BA/BS in Occupational Therapy

General Description: Objective(s) of a study programme: To educate occupational therapy professional who is able to investigate, assess, and correct individual‘s functional state and self-sufficiency, to select appropriate technical devices, to encourage people to achieve self-sufficiency in daily activities through the purposeful activity, to teach healthy living principles, to develop occupational and leisure skills on individual and public level; to communicate and cooperate in a multiprofile team. Learning outcomes: • To assess individual‘s functional state and self-sufficiency, to identify impaired performance, using normative documents and legal acts. • To use information and communication technologies in applied research. • To design occupational therapy programme following a chosen model • To implement a designed programme of occupational therapy and to monitor its effectiveness to assure optimal life quality by applying tools and methods for impaired performance adjustment. • To work in a multiprofile team, in accordance with the principles of medical ethics, and to encourage individuals to achieve self-sufficiency through purposeful activities. • To assess the applicability of environment and personal safety, to disseminate professional experience • To assess an individual as physical and social whole by developing creative and work skills. Activities of teaching and learning: active lecture, group discussion, seminars, tests, oral and written reflections, group work, case study, watching films, demonstration, analysis of documents, role games, analysis of practical situation, creative methods, project work, graphic imagery, professional practice, reflection, etc. Methods of assessment of learning achievements: Cumulative assessment is used. Assessment methods: testing, written / oral survey, reflection, case studies, documents analysis, preparation and presentation of a topic, project work, poster presentation, and so on. Framework: Study subjects (modules), practical training: 1. Subjects of general college studies - 18 credits: Information Technologies, Psychology of Communication, Professional Language (English, Latin), Creativity and Entrepreneurship, Concept of Occupational Therapy and Career Opportunities. 2. Study field subjects - 87 credits: Teaching Methods, Anatomy, Physiology, Basics of Public Health, First Aid. Basics of Nursing, Occupational Therapy Models, Research Methods in Occupational Therapy, Kinesiology. Biomechanics. Ergonomics, Creative Art Therapies I, Adaptation of Assistive Technology and the Environment, Kinematic Modeling, Occupational Therapy for Therapeutic Patients, Occupational Therapy for Psychiatric Patients, Basics of Pathology, Occupational Therapy for Children and Adolescents, Occupational Therapy for Geriatric Patients, Occupational Therapy in Community, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Occupational Therapy for Neurological Patients, Occupational Therapy for Trauma, Orthopedic Patients, Applied Research. Basics of Statistics. Internships - 42 credits: (Occupational Therapy for Psychiatric and Geriatric Patients – 8 credits, Occupational Therapy for Children and Adolescents – 8 credits, Occupational Therapy for Neurological, Trauma Patients – 6 credits, Final Internship – 20 credits). Final Thesis (7 credits) and Final Examination (3 credits). Optional study subjects – 23 credits. Specialisations: - Optional Courses: Optional courses include 27 credits. 18 credits are devoted to Courses of Deeper Studies of the Same Study Field / Courses of the Studies of Another Field: Creative Art Therapies II, Massage, Mobilization of Joints, Health Psychology. 9 credits are for Freely elective subjects. Students are free to choose other subjects which are taught at Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution study programs from the list of freely elective subjects in the Study management system. Distinctive features of a study programme: Practical classes take place at clinical training places, foster houses, day centers, primary health care, orthopedic institutions, etc. Different therapies of purposeful activities are studied: art, drama, textile, pottery and wood works. Students are offered the possibility to go for studies or work experience to the institutions of other countries on Erasmus programme (in Estonia, Finland, Greece, Malta, etc.). Research skills are developed by carrying out individual scientific research. Access to professional activity or further study: Access to professional activity: The graduates of occupational therapy study programme are employed in the health care institutions that have a license to provide medical rehabilitation services; the institutions of professional rehabilitation, educational institutions for children with disabilities; specific social rehabilitation institutions; foster institutions; boarding houses; independent residential houses; institutions of prosthetic, orthopedic and technical device adaptation; institutions that employ people with disabilities; municipality departments. Graduates can set up private practice. Access to further study: After the completion of the college study programme of occupational therapy and after some additional studies (not longer than 60 credits) graduates can continue their education in level two university study programmes of the same field.