Practicum and Fieldwork Experiences

Level I fieldwork

OCTH 134 is the first practicum Level 1 experience. In this course students are placed in a designated agency where they will lead occupation-based groups. This is accompanied by a seminar that assists students in applying knowledge of group leadership and professionalism.

OCTH 244 is the second practicum Level I experience. In this course students enroll in one of our clinics (Mental Health, Physical Disabilities, Pediatric, or Geriatric) and are assigned a client for whom they are responsible for developing and implementing an intervention plan whose outcome is to facilitate the client's ability to participate in meaningful occupations. Through this experience the student will gain skill in observation, interviewing, evaluation, documentation and the application of theory to practice. This course requires the student to demonstrate clinical reasoning, judgment, professional behavior and the ability to establish a therapeutic relationship in preparation for their upcoming Level II fieldwork experience. The seminar that accompanies this class also gives the students the opportunity for peer interaction, mentoring and feedback as professional competence begins to emerge.

Level II fieldwork

This six-month fieldwork experience places students at two clinic sites, each for three months. OCTH 201A is the first Level II experience. It is a three-month placement and is completed during the summer after completion of the graduate level coursework. The purpose of level II fieldwork is to provide occupational therapy students with the opportunity to integrate knowledge with application skills and attitudes at progressively higher levels of performance requirements and responsibility. Supervised fieldwork experience in occupational therapy is considered to be an integral part of both the educational process and professional preparation. The goal of the educational process is to produce competent occupational therapists. This competence includes the knowledge, skills and attitudes to practice occupational therapy at or above the minimum basic entry level of the profession as defined by the academic and fieldwork educational programs. Fieldwork experience provides an opportunity for growth, and for learning to apply knowledge, develop and test clinical skills, and validate those functions that comprise professional competence. This is a 6-unit course, but does not count towards the 31 units required for the MS degree.

OCTH 201B is the final Level 2 fieldwork placement. It is completed during the fall after successful completion of OCTH 201A. This is a 6-unit course, but does not count towards the 31 units required for the MS. Upon its completion, and the completion of all coursework, students are eligible to sit for the NBCOT Certification Examination for Registered Occupational Therapy (OTR). Successful completion of the examination qualifies the candidate to apply to the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) to be registered as an occupational therapist (OTR) and the California Board of Occupational Therapy for California state licensing.