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Occupational Therapy M.S.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the structure and function of the human body to include the biological and physical sciences, neurosciences, kinesiology, and biomechanics; human development throughout the lifespan (infants, children, adolescents, adults, and older adults). Course content must include, but is not limited to, developmental psychology; concepts of human behavior to include the behavioral sciences, social sciences, and science of occupation.

2. Apply and analyze the role of sociocultural, socioeconomic, and diversity factors, as well as lifestyle choices in contemporary society to meet the needs of persons, groups, and populations. Course content must include, but is not limited to, introductory psychology, abnormal psychology, and introductory sociology or introductory anthropology.

3. Demonstrate knowledge of the social determinants of health for persons, groups, and populations with or at risk for disabilities and chronic health conditions. This must include an analysis of the epidemiological factors that impact the public health and welfare of populations.

4. Demonstrate the ability to use quantitative statistics and qualitative analysis to interpret tests and measurements for the purpose of establishing and delivering evidence-based practice.

5. Apply, analyze, and evaluate scientific evidence, theories, models of practice, and frames of reference that underlie the practice of occupational therapy to guide and inform interventions for persons, groups, and populations in a variety of practice contexts and environments.

6. Explain the process of theory development and its importance to occupational therapy

7. Analyze occupational therapy history, philosophical base, theory, and sociopolitical climate and their importance in meeting society’s current and future occupational needs as well as how these factors influence and are influenced by practice.

8. Apply, analyze, and evaluate the interaction of occupation and activity, including areas of occupation, performance skills, performance patterns, context(s) and environments, and client factors.

9. Explain to consumers, potential employers, colleagues, third-party payers, regulatory boards, policymakers, and the general public the distinct nature of occupation and the evidence that occupation supports performance, participation, health, and well-being

10. Apply and analyze scientific evidence to explain the importance of balancing areas of occupation; the role of occupation in the promotion of health; and the prevention of disease, illness, and dysfunction for persons, groups, and populations.

11. Analyze the effects of disease processes including heritable diseases, genetic conditions, mental illness, disability, trauma, and injury on occupational performance.

12. Demonstrate activity analysis in areas of occupation, performance skills, performance patterns, context(s) and environments, and client factors to formulate the intervention plan.

13. 1Demonstrate sound judgment in regard to safety of self and others and adhere to safety regulations throughout the occupational therapy process as appropriate to the setting and scope of practice. This must include the ability to assess and monitor vital signs (e.g., blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory status, and temperature) to ensure that the client is stable for intervention.

14. Demonstrate therapeutic use of self, including one’s personality, insights, perceptions, and judgments, as part of the therapeutic process in both individual and group interaction.

15. Demonstrate clinical reasoning to evaluate, analyze, diagnose, and provide occupation-based interventions to address client factors, performance patterns, and performance skills.

16. Utilize clinical reasoning to facilitate occupation-based interventions that address client factors. This must include interventions focused on promotion, compensation, adaptation, and prevention.

17. Evaluate client(s)’ occupational performance, including occupational profile, by analyzing and selecting standardized and non-standardized screenings and assessment tools to determine the need for occupational therapy intervention(s). Assessment methods must take into consideration cultural and contextual factors of the client.

18. Interpret evaluation findings of occupational performance and participation deficits to develop occupation-based intervention plans and strategies.

19. Intervention plans and strategies must be client centered, culturally relevant, reflective of current occupational therapy practice, and based on available evidence.

20. Select and apply assessment tools, considering client needs, and cultural and contextual factors.

21. Administer selected standardized and non-standardized assessments using appropriate procedures and protocols.

22. Interpret the results based on psychometric properties of tests considering factors that might bias assessment results (e.g., culture and disability status related to the person and context).

23. Collect, analyze, and report data in a systematic manner for evaluation of client and practice outcomes. Report evaluation results and modify practice as needed.

24. Interpret criterion-referenced and norm-referenced standardized test scores on the basis of an understanding of sampling, normative data, standard and criterion scores, reliability, and validity.

25. Interpret the evaluation data in relation to accepted terminology of the profession and explain the findings to the interprofessional team.

26. Design and implement intervention strategies to remediate and/or compensate for functional cognitive deficits, visual deficits, and psychosocial and behavioral health deficits that affect occupational performance.

27. Recommend and provide direct interventions and procedures to persons, groups, and populations to enhance safety, health and wellness, and performance in occupations.

28. This must include the ability to select and deliver occupations and activities, preparatory methods, and tasks (including therapeutic exercise), education and training, and advocacy.

29. Assess the need for and demonstrate the ability to design, fabricate, apply, fit, and train in assistive technologies and devices (e.g., electronic aids to daily living, seating, and positioning systems) used to enhance occupational performance and foster participation and well-being.

30. Assess the need for orthotics, and design, fabricate, apply, fit, and train in orthoses and devices used to enhance occupational performance and participation.

31. Train in the safe and effective use of prosthetic devices.

32. Provide recommendations and training in techniques to enhance functional mobility, including physical transfers, wheelchair management, and mobility devices.

33. Evaluate the needs of persons, groups, and populations to design programs that enhance community mobility, and implement transportation transitions, including driver rehabilitation and community access.

34. Demonstrate knowledge of the use of technology in practice, which must include: Electronic documentation systems; Virtual environments; Telehealth technology

35. Evaluate and provide interventions for dysphagia and disorders of feeding and eating to enable performance, and train others in precautions and techniques while considering client and contextual factors.

36. Demonstrate knowledge and use of the safe and effective application of superficial thermal agents, deep thermal agents, electrotherapeutic agents, and mechanical devices as a preparatory measure to improve occupational performance. This must include indications, contraindications, and precautions.

37. Assess, grade, and modify the way persons, groups, and populations perform occupations and activities by adapting processes, modifying environments, and applying ergonomic principles to reflect the changing needs of the client, sociocultural context, and technological advances.

38. Demonstrate, evaluate, and plan the consultative process with persons, groups, programs, organizations, or communities in collaboration with inter- and intraprofessional colleagues.

39. Demonstrate, evaluate, and plan care coordination, case management, and transition services in traditional and emerging practice environments.

40. Demonstrate, evaluate, and utilize the principles of the teaching–learning process using educational methods and health literacy education approaches: To design activities and clinical training for persons, groups, and populations; To instruct and train the client, caregiver, family, significant others, and communities at the level of the audience.

41. Monitor and reassess, in collaboration with the client, caregiver, family, and significant others, the effect of occupational therapy intervention and the need for continued or modified intervention.

42. Identify occupational needs through effective communication with patients, families, communities, and members of the interprofessional team in a responsive and responsible manner that supports a team approach to the promotion of health and wellness.

43. Demonstrate effective intraprofessional OT/OTA collaboration to: Identify the role of the occupational therapist and occupational therapy assistant in the screening and evaluation process; Demonstrate and identify techniques in skills of supervision and collaboration with occupational therapy assistants.

44. "Demonstrate knowledge of the principles of interprofessional team dynamics to perform effectively in different team roles to plan, deliver, and evaluate patient- and population-centered care as well as population health programs and policies that are safe, timely, efficient, effective, and equitable."

45. Evaluate and discuss mechanisms for referring clients to specialists both internal and external to the profession, including community agencies.

46. Evaluate access to community resources, and design community or primary care programs to support occupational performance for persons, groups, and populations.

47. Develop a plan for discharge from occupational therapy services in collaboration with the client and members of the interprofessional team by reviewing the needs of the client, caregiver, family, and significant others; available resources; and discharge environment.

48. Demonstrate knowledge of various reimbursement systems and funding mechanisms (e.g., federal, state, third party, private payer), appeals mechanisms, treatment/diagnosis codes (e.g., CPT®, ICD, DSM® codes), and coding and documentation requirements that affect consumers and the practice of occupational therapy.

49. Documentation must effectively communicate the need and rationale for occupational therapy services.

50. Identify, analyze, and evaluate the contextual factors; current policy issues; and socioeconomic, political, geographic, and demographic factors on the delivery of occupational therapy services for persons, groups, and populations to promote policy development and social systems as they relate to the practice of occupational therapy.

51. Identify, analyze, and advocate for existing and future service delivery models and policies, and their potential effect on the practice of occupational therapy and opportunities to address societal needs.

52. Demonstrate knowledge of and evaluate the business aspects of practice including, but not limited to, the development of business plans, financial management, program evaluation models, and strategic planning.

53. Identify and evaluate the systems and structures that create federal and state legislation and regulations and their implications and effects on persons, groups, and populations, as well as practice.

54. Provide care and programs that demonstrate knowledge of applicable national requirements for credentialing and requirements for licensure, certification, or registration consistent with federal and state laws.

55. Demonstrate the ability to plan, develop, organize, and market the delivery of services to include the determination of programmatic needs and service delivery options, and formulation and management of staffing for effective service provision.

56. Demonstrate the ability to design ongoing processes for quality management and improvement (e.g., outcome studies analysis and client engagement surveys) and develop program changes as needed to demonstrate quality of services and direct administrative changes.

57. Develop strategies for effective, competency-based legal and ethical supervision of occupational therapy and non–occupational therapy personnel.

58. Critique quantitative and qualitative research in order to analyze and evaluate scholarly activities, which contribute to the development of a body of knowledge. This includes the: Level of evidence; Validity of research studies; Strength of the methodology; Relevance to the profession of occupational therapy. Locate, select, analyze, and evaluate scholarly literature to make evidence-based decisions. Participate in scholarly activities that align with current research priorities and advances knowledge translation, professional practice, service delivery, or professional issues (e.g., Scholarship of Integration, Scholarship of Application, Scholarship of Teaching and Learning). This may include a literature review that requires analysis and synthesis of data. Systematic reviews that require analysis and synthesis of data meet the requirement for this Standard. A research project is not required for this Standard, and narrative reviews do not meet this Standard.

59. 59. Demonstrate an understanding and use of quantitative and qualitative methods for data analysis to include: Basic descriptive, correlational, and inferential quantitative statistics; Analysis and synthesis of qualitative data.

60. Demonstrate the skills necessary to write a scholarly report in a format for presentation or publication, which may be made available to professional or public audiences.

61. Demonstrate an understanding of the process of locating and securing grants and how grants can serve as a fiscal resource for scholarly activities and program development.

62. Demonstrate an understanding of the ethical policies and procedures for human-subject research, educational research, or research related to population health.

63. Demonstrate an understanding and apply the principles of instructional design and teaching and learning in preparation for work in an academic setting.

64. Demonstrate knowledge of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics and AOTA Standards of Practice and use them as a guide for ethical decision making in professional interactions, client interventions, employment settings, and when confronted with personal and organizational ethical conflicts."

65. Demonstrate knowledge of how the role of a professional is enhanced by participating and engaging in local, national, and international leadership positions in organizations or agencies.

66. Promote occupational therapy by educating other professionals, service providers, consumers, third-party payers, regulatory bodies, and the public.

67. Identify and develop strategies for ongoing professional development to ensure that practice is consistent with current and accepted standards.

68. Demonstrate knowledge of personal and professional responsibilities related to: Liability issues under current models of service provision; Varied roles of the occupational therapist providing service on a contractual basis.

SUCCESS RATES

90.0%

3-year graduation rate

3.06

Avg. years to degree

MEDIAN EARNINGS

$120,704

10 years after graduation

$111,101

5 years after graduation

$99,141

1 year after graduation

PLACEMENT2 years after graduation

79.6%

Working in New York

0.2%

Continuing Education

Notes

Graduation rates: the percent of students entering the master’s program any time during the academic year and graduating by May 31 three years later. Methodology is parallel to AAU Data Exchange doctoral completion rates and means that spring entrants have less time to complete. Average of three most recent reporting years (2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24) Years to degree: the average number of years it takes a student to complete the selected program. Average of the three most recent completion years (2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23). No Asterisk-Earnings: the median annual earnings of graduates in the selected program at the master’s degree level based on the 2-digit CIP code at 1, 5 and 10 years after graduation. U.S. Census, Postsecondary Enrollment Outcomes Explorer. Degree completers from 2001-2018 in 2020 dollars. Asterisk- Earnings: the median annual earnings of graduates in the selected program at the master’s degree level at 1, 5 and 10 years after graduation. SUNY Graduates Post Completions Interactive Dashboard. Degree completers from 2005-2019 in 2020 dollars. Working in NY State: the percent of graduates working in New York State one year after graduation. Most recent available data from SUNY as of January 31, 2024