Level I fieldwork for Masters of Occupational Therapy program
At The Ohio State University

The purpose of fieldwork education is to provide supervised opportunities for students to apply theory to practice in clinical settings. The American Occupational Therapy Association describes two levels of fieldwork: Level I fieldwork and Level II with different expectations and levels of knowledge for each type of fieldwork.

At The Ohio State University,there are three tiers to the Level I fieldwork or directed practicum courses. There is consistency within the courses and each course will require self assessment by the student at the beginning and at the end of the experience, there will be a seminar portion to each course and a required journal assignment.

• OT 714 Foundations of Professional Practice: The focus is on the development of professional behaviors, therapeutic relationships, basic ideas about documentation, skill development in interview and observation assessments.
• OT 720 and OT 721 : These two courses will occur in mental health  (OT 720) and in physical function (OT 721) clinical settings. The focus is on skill development in these practice areas with respect to identification of impairment in actual clients, communication skills with supervisors/clients/other professionals, appreciation for contextual variables, observation of theory-based and client centered practice, responsibility for self, advanced critical and clinical reasoning, and ability to apply knowledge to observed clinical situations. These courses will build upon the communication skills, therapeutic communication skills and documentation basics acquired in OT 714.
• OT 723 and OT 724:. These final two directed practicums or Level I experiences will occur in diverse settings (OT 723) and in schools (OT 724). These courses will occur in less traditional settings reflective of the changing role of the occupational therapist in home health, health promotion and disability prevention, consultation, work programs, school settings and other emerging areas of practice. Communication with peers, other professionals and families is a focus as is advanced written and oral/presentation skills. The student will demonstrate increased ability to articulate the role  and benefits of Occupational Therapy and can provide rationale for assessment and intervention that is client centered and specific to that particular environment and system.

These courses will enable students to progress to increasingly higher levels of performance in clinical settings by progressing from basic, foundational concepts and skills to greater use of theory in different systems while increasing clinical experiences in a variety roles (supervisory, management and consultant roles). This, in turn, will produce graduates who are able to assume leadership positions in more complex health care delivery systems, and to promote health and prevent disease in the community.

Level II fieldwork experiences provide opportunities for students to apply the theoretical and practical skills learned in didatic classes to clients in actual practice settings with supervision.  Two Level II fieldwork experiences are required and these two Level II fieldwork placements are made on a full-time basis for twelve weeks each.

To enroll in Occupational Therapy 785 (Level II Fieldwork Experience) the student must complete all required courses, have a cumulative point-hour ratio of 3.0 or above in the professional program, and have permission of the division director.

Fieldwork is graded satisfactory or unsatisfactory (S-U).  Students who receive a failing evaluation of clinical performance, who withdraw when failing at any time during the placement, and/or whose supervisor requests termination of the student’s placement will receive a U and must repeat the affiliation and achieve an S grade.  Students who receive U grades in two placements will not be scheduled for other placements (Occupational Therapy 785.01 and 785.02) and will not be eligible to take the Certification Examination.
 

Fieldwork (OT 785) placement is determined with Professor Cleary during winter quarter of the senior year.  The process is one of matching skills and interests of the students with the list of spaces available for the quarter.  This process will be initiated in January of Year 2 of the MOT program.  If there are questions that involve fieldwork planning before that time, see Professor Cleary.  Fieldwork placements are scheduled in those centers with which the Division has educational agreements.  There will be a list of spaces reserved for OSU students for each quarter.  Students who request fieldwork assignments in any specific geographic location on the list should anticipate delaying the quarter of fieldwork until space in that location is available.  Students who need to re-schedule OT 785 will have it scheduled after all placements for the current senior class have been made.

Fieldwork begins on the Monday closest to the beginning of the month (July for Summer quarter, October for Autumn quarter, etc.).  Each fieldwork assignment is 12 weeks in length.  Most employers will be willing to hire at the time fieldwork is finished and the graduate is eligible to take the Certification Examination.  Early in the last quarter on campus, or during fieldwork, the student may plan an optional third quarter of OT 785.  Doing this allows an opportunity to explore an additional area of practice in which experience is desired.

Exactly where and when this placement could be will be dependent upon space available in clinical centers.  The third placement is scheduled in collaboration with Professor Cleary.  Choosing to do a third quarter of OT785 will not delay the dates of graduation or the Certification Examination.

Some things to help in planning:

• You will be half-time student during OT 785--this will mean that you pay half fees.
• You probably will not be in Columbus--consider this when signing leases.
• You should not make personal plans that are dependent upon your being in any one city for both placements.
  
  
  For a complete listing of currently contracted fieldwork placements, please click here.