Doctor of Occupational Therapy Fieldwork

Fieldwork

Fieldwork education is an integral aspect of our program. Students will be involved in Level I Fieldwork experiences during the first and second year in the program. Students complete 24 weeks of fulltime Level II Fieldwork during the third year of the program.

Fieldwork education consists of five experiences designed to prepare and expose the student to a variety of applied settings in occupational therapy:

Level I experiences in pediatrics occur in association with HPOT 6240 Intervention: Developmental and Learning Models II in the Summer 2 semester. The student will actively participate in faculty-led learning experiences within the community to develop professional and therapeutic skills with the pediatric population.
Level I experiences in mental health occur in association with HPOT 6240 Intervention: Cognitive and Behavioral Health Models in the Summer 2 semester. The student will actively participate in faculty-led learning experiences within the community to develop professional and therapeutic skills addressing behavioral, psychological, and social factors influencing engagement in occupation.
Level I experiences in adult physical dysfunction occur in association with several courses over the first and second year. Integrated within these select courses, students apply knowledge to practice through participation in progressive comprehensive competency experiences relevant to practice in adult settings and understanding the needs of clients. Specific therapeutic competency experiences include the progressive use of simulated environments, standardized patients, and site visits.
Fieldwork II 1: This full-time fieldwork experience typically begins in May of the third year and lasts 12 weeks. The student engages in an in-depth experience delivering occupational therapy services to clients, focusing on the application of purposeful and meaningful occupation, administration, and management of occupational therapy services.
Fieldwork II 2: This full-time fieldwork experience typically begins in August of the third year and lasts 12 weeks. The student engages in an in-depth experience delivering occupational therapy services to clients, focusing on the application of purposeful and meaningful occupation, administration, and management of occupational therapy services. At least one of the two Fieldwork II experiences must be in an adult physical dysfunction setting. The other Fieldwork II experience may be in a different adult setting, a pediatric setting, mental health setting, or other specialist setting (e.g., hand therapy; neuro specialty).

Facilities that have occupational therapy clinical education agreements with TTUHSC may be used for Fieldwork sites. The Academic Fieldwork Coordinator provides detailed information for selection procedures. The student may provide preferences for certain setting types and for the location of Fieldwork II placements. The program has opportunities locally, across the state, and other states across the US.

Resources for Fieldwork Educators

Numerous resources for fieldwork education and supervision are available on The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) website. These include:

Program Curriculum

For information on the program’s curriculum, click here [insert link back to curriculum tab]

Program Contact for Fieldwork Inquiries

For more specific questions, please contact the TTUHSC’s Academic Fieldwork Coordinator:
Megan Taylor, OTR, OTD, CLT
megan.r.taylor@ttuhsc.edu
806-743-3186