As an Occupational Therapy learner/novice practitioner, you will be providing Occupational Therapy services at a variety of fieldwork sites. The MSOT Program at CMU has developed guidelines to safeguard the well-being of the OTSs and the patients/clients in compliance with the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education. Colorado Mesa University does not discriminate against persons with disabilities in its admissions process or the selective admissions process for individual programs. Learners with documented disabilities who anticipate special needs with any aspect of the Occupational Therapy Program including the professional instruction practicum are urged to contact Educational Access Services.
The faculty of the Occupational Therapy program will cooperate with Educational Access Services to make reasonable accommodations for learners with documented disabilities admitted to the program.
The Colorado Mesa University Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) is an intense program that places specific requirements and demands on learners. The technical standards included below establish the essential qualities considered necessary for admitted learners to achieve the knowledge, skills, and competencies needed to succeed as entry-level Occupational Therapists.
Applicants unable to fulfill these technical standards prior to, or any time after enrolling into the program, with or without reasonable accommodation, will not be permitted to enter or progress within the program.
Qualifying applicants and enrolled MSOT Program learners must possess aptitude, ability, and skills for professional practice. The technical standards, along with the academic standards, are requirements for admission, progression, and graduation. Students may achieve these technical standards with or without reasonable accommodation. Students who upon review of the technical standards determine that they require accommodation to fully access and engage in the program are encouraged to contact Student Accessibility Services to discuss their access needs confidentially. Timely accommodation requests are essential and encouraged, as the program's clinical nature may require more time to develop and implement accommodation. These technical standards were adopted with permission from Ithaca College’s Occupational Therapy program.
Technical Standard-Acquiring fundamental knowledge
Learners are expected to:
- Synthesize theories and concepts to develop an understanding of human experience and integrate these into occupational therapy practice.
- Become proficient in basic healthcare policy and regulatory environments, including local, state, national, and global healthcare trends.
- Learn through a variety of modalities, including but not limited to classroom instruction; laboratory instruction, including cadaver lab; physical demonstrations; small group, team, and collaborative activities; individual study; preparation and presentation of information; clinic- and community-based learning experiences; and use of computer technology.
- Develop communication skills: Learners are expected to:
- Display interpersonal skills needed to accurately evaluate, address, and monitor client needs and outcomes and enable the delivery of client-centered services.
- Clearly and accurately record information.
- Interpret clients’ verbal and non-verbal communication accurately.
- Communicate effectively in person and written format to collaborate with all members of a service delivery team, including other professionals, clients, and caregivers.
- Interpret data and clinical information
Learners are expected to:
- Interpret, assimilate, and understand complex information required to function effectively within the occupational therapy curriculum.
- Recognize and define problems, develop, and implement solutions, and evaluate outcomes.
- Demonstrate critical thinking skills and appropriate decision making, with the ability to differentiate relevant versus irrelevant information.
- Recall, comprehend, analyze, synthesize, and apply large volumes of information to clinical situations in classroom discussion and in clinical settings.
- Understand, calculate, and interpret basic statistical tests and measures.
- Integrating knowledge to establish clinical judgment
Learners are expected to:
- Conduct or direct routine assessments to form an accurate and comprehensive occupational profile.
- Provide or direct therapeutic interventions.
- Retrieve, appraise, and synthesize evidence to improve client outcomes.
- Integrate evidence, clinical judgment, and client preferences in planning, implementing, and evaluating client outcomes.
- Follow safety standards for the environment and universal precaution procedures.
- Developing appropriate professional attitudes and behaviors
Learners are expected to:
- Recognize and critically self-evaluate the impact of social status and professional attitudes, behaviors, values, and expectations on clients.
- Understand and function according to the ethical, legal, and moral behaviors commensurate with the role of a CMU learner and occupational therapist in all professional, clinical, and research activities.
- Maintain commitment to the educational process and best practice guidelines.
- Develop mature, respectful, and effective relationships with peers, clients, professionals, and community members, regardless of gender identity, age, race, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or other protected status.
- Develop flexibility in intervention strategies and behavior as needed to adapt to and function within changing environments and uncertainties in client circumstances. (Technical Standards adapted from Ithaca College, Occupational Therapy program)
When indicated, learners unable to resolve deficiencies in the above areas with or without appropriate accommodation will be counseled to pursue alternate career paths.