Occupational Therapy
Introduction
Occupational therapy (OT) is skilled treatment that
helps individuals achieve independence in all aspects of their lives.
Occupational therapy gives people the "skills for the job of living"
that are needed for independent and satisfying lives. Occupational
therapist helps individuals who for one reason or another are not
functioning as independently as possible in the areas of daily living,
work, play and leisure. In other words, occupational therapists treat
the whole person!
The program of Occupational Therapy in ISU starts from September 2003.
Four-year courses are designed for a complete entry-level training.
Fifty undergraduate students will be enrolled in this program every
year. The main mission of the Occupational Therapy Department is to
prepare students to be knowledgeable, ethical and competent
practitioners to meet the challenges of changing healthcare
environments.
Teaching and Research
Dedicated faculty members incorporate a
student-centered, problem solving and experiential approach to learning.
The teaching addresses both on theoretical and practical aspects. The
instruction is focused on raising the motivation of students via the
presentation of computer media and lively demonstration. From basic to
advanced clinical courses, students come to understand the relationship
between occupational performance, or how a person¡¦s ability to function,
and the continuum of health and well-being across the lifespan.
In addition to teaching, the faculty members of the department are also
intensively engaged in ongoing research projects covering a range of
basic and applied topics such as cognitive context of motor control,
efficacy of interventions for children with developmental coordination
disorder, and pediatric programs in school systems.
Curriculum and Development
The design of OT courses follows the educational
requirements for accreditation by the World Federation of Occupational
Therapists (WFOT). Core courses are for health professionals proficient
in entry-level clinical skills in physical dysfunction, mental illness,
pediatrics and geriatrics.
The OT program is part of ISU's overall strategy for providing
comprehensive courses of medical college. Areas of study in the first
year include introduction to OT, basic sciences, applied computer
concepts and liberal arts. In the second year, education in basically
medical topics such as anatomy and physiology is offered. The third year
involves major professional courses. Courses in the fourth year include
Seminar on OT and clinical training.
For providing the internship and clinical researches, 9 laboratories
spaced 1040 m2 are planned. Curriculum is delivered in these
well-equipped laboratory spaces using the latest technology. The
laboratories cover various research fields including activity of daily
living, motion analysis, performance evaluation of occupational
performance, assistive technology, pediatric OT, neurobehavior, and
computerized evaluation.
Career Development
The delivery contexts of occupational therapy are exceedingly diverse. They include but are not limited to acute care, industrial rehabilitation, physical rehabilitation, mental health, long-term care, case management, consultation, school systems, early intervention, community service, education, disease prevention and health promotion. As a result, graduates of this program must be able to anticipate many practice opportunities, participate in research, or enroll in postgraduate programs in the related fields.
