30 credits:

Professional students examine landmark occupational science literature and apply learned concepts of human nature and meaningful occupation to observation exercises within their practice focus.

This course is designed to provide the experienced therapist with a systematic method to critically evaluate and integrate the results of current scientific literature into the clinical decision making process. Students will participate in discussions and practical exercises to articulate clinical questions that can be answered through sources of scientific evidence. Strategies for searching relevant data bases, appraising and evaluating sources of evidence will be presented.

Students apply The Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Process (AJOT, 2002) and conceptual models most relevant for their practice focus to evaluation and intervention processes. Additionally, students redesign facility forms to reflect The OT Practice Framework’s language and concepts.

This course provides the professional student with the knowledge and skills necessary to market and man age an occupational therapy practice in either traditional or emerging healthcare systems. Students develop business plans and marketing strategies and research potential financing through grants or loans. Legal and ethical issues impacting practice are also examined.

Students continue to develop their ability to critically evaluate scientific evidence within their practice focus. Through a critical review of the literature, the professional student generates an evidence-based plan of assessment or intervention, and develops an IRB proposal. This is linked to subsequent capstone courses OTD770 and OTD771.

This course, through an examination of learning theories, provides the therapist with strategies to develop optimal learning experiences for their students, clients, caregivers, or employers. Coursework is applied directly in the professional student’s educational and/or clinical setting. Students gain skills in current technological tools used in the teaching-learning environment.

This course examines the meaning of leadership from both a personal and organizational perspective. Students explore leadership theories and styles and the meaning of professionalism through narratives of leaders and related literature. Through group discussion of leadership and professional issues, students reflect and on their own leadership strengths, as well as strategies for applying this knowledge in their professional lives.

Students learn to evaluate the effectiveness of their teaching and therapeutic interventions. Methods for survey and test construction are examined and practiced with consumers of our services: students, clients, and/or caregivers.

The methods of evidence-based practice culminate in the professional student’s design and implementation of an intervention within their practice setting.

Students evaluate the efficacy of implemented programs and present their findings. Presentations are conducted on the Chatham University campus to the Master of Occupational Therapy Program’s faculty, students, and area clinicians. Additionally, the professional student writes a report for professional publication or grant application.

Experienced Occupational Therapists who hold a Bachelor's degree in Occupational Therapy but no Master's degree, have the option to bridge into Chatham’s Bachelors-to-OTD program. Before entering the 16-month cohort, students will complete the following pre-requisites. All courses may be completed online at Chatham University:

• OTH 690 Principles of Evidence-Based Practice (3 credits)
• OTH 695 Models in Occupational Therapy (3 credits)
• PWR 601 Introduction to Professional Writing (3 credits)