School of Occupational Therapy

Website: http://www.twu.edu/occupational-therapy/

Director: Martin Rice, Professor
Location: MCL 810
Phone: 940-898-2801
Fax: 940-898-2806
E-mail: ot@twu.edu

Associate Director: Heather Roberts, Associate Professor
Location: Denton MCL 810
Phone: 940-898-2801
Fax: 940-898-2806
E-mail: ot@twu.edu

Associate Director: Asha Vas, Professor
Location: Dallas 8515
Phone: 214-689-7750
Fax: 214-689-7753
E-mail: ot@twu.edu

Interim Associate Director: Pei-Fen Chang, Professor
Location: Houston 7124
Phone: 713-794-2132
Fax: 713-794-2122
E-mail: ot@twu.edu

Graduate Degrees Offered

Occupational therapy is a healthcare profession whose members work to foster full participation in everyday life for persons with physical, cognitive, emotional, or societal restrictions. Occupational therapy is based on the premise that engagement in real-life activities in prescribed areas with specific goals promotes health and wellness. The School of Occupational Therapy at Texas Woman’s University offers graduate-level training and education for persons seeking to initiate or expand a career in occupational therapy. The School is home to 29 full-time faculty members and over 7,500 alumni and encompasses a Texas-wide network of professionals dedicated to the advancement of high-quality, evidence-based occupational therapy practice. The occupational therapy programs are available at the main campus of Texas Woman’s University in Denton, the T. Boone Pickens Institute of Health Sciences in Dallas, and the TWU Institute of Health Sciences Dr. Sophie Lin Rydin School of Occupational Therapy in Houston. Specific online components supplement traditional classroom learning. At each location, courses are conducted in classrooms and laboratories specially equipped to enhance student learning. Lecture and laboratory learning experiences are provided by experienced occupational therapy faculty, occupational therapy practitioners, and other health care providers. TWU offers degree programs leading to an entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree and a Doctor of Philosophy in Occupational Therapy.

Overview of Degrees Offered in Occupational Therapy

The entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (O.T.D.) degree is a professional degree that prepares students with baccalaureate degrees in other fields to become occupational therapists. The curriculum is taught in Denton, Dallas, and Houston. Doctor of Occupational Therapy students complete all courses at one of these sites.

The entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (O.T.D.) program is accredited by the Accreditation Council of Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE, c/o the AOTA Accreditation Department, 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, Maryland 20852-4929, www.acoteonline.org). Graduates of the program will be eligible to apply for the certification examination given by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy. After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree is a post-professional graduate program for occupational therapists who desire to develop skills for advanced academic and research pursuits. The Ph.D. in Occupational Therapy is offered via online and on-campus learning experiences in Dallas and Houston.

Faculty

*BARNETT, LINDA, Assistant Clinical Professor of Occupational Therapy, B.S., Texas Woman's University; M.A., Texas Christian University; O.T.D., Texas Woman's University

*BENJAMIN, TANYA, Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy, B.O.T., The Tamil Nadu Medical University, Chennai; M.S., Colorado State University; Ph.D., University of Western Ontario

*BOWYER, PATRICIA L., Professor of Occupational Therapy, B.A., Milligan College; M.S., Eastern Kentucky University; Ed.D., East Tennessee State University

*CECIL, ANGELA, Associate Clinical Professor of Occupational Therapy, B.S., Eastern Kentucky University; M.B.A., University of Louisville; Ph.D., Nova Southeastern University

*CHANG, PEI-FEN J., Professor of Occupational Therapy, B.S., National Taiwan University; M.S., University of Southern California; Ph.D., University of Texas Medical Branch

*EVETTS, CYNTHIA L., Professor of Occupational Therapy, Director of the School of Occupational Therapy, B.S., Texas A&M University; M.O.T., Texas Woman's University; Ph.D., Texas Woman's University

*FETTE, CLAUDETTE A., Clinical Professor of Occupational Therapy, B.S., Texas Woman's University; M.S., University of North Texas; Ph.D., Texas Woman's University

*HAY, CATHERINE COOPER, Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy, B.S., University of California-Santa Barbara; M.S., Tufts University; Ph.D., The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston

*KO, CAMILLE, Assistant Clinical Professor of Occupational Therapy, B.S., Brigham Young University; M.O.T., Texas Woman's University; O.T.D., Texas Woman's University

*LOHMANN, ALICIA F., Clinical Professor of Occupational Therapy, B.S., Texas A&M University; M.O.T., Texas Woman's University; O.T.D., South University, Florida

*MARTIN, JENNIFER, Associate Clinical Professor of Occupational Therapy, B.S., Ohio University; M.S., College Misericordia; O.T.D., Boston University

*PICKENS, NORALYN D., Professor of Occupational Therapy; Associate Dean for Interprofessional Education and Strategic Initiatives, College of Health Sciences and College of Nursing, B.S., University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee; M.S., University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee; Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, Madison

*POSKEY, GAIL A., Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy, B.S., East Central University; M.O.T., Texas Woman's University; Ph.D., Texas Woman's University

*ROBERTS, HEATHER, Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy, B.S., Saint Louis University; M.S., University of Texas at Arlington; Ph.D., Texas Woman's University

*SEN, SUPRIYA, Associate Clinical Professor of Occupational Therapy, B.S., University of Queensland; M.S., La Trobe University; O.T.D., University of Illinois at Chicago

*SIT, WILLIAM (YAU CHI BOOGIE), Clinical Professor of Occupational Therapy, Professional Diploma, Hong Kong Polytechnic; M.A., Texas Woman's University; Ph.D., Texas Woman's University

*VAS, ASHA K., Professor/Associate Director of Occupational Therapy, B.O.T., Christian Medical College; M.A., St. Catherine University; Ph.D., The University of Texas at Dallas

*WASHINGTON, FERMOND (LEON) F., Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy, B.S. Texas Woman’s University; M.S.W. Our Lady of the Lake University; Ph.D. Texas Woman’s University

Courses

Contact hours identified in the course descriptions are based on a 15-week term. Students who enroll in Summer or mini-terms are expected to meet the same total number of contact hours as a 15-week term.

OT 5811. Specialty Field Experience. One-week elective placement in a specialty setting with adjunct, full-time, or clinical specialist faculty. May be related to special interest or to research project. May also be in a professional administrative setting as a national or state office. In special cases may be supervised by professionals in other disciplines. May be repeated for credit. Forty practicum hours. Credit: One hour.

OT 5813. Specialty Field Experience. Three-week elective placement in a specialty setting with adjunct, full-time, or clinical specialist faculty. May be related to special interest or to research project. May also be in a professional administrative setting as a national or state office. In special cases may be supervised by professionals in other disciplines. May be repeated for credit. One hundred twenty practicum hours. Credit: Three hours.

OT 5816. Specialty Field Experience. Six-week elective placement in a specialty setting with adjunct, full-time, or clinical specialist faculty. May be related to special interest or to research project. May also be in a professional administrative setting as a national or state office. In special cases may be supervised by professionals in other disciplines. May be repeated for credit. Two hundred forty practicum hours. Credit: Six hours.

OT 5901. Special Topics. Intensive study of selected topics in occupational therapy. May be repeated for credit. One lecture hour a week. Credit: One hour.

OT 5903. Special Topics. Intensive study of selected topics in occupational therapy. May be repeated for credit. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

OT 5911. Independent Study. Advanced work in special fields of occupational therapy. May be repeated for credit. Credit: One hour.

OT 5913. Independent Study. Advanced work in special fields of occupational therapy. May be repeated for credit. Credit: Three hours.

OT 6113. Essentials and Foundations of Occupational Therapy Practice. Occupation and occupational science; Occupational Therapy history and current practice including philosophical base, scope, standards, theories, models, and ethics. Professional reasoning and professional behaviors. Prerequisite: Admission to the professional OTD program. Co-requisites: OT 6122, OT 6183, and PT 6703. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

OT 6122. Occupational Analysis and Therapeutic Tools for Occupational Therapy Practice. Activity analysis and grading of occupations in context; therapeutic use of self, tools, materials, and group dynamics; activities of daily living, work and productive activity, play, leisure, and rest. Co-requisites: OT 6113, OT 6183, and PT 6703. Four laboratory hours a week. Credit: Two hours.

OT 6133. Advanced Evidence-Based Occupational Therapy Practice. Advanced clinical competence and leadership within intervention systems. Critical analysis of occupational therapy assessments, interventions, outcomes and development of guidelines for best practice at the client, program, and systems levels. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

OT 6183. Impact of Metabolic Conditions in Occupational Therapy Practice. Impact of a variety of metabolic conditions on occupational participation, habits, and routines; related physiological lab values, vital signs, medications, precautions, and safety related to occupational performance. Co-requisites: OT 6113, OT 6122, and PT 6703. Three lecture hours a week.

OT 6213. Applied Neuroscience for Occupational Therapy. Relationship between occupational performance and the fundamentals of neuroanatomy and physiology. Implications for occupational therapy when disruption within the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems results in dysfunction. Prerequisites: OT 6183, OT 6122, OT 6113. Co-requisites: OT 6283, OT 6244, and OT 6293. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

OT 6223. Theory and Knowledge Development in Occupational Therapy. Current theories and relationship to practice. Examination of the evolution and significance of occupation, adaptation, and environment as seminal concepts in the profession's knowledge development. Application to clinical research. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

OT 6243. Learning Designs for Occupational Therapy Knowledge. Planning, conducting, and assessing outcomes for teaching programs, professional workshops, and research presentations specific to occupational therapy knowledge and skills. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

OT 6244. Occupational Performance: Applications and Skills for Musculoskeletal Conditions. Occupational therapy evaluation and intervention for the musculoskeletal system. Movement in context including biomechanical principles. Treatment planning for occupational performance issues. Strength, range of motion, endurance, pain, and tissue integrity. Principles of splinting and modalities. Experiential learning opportunities. Prerequisites: OT 6113, OT 6122, and OT 6183. Co-requisites: OT 6213, OT 6283, and OT 6293. Eight laboratory hours a week. Credit: Four hours.

OT 6253. Scholarly Writing in Occupational Therapy. Development of scholarly writing skills linked to effective research and dissemination competencies. Writing style, organization, logic, clarity of content, and concise, cogent argument. Search techniques, reference management tools, and scholarly ethics. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

OT 6283. Implications of Musculoskeletal System Conditions on Occupational Participation. Occupational therapy knowledge for musculoskeletal system conditions. Movement in context including biomechanical principles. Treatment planning for occupational participation issues related to musculoskeletal conditions. Prerequisites: OT 6183, OT 6122, and. OT 6113. Corequisites: OT 6213, OT 6244, and OT 6293. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

OT 6293. The Art and Science of Evidence-Based Practice. Evaluation of Occupational Therapy literature, analysis of research reports, examination of principles of evidence-based practice, initiation of search strategies to locate evidence for practice, development of responsible conduct of research, and ethical applications. Prerequisites: OT 6113, OT 6122, and OT 6183. Co-requisites: OT 6213, OT 6244, and OT 6283. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

OT 6313. Occupation Across the Lifespan I: Children and Youth. In-depth inquiry of occupations from birth through adolescence. ADL, IADL, education, work, play, leisure, social participation, rest and sleep. Occupational participation through choices, habits, routines, and roles within family and social systems. Prerequisites: OT 6213, OT 6244, OT 6283, and OT 6293. Co-requisites: OT 6344, OT 6383, and OT 6393. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

OT 6333. Occupation in Context. Occupational participation at the immediate, proximal, community, and societal scales of environments explored within contexts. Application of ecological and occupational models to evaluation and intervention for case studies and research methods. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

OT 6343. Theory of Occupational Adaptation. Examination of the theory of occupational adaptation as a normative model of human growth and development and a system for design of occupation-based practice models based on the interaction between the person, the environment, and internal adaptation. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

OT 6344. Occupational Performance: Application and Skills for Neuromuscular Conditions. Application of skills for neuromuscular conditions across the lifespan. Effects of neuromuscular conditions on the performance of daily occupations. Evaluation and intervention strategies including adaptation, modification, orthotics, modalities, technology, and handling techniques. Eight laboratory hours a week. Prerequisites: OT 6244 and OT 6283. Co-requisite: OT 6383. Credit: Four hours.

OT 6353. Neuroscience Applications: Occupational Therapy and Adaptation. Neuroscience foundations of the concepts of occupation and adaptation. Emphasis on current research related to mechanisms of adaptation of the nervous system structures and functions as a result of engagement in occupation. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

OT 6363. Statistical Analysis in Occupational Therapy. Examination of quantitative research methods including design, level of measurement, sampling, and validity. Emphasis on computation and analysis of such statistics as applicable to contemporary research in occupational therapy. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

OT 6373. Grant Writing in Occupational Therapy. Development of knowledge and skills necessary to write a grant proposal. Consideration of a range of grants/contracts inlcluding private foundation, state contracts, and federal grants. Essential steps to build interdisciplinary partnerships. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

OT 6383. Implications for Neuromuscular Conditions on Occupational Participation. Neuromuscular conditions across the lifespan and effects on participation. Occupational Therapy principles for evaluation and interventions: Habilitation, rehabilitation, and adaptation. Occupational Therapy intervention when disruption of the neuromuscular system results in functional limitations and disability. Prerequisites: OT 6244 and OT 6283. Co-requisite: OT 6344. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

OT 6393. Research Design and Methods for Occupational Therapy. Survey of qualitative and quantitative research methods relevant to occupational therapy research. Application of principles of quantitative statistics, qualitative analyses, and ethical research practices to analyze and evaluate research and outcome studies related to occupational therapy practice. Identification of sources for potential grant funding and proposal development. Prerequisites: OT 6213, OT 6244, OT 6283, and OT 6293. Co-requistes: OT 6313, OT 6344, and OT 6383. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

OT 6413. Occupation Across the Lifespan II: Adults. In-depth inquiry of adult occupations in context including ADL, IADL, education, work, play, leisure, social participation, rest, and sleep. Effects of maturing and aging on occupational choices, habits, routines, and lifestyles as they influence occupational performance and participation from young to older adults. End of life issues. Prerequisite: OT 6313. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

OT 6433. Teaching Practicum in Occupational Therapy. Planning, conducting, and evaluating a teaching program which may include an academic course in the undergraduate or professional master's curriculum or a continuing education workshop for occupational therapists or other health professionals. May be repeated for credit. Five practicum hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

OT 6441. Occupational Therapy Experiential Learning and Reflective Practice: Field Work. Observation and participation in service to individuals, groups, or populations and reflection on applications within occupational therapy practice. Prerequisites: OT 6244 and OT 6283. 40 hours experiential learning. Credit: One hour.

OT 6463. Occupational Performance: Application and Skills for Neuromotor Control. Application and skills for neuromotor conditions across the lifespan. Effects of complex neurological conditions on performance of daily occupations. Evaluation and intervention strategies including habilitation, rehabilitation, adaptation, modification, orthotics, modalities, technology, and handling techniques. Prerequisites: OT 6344 and OT 6383. Co-requisite: OT 6483. 80 laboratory hours. Credit: Three hours.

OT 6483. Implications of Neuromotor Control on Occupational Participation. Neuromotor conditions across the lifespan and effects on participation. Occupational Therapy principles for evaluation and interventions: Habilitation, rehabilitation, adaptation, clinical cases, and discussion. Occupational Therapy intervention when disruption of the central, peripheral, or autonomic nervous systems results in functional limitations and disability. Prerequisites: OT 6344 and OT 6383. Co-requisite: OT 6463. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

OT 6501. Mentored Professional Development I. Design of a personal professional development plan in an area of specialization in occupational therapy, under the tutelage of a faculty mentor. Credit: One hour.

OT 6503. Professional Development Core I. Principles of leadership; identification, access, and validation of information sources in professional and scholarly writing. Three seminar hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

OT 6513. Organization and Leadership in Occupational Therapy. Ethical and effective management of staff in varied contexts in context of current policy issues. Leadership skills in planning and marketing services, design, and quality improvement processes. Prerequisite: OT 6413. Co-requisite: OT 6593. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

OT 6544. Occupational Performance: Application and skills for Neurobehavioral Conditions and Mental Health. Application of evaluation and intervention principles for cognitive, behavioral, and psychosocial practice in clinical and community settings. Therapeutic use of self, group process, evaluation and interventions. Treatment planning for occupational performance issues. Experiential learning opportunities. Prerequisites: OT 6463 and OT 6483. Co-requisite: OT 6583. Eight laboratory hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

OT 6553. Applied Research Design and Methods. Relationships between therapy and research; strengths and weaknesses of alternative research designs and traditions for scholarly inquiry; qualitative and quantitative research methods; program evaluation. Three seminar hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

OT 6563. Programmatic Research Planning. Participation in existing work of the student's supervising professor which illustrates sequential development of a line of research and which may lead to development of a dissertation topic for the student. May be repeated for credit. Credit: Three hours.

OT 6583. Implications of Neurobehavioral Conditions and Mental Health on Occupational Participation. Neurobehavioral and mental health factors including higher order neuroprocesses, cognition, and emotion. Principles of practice in clinical and community settings. Treatment planning for occupational participation issues related to psychosocial conditions. Prerequisites: OT 6463 and OT 6483. Co-requisite: OT 6544. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

OT 6593. Research Implementation and Analysis in Occupational Therapy. Development and implementation of scholarly projects relevant to Occupational Therapy including processes related to grant funding, data collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination. Prerequisites: OT 6413, OT 6463, and OT 6483. Co-requisites: OT 6513, OT 6544, and OT 6583. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

OT 6616. Occupational Therapy Fieldwork and Reflective Practice I. First in a series of practicals in a health care or community-based setting where occupational therapy services are provided to maximize health, well being, and quality of life. Opportunities to evaluate needs, develop interventions to promote client outcomes, deliver occupational therapy services, reflect on practice, and complete critical analyses of experiences. Supervision and on-site evaluation completed by a licensed occupational therapist. Full-time equivalency (FTE) practicum hours weekly for 12 weeks. Prerequisite: OT 6513. Credit: Six hours.

OT 6623. Instrumentation for Measuring Occupational Performance. Current theories and principles of measurement. Relationship of measurement to practice, education, and research. Application of OT knowledge/expertise in development or revision of instruments used across practice contexts. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

OT 6643. Advanced Qualitative Methods in Occupational Therapy. Methods of data collection and interpretation including participant observation, qualitative interviews, focus groups, and trustworthiness techniques; emphasis on practical application to research questions and implementation of a research study. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

OT 6713. Innovations in Occupational Therapy Practice. Exploration of emerging and innovative practice and settings; inter- and intraprofessional collaboration; program management; innovations in service delivery for persons, groups, and populations; teaching and learning theories. Prerequisites: OT 6513 and OT 6616. Co-requisites: OT 6723 and OT 6733. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

OT 6723. Reflective Practice: Occupational Adaptation and Wellness. Application of health, wellness, and disability prevention models to reflective fieldwork experience. Importance of balancing occupation across various conditions for persons, groups, and populations. Role of occupation in the promotion of health in wellness, prevention programs with a focus on participation, and lifestyle modification to support living life to its fullest. Prerequisites: OT 6616. Co-requisites: OT 6713 and OT 6733. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

OT 6733. Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstone Preparation. Focused preparation for doctoral capstone experience and project; confirmation of plans for implementation, evaluation, and dissemination. Prerequisites: Prerequisites: OT 6513, OT 6544, OT 6583, and OT 6593 . Co-requisites: OT 6713 and OT 6723. Three seminar hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

OT 6816. Occupational Therapy Fieldwork and Reflective Practice II. Second in a series of practica in a health care or community based setting where occupational therapy services are provided to maximize health, well being, and quality of life. Opportunities to evaluate needs, develop interventions to promote client outcomes, deliver occupational therapy services, reflect on practice, and complete critical analyses of experiences. Supervision and on-site evaluation completed by licensed occupational therapist. Full-time equivalency (FTE) practicum hours weekly for 12 weeks. Prerequisites: OT 6616, OT 6713, OT 6723, and OT 6733. Credit: Six hours.

OT 6823. Current Issues and Trends in Occupational Therapy. Influences of changes in the health care delivery system on practice and education in occupational therapy. Analyses of issues and trends in occupational therapy and subsequent approaches taken by the profession to adapt. Role of the occupational therapist as change agent and consultant. Three lecture hours a week. Credit Three hours.

OT 6901. Special Topics. Selected current topics relevant to occupational therapy. May be repeated for credit. One seminar hour a week. Credit: One hour.

OT 6903. Special Topics. Selected current topics relevant to occupational therapy. May be repeated for credit. Three seminar hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

OT 6911. Independent Study. Credit: One hour.

OT 6913. Independent Study. Credit: Three hours.

OT 6916. Occupational Therapy Doctoral Experiential Component. Customized experience specific to doctoral capstone. Focus on clinical practice, research, administration, leadership, program or policy development, advocacy, education, or theory development. 14 weeks and 560 clinical hours on-site. Prerequisites: OT 6616, OT 6733, and OT 6816. Co-requisites: OT 6923. Credit: Six hours.

OT 6923. Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstone Project. Synthesis and application of knowledge and skills gained from curriculum and doctoral capstone experience to carry out plan in context and disseminate product. Prerequisites: OT 6616, OT 6733, and OT 6816. Co-requisites: OT 6916. Three seminar hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

OT 6983. Dissertation. Prerequisite: Successful completion of qualifying exam. May be repeated for credit. Credit: Three hours.

OT 6993. Dissertation. Prerequisites: OT 6983 and successful defense of dissertation proposal. May be repeated for credit. Credit: Three hours.