Memo
To:
Graduate Curriculum Committee
From:
Leonard Trujillo, PhD
Chair, Occupational Therapy Department
Date:
October 14, 2011
Subject:
Requested Changes to the Occupational Therapy Program
The Occupational Therapy Department Graduate faculty members have reviewed their
program through regular program evaluation as required by their accreditation
requirements. Based on this self-evaluation, the program proposes changes as outlined
below:
1.
2.
3.
Delete OCCT 6455 Application of Theory to Practice as a required
course. This course was designed as a capstone course taken between the two
Fieldwork experiences. The course had many formats with the most recent
being case studies and portfolios. Through our review, we are finding that
most of the content and activities are already being addressed in other courses,
and students have reflected that this course is of little value. The
departmental graduate faculty members determined that this course’s content
was redundant and more effort is warranted in the areas of master’s projects
and master’s thesis and elimination of this course would allow students to
focus on their individual work. This course has included the presentation of
students’ projects or thesis as their capstone/comprehensive exam. The
Department will continue the public presentation of their master’s project or
thesis as their comprehensive exam or capstone experience.
a. Students who may need an additional 3 credits in the last fall semester of
the program to be full time student while completing OCCT6450
Fieldwork II (6 credits) will be able to take an elective course, specifically
OCCT 6070 Special Topics, which can be offered to all students in the fall
semesters by various faculty members.
Revise OCCT 6650 Conducting Research in Occupational Therapy. This
course needs reflect the changes from a required course for only non-thesis
students to all students because the content is needed for thesis students to be
adequately prepared to complete thesis within 6 credits.
Revise the BIOS requirements. Our thesis students are currently required to
take BIOS 7022 or Qualitative analysis. BIOS 7021 a required pre-requisite
for 7022. Through program review of thesis experiences with students, the
Departmental Graduate faculty members have found that BIOS 7021 is
adequate for thesis completion. To keep the statistics requirements at 3
credits, students can take BIOS 7021 or OCCT 7100, which is the qualitative
4.
5.
6.
7.
analysis. Based on the review by the Chair of the Graduate Curriculum
Committee, we are replacing “Qualitative Analysis” with the specific course
offered by the department, OCCT 7100.
OCCT 6400 Fieldwork I. The Departmental Graduate Faculty recognized
that although we met minimum standards of Fieldwork I, based on student
input and self review, students were not getting adequate preparation in the
diverse occupational therapy practice settings with only one credit of
Fieldwork I experiences (clinical experience in only one semester prior to the
Fieldwork Level II). Therefore, we offered a second course in OCCT 6400
Fieldwork I (1 credit) to increase the number of settings and practice areas in
which students could be exposed. Based on this evaluation, the Department
would like to request that OCCT 6400 be taken in the 4th and 5th semesters of
the course of study. This would increase the number of credits for degree
requirements by 1 credit.
OCCT 6450 Fieldwork II. In reviewing the Graduate Catalog posting it was
noted that there was no statement requiring that this course be repeated only
that it could be repeated. The Departmental Graduate Faculty have identified
that it must be repeated at least once to complete and meet the minimum
Fieldwork II requirements as delineated by ACOTE Standard B.10.14
“Require a minimum of 24 weeks Full time Level II fieldwork experience.”
This does not increase the number of credits that students have previously
been asked to complete, but delineates the requirement.
Removal of the Post Professional Path: The Post Professional Path is being
removed as the number of applicants for this degree change has not been
fruitful and most post professional now seek certificate courses or clinical
protocols training rather than upgrading their degree level. There is no
incentive based on pay scales as pay scales are based on experience rather
than degree levels. We have one student who remains in the program, who
has completed her academic requirements and data collection and is expected
to defend her this this semester. Posting on the web is that we are no longer
accepting applications for this degree path.
Revision of number of credits for degree requirement. In preparation for
the changes proposed above, it is evident that the online graduate catalog was
in error in credit numbers, the total should have been 76 s.h. OCCT 6500, 3
s.h was counted twice, once in the core and again in the Professional entry
path requirement
Based on the changes requested, we would be decreasing the program by 6
credits (elimination of OCCT 6455, 3 s.h.) and addition of requirement of
repeating OCCT 6400 for a total of 70 s.h. as the minimum requirement.