Occupational Therapy BSc (Hons)

This BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy programme prepares students to help people deal with life challenges including ill-health, disability, and social problems. Students learn how everyday activities can be used and adapted creatively to promote health, wellbeing and a satisfying lifestyle, so that graduates have the skills and knowledge needed to be an effective Occupational Therapist.Occupation (its philosophical, scientific, and experiential domains) is central to the curriculum and emphasis is placed on the unique and individual client-centred dynamic of ‘person-environment-occupation-wellbeing’ informing the content and configuration of the curriculum (rather than bio-medical and service-led patterns). This programme offers a spiral curriculum design means concepts are re-visited with increasing complexity in learning continuing throughout the programme. Adult learning theory is incorporated with Problem Based Learning and other teaching and learning strategies offering an inclusive platform for learning and assessment. Continuous Professional Development (CPD) learning in addition to the academic curriculum is offered with a varied programme of teaching, demonstration and experiential events culminating in a CPD Fest which runs during the last week of semester 2.There are different focuses across the various levels of the programme. Life cycle is a design focus particularly at level 5. An Entrepreneurial focus is evident in modules particularly at level 6, with a focus on the changing workplace and the need for graduates to be ‘business ready’ for employment in a dynamic health and social care arena. Concepts of innovation, business skills and preparation for practice, considering contemporary practice issues/drivers are critically examined within the Contemporary practitioner module and Innovative practitioner module at level 6Choice is offered and students are required to explore a specific area of Occupational Therapy practice of their own choice at level 5, enhancing their CV’s and allowing further reflection on a career direction. Volunteering and community engagement is an integral part of level 4 creating opportunity for students to experience occupation and reflect on theory.Students have practice skills recognised within their degree classification and the placement schedule has been specifically designed to maximise students’ employability in level 6. There is a developing Erasmus profile for international exchanges of both staff and students within Europe. Inter-professional learning opportunities are incorporated throughout the programme with the potential for IP research projects.