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Programs & Courses:
Course Descriptions
101 Physiology. (Cross-listed as Biology 9.) Normal function of the human body based on fundamental
biophysical and biomechanical principles. Systems covered will include cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal,
renal, neuroendocrine, muscular, and skeletal. Emphasis will be placed on how these systems contribute to neuromuscular
control, muscular strength, and endurance. Prerequisite: cell biology. Leavis
102 Gross Anatomy. (Cross-listed as Biology 4.) A systemic approach to human anatomy, including the
skeletal, muscular, respiratory, digestive, genital, urinary, and nervous systems. Detailed study of the upper and
lower extremities, emphasizing normal function. Laboratory sessions weekly. Prerequisite: biology. Sarikas
103 Neuroanatomy. (Cross-listed as Biology 5.) The structure and basic function of the nervous system: both
central and peripheral nerves analyzed as to functional components, course, and action. Basic tracts of the central
nervous system outlined and traced. Laboratory sessions weekly. Prerequisite: OTS 102. Pessina/Whitney
104 Kinesiology. (Cross-listed as Biology 11.) Introduction to normal human movement. The basic anatomical,
physiological, and biomechanical principles that underpin normal movement and function. Includes the assessment of
muscle and joint function through manual muscle testing and goniometry. Emphasis on the biomechanics of everyday
activities. Prerequisite or taken concurrently: gross anatomy. Ray, Kresge
105 Assistive Technology. Examination of problems in designing and providing assistive devices to
individuals with disabilities, to assist mobility, communication, positioning, and environmental control and daily
living. Processes discussed include needs assessment, search for available devices, resources available, and
creative problem solving. Students work with materials commonly used to create individualized devices, in
cross-disciplinary teams on a design for a specific user or group. Problems of funding and delivery of devices also
explored. For students in occupational therapy and engineering, and for educators, speech/language pathologists,
and rehabilitation personnel. Campbell/Buxton
106 Occupation and Adaptation in the Child and Adolescent. Developmental themes and models of childhood
and adolescent occupation, including activities of daily living, play, education, social skill development, and
vocational exploration. The impact of physical, psychological, cognition, and social development on the child as
well as the influence of caretakers, community, and culture. Fieldwork experience. Prerequisites: Psychology 1,
junior or senior standing. Sherwin Ripp
107 Occupation and Adaptation in the Adult Years. Developmental themes and theoretical models of the adult
life cycle, from early to late adulthood including examination of physical, psychological, cognitive, and social changes
and the influence of culture, race, and gender on occupations and adaptation. Emphasis on individual differences and
the impact of sociocultural context or areas of occupation such as work, activities of daily living, play, education,
social participation, and spiritual practices. Community field experience. Prerequisites: Psychology 1, junior or senior
standing. Trudeau
137, 138 Fieldwork Seminar. No course credit.
183, 184 Independent Study. Directed individual study of an approved topic. Credit as arranged.
Members of the department
205 Clinical Reasoning Seminar I: Observation and Interpretation. The first in a series of courses focusing on
the development of occupational therapy reasoning skills based on theoretical and practice learning. Emphasis on the
ability to make, reflect on, analyze, and critique observations as well as making interpretations based on these
observations. Building leadership skills and the ability to view the whole person (including an individual's sexuality
and spirituality) through experiential learning. Prerequisites: Psychology 1, junior or senior standing.
Bedell, Trudeau
206 Clinical Reasoning Seminar II: Interactive Reasoning in the Practice of Occupational Therapy. Exploration of
the interactive aspects of clinical reasoning through fieldwork and classroom experiences. Topics include analysis of self,
the initial interview, interview process, designing and asking interview questions, the phenomenological approach to
interviewing, limit setting techniques, self-analysis of interviews, the termination process, and interacting with guest
speakers who are living with disabilities. Prerequisite: OTS 205. Kresge
207 Clinical Reasoning Seminar III: Procedural Reasoning in the Practice of Occupational Therapy. Exploration
of the procedural components of the clinical reasoning process with reference to the profession's practice framework,
evidence-based practice, selected theoretical models and practice areas. Topics include principles of evaluation, outcome
measures, evidence-based practice, client-centered practice, clinical documentation, and pain management. Rochman
208 Clinical Reasoning Seminar IV: Evidence-Based Practice. Advanced seminar explores the clinical reasoning
process with reference to evidence-based practice in occupational therapy. Topics include client problem and goal
identification, development of PICO questions, searching and analyzing literature, preparing Rx plan, presentation to
client. Prerequisite: consent. Bailey
209 Clinical Research. Exploration of the components of the research process in the context of occupational
therapy. Includes developing research questions, conducting a literature search and review, data collection and data
analysis, drawing conclusions from data, ethics in research, and sharing research findings. Prerequisite: Introductory
statistics; open to undergraduates. Bailey
210 Thesis Research. (May be substituted for OTS 209.) An examination of methods of scientific inquiry and
research applicable to human-service professions. Emphasis on formulating questions; methodology for their resolution,
including sampling, measurement of variables, reliability and validity; selection of instruments; data collection and
analysis; proposal writing for thesis. Prerequisite: consent. Bailey
219 Group Theory and Community-Based Practice. Exploration of the dynamics of small and large group systems.
Classes and readings focus on theories of group process that lead to effective group functioning. Group experiences in
class to integrate theoretical learning about group observation, leadership, and individual membership skills.
Understanding culture in relation to group development in small and large group systems and application of group theory
to practice in occupational therapy. Lectures, mentoring groups, and assignments are integrated with weekly
community-based fieldwork service learning where the students facilitate small task-oriented groups. Prerequisite:
prior or concurrent OTS 106 or 107. Schwartzberg
220 Methods of Education for Occupational Therapists. Survey of theories of learning, teaching, and curriculum
design that pertain to occupational therapy education in the university as well as to educational activities in
occupational therapy practice. The case study method will be used to analyze and compare approaches to curriculum and
program design. Schwartzberg
224 Occupational Therapy Practice in Physical Dysfunction. Basic treatment principles for neurologic,
orthopedic, degenerative, and traumatic conditions, including CVA, arthritis, burns, fractures, and spinal cord injuries,
as well as theory and research in relation to treatment, will be presented in lecture. Laboratory stresses conduct of
motor, sensory, and perceptual evaluations; comprehensive treatment planning; splint fabrication; transfers; and
psychodynamics of physical rehabilitation. Includes a fieldwork component. Prerequisites: OTS 102,
103, and 243 (taken concurrently or prior to OTS 101,
104, and 242). Curran Brooks
226 Occupational Therapy Practice with the Pediatric Population. This course prepares students to use clinical
reasoning to apply knowledge of pediatric occupational therapy and principles to working with children and their families.
Course content will focus on supporting the occupations of the child within an environmental context with an emphasis on
family and sociocultural factors. Students will examine major theoretical frames of reference based upon current research
and will learn to apply this to planning occupational therapy evaluations and interventions. As part of this course,
students are required to participate in a Level I pediatric occupational therapy fieldwork experience. Prerequisites:
OTS 104, 106, 206, and either 224 and
227. Ray
227 Occupational Therapy Practice in Psychosocial Dysfunction. Review of the theoretical backgrounds that have
either historical or current significance in the practice of occupational therapy with individuals who are mentally ill.
Students use a variety of learning activities to fully explore this area of practice, including lecture, lab, and clinical
fieldwork. Practical application of theoretical concepts and clinical reasoning applied to a variety of treatment situations
to guide clinical decisions from evaluation through discharge. Prerequisites: OTS 107 and
243 (taken concurrently or prior to OTS 106, 219, and
242). Trudeau
229 Occupational Therapy Practice with Older Adults. Study of contemporary issues of aging and social
implications of worldwide longer lifespan. Examination of theories of aging, including physiological, psychological,
and functional changes and the influence of culture, race, and gender in the experience of aging. Through clinical
reasoning, students learn to evaluate and facilitate functional performance in older adults in a variety of environments,
ranging from community to institutional settings. Professional roles, intervention strategies, and modes of service
delivery, including interdisciplinary approaches to gerontic occupational therapy. Prerequisite: consent. Trudeau
232 Health and Community Systems. Students will gain an in-depth understanding of the health care system in
the United States and learn how health care policy is established. Government sets health care policy, either explicitly
by legislating, or implicitly by not legislating. The impetus to a policy is a problem. Introduction to key problems,
both historic and current, so that students may understand the solutions that shape their work world, and may contribute
to the discussion and negotiation of future solutions for their clients. Members of the department
233 Occupational Therapy Management and Administration. The philosophy of health care delivery in the United
States, both institutional and community. Principles of management within the institutional and community health care
system, including moving from clinician to manager, managerial roles, marketing, financial management of an occupational
therapy department, staff development, recruitment and retention, ethics in the workplace, and professional issues.
Members of the department
234, 235 Practicum. Supervised experience in occupational-therapy-related settings, e.g., clinics, community
programs, and educational institutions. Experience may focus on specific areas of teaching, consultation, program
development, or direct service. Prerequisite: consent. Barnes, Evenson
237, 238 Fieldwork Experience. No course credit.
242 Health Conditions: Pathology and Prevention I. Incidence, prevalence, and etiology of health conditions
that contribute to disruption in occupational performance focusing on conditions common in childhood through adolescence.
The health practitioner's role in the treatment and management of these conditions and the role of risk-factor
identification and prevention. The person-environment-occupation model and statistical significance of health conditions
in relation to selected populations and the occupational impact. Discussion of conditions such as oppositional defiant
disorder, attention deficit disorder, conduct disorder, pervasive development disorder spectrum, depression, bipolar
illness, anxiety disorders, neuromuscular disorders, orthopedic conditions, and selected central nervous system disorders.
Prerequisites: Psychology 1, Gross Anatomy (OTS 102 prior or concurrent), Abnormal Psychology (Psychology
12 for non-BSOT students). Trudeau
243 Health Conditions: Pathology and Prevention II. Incidence, prevalence, and etiology of health conditions
that contribute to disruption in occupational performance focusing on conditions common in adults and older adults.
The health practitioner's role in the treatment and management of these conditions and the role of risk-factor
identification and prevention. The person-environment-occupation model and statistical significance of these conditions
in relation to selected populations and the occupational impact. Discussion of conditions such as affective disorders,
schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, traumatic brain injury, burns, personality disorders, dementia and
delirium, neuromuscular disorders, orthopedic conditions, and selected central nervous system disorders. Prerequisites:
Psychology 1, Gross Anatomy (OTS 102 prior or concurrent), Abnormal Psychology (Psychology 12 for
non-BSOT students), Neuroanatomy preferred (OTS 103). Sherwin Ripp
244 Health Conditions: Pathology and Prevention III. Incidence, prevalence, and etiology of health
conditions that contribute to disruption in occupational performance. The health practitioner's role in the treatment
and management of these conditions and the role of risk-factor identification and prevention. The
person-environment-occupation model and discussion of statistical significance of these conditions in relation to
selected populations and the occupational impact. Discussion of psychological, musculoskeletal, neurological, and
general medical conditions with attention to public health model of prevention through intervention methods.
Prerequisites: BSOT students only; Gross Anatomy (OTS 102), Neuroanatomy (OTS 103),
Human Physiology (OTS 101). Curran Brooks
273 Theory and Management of Pain. Interdisciplinary knowledge and clinical procedures for use with people
in pain in a variety of settings. Exploration of clinical reasoning used to assess the impact of pain on function
and to develop therapeutic interventions to reduce the disabling effects of pain. Topics include pain theories,
assessments, cognitive-behavioral approaches, developmental issues, role(s) of the interdisciplinary team,
non-pharmacological interventions, and group approaches. Rochman
274 Topics in Hand and Upper Extremity Rehabilitation I. This graduate-level course, geared toward
occupational therapy practitioners and students, will be team taught by BSOT faculty and specialists in hand and
upper extremity rehabilitation from the Massachusetts General Hospital. This course will serve as an introduction
to the specialization of hand therapy within the field of occupational therapy. Participants may elect to continue
their study of the upper extremity with courses offered in the spring semester and summer. Clinicians who participate
in all three would be eligible to apply for a hand therapy fellowship at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Fall.
One course credit. Curran Brooks
275 Topics in Hand and Upper Extremity Rehabilitation II. This graduate level course, geared toward
occupational therapy practitioners and students, will be team taught by BSOT faculty and specialists in hand and
upper extremity rehabilitation from the Massachusetts General Hospital. This course may serve as the second in a
series designed to introduce the class participant to the specialization of hand therapy within the field of
occupational therapy. Participants may also begin with this class. Participants may elect to continue their study
of the upper extremity with courses offered in the summer and fall semester. Clinicians who participate in all three
would be eligible to apply for a hand therapy fellowship at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Spring. One course
credit. Curran Brooks
276 Topics in Hand and Upper Extremity Rehabilitation III. This graduate level course, geared toward
occupational therapy practitioners and students, will be team taught by BSOT faculty and specialists in hand and
upper extremity rehabilitation from the Massachusetts General Hospital. This course will serve as a capstone class
in a three class series introducing the participant to the specialization of hand therapy within the field of
occupational therapy. Participants must have taken either the fall or spring offering to participate. Lecture format
will be used to cover diagnostic topics. The remainder of the term will be conducted using problem-based learning
to integrate and further develop concepts introduced in the prerequisite courses. Summer. One course credit.
Curran Brooks
280 Early Intervention: Assessment and Programming. Methods and practices in the screening, assessment, and
treatment of children (birth to three years) with (or at risk for) developmental deviations. Topics include atypical
infant development, prematurity, failure to thrive, environmentally at-risk children, perinatal aids, and children
requiring ventilator assistance. Assessments and intervention procedures to address the complex interaction between the
child's biological characteristics and the social network. Lectures and hands-on experience.
Members of the department
281 Early Intervention: An Ecological Approach. Concepts and issues related to the planning and delivery of
early intervention services from a systems approach and the impact of early intervention services on young children (birth
to three years), families, and their environment. Topics include models of service delivery, interdisciplinary team
approaches, program evaluation and efficacy studies, policy development, and advocacy in early intervention.
Sherwin Ripp
283 Infant Toddler Services. Cross-disciplinary training for graduate students interested in working in the
field of infant-toddler intervention. Appropriate for students interested in developing an in-depth understanding of
infants' social and emotional development and how each discipline supports that development. Draws on research and
practice knowledge to provide a collaborative model for assessing and supporting infant well-being within families and
extended caregiving networks. Ray
284 School-Based Practice: Programmatic Issues. The provision of school services to support the child with
specialized learning needs is governed by federal and state legislation. The practical issues related to educationally
relevant service provision in light of current legislation. Topics include service eligibility, developing educationally
relevant service plans, the Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) process, models of service provision, the environmental
context, inclusion, collaborative team building, the family as team member, issues related to diversity, transitions from
early intervention to adult services, and policy development. Seminar format with class discussions. Ray
285 School-Based Practice: Assessment to Intervention. The practical application of educationally relevant
occupational therapy service provision in the context of the school. Topics include: screening, assessment, planning, and
implementation of interventions, consultation models, documentation, the Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) process,
formulating entrance and exit criteria for occupational therapy services, evaluation of caseloads, and direct and alternative
strategies for supporting children in the educational process. Seminar format with class discussions. Ray
286 Leadership Project Planning. Students under advisement of faculty sponsors plan and develop, in an area of
specialty in occupational therapy practice, a comprehensive leadership project that can be either community or clinically
based. The project involves a need assessment and feasibility study, interfacing with potential agencies, and the development
of appropriate methodology for evaluation and successful implementation. The project proposal must be approved by a committee
of the doctoral faculty. One-half course credit. Prerequiste: OTD students only. Co-requisites: OTS 208
and 288. Bailey
287 Leadership Project Implementation. Students implement in the setting they have chosen the project approved
in OTS 286. They carry out an outcome monitoring system involving data collection, management, and data
analysis. Successful completion reflects interpretation and discussion of findings, project evaluation, a publishable article,
and an oral defense by a committee of the doctoral faculty. One and one-half course credits. Prerequisite:
OTS 286; OTD students only. Members of the Department
288 Outcomes Measurement and Monitoring: Using Data to Inform Practice. In this course students will learn about
and develop skills in outcomes measurement, management and monitoring to assist with making practice related decisions and
improvements. Students will collaborate with selected stakeholders (e.g., administrators, staff, consumers) at a selected
practice setting to identify and monitor key program outcomes and person, environment and intervention variables that may
have an influence on these outcomes. Prerequisite: OTS 209 or 210 or equivalent; consent.
Bedell
289 Integrative Paper. This paper is designed to be a culmination of the OTD program. The student will integrate
information from coursework, proseminars, and a critical examination of the literature, and use this body of knowledge to
explain how the Leadership Project experience demonstrated leadership and expertise in an area of specialty. The final paper
must be approved by a committee of the doctoral faculty. Prerequisite: OTD students only. Members of the Department
291 Physiology of Exercise and Physical Performance. Special emphasis on (a) physiology of the neuromuscular system,
particularly the regulation of strength and velocity of a contraction by muscle receptors interacting with the nervous system;
(b) the function of the skeletal, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems at rest and during exercise, and their adaptations to
training; (c) physiology of physical performance, covering discussion of aerobic and anaerobic power, their measurement, fatigue,
recovery after exercise, factors that affect physical performance; and (d) basic principles of strength and aerobic training,
and the physiologic effects. Prerequisite: Biology or physiology. Leavis
293, 294 Special Topics. Guided individual study of an approved topic. Variable credit. Members of the department
295, 296 Thesis. Guided research on a topic that has been approved as a suitable subject for a master's thesis.
Members of the department
297, 298 Proseminar. A forum for review, critique, evaluation, and discussion of the research and practice of
occupational therapy. Features student integration of coursework and common themes across specialties. Required each
semester in the OTD program. One-half course credit. Prerequisite: OTD students only. Bailey
401PT Master's Continuation, Part-time.
402FT Master's Continuation, Full-time.
501PT Doctorate Continuation, Part-time.
502FT Doctorate Continuation, Full-time.
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