| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2024-01-01 | - |
| 2024-09-01 | - |
Program Overview
Keele University's MSc Occupational Therapy (pre-registration) program prepares students for a rewarding career in occupational therapy. The program emphasizes the importance of occupation in human life and the therapeutic value of meaningful occupation in promoting physical and mental well-being. Graduates are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to become qualified Occupational Therapists and work with individuals facing barriers to independent living or work across various settings.
Program Outline
Degree Overview
Overview:
The MSc Occupational Therapy (pre-registration) program at Keele University is a professionally accredited and approved course that prepares graduates for a rewarding and in-demand career in the field of occupational therapy. The program focuses on supporting individuals in participating and engaging in meaningful everyday activities.
Objectives:
The key objectives of the program include:
- Equipping students with the knowledge, skills, behaviors, and values necessary to become a qualified Occupational Therapist.
- Emphasize the importance of occupation in human life and the therapeutic value of meaningful occupation in promoting physical and mental well-being.
- Equip students with a comprehensive understanding of occupational science, occupational risk factors, and its influence on health and well-being.
- Develop students' self-awareness and the ability to build and maintain professional therapeutic relationships.
- Discuss how the environment, governance, technology, finance, legislation, policy, agendas, and initiatives influence contemporary occupational therapy practice and service delivery.
- Explore the occupational needs of individuals, communities, and populations (both national and international) and potential challenges in providing equitable occupational therapy services.
- Provide insights into complex and evolving health and social care systems.
Description:
This MSc program is underpinned by evidence and reflective of contemporary occupational therapy practice. It aims to provide students with the necessary knowledge, skills, behaviors, and values to become a qualified Occupational Therapist. The program emphasizes the central role of occupation in human life and the therapeutic power of meaningful occupation in improving physical and mental health. The curriculum delves into the following key areas:
- The history and evolution of the occupational therapy profession.
- The relationship between a person, their occupations, and the environment.
- The dynamic relationship between occupation, health, and well-being and factors that influence occupational performance and participation.
- Concepts underpinning occupational science and occupational risk factors and how they impact health and well-being.
- The importance of self in building and maintaining professional therapeutic relationships.
- How the environment, governance, technology, finance, legislation, policies, agendas, and initiatives can impact contemporary occupational therapy practice and service delivery.
- The occupational and health needs of individuals, communities, and populations, both nationally and internationally, along with potential challenges associated with providing equitable occupational therapy services.
- The changing and diverse context of complex health and social care systems.
Outline
Program Content and Structure:
The MSc program commences in January and is organized over two semesters for each year of the two-year program. It comprises 11 compulsory taught modules and 4 mandatory practice-based learning modules, totaling 180 credits and 1000 successfully completed hours of practice-based learning. All students must undergo occupational health assessments and enhanced clearances through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) before receiving an offer. Additionally, students are required to become student members of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT). As the curriculum and teaching approach are revised regularly to incorporate the latest research, teaching methods, and student feedback, the specific modules may be subject to changes in future years.
Year 1:
- Transitions to Occupational Therapy Studies (15 credits): This module focuses on developing understanding of the occupational therapy profession, key skills and knowledge required for a health and social care professional. Students reflect on previous knowledge and experiences to identify their learning needs and action plans, supporting their development in anatomy, physiology, movement science and communication.
- Health, Wellbeing and Behaviour Change (15 credits): This module explores health promotion, primary and secondary prevention, and health behavior change. It examines factors influencing health and well-being, theories and models underlying health behaviour change, and evaluates health promotion strategies.
- Occupation: Art and Science (15 credits): This module delves into the history and evolution of the occupational therapy profession, including key concepts, philosophies, values, and beliefs. Students also develop an understanding of the dynamic relationship between occupation, health and well-being, critically reviewing the occupational therapy process.
- Psychology, Pathologies, Life Changes and Life Choices (15 credits): This module explores psychological theories, including cognition, memory, capacity, processing, motivation, learning and development. Students learn about typical pathologies encountered in practice, including schizophrenia, dementia, anxiety and depression, learning disabilities, stroke, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, arthritis, cancers and diabetes.
- Practice Based Learning 1 (0 credits): This module allows for further development and application of knowledge and skills in diverse settings, fostering transferable skills such as multidisciplinary team working, leadership, and advanced communication applicable in various settings and specialties.
- Models of Occupational Therapy and the Occupational Therapy Process (15 credits): This module builds on knowledge and skills gained from the first placement. It focuses on gaining practical experience in occupational therapy assessment, intervention and outcome measurement, expanding knowledge and ability in justifying decision making in contemporary practice.
- Professional Reasoning and Diversity in Practice (15 credits): This module enables participation, practical facilitation, critical appraisal, and justification of diverse occupation focused interventions, including splinting, wheelchair provision, pressure care, vocational rehabilitation and group work. Risk management, risk enablement, health and safety are key aspects.
- Evaluating Healthcare and Evidence Based Practice (15 credits): This module focuses on developing and enhancing skills in effectively using research and other forms of evidence to support and underpin practice, while reviewing the tools used to evaluate services.
Year 2:
- Practice Based Learning 2 (0 credits): This module builds upon previous practice based learning and content covered earlier in the program. It aims to prepare students to work in contemporary and diverse settings while developing transferable skills applicable in various settings and specialties.
- Addressing the Occupational Needs of Communities and Populations (15 credits): Students explore the occupational and health needs of communities and populations globally and propose equitable occupational therapy services to address these needs. The module considers public health, health promotion, and prevention strategies for communities and populations.
- Research Proposal (15 credits): This module focuses on developing skills in justifying and designing a comprehensive plan for a research project, under supervisor guidance.
- Practice Based Learning 3 (0 credits): Building on previous practice-based learning modules, students explore working in contemporary and diverse settings while developing transferable skills applicable in various settings and specialties.
- Leadership and Service Development (15 credits): Students deepen understanding of ethical dilemmas in health and social care, debating these issues with students from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.
- Research Project (30 credits): Students implement their research proposal to produce a structured written report, developing the ability to carry out independent research, commission and manage research activities of others.
- Practice Based Learning 4 (0 credits): This module prepares students to work in contemporary and diverse settings while developing transferable skills applicable in various settings and specialties.
Assessment
The assessment methods used in the MSc Occupational Therapy program include a combination of written work and assignments, written examinations, reflective assignments, oral examinations, and presentations, practical examinations, research project and practice-based learning assessments. The specific assessment methods and criteria vary depending on the module and learning outcomes.
Teaching
The program is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops, tutorials, practice-based learning, and independent study, with a focus on active social learning. The teaching staff includes occupational therapy lecturers and academics with experience working in the National Health Service (NHS) and other areas of occupational therapy practice. The permanent academic staff are complemented by specialist experts, including service users, ensuring a diverse range of perspectives and expertise.
Careers
The program equips graduates with strong professional identity, core knowledge, skills, and leadership abilities to support the continued evolution of the occupational therapy profession. To practice as an occupational therapist in the UK, registration with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) is mandatory. Graduates can work with individuals facing barriers that hinder independent living or work, across a range of settings including pediatrics, mental and physical health, and social care. Alternatively, they may choose to pursue further studies with a PhD.
Other
The program offers four placement opportunities, providing 30 weeks of practice-based experience across public, independent, private, third sector, and health, wellbeing, social and integrative care systems.
