This course introduces students to the broad concept of occupation by exploring ways people acquire skills for occupational performance. Students develop an understanding of the relations between health and occupation, disability and occupation, and explore how humans find meaning in their lives, through occupational engagement. This course is writing intensive.

OT 855 Level II Fieldwork, I, online discussion is a co-requisite course that accompanies OT 854 and OT 856: Level II Fieldwork. Students respond to instructor-led discussion prompts as well as to postings of their classmates. The online discussion provides the opportunity for students to relate fieldwork experiential learning to all areas of UNH coursework including: mind-body systems, health-and-human systems of care; assessment; intervention; documentation; evidence-based practice; client-centered and occupation-centered practice; and application of research to practice. Students engage in on-going discussion about professional identity and the transition from student to professional as they describe and discuss fieldwork challenges and successes across a variety of practice settings.

During a two-week fieldwork, students observe an occupational therapist and participate in the planning and implementation of the occupational therapy evaluation and intervention process for a client. The Level I Fieldwork placement is scheduled between fall and spring of their first graduate year.

This course combines didactic in class experiences paired with collaborative opportunities with community partners to explore how current and emerging neurological clinical practice improves occupational performance. Students will synthesize past theoretical and clinical knowledge with current evidence based literature to prepare them for doctoral level clinical practice.