Occupational Therapy

Staff member? Login here

Academic Year of Entry: 2023/24
Course overview
(BSc) Bachelor of Science
Occupational Therapy
Inactive
University of Essex
University of Essex
Health and Social Care (School of)
Colchester Campus
Honours Degree
Part-time
Occupational Therapy
BSC B93048
10/05/2023

Details

Professional accreditation

Accredited by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) for the purpose of ensuring graduates are fit for the profession.

Approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) for the purpose of providing eligibility to apply for registration with the HCPC as an occupational therapist.

Admission criteria

IELTS (International English Language Testing System) code

Course qualifiers

A course qualifier is a bracketed addition to your course title to denote a specialisation or pathway that you have achieved via the completion of specific modules during your course. The specific module requirements for each qualifier title are noted below. Eligibility for any selected qualifier will be determined by the department and confirmed by the final year Board of Examiners. If the required modules are not successfully completed, your course title will remain as described above without any bracketed addition. Selection of a course qualifier is optional and student can register preferences or opt-out via Online Module Enrolment (eNROL).

None

Rules of assessment

Rules of assessment are the rules, principles and frameworks which the University uses to calculate your course progression and final results.

Additional notes

None

External examiners

Staff photo
Mrs Ruth Squire

Senior Lecturer

Cardiff University

External Examiners provide an independent overview of our courses, offering their expertise and help towards our continual improvement of course content, teaching, learning, and assessment. External Examiners are normally academics from other higher education institutions, but may be from the industry, business or the profession as appropriate for the course. They comment on how well courses align with national standards, and on how well the teaching, learning and assessment methods allow students to develop and demonstrate the relevant knowledge and skills needed to achieve their awards. External Examiners who are responsible for awards are key members of Boards of Examiners. These boards make decisions about student progression within their course and about whether students can receive their final award.

Key

Core You must take this module.
You must pass this module. No failure can be permitted.
Core with Options You can choose which module to study.
You must pass this module. No failure can be permitted.
Compulsory You must take this module.
There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the degree if you fail.
Compulsory with Options You can choose which module to study.
There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the degree if you fail.
Optional You can choose which module to study.
There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the degree if you fail.

Year 1 - 2023/24

Component Number Module Code Module Title Status Min Credits Max Credits
01  HS140-4-FY-CO  Professional and Interprofessional Skills for Practice  Core  30  30 
02  HS171-4-AU-CO  Occupational Being  Core  15  15 
03  HS172-4-SP-CO  Practice Placement One: EXPLORE  Core  15  15 
04  HS173-4-PS-CO    Core  15  15 
05  HS175-4-PS-CO  Engagement in Occupation  Core  15  15 

Year 2 - 2024/25

Component Number Module Code Module Title Status Min Credits Max Credits
01  HS157-4-AU-CO    Core  15  15 
02  HS158-4-AU-CO    Core  15  15 
03  HS251-5-PS-CO    Core  30  30 
04  HS253-5-SU-CO    Core  30  30 

Year 3 - 2025/26

Component Number Module Code Module Title Status Min Credits Max Credits
01  HS240-5-AU-CO    Core  15  15 
02  HS276-5-SP-CO    Core  30  30 
03  HS275-5-SU-CO  HS275-5-AU  Core  15  15 
04  HS371-6-PS-CO  HS371-6-SU  Core  15  15 

Year 4 - 2026/27

Component Number Module Code Module Title Status Min Credits Max Credits
01  HS372-6-AU-CO  Becoming a Practitioner  Core  15  15 
02  HS340-6-FY-CO  Professional Enquiry Proposal  Core  30  30 
03  HS374-6-SU-CO  Transition from Student to Occupational Therapist  Core  30  30 
04  HS373-6-SP-CO  Practice Placement Four: MANAGE  Core  15  15 

Exit awards

A module is given one of the following statuses: 'core' – meaning it must be taken and passed; 'compulsory' – meaning it must be taken; or 'optional' – meaning that students can choose the module from a designated list. The rules of assessment may allow for limited condonement of fails in 'compulsory' or 'optional' modules, but 'core' modules cannot be failed. The status of the module may be different in any exit awards which are available for the course. Exam Boards will consider students' eligibility for an exit award if they fail the main award or do not complete their studies.

Programme aims

  • To develop students to graduate level with competencies which meet occupational standards and codes of practice.
  • To meet QAA academic and practitioner standards and benchmark statements for occupational therapy.
  • To fulfill COT curriculum framework guidelines.
  • To meet HPC standards of education and training.
  • To fulfill university generic learning outcomes.
  • To develop students as reflective and independent practitioners capable of operating in a multidisciplinary health care context.
  • To promote and develop evidence based practice and research awareness.
  • To cultivate in students the capacity to integrate the theoretical principles and concepts of occupational therapy with practice in order to provide quality intervention for service users
  • To assist students to engage in the analysis of academic discourses in order to continually develop professional practice


  • Learning outcomes and learning, teaching and assessment methods

    On successful completion of the programme a graduate should demonstrate knowledge and skills as follows:

    A: Knowledge and understanding

    A1: Demonstrate a capacity for systematic, conceptual and critical thinking

    A2: Develop critical reasoning and reflective capabilities in order to effectively analyse and evaluate professional practice within personal, legal, ethical, clinical and managerial frameworks

    A3: Demonstrate critical appreciation and insightful use of problem-solving strategies for all aspects of Occupational therapy practice

    A4: Apply understanding of research strategies and methodologies to the critical analysis and evaluation of research papers, articles and other sources of research based work

    A5: Apply their knowledge of ethical principles and codes of practice to all areas of occupational therapy practice and relate these to ethical principles and values of related health and care disciplines

    Learning methods

    A range of teaching and learning methods are used in order to encourage the progressive development of the students knowledge and understanding.

    While the methods used at Level C are structured, there is a progressive shift through the various levels towards methods which encourage students autonomy and independence of learning.

    Methods used in order to achieve the knowledge learning outcomes are: Lectures Seminars Videos and discussion Problem-based learning Case-studies and Vignette work Group work Academic tutorials with groups and individuals

    Assessment methods

    At Level 4, varied methods of assessment cultivate basic knowledge and understanding.

    Level 5 builds upon the knowledge developed at Level C, and assessment is a vehicle for much of the learning and reflective practice.

    The integration of theory with practice, development of self-knowledge and understanding of occupational therapy as a treatment medium are encouraged through both academic and practice placement assessments.

    At Level 6, many assessments involve more student-centred investigative and analytical activities, requiring a wider range of presentation formats and a greater relevance to practice.

    There is a requirement that students should be able to work with a degree of autonomy and be able to take more responsibility for their own learning Assessment methods Essays Case-study analyses Reflective assignments, based on critical incident work Viva vocé examinations Formal/video/poster Presentations Patchwork text Research proposal, including literature review

    B: Intellectual and cognitive skills

    B1: Demonstrate a capacity for systematic, conceptual and critical thinking

    B2: Develop critical reasoning and reflective capabilities in order to effectively analyse and evaluate professional practice within personal, legal, ethical, clinical and managerial frameworks

    B3: Demonstrate critical appreciation and insightful use of problem-solving strategies for all aspects of Occupational therapy practice

    B4: Apply understanding of research strategies and methodologies to the critical analysis and evaluation of research papers, articles and other sources of research based work

    B5: Apply their knowledge of ethical principles and codes of practice to all areas of occupational therapy practice and relate these to ethical principles and values of related health and care disciplines

    Learning methods

    Development of cognitive/intellectual skills are an intrinsic part of all learning and teaching.

    In order to achieve the cognitive learning outcomes the following methods are used:

    Task Analysis, lectures, seminars, problem-based learning, case-study reflection and analysis, group discussion (structured and semi-structured, use of the virtual learning environment

    Assessment methods

    Written assessment in which students do a task analysis.

    Essays Case-study analysis, reflective assignments, based on critical incident work, viva vocé examinations, formal/video/poster, presentations, patchwork text, research proposal, including literature review, research, and the dissertation

    C: Practical skills

    C1: Demonstrate reflective practice skills to personal and professional development.

    C2: Employ effective and critical use of research skills relevant to professional and inter-professional practice and practice issues

    C3: Problem-solving skills and strategies in assessment, planning, intervention and evaluation within occupational therapy practice, including the analysis and grading of activity to meet the individual needs of clients

    C4: Act in an ethical manner, demonstrating political, social and cultural awareness

    C5: Develop interpersonal, managerial and supervisory skills

    Learning methods

    The practical skills development is encouraged through a number of teaching and learning methods:

    Practice Placement

    Skills workshops

    Role-modeling

    Role-playing

    Use of media technology

    Use of the virtual learning environment

    Assessment methods

    A range of assessment instruments are used to monitor and assess the development of practical skills:

    Practice

    Placement assessments

    Poster /video

    Presentation

    Vivas

    Task analyses (written papers)

    Assignment on supervision skills and processes

    Research

    Dissertation

    D: Key skills

    D1: Communicate clearly and appropriately, demonstrating a sense of audience

    D2: Manage information effectively in a range of medi

    D3: Produce output that is literate, numerate and coherent

    D4: Show flexible and creative approaches to problem-solving

    D5: Work with confidence both independently and as a member of a team or group

    D6: Identify areas of personal learning and growth and demonstrate their development within these areas

    Learning methods

    Occupational therapy students need to cultivate a range of key skills:

    The teaching and Learning support the learning outcomes, examples being:

    Class based

    Group Work

    Management of professional practice case-load
    Individual Supervision (in-house through tutorials and practice placement education)

    Peer discussion groups Searching for and Evaluating research literature

    Quantitative and qualitative methods of research and enquiry

    Task and problem-based analyses Use of the virtual learning environment

    Assessment methods

    Personal Statements linked to written Assignments (both theoretical and reflective)
    Professional Practice Assessment

    Formal presentations

    Professional Practice

    Viva Written assignments Task analyses
    Demonstration of IT skills in written presentation

    Searching the internet for written assignments, gaining key information and applying information to the analysis and presentation of the research proposal and research dissertation


    Note

    The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its programme specification is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can be necessary to make changes, for example to courses, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include a change of law or regulatory requirements, industrial action, lack of demand, departure of key personnel, change in government policy, or withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to courses may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications.

    The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.

    Contact

    If you are thinking of studying at Essex and have questions about the course, please contact Undergraduate Admissions by emailing admit@essex.ac.uk, or Postgraduate Admissions by emailing pgadmit@essex.ac.uk.

    If you're a current student and have questions about your course or specific modules, please contact your department.

    If you think there might be an error on this page, please contact the Course Records Team by emailing crt@essex.ac.uk.