• Program summary
• Program overview
• Career opportunities
• Special features
• Credit transfer, recognition of prior learning and articulation 
• Program structure
• Program requirements and notes
• Requirements for placements
• Enquiries

Program summary

QTAC code: 013421
OP/Rank for 2009 entry: OP-13 / Rank-75
Award abbreviation: BOccThpy
Degree type: undergraduate
Mode of study: on campus
Duration: 4 years full-time or equivalent part-time
Fee type 2009: Commonwealth supported places, visiting non-award domestic places
Total units: 384 (normally 32 courses)
Prerequisites: English (4,SA), plus one of Biological Science, Chemistry, Physics, or Health and Physical Education (4,SA)
Commence: Semester 1 only
USC program code: SC372
CRICOS code: not available to international students on student visas

Program overview

Occupational therapists are health professionals that work with people who have problems caused by injury or illness, psychological or emotional difficulties, developmental delay, or the effects of ageing.

Occupational therapists are trained to assess an individual’s skills and abilities, and then to work with them to improve their skills for increased independence, wellbeing and quality of life.

In the course of their work, occupational therapists may conduct skills assessments; develop and implement intervention programs; make adaptive equipment recommendations; and conduct home or workplace evaluations, including recommendations for clients and carers.

Courses in the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy cover professional practice, as well as biomedical science, exercise science, nursing, health promotion, professional practice and management. The program also offers extensive clinical experience to allow you to test and develop your practical skills in the workplace.

Professional recognition

Provisional registration of this program by the Occupational Therapists’ Board of Queensland will be undertaken in mid-2009, with full accreditation being sought in mid-2011, prior to graduation of the first cohort of students.

The 2002 World Federation of Occupational Therapists’ Revised Minimum Standards, and the Australian Competency Standards, have been incorporated into the program, and USC has consulted with the accrediting body during curriculum development.

Full accreditation will enable graduates to apply for membership of the Association of Occupational Therapists, as well as registration with the Occupational Therapists' Board of Queensland. Registration is a requirement to work as an occupational therapist in Queensland, and in many countries around the world.

Career opportunities

Occupational therapists are employed in a number of settings including:

• medical rehabilitation 
• private practice 
• psychiatric clinics, hostels and hospitals 
• public and private hospitals 
• retirement homes 
• schools 
• workplace health and safety offices

Special features

• new state-of-the-art specialised teaching facilities, such as a splint lab and independent living unit and allied health clinic 
• fieldwork experiences are integrated into each year of the program
• Case-based learning activities provide practical learning experieinces throughout the program

Program structure

Core courses

Select 1 course from:
COR109 Communication and Thought
COR110 Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship
COR111 Environment, Technology and Sustainability

Introductory courses

9 required courses:
LFS122 Human Anatomy
LFS112 Human Physiology
LFS103 Introductory Bioscience
OCC101 Concepts in Human Occupation
OCC102 Participation in Occupation
PSY100 Introduction to Psychology A
PSY101 Introduction to Psychology B
PUB112 Public Health Foundations
SCI110 Science Research Methods

Advanced courses

18 required courses:
OCC201 Occupational Therapy Theory
OCC202 Occupational Therapy Skills
OCC212 Evaluation of Occupational Performance
OCC222 Causes of Occupational Dysfunction
OCC232 Occupational Therapy Fieldwork I (12 units)
OCC301 Enabling Occupation: The Child and Adolescent #
OCC302 Therapeutic Reasoning #
OCC311 Enabling Occupation: The Adult #
OCC312 Enabling Occupation: The Older Person #
OCC321 Psychosocial Aspects of Occupational Therapy #
OCC331 Occupational Therapy Fieldwork II (12 units) #
OCC322 Occupational Therapy Fieldwork III (24 units) #
OCC401 Occupational Therapy Fieldwork IV (48 units) ##
OCC402 Professional Issues in Occupational Therapy ##
OCC412 OT as a Complex Process ##
PSY203 Introduction to Human Development
SCS286 Disability: Culture, Community and Change
SPX201 Functional Anatomy

Course substitution: the GO (Global Opportunities) Program

As part of your USC program, you may apply to participate in the GO Program to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider.

Program requirements and notes

1. A current Working with Children Blue Card is required from the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian before commencing clinical practice. This application process can take up to 10 weeks for processing.
2. Refer to the Academic Rules.
3. Refer to explanation of terms.
4. Refer to the recommended enrolment pattern. For previous recommended enrolment patterns refer to the relevant archived Student Handbook.
5. International students need to refer to the English language requirements.
6. Only a full-time study option is available to international students.

You must hold a Blue Card to undertake any course which involves possible contact with children, including any required fieldwork placements. You should allow 12 weeks for the Commission to issue the card.

You are also required to undergo Hepatitis B vaccination prior to undertaking any fieldwork placement. Hepatitis B vaccinations (3 inoculations) are done over a period of six months. This means that you need to prepare for your fieldwork placements well in advance. It is also a requirement that students undertaking fieldwork have a valid Senior First Aid certificate (including CPR). Vaccination and First Aid certification are to be obtained at the student's expense, and evidence must be provided to the faculty office.

It is Queensland Health (QH) requirement that you complete an orientation package before undertaking any placement which involves QH. The package can be completed online.

Enquiries 

Faculty of Science, Health and Education
Tel: +61 7 5430 2869
Email: sheinfo@usc.edu.au

# Not offered until 2010
## Not offered until 2011

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