education or program, policy, or theory development. Prerequisite: Successful completion of OTDR 673 Residency 1 Experiential Comp

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