At the University of Southern Indiana, the Occupational Therapy Program promotes academic and professional excellence by preparing students, distinguished for their strong clinical skills and high levels of professionalism, to become credentialed occupational therapy practitioners at the entry level. At the time of graduation, the student will have acquired an education in liberal arts and sciences and will have been exposed to a variety of service models and systems commonly used in current occupational service delivery. The student will understand the importance of diversity in occupational therapy practice and be able to articulate adherence to ethical standards, values, and attitudes of occupational therapy practice. Finally, the student will value the role of life long learning and remaining current in practice.

Mission Statement

Provide an innovative occupational therapy department that exceeds professional standards of excellence.
Educate occupational therapy practitioners to meet societal needs for service provision.
Promote professional development in occupational therapy faculty and occupational therapy practitioners while valuing life-long learning.

Click here to read more...

ACOTE Standards for Fieldwork

Standard B.10.0. FIELDWORK EDUCATION
Fieldwork education is a crucial part of professional preparation and is best integrated as a component of the curriculum design. Fieldwork experiences should be implemented and evaluated for their effectiveness by the educational institution. The experience should provide the student with the opportunity to carry out professional responsibilities under supervision and for professional role modeling. The academic fieldwork coordinator is responsible for...

Click here to read more...

BS/MSOT Curriculum

Prerequisite Courses
Professional Coursework

Click here to read more...

OT Course Descriptions

OT 151 Orientation to Occupational Therapy
1 credit hour. This course provides a general overview of occupational therapy history, philosophy, and practice. Students gain a beginning understanding of the value of occupation or purposeful activity in daily life, survey the role of occupational therapy with various populations and in a variety of settings; recognize national and state credentialing requirements....

Click here to read more (PDF)...

Program Philosophy

The faculty members of the Occupational Therapy Program at the University of Southern Indiana hold the following beliefs about the person, occupational therapy, and education. These beliefs are congruent with the mission of the University of Southern Indiana and serve as the foundation for the curriculum and selection of instructional methods and practices.

Each individual is a unique, active, and complex being of worth and dignity. Human behavior consists of a dynamic interaction among the individual, the environment, and the demands of occupation. The individual is holistic in nature and consideration must be given to performance skills, patterns, and areas of occupation that expand across a variety of contexts...

Click here to read more...

Partnership in Education

Fieldwork is an important component to our OT student's academic experience.
Sites collaborate with the USI OT program and facilitate learning by:
• Building on the previous levels of knowledge and coursework provided by offering practical hands on experiences to students.