Occupational Therapy
Welcome to our occupational therapy program website. Our faculty are highly dedicated educators committed to quality teaching, research, clinical practice, and the profession of occupational therapy. As clinicians with years of experience in a variety of settings, they plan relevant learning experiences to prepare students to become competent practitioners. At Texas Tech Health Sciences Center, our students benefit from the faculty’s strong knowledge base and relevant experiences along with the use of state-of-the-art technology to enhance the teaching-learning environment.
The Occupational Therapy Program is dedicated to the education of competent entry-level practitioners and future leaders in the profession. The curriculum is designed to involve the learner as an active participant in the essential knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for entry-level occupational therapy practice. The faculty take pride in being accessible to our students in order to assist them in their learning. The concept of the seamless classroom whereby students continue their learning outside the walls of the classroom is a reality in our program. For example, our students have participated in assisting the elderly in community settings, researching the needs for low vision services, designing a playground that was built in the community, and hands-on activities with young children in the Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) program.
Please contact me with any program questions or comments at Dawndra.Scott@ttuhsc.edu. For information regarding pre-requisites, transcripts, etc. please email our Admissions Office at allied.health@ttuhsc.edu or call 806-743-3220.
Occupational Therapy Program Information
Occupational Therapy at TTUHSC is offered on the Lubbock campus. The program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). ACOTE can be contacted at:
Accreditation Department
American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.
4720 Montgomery Lane
P.O. Box 31220
Bethesda, MD 20824-1220
Phone number: (301) 652-AOTA
The pre-academic phase of the curriculum consists of a minimum of 90 semester hours in general education coursework. These courses may be completed in any regionally accredited college or university, however, no more than 66 hours taken from an accredited U.S. community college will be accepted. All pre-professional courses must be completed prior to enrollment in the program.
The academic phase of the program begins in late May. Students will be involved in part-time clinical experiences during the second and third years in the program. Following completion of the academic courses, students enter their clinical phase involving 6 months of full-time clinical fieldwork. Level II fieldwork must be completed within 12 months following the completion of academic preparation.
Graduates of the program will be able to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). Most states require licensure in order to practice. A FELONY CONVICTION MAY AFFECT A GRADUATE'S ABILITY TO SIT FOR THE CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION OR ATTAIN STATE LICENSURE.
The program prepares the student to enter the field of occupational therapy with a background in basic sciences, human development, theory, application, research, and clinical education. The curriculum covers the life span from birth to older adulthood, reflecting a broad perspective on physical, emotional, social and biological issues affecting the quality of daily living for persons with unique abilities. Lectures, case studies, group collaborations, laboratory experiences, and clinical education provide opportunity to integrate prior knowledge with new learning and develop competent professional behaviors.
Successful completion of the academic and clinical education leads to a Master of Occupational Therapy degree. During the academic studies, students are required to adhere to all program, departmental, and School of Allied Health policies and academic and behavioral guidelines as outlined in the student handbook, fieldwork manual, and course outlines.
Students entering the program should have ready access to a computer, and be familiar with basic Internet skills, (including the use of email, searching the World Wide Web, and using a basic word-processing package). Students without computers are encouraged to purchase one and become familiar with it prior to beginning the program.