Bachelor of Occupational Therapy

What is this course about?

CSU's Bachelor of Occupational Therapy aims to prepare you for professional practice or further study, with an emphasis on current practice issues, including quality management of services, ethical issues, research and communication skills.

CSU's Bachelor of Occupational Therapy aims to develop an understanding of the theoretical and practical components of occupational therapy, with a focus on both general and specialist knowledge and skills.

This degree will equip you to work collaboratively with people who have an impairment of body structure or function due to a health condition, and who experience barriers to participation in everyday activities. Emphasis is placed on current practice issues, including quality management of services, ethical issues, research and communication skills.

Occupation in rural areas is addressed throughout the course with the intention of encouraging development of skills for those interested in working in rural practice.

Students may elect to exit the course following successful completion of the first two years of study with the Associate Degree in Health Science.

The Honours stream is embedded within the four-year program and comprises specific Honours research subjects that replace pass degree subjects. To transfer into the Honours stream at the beginning of year three, students will need to obtain grades of Credit or above in at least 50% of Level 1 and Level 2 subjects.

What will I learn?

Studies in basic and clinical sciences provide an understanding of human function. This knowledge is then applied to a range of occupational therapy situations using a problem-solving approach.
Subjects are grouped according to six key learning areas:

• human occupation and performance
• occupational therapy theory and practice
• research and evaluation
• social and cultural perspectives of occupation
• communication and professional responsibilities
• biological and behavioural sciences.

Students explore issues of occupational performance at every stage of the human life span through self-directed learning projects. You will use a professional reasoning process to formulate enabling strategies to develop or enhance competence in occupational tasks in self care, work, leisure and learning roles, taking into consideration factors such as the environment, lifestyle and culture.

This course includes practical experience through workplace learning.

Your course is recognised by industry

The course is accredited by OT Australia, The Australian Association of Occupational Therapists and the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT). Accreditation by WFOT enables graduates to be employed both in Australia and overseas.

Additional admission requirements

Refer to the workplace learning section for information on:

• Immunisation
• Criminal Record Clearance
• Senior First Aid Certificate

Academic expectations

For each 8 point subject at CSU, students should normally expect to spend between 140-160 hours engaged in the specified learning and assessment activities (such as attending lectures or residential schools, assigned readings, tutorial assistance, individual or group research/study, forum activity, workplace learning, assignments or examinations). The student workload for some subjects may vary from these norms as a result of approved course design.

Students will be assessed on the basis of completed assignments, examinations, workplace learning, or other methods as outlined in specific subject outlines.

Where applicable, students are responsible for travel and accommodation costs involved in workplace learning experiences, or attending residential schools (distance education students).

Expectations relating to academic, workplace learning, time and cost requirements for specific subjects are provided in the subject abstracts and in course materials.