Description

The purpose of education is to train experts in occupational therapy and provide practice-oriented information from different areas of occupational performance and participation, with a view to improving the well-being of the population. Occupational therapy involves making use of the therapeutic power of occupation, which enables people to participate in their daily environments. The Degree Programme complies with national and international recommendations for education for occupational therapists. The curriculum is structured according to each student’s professional growth and competence, such that each period forms a separate study module.
The strong core of the occupational therapy profession comprises assessment and promotion of occupational performance and participation, therapeutic use of occupation and competence in therapeutic relationships. Education in occupational therapy is premised on every person’s right to participate in occupation that is personally meaningful. As part of occupational therapy innovation project studies and learning integrated into development projects, occupational therapy students gain practice in collaboration: they can recognise and find solutions to development needs in the world of work. Their capabilities to work in various multidisciplinary teams and networks will develop by means of work placements, projects and learning assignments.
Students can include at least 15 credits’ worth of optional and elective studies to consolidate their professional competence as part of their degrees from different fields of education available at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences. Studies in semesters 5 to 7 have been designed such that students may also take them in a different order. International student and teacher exchanges, complete with the field’s literature, intensive courses and most recent research, provide competence relating to internationalisation. Occupational Therapists graduating from the Degree Programme understand the significance of evidence-based practice to their own work and to development of the field.
Occupational Therapists work with clients of all ages within health care and social services and in education services. In addition, Occupational Therapists work in the private sector, such as organisations for the disabled, project and development assignments, and as independent entrepreneurs.
The main themes for studies in different semesters are as follows:
Semester 1 Work-oriented learning and working as an Occupational Therapist and Perspectives on human occupation
Semester 2 More perspectives on human occupation and Assessment and client interaction in occupational therapy
Semester 3 Supporting occupational performance and participation in self-care and play and The occupational therapy process and creation of client relationships
Semester 4 Supporting occupational performance and participation in study, work and leisure activities and reciprocal therapeutic relationships
Semester 5 Research, development and innovations and Communities, networks and participation
Semester 6 Promotion of occupational performance and participation and creation of networks and individual study options
Semester 7 Professional orientation and Consolidation of competence in occupational therapy