Occupational Therapy Assistant, B.S.

Visit the Occupational Therapy Assistant page for more information on the program and access to advising.

Program Description

This program prepares students to become a certified, licensed Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA), as well as providing them with the necessary prerequisites for graduate work in occupational therapy. The job of an OTA is to assist an Occupational Therapist (OT, graduate-level credential) in treating patients who have difficulty performing everyday activities due to disability, illness, or injury. OTAs help clients acquire or regain the normal activities of daily living such as eating, getting dressed, and preparing meals. They work with patients across the lifespan from pediatrics to geriatrics, creatively applying an evidence-based approach to address the individual needs of a complex clientele. The goal of occupational therapy is to improve the quality of life for individuals through therapeutic interventions. This program combines didactic and fieldwork education to better prepare students for this entry-level profession. Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the National Board of Occupational Therapists Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant Exam and obtain licensure in Utah.

Matriculation Requirements

Matriculation requirements are designed to ensure applicants who are admitted into the OTA program can be successful and meet the rigor required of the technical classes. This program uses a merit-based, competitive admission process. Applications may be submitted prior to the completion of the prerequisite courses listed below, but the students must complete all prerequisite courses prior to starting the OTA program and have obtained a C (74%) or better in all the courses.
Matriculation Requirements:
Be admitted to Utah Valley University.
Minimum GPA of 3.0 in prerequisite courses (no grades below C)
General education coursework complete, in addition to the following courses: ZOOL 2320, ZOOL 2325, ZOOL 2420, ZOOL 2425, OT 1010, and HLTH 1300. 

Related observation, volunteer, or work experience (12 hours minimum in more than 1 practice setting)

Upon acceptance into the program, students are required to obtain and maintain the following:
Criminal background check
Health/immunization requirements
CPR certification
Drug screening 

Program Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Total Credit Hours		122
General Education Requirements		33 Credits
ENGL 1010	Introduction to Academic Writing	3
or ENGH 1005	Literacies and Composition Across Contexts
ENGL 2010	Intermediate Academic Writing	3
MATH 1050	College Algebra	4
Distribution Courses:
Personal, Professional, and Civic Growth		3
BIOL 1610	College Biology I	4
CHEM 1210	Principles of Chemistry I	4
COMM 1020	Public Speaking	3
PSY 1010	General Psychology	3
Complete one Fine Arts course		3
Complete one of the following American Institution courses:		3
POLS 1000	American Heritage (3)
HIST 2700 & HIST 2710	US History to 1877 and US History since 1877 (6)
HIST 1700	American History (3)
HIST 1740	US Economic History (3)
POLS 1100	American National Government (3)
Discipline Core Requirements		89 Credits
BIOL 1615	College Biology I Laboratory	1
ZOOL 2320 & ZOOL 2325	Human Anatomy and Human Anatomy Laboratory	4
ZOOL 2420 & ZOOL 2425	Human Physiology and Human Physiology Laboratory	4
SOC 1010G	Intro to Sociology	3
STAT 2040	Principles of Statistics	4
PSY 2300	Abnormal Psychology	3
PSY 1100	Human Development Life Span	3
CHEM 1215	Principles of Chemistry I Laboratory	1
ANTH 1010G	Social Cultural Anthropology	3
HLSC 1300	Medical Terminology and Functional Anatomy	3
OT 1010	Introduction to Occupational Therapy	2
OT 3000	Foundations of Occupational Therapy Practice	3
OT 3100 & OT 3105	Applied Anatomy and Kinesiology and Applied Anatomy and Kinesiology Lab	4
OT 3200 & OT 3205	Occupational Therapy and Physical Dysfunction and Occupational Therapy and Physical Dysfunction Lab	4
OT 3300	Adult Physical Dysfunction Practicum	1
OT 3400 & OT 3405	Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics and Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics Lab	4
OT 3500	Pediatric Occupational Therapy Practicum	1
OT 3600	Patient Management Skills in Occupational Therapy	3
OT 3700	Research Methods in Occupational Therapy	3
OT 3800 & OT 3805	Psychosocial Issues in Occupational Therapy and Psychosocial Issues in Occupational Therapy Lab	4
OT 4000 & OT 4005	Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics and Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics Lab	4
OT 4100	Geriatric/Psychosocial OT Practicum	1
OT 4200	Professional Seminar	2
OT 4300	Occupational Therapy Management and Leadership	3
OT 4400	Baccalaureate Project I	3
OT 4720	Fieldwork IIA	6
OT 4800	Baccalaureate Project II	3
OT 4820	Fieldwork IIB	6
Complete any 1000-level, or higher, courses		3

Graduation Requirements

The following is required for graduation:

1. Completion of a minimum of 122 semester credits with a minimum of 40 upper-division credits. A minimum of at least 10 hours earned in the last 45 hours must be earned at UVU.
2. An overall GPA of 2.7 or higher.
3. All courses must be completed with a B- or higher. 
4. Completion of GE and specified departmental requirements.
5. Successful completion of at least one Global/Intercultural course and two Writing Enriched (WE) courses. 
6. Residency hours--minimum of 32 credit hours through course attendance at UVU.

Graduation Plan

This graduation plan is a sample plan and is intended to be a guide. Your specific plan may differ based on your Math and English placement and/or transfer credits applied. You are encouraged to meet with an advisor and set up an individualized graduation plan in Wolverine Track.

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Semester 1		Credit Hours
ENGL 1010	Introduction to Academic Writing	3
COMM 1020	Public Speaking	3
PSY 1010	General Psychology	3
American Institutions		3
Fine Arts		3
	Credit Hours	15
Semester 2
ENGL 2010	Intermediate Academic Writing	3
MATH 1050	College Algebra	4
BIOL 1610 & BIOL 1615	College Biology I and College Biology I Laboratory	5
ANTH 1010G	Social Cultural Anthropology	3
	Credit Hours	15
Second Year
Semester 3
STAT 2040	Principles of Statistics	4
CHEM 1210 & CHEM 1215	Principles of Chemistry I and Principles of Chemistry I Laboratory	5
ZOOL 2320 & ZOOL 2325	Human Anatomy and Human Anatomy Laboratory	4
PSY 1100	Human Development Life Span	3
	Credit Hours	16
Semester 4
ZOOL 2420 & ZOOL 2425	Human Physiology and Human Physiology Laboratory	4
Personal, Professional, and Civic Growth		3
HLSC 1300	Medical Terminology and Functional Anatomy	3
OT 1010	Introduction to Occupational Therapy	2
Complete any 1000-level, or higher, courses		3
	Credit Hours	15
Third Year
Semester 5
OT 3000	Foundations of Occupational Therapy Practice	3
OT 3100 & OT 3105	Applied Anatomy and Kinesiology and Applied Anatomy and Kinesiology Lab	4
OT 3200 & OT 3205	Occupational Therapy and Physical Dysfunction and Occupational Therapy and Physical Dysfunction Lab	4
OT 3300	Adult Physical Dysfunction Practicum	1
SOC 1010G	Intro to Sociology	3
	Credit Hours	15
Semester 6
OT 3400 & OT 3405	Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics and Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics Lab	4
OT 3500	Pediatric Occupational Therapy Practicum	1
OT 3600	Patient Management Skills in Occupational Therapy	3
OT 3700	Research Methods in Occupational Therapy	3
PSY 2300	Abnormal Psychology	3
	Credit Hours	14
Fourth Year
Semester 7
OT 3800 & OT 3805	Psychosocial Issues in Occupational Therapy and Psychosocial Issues in Occupational Therapy Lab	4
OT 4000 & OT 4005	Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics and Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics Lab	4
OT 4100	Geriatric/Psychosocial OT Practicum	1
OT 4200	Professional Seminar	2
OT 4300	Occupational Therapy Management and Leadership	3
OT 4400	Baccalaureate Project I	3
	Credit Hours	17
Semester 8
OT 4720	Fieldwork IIA	6
OT 4800	Baccalaureate Project II	3
OT 4820	Fieldwork IIB	6
	Credit Hours	15
	Total Credit Hours	122

Program Learning Outcomes

1. Acquire foundational knowledge of the profession, demonstrating entry-level competence to practice as a generalist in emerging and current practice settings.
2. Integrate knowledge of the occupational therapy process, defined by the OTPF, applying therapeutic use of occupations with persons, groups, and populations.  
3. Synthesize scientific evidence, theories, models, and frameworks to utilize evidence-based practice-informed occupational therapy interventions and services.
4. Uphold high ethical standards, values, and attitudes of the occupational therapy profession, demonstrating sensitivity and responsiveness to the unique needs of individual clients. 
5. Commit to being lifelong learners, contributing to scholarship and evidence-based professional practice. 
6. Advocate for and understand the distinct roles, responsibilities, and the collaborative nature of the occupational therapy assistant and occupational therapist in service delivery.