Occupational Therapy: SXI21S2

Descriptions

THE PURPOSE OF THE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY EDUCATION

The purpose of education in occupational therapy is to educate experts of occupational therapy to maintain and support people’s ability to participate in everyday life that is meaningful and functional for them. In occupational therapy, clients may include individuals and their networks, groups and communities. The customer concept of occupational therapy is based on understanding human diversity and taking strengths into account. In occupational therapy, the clients are seen as experts in their own situation and as active participants in different situations in their own lives.

THE EXPERTISE OF THE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST

Education in occupational therapy provides expertise in the relationships between the individual, the activity and the environment, i.e. occupational performance. Occupational performance is determined by meaningful and purposeful activity, abilities and skills, as well as the opportunities and limitations of the environment. Human activity can be viewed through performance areas. These include self-care; running errands and home activities; schooling and studying; ability to work and efficiency at work, societal participation, leisure activities, play activities and the balance between rest and time management.

The occupational therapist can work in both the public and private sectors, organisations, independent entrepreneurs and in project and development tasks. The professional skills of the occupational therapist include assessing and enabling the client's occupational performance, as well as the therapeutic use of the activity and therapeutic relationship expertise. These enable the clients to participate in the everyday life that is both meaningful and functional.

THE CURRICULUM FOR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY EDUCATION

The curriculum for occupational therapy education follows national and international recommendations and competences. The cut-through themes of the curriculum include occupational performance and therapeutic occupation; taking human diversity into account and enabling everyday activities; client-oriented work; multidisciplinary cooperation; responsible, ethical and evidence-based activities; as well as assessing one's own activities and professional growth. The expertise of an occupational therapist in work life is strengthened by the multidisciplinary competence of Metropolia.

Internationality is achieved in education via active networking; student and teacher exchanges;
internationalization at home; literature in the field; research and intensive courses, and visits. Some courses and parts of course as well as modules are produced in cooperation with international institutes of higher education.

The scope of the Bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy is 210 ECTS. The studies progress from core competence studies in occupational therapy to deepening, applying and developing the competence and acting as an expert in occupational therapy.

The Structure of the Curriculum:

Orientation to Studies 10 ECTS
Therapeutic Occupation/Activity and Therapeutic Relationship in Occupational Therapy 20 ECTS
Factors Defining Occupational Performance in Occupational Therapy 25 ECTS
Assessing Occupational Performance in Occupational Therapy 10 ECTS
Enabling Occupational Performance in Occupational Therapy 25 ECTS
Work Placement in Occupational Therapy 40 ECTS
Multidisciplinary Research, Development and Innovation, 35 ECTS
Expertise, Co-Operation and Internationality in Occupational Therapy, 30 ECTS
Elective Studies, 15 ECTS

The degree in occupational therapy includes a Bachelor’s thesis worth of 15 ECTS and 40 ECTS worth of guided work placements. In addition, the students include 15 ECTS worth of elective studies in their degree that complement their expertise and deepen their professional competence.

The studies are carried out as classroom and online teaching, learning assignments, practical exercises as well as work life cooperation and projects. Working in various teams and networks strengthens the skills in occupational therapy and work life.

The staff members of the degree programme guide the students to plan their studies taking into account their prior learning, prerequisite knowledge highlighted in the curriculum and professional growth. During their studies, the students assess the development of their own competence.

Development

The curriculum is being developed and the proficiency it produces will be evaluated in cooperation with the students, teachers and work life partners.

Further information

Uusi opetussuunnitelma

Tutkinnon yhteyshenkilöt: Sanna Piikki ja Tutkintovastaava Kaija Kekäläinen
Opetussuunnitelman ylläpitäjä Elisa Mattila