Occupational Therapy

The occupational therapy department offers graduate degrees for entry level and post-professional students including an entry level Master of Arts in occupational therapy, and the Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree (for entry level and post professional students)

Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy (MAOT)

The MAOT program provides excellent entry-level education in occupational therapy based on human occupation with a liberal arts foundation. The MAOT program prepares students to lead and influence occupational therapy practice in existing and emerging professional areas.

St. Catherine’s Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy Program:

  • is highly rated among occupational therapy graduate programs by U.S. News and World Report.
  • provides cutting-edge, progressive curriculum.
  • is taught by outstanding faculty recognized locally and nationally for their contributions to the profession in teaching, research, publication, innovative practice ideas and leadership.

Doctor of Occupational Therapy - Entry Level (OTD EL) Program

The OTD EL program provides excellent entry-level education in occupational therapy based on human occupation with a liberal arts foundation. The OTD EL program prepares students to lead and educate in community, clinical, and emerging practice areas and is grounded in evidence-based research, critical thinking, ethics, and social justice.

St. Catherine’s Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program:

  • provides cutting-edge, progressive curriculum.
  • is aligned with the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Vision 2025 core tenets of accessibility, collaboration, effective services, and leadership.
  • is taught by outstanding faculty recognized locally and nationally for their contributions to the profession in teaching, research, publication, innovative practice ideas and leadership.

Doctor of Occupational Therapy - Post Professional (OTD PP) Program

St. Catherine University's 75+ year tradition of educating scholars and leaders in occupational therapy is infused throughout its post-professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD PP) degree. St. Kate's has the only Minnesota occupational therapy program offering such a degree.  The OTD PP program is a 35-credit terminal doctorate for credentialed occupational therapists preparing them for advanced practice in clinical, community, and academic settings.  

OCTH 5010 Human Occupation — 3 credits

This course introduces human occupation as the foundation for occupational therapy and occupational science. Students will learn about the philosophical base, models, theories, and scientific evidence that describes how person/population factors and context/environment factors impact occupational performance, participation, health, and well-being for persons, groups, and populations. Observation, interview, activity analysis, reflection, and scholarly writing are used as learning strategies to better understand the meaning of occupation and occupational performance.
Prerequisite: Admission to the MAOT or OTD Program.

OCTH 5200 Mental and Behavioral Health — 3 credits

This course focuses on the foundations of occupational therapy and interprofessional practice in the area of mental and behavioral health. Students will examine select populations, disparities and inequities, client perspectives, and person-environment-occupation characteristics. Students will learn about scientific evidence, models, theories, frames of reference, systems, practice settings, service delivery, policies, legislation, and the role of occupational therapy and inter and intraprofessional teams for persons, groups, and populations across the lifespan.

OCTH 5210 Mental and Behavioral Health: The OT Process — 3 credits

This course focuses on the foundations of occupational therapy and interprofessional practice in the area of mental and behavioral health in health, community, and medical settings. Students will examine select populations, disparities and inequities, person/population perspectives, and person/population-environment-occupation characteristics that support occupational performance, participation, health, and well-being. Students will learn about scientific evidence, models, theories, frames of reference, systems, practice settings, service delivery, policies, legislation, and the role of occupational therapy and inter and intraprofessional teams for persons, groups, and populations across the lifespan.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of all prior program courses including OCTH 5200.

OCTH 5410 Children, Adolescents, and Families — 3 credits

This course focuses on the foundations of occupational therapy and intra/inter-professional competencies for children and adolescents in health, education, rehabilitation, and community settings. Students will examine priority populations, disparities and inequities, client perspectives, and person-environment-occupation characteristics. Students will learn about scientific evidence, models, theories, frames of reference, systems, practice settings, service delivery, policies, legislation, and the role of occupational therapy and intra and inter-professional teams for persons, groups, and populations.
Prerequisites: OCTH 5010, OCTH 5500.

OCTH 5450 Children, Adolescents, and Families: The OT Process — 3 credits

This course focuses on the occupational therapy process for children, adolescents, and families. Students will develop knowledge and skills in screening, evaluation, documentation, referral, intervention/program planning and implementation to support occupational performance, participation, health, and well-being for persons, groups, and populations. Client cases with intra and interprofessional teaming opportunities help students to develop clinical reasoning, communication, practice, and team competencies that are client-centered, culturally relevant, and evidence-based and address person/population-environment-occupation goals.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of all prior MAOT courses including OCTH 5410.

OCTH 5500 Neuroscience — 3 credits

This course introduces students to basic knowledge, applied fundamentals, and current advances in neuroscience and the application to clinical conditions and occupational therapy. The course material emphasizes the structure and functions of neurological systems and their influence on occupational performance. Students will gain an understanding and appreciation of the effects of neurological function/dysfunction on health and disability. The etiology, symptoms, diagnosis, and pharmacology of specific conditions will be explored.
Prerequisite: Acceptance to the MAOT or OTD program.

OCTH 5560 Participation and Technology — 3 credits

This course focuses on technology in occupational therapy. Students examine the theories and conceptual practice models as they apply to persons, populations, and systems. Students use evidence to develop an understanding of health information, technology, telehealth, assistive technology, smart technologies, environmental design, positioning, mobility, and prosthetic devices. Client cases with interprofessional teaming opportunities help students develop competence in using technology and design strategies as part of occupational therapy process and service delivery to support occupational performance, participation, health, and well-being of persons, groups, and populations across the lifespan.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of all prior program coursework.

OCTH 5600 Kinesiology for Rehabilitation — 3 credits

This course focuses on analyzing the structure and function of bones, joints, muscles and the nervous system in relation to normal and pathological movement of the human body. Each region of the body is visualized through a paired human anatomy lab. The course learning is applied to clinical practice through analysis of force principles, ergonomics, gait, posture, and occupational task demands. Foundational principles of rehabilitation are covered through exploration of the of anatomical structures involved, effect on occupational performance, injury precautions and rationale supporting occupational therapy interventions for common muscle, tendon, bone, nerve and joint conditions.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of all prior MAOT program coursework.

OCTH 6000 Foundational Skills for Occupational Therapy Practice — 3 credits

This is a competency-based course that will introduce students to the basic knowledge and skills that underlie occupational therapy practice. Major topic areas include Occupational Therapy Practice Framework, clinical competencies, safety, professional roles including intra and interprofessional collaboration, therapeutic use of self, ethical decision making, documentation, and principles of teaching/learning.
Prerequisite: Admission to the MAOT or EL OTD program.

OCTH 6010 Seminar A: Entering the Profession — 1 credit

This seminar course focuses on developing professionalism and clinical reasoning to prepare students for OT practice. Students will develop effective communication skills, knowledge of group dynamics, and will learn strategies for life-long professional development. In addition, students will participate in problem-based learning (PBL) through a lab connected to this seminar. PBL is a self-directed learning approach to develop clinical reasoning, leadership skills, and self-reflection.
Prerequisites: Acceptance into the MAOT or OTD program.

OCTH 6020 Seminar B and Level I Fieldwork - Psychological and Social Factors Impacting Performance — 1 credit

This Level I fieldwork experience and seminar course is focused on psychological, social and behavioral health factors that influence engagement in occupations across the lifespan and in a variety of practice settings. This is the first Level I fieldwork experience and the second of four fieldwork seminars. In the Level I fieldwork experience, students will analyze and reflect on psychological, social and behavioral health factors in the occupational therapy process. Students will share and discuss their Level I fieldwork experiences in the seminar. Students will also participate in problem based learning (PBL) using self-directed learning to solve complex cases through a lab connected this course focus/semester (psychological, social and behavioral health factors that influence engagement in occupation).
Prerequisite: OCTH 6010.

OCTH 6030 Seminar C and Level I Fieldwork Practice Reflection — 1 credit

This seminar course includes Level I experiences in clinical and community settings. Students will explore topics related to their level I experiences through sharing clinical cases from the student’s experience to increase awareness of clinical reasoning skills, professionalism, and practice issues. Students also participate in problem based learning (PBL) through a lab connected to this seminar using self-directed learning to solve complex cases to strengthen critical thinking, clinical reasoning, reflection, and leadership skills.
Prerequisite: OCTH 6020.

OCTH 6040 Seminar D: Readiness for Level II Fieldwork — 1 credit

This seminar course prepares students for Level II Fieldwork experiences. Class activities and assignments focus on professional skills needed for successful Level II Fieldwork participation and becoming an entry level OT practitioner. Students participate in problem based learning (PBL) through a lab connected to this seminar. PBL cases in this semester are increasingly complex requiring students to learn how to learn, communicate effectively on intra and interprofessional teams and strengthen critical thinking, clinical reasoning, reflection, and leadership skills.

OCTH 6045 Community and Advocacy — 3 credits

Building on the Human Occupation Course, this course focuses on how public policy, persons, systems, communities, and organizations influence health disparity, and occupational participation. Students will learn how occupational therapy practitioners can influence public policy, systems, and population health and wellness. Students will explore, through systematic observation, interview, and analysis the determinants of population based health and wellness, barriers and supports to occupational participation, and the concepts of occupational and social justice. Students learn to advocate for the community at large within the systems that support or influence occupational participation, the profession of occupational therapy, and the consumers of occupational therapy services.
Prerequisite: OCTH 5010.

OCTH 6060 Physical Assessment and Intervention Planning — 3 credits

This course develops proficiency in clinical evaluation of client’s abilities and capacities including strength, range of motion, sensation, coordination, edema, wound and pain. Students learn how to select and use functional outcome measures, clinical assessment tools, document, analyze findings and develop intervention plans based on inflammatory, musculoskeletal, spinal cord and nerve injury cases. Preparatory techniques that support occupational performance are introduced including physical agent modalities and self-management strategies for range, strength, soft-tissue and wound management, edema control, and pain management. Clinical reasoning, therapeutic use of self, analysis, ethics, and safety will be emphasized in evaluations and interventions.
Prerequisites: OCTH 5500, OCTH 5600, OCTH 6000.

OCTH 6310 Evidence Based Practice — 3 credits

This course focuses on the foundations of evidence-based practice (EBP) and scholarly inquiry. Topics include developing questions for inquiry, searching databases, reading and analyzing evidence, synthesizing literature using American Psychological Association (APA) guidelines and applying the EBP process to practice.

OCTH 6410 Foundations of Research — 3 credits

In this course, students will be introduced to the research process and designs appropriate for beginning-level research. The course examines questions, methods and data analysis for selected designs, and qualitative and quantitative designs. Students will gain experience in data analysis and discuss communication of research studies to a professional audience.

OCTH 6610 Rehabilitation Concepts — 3 credits

This course focuses on the foundations of occupational therapy and interprofessional practice for adult populations in health, rehabilitation, and community settings. Students will examine priority populations, disparities and inequities, client perspectives, and person-environment-occupation characteristics. Students will learn about specific conditions, scientific evidence, conceptual practice models, theories, frames of reference, evaluation, systems, practice settings, service delivery, policies, legislation, and the role of occupational therapy and interprofessional teams for individuals, groups, and populations.
Prerequisite: Admission to the MAOT program.

OCTH 6615 Rehabilitation Practices — 3 credits

This course focuses on the occupational therapy process for adults in health, rehabilitation, and community settings. Students will develop knowledge and skills in screening, evaluation, documentation, referral, intervention/program planning and implementation to support occupational performance, participation, health, and well-being for persons, groups, and populations. Client cases with intra and interprofessional teaming opportunities help students to develop clinical reasoning, communication, practice, and team competencies that are client-centered, culturally relevant, and evidence-based and address person/population-environment-occupation goals.
Prerequisite: OCTH 6610.

OCTH 6620 Ethical Management — 3 credits

This course focuses on knowledge, skills, and strategies necessary to run occupational therapy programs and departments across practice settings and business models. Students learn about strategic and business plans, operational responsibilities, departmental organization, and personnel management. Topics include financial management, marketing and promotion, and supervision of individuals and teams. It provides students with the tools needed to manage programs and people, including ethical and legal decision making, conflict resolution, negotiation, and relational communication.
Prerequisites: Admission to MAOT or OTD-EL program.

OCTH 6681 Directed Study — 1 credit

OCTH 6683 Directed Study — 3 credits

OCTH 6700 Older Adults in Context — 3 credits

This case-based course focuses on the foundational knowledge informing occupational therapy and interprofessional practice with older adults. Students will examine priority populations, disparities and inequities, client perspectives, and person-environment-occupation characteristics. Students will learn about scientific evidence, models, theories, frames of reference, systems, practice settings, service delivery models, policies, legislation, and the role of occupational therapy within an interprofessional context for persons, groups, and populations.
Prerequisite: Admission to MAOT or OTD-EL program.

OCTH 6710 Older Adults - The OT Process — 3 credits

This case-based course focuses on the occupational therapy process for older adults, their support networks and communities. Students will develop knowledge and skills in needs assessment, evaluation, documentation, referral, intervention/program planning, and implementation across a range of service delivery models to support occupational participation, health, and well-being for persons, groups, and populations on the health-disability continuum. Students will develop clinical reasoning, communication, practice, and interprofessional competencies that are client centered, culturally relevant as well as based on sound theories and evidence to address person/population-environment-occupation goals.

OCTH 6951 Independent Study — 1 credit

OCTH 7000 Master's Project Seminar — 1 credit

This seminar course prepares students for their final masters project that will be implemented and completed in OCTH 7500. In this seminar students will summarize the background literature and become familiar with the community site where they will be working.

OCTH 7100 Social Determinants of Health — 1 credit

This course focuses on key social determinants of health (SDH), including: health and health care, social and community context, education, economic stability, and neighborhood and built environment. Students learn how the SDH relate to inequitable distribution of resources and contribute to health disparities and health inequities. Students learn how the SDH may impact or are being used to improve health equity for persons, groups, and populations. This is a required course in the Doctor of Occupational Therapy program and may be an elective in other graduate programs.

OCTH 7200 Critical Issues — 1 credit

This course focuses on critical interprofessional issues that influence health, education, and community programs. The topics in the course address timely issues that prepare students to lead change in work and community settings. Students examine critical issues using both an interprofessional and professional lens.
Prerequisite: OTCH 7100 and OCTH 8005 or OCTH 8070.

OCTH 7500 Master's Project — 3 credits

This course results in a student project that integrates knowledge for occupational therapy practice and leadership in existing and emerging professional areas. The MAOT masters project purpose is to develop or enhance applications of theory to OT practice in a clinical, community or educational area of interest. Projects culminate in a comprehensive portfolio and are presented formally to professional or client audiences.
Prerequisite: OCTH 7000.

OCTH 7700 Level II Fieldwork — 5 credits

This is the first of two 12-week full time experiences that prepare students to become competent, entry-level, generalist occupational therapists. Students participate in an in-depth experience in delivering occupational therapy services to clients in a setting that is aligned with the program’s curriculum design. Students are supervised by a qualified occupational therapy practitioner. Level II fieldwork focuses on application of purposeful and meaningful occupation and research, administration, and management of occupational therapy services.
Prerequisite: Successful completion of all previous OT courses.

OCTH 7710 Level II Fieldwork — 5 credits

This is the second of two 12-week full time experiences that prepare students to become competent, entry-level, generalist occupational therapists. Students participate in an in-depth experience in delivering occupational therapy services to clients in a setting that is aligned with the program’s curriculum design. Students are supervised by a qualified occupational therapy practitioner. Level II fieldwork focuses on application of purposeful and meaningful occupation and research, administration, and management of occupational therapy services.
Prerequisite: OCTH 7700.

OCTH 7800 Thesis — 4 credits

This course provides opportunities for collaboration among students and faculty to facilitate timely completion of the thesis. Students complete a study that results in a scholarly paper of sufficient quality to be submitted for professional publication. Includes thesis defense, public presentation, and completion of the thesis.
Prerequisite: Program director approval.

OCTH 7900 Doctoral Orientation Camp — 1 credit

This course introduces the curriculum design of the program of study, institutional and intra and interdisciplinary resources, and foundational skills for doctoral level scholarship. Learning activities prepare students to be successful in doctoral level education and foster relationships with peers and faculty for collaborative learning.

OCTH 8005 Essential Knowledge and Competencies for Leadership — 3 credits

This course emphasized fundamental knowledge and competencies for roles in practice and education. Students critically analyze the contributions of leaders, scholars, core inter and intra professional documents and organizations. Students establish a professional portfolio that includes essential resources for their scholarly work and an action plan for developing a practitioner identity and professional networks within a chosen area of practice.
Prerequisite: Acceptance to the OTD program and successful completion of OCTH 7900.

OCTH 8010 Evolution of Ideas in Occupational Therapy — 3 credits

The course explores the philosophical assumptions, societal influences, core concepts, theories, models, and frames of reference that have shaped the profession of occupational therapy and the discipline of occupational science. This course requires students to analyze past, present, and future trends in US and international practice; compare and contrast the ideas of the leaders of the profession; and explain how environmental forces affected their ideas, theories, and models of practice.
Prerequisite: Admission to the OTD program.

OCTH 8015 Academic and Clinical Education — 3 credits

This course focuses on occupational therapy roles in academic and clinical education. Students explore roles, responsibilities, career paths, opportunities, and practical strategies in education. Current trends and issues in academic and clinical education are explored using both an interprofessional and professional lens.

OCTH 8020 Educational Methods — 3 credits

In this course, students will be introduced to educational theory, instructional methods, and evaluation of educational programs. Students will learn about principles of teaching and learning, health and academic education, and design of programs to meet the needs of different audiences. Topics include literacy, universal design, active learning, online teaching, and principles of adult learning.
Prerequisite: Admission to PP OTD program.

OCTH 8030 Program Evaluation — 3 credits

This course focuses on program evaluation, including evaluation planning, methods, analysis, and communication to stakeholders. Students identify data collection and analysis methods appropriate for evaluation projects, such as surveys, focus groups, and participatory action research. This course culminates with a comprehensive evaluation plan for a chosen program.
Prerequisites: Acceptance to the OTD-EL or OTD-PP program and successful completion of OCTH 7900 OR permission of instructor.

OCTH 8040 Organizations and Systems — 3 credits

This course focuses on interprofessional and macro level systems that drive overall health and educational outcomes. Students will examine trends in social, political, regulatory, and economic systems and the major structures of organizations that influence practice. Students will learn how to lead quality improvement initiatives to meet quality assurance standards and create effective change within organizations and systems.
Prerequisite with concurrency: OCTH 8030.

OCTH 8050 Advanced Practice — 3 credits

This course focuses on developing advanced knowledge and skills in a chosen area of interprofessional or occupational therapy practice. Students will develop goals for professional development, explore professional networks, and participate in didactic and/or experiential learning. Students complete a portfolio that documents and summarizes their learning and experiences.
Prerequisites: OCTH 8020, OCTH 8030, OCTH 8040.

OCTH 8060 Scoping Review Project — 3 credits

This course focuses on knowledge translation in a scholarly scoping review project. Students will develop, disseminate, and evaluate scoping review project that aligns and addresses critical professional issues within a chosen area of practice.
Prerequisites: OCTH 8020, OCTH 8030, OCTH 8040.

OCTH 8080 Doctoral Capstone Project Proposal — 1 credit

This course focuses on completion of all components of the doctoral capstone project proposal in preparation for the doctoral capstone experience and project. Students summarize and present their preparatory activities (literature review, needs assessment, goals/objectives, and evaluation plan), processes and materials for the project, and implementation plan to a doctoral committee. The student is a self-directed learner with the support of a doctoral faculty adviser and a doctoral capstone experience mentor. The outcome of this course is an approved doctoral capstone project proposal that is ready to commence.
Prerequisites: OCTH 8050, OCTH 8060.

OCTH 8100 Doctoral Capstone Experience A — 3 credits

This is the first half of an in-depth experience with a mentor where students develop advanced skills in one or more of the following: clinical practice, research, administration, leadership, program and policy, advocacy, education, or theory development.
Prerequisites: OCTH 7700, OCTH 7710 , OCTH 8050, OCTH 8060.

OCTH 8150 Doctoral Capstone Experience B — 3 credits

This is the second half of an in-depth experience with a mentor where students develop advanced skills in one or more of the following: clinical practice, research, administration, leadership, program and policy, advocacy, education, or theory development.

OCTH 8250 Doctoral Capstone Project — 3 credits

This course focuses on implementation and evaluation of an applied culminating project in a chosen area of practice conducted during the capstone experience. The project is aligned with the OTD curriculum design and demonstrates in-depth exposure to one or more of the following: clinical practice, research, administration, leadership, program and policy development, advocacy, education, or theory development. In this process, the student is a self-directed learner with the support of a doctoral faculty adviser and a capstone experience mentor. The outcome of this course is a capstone project that is disseminated in a scholarly manuscript and professional presentation.
Prerequisite: OCTH 8080.
Corequisite: OCTH 8100.

OCTH 8300 Doctoral Capstone Footprint — 1 credit

This course launches students as scholar practitioners. Students prepare a professional portfolio that includes a curriculum vitae, credentials, professional development plan, and a leadership and scholarship agenda.
Prerequisite: OCTH 8080.
Corequisite: OCTH 8100.

OCTH 8350 Advanced Evidence-Based Practice — 3 credits

This course explores the nature of evidence as it relates to critical issues in advanced occupational therapy practice. The course emphasizes competencies in development of scholarly questions, database searching, critical appraisal and synthesis of evidence, and knowledge translation to professional and public audiences. Reviews of research, quantitative research, and qualitative studies are examined to identify effective and efficient assessments, interventions, and programs.

OCTH 8440 Evidence-Based Practice Project — 3 credits

This course focuses on knowledge translation using an evidence-based process. Students will develop, disseminate, and evaluate an individual scholarly project that addresses a critical issue within a chosen area of advanced practice. The project is self-directed under the guidance of an advisor and includes development of a scholarly question, database searching, critical appraisal and synthesis of evidence, and dissemination of recommendations to professional and public audiences.

OCTH 8450 Doctoral Project Proposal — 3 credits

The doctoral project is an applied culminating project in your chosen specialized area based on evidence and integration of core courses. This course develops the complete proposal for a doctoral project that demonstrates knowledge translation and advances occupational therapy practice. he outcome of this course is an approved doctoral project proposal.
Prerequisite: OCTH 7900.

OCTH 8500 Doctoral Project — 3 credits

The doctoral project is an applied culminating project in the student's chosen specialized area based on evidence and integration of core courses. The project will demonstrates knowledge translation and advances occupational therapy practice. In this process the student will be a self-directed learner. The outcome of this course is a completed doctoral project.