Help people overcome limitations caused by injury or illness, psychological or emotional difficulties, developmental delay or the effects of ageing.
Undertake courses in occupational therapy, biological and social sciences and public health. Advanced courses include human development, functional anatomy and enabling occupation. Gain clinical experience and meet requirements for professional accreditation with fieldwork placements available each year in rural and urban settings. Option to undertake an embedded honours pathway (dependent on GPA) provides research training experience.
- Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student visa. Online programs are not available to Student visa holders.
- * Estimated tuition fees are based on 2025 rates. Refer to international fees for more information.
- Not all majors/minors and elective options are available at every campus. You should refer to the What Can I Study tab, and the proposed study sequence for your chosen campus and intake for further information.
Undertake courses in occupational therapy, biological and social sciences and public health. Advanced courses include human development, functional anatomy and enabling occupation. Gain clinical experience and meet requirements for professional accreditation with fieldwork placements available each year in rural and urban settings. Option to undertake an embedded honours pathway (dependent on GPA) provides research training experience.
Post-admission requirements
Before undertaking clinical placements, students must provide evidence of hepatitis B immunisation, first aid and CPR training, undergo a criminal history check (from second year), obtain a Suitability Card (Blue Card CCYPCG) and purchase an OT student uniform — refer to Program requirements. Students may be required to undertake some clinical placements outside the Sunshine Coast region in metropolitan and regional/rural centres. Expenses for these and other placement requirements are to be incurred by the student. Placements in third and fourth years are undertaken on a full-time basis.
Career opportunities
Hospitals, community health, disability / mental health services, private practice, vocational / occupational rehabilitation, child and adolescent services, aged care.
Membership
Occupational Therapy Australia Limited.
Registration
Occupational Therapists Board of Queensland. Registration is a requirement to work as an occupational therapist in Queensland.
Accreditation
This program is fully accredited with Occupational Therapy Australia Limited.
Program structure
Program requirements
In order to graduate you must:
- Complete all courses as listed below.
In order to commence fieldwork placement you must:
- Hold a valid Suitability Card (Blue Card - Working with Children Check - QLD). This is required by Week 8 of Semester 1, first Year and is issued by the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian (CCYPCG).
- Provide evidence of immunity to Hepatitis B (blood titre level after approved vaccination schedule).
- Hold current Senior First Aid and CPR certificates (currency of certification is to be maintained throughout the program).
- Purchase the required OT uniform.
- You may also be required to complete a Criminal History Check for particular placements, cost of which is to be borne by the student.
Program notes
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses).
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods including essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations. Not all courses will necessarily include all methods.
- As part of your USC program, you may apply to participate in the Global Opportunities (GO) Program to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider. It is advisable to contact your Program Advisor to discuss timing and course issues.
- Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa. Please refer to the English language requirements.
- When enrolling, please refer to the Study Plan.
Program structure
Core courses (1)
Select 1 course from:
COR109 Positive Psychology for Counselling
COR110 Counselling Development and Supervision 2
COR111 Counselling Placement 2
Introductory courses (9)
LFS103 Communication and Thought
LFS112 Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship
LFS122 Environment, Technology and Sustainability
OCC101 Introductory Bioscience
OCC102 Human Physiology
PUB112 Human Anatomy
SCI110 Concepts in Human Occupation
PSY100 Participation in Occupation
PSY101 Public Health Foundations
Advanced courses (13)
OCC201 Science Research Methods
OCC202 Introduction to Psychology A
OCC212 Introduction to Psychology B
OCC222 Occupational Therapy Theory
OCC232 Occupational Therapy Skills
OCC301 Evaluation of Occupational Performance
OCC311 Causes of Occupational Dysfunction
OCC312 Foundations of Practice: Identifying the Occupational Therapist Role in Practice
OCC321 Enabling Occupation: The Child and Adolescent
OCC322 Enabling Occupation: The Adult
OCC331 Enabling Occupation: The Older Person
PSY203 Psychosocial Aspects of Occupational Therapy
SPX201 Integrating Theory and Skills into Practice: Doing, Being, Becoming an OT I
Plus one (1) of the following pathways:
Pass-Level Pathway (6) courses
OCC302 Foundations of Practice: Identifying Occupational Therapist Skills in Practice
OCC401 Introduction to Human Development
OCC402 Functional Anatomy
OCC412 Therapeutic Reasoning: Process, Means and Methods
PUB112 Integrating Theory and Skills into Practice: Doing, Being and Becoming an OT II and III
SCS286 Professional Issues in Occupational Therapy
Honours Pathway (5) courses
OCC332 OT (Occupational Therapy) as a Complex Process
OCC401 Public Health Foundations
OCC402 Disability: Culture, Community and Change
OCC412 Occupational Therapy Research & Evaluation
OCC422 Integrating Theory and Skills into Practice: Doing, Being and Becoming an OT II and III