Course description
COURSE INFORMATION
The pre-registration 2-year Masters degree has been designed to meet the needs of graduates with a first degree in a subject related to the discipline of occupational therapy, for example, psychology. It provides graduates with the educational experience of all occupational therapy students so they will be able to work in a range of health and community settings. They have involvement with patients/clients and carers and members of interdisciplinary teams that offer opportunity, on qualification, for work within a variety of public and private service settings for example, primary care, hospital trusts, social services and prisons. The occupational therapy programme is based on the belief in, and importance of, human occupation and the value of occupational performance in maintaining mental and physical well-being, within the context of the individual's lifestyle. Working in partnership with the client/patient/carer is an essential element of the approach taken. This ensures that the holistic needs, as affected by pathology, psychopathology, age, gender, culture or environment are identified and met.
The broad theory base underpinning occupational therapy practice necessitates integration of knowledge from occupational science and a range of biopsycho-social disciplines. The range and complexity of needs that clients/patients/carers identify in respect of their occupational performance requires occupational therapists to be effective in problem-solving, to be reflective and self-evaluative, and to be resourceful and flexible in approach. Occupational therapists also appreciate the value of team working and interdisciplinary collaboration as an essential element in contemporary health and community practice.
MODULE INFORMATION
Year 1 Modules
PL0724 Developing Occupation in Context (, 20 Credits)
PL0725 Professional Development and Practice (, 20 Credits)
PP0189 Empirical Project (, 60 Credits)
PP0190 Practice Project (, 60 Credits)
PP0191 SYSTEMATIC APPRAISAL (, 60 Credits)
COURSEWORK AND ASSESSMENT
All aspects of the programme are learned through an Enquiry-Based Learning approach (EBL), in which students work together and individually to further their comprehension, analysis and application of the material that underpins occupational therapy.
There is a balance between sessions in which new material is developed and those in which consolidation of learning takes place, as a result of the enquiry approach to learning. Practical sessions are facilitated by staff to help students to gain competence in skills prior to practice placements.
There are five periods of practice placement, ranging from 4 weeks to 9 weeks. All are organised for students through the University Placements Office, one is an elective placement that the student may undertake in this country or overseas. A minimum of 1,000 hours of successful placement experience must be achieved and all placements are assessed on a pass/fail basis through the identification of competencies.
Within the programme the modules are assessed through written assignments, an individual oral/visual presentation and a major independent research dissertation.
ACCREDITATION
Please see entry requirements.
CAREERS
On successful completion of the programme, students apply for registration with the Health Professions Council, which enables employment to be sought in a range of health and community settings.
Occupational therapists with a Masters degree will have the potential to develop into specialist expert practitioners, research therapists, managers of therapeutic services, and to become proactive contributors to the breadth of developments continually being made in health and social care.
