Liberal Arts and Science - Manchester Community College ...

Occupational Therapy Assistant,
A.S. Degree
Program Design
The Occupational Therapy Assistant associate degree program enables the
graduate to treat patients who are impaired by a physical illness or injury, an
emotional disorder, a developmental disability, or the aging process. Working
under the supervision of an occupational therapist, an occupational therapy
assistant uses activities and modalities as treatment to help people gain optimal
function in their everyday life tasks. Specific services that an occupational
therapy assistant provides may include training in activities of daily living,
fabrication of splints, adapting home and work environments and tools, and
therapeutic use of crafts and games.
Scholastic Preparation and Admission Process
If you are a high school graduate or hold a state equivalency certificate, you
may submit an official application to the College Admissions Office. Admission
to a Health Career Program requires a separate application. You may request
this application by contacting the Admissions Office or by calling 860-512-
3210 or by contacting the Mathematics, Science and Health Careers Division
at 860-512-2703.
To qualify for admission to the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program students
must have a grade point average at or above 2.5. It is suggested that
interested students meet with the Occupational Therapy Program Coordinator
to develop a learning plan tailored to the individual needs of the student. The
OTA Program Coordinator may be reached at 860-512-2717.
Curriculum
Because of the flexible nature of the program, students may select a full-time or
part-time plan of study. Courses with an OTA designator are offered only during
the day. Students with prior college credit may complete the program in a threesemester
sequence. All coursework must be completed with a grade of C or
better and a GPA of 2.5 must be maintained throughout the program. The clinical
semester, which is offered both semesters, provides a four-month, full-time,
supervised learning experience with a focus on psychosocial, physical, and
developmental areas of practice. Students must complete the clinical semester
within 18 months of the completion of academic work. Due to standards set by
the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO),
students are advised that the health care facilities to which they are assigned
for clinical rotations may require that they submit to a criminal background
check before beginning their clinical experiences. The Occupational Therapy
Assistant program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational
Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association
(AOTA), located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda,
MD 20824-1220. AOTA’s phone number is 301-652-AOTA. Graduates of the
program will be able to sit for the national certification examination for the
occupational therapy assistant administered by the National Board for Certification
in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this
exam, the individual will be a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA).
When you apply to sit for the certification exam, you will be asked to answer
questions related to the topic of felony convictions. For further information on
these limitations, contact NBCOT. Connecticut requires a license in order to
practice occupational therapy and the license is based on the results of the
NBCOT Certification Examination.
Occupational Therapy Assistant Requirements
OTA* 102 Introduction to Occupational Therapy 3
OTA* 120 Human Neuroscience with Kinesiology Lab 4
Gen Ed BIO* 115: Human Biology 4
Elective CSA or CSC Course 1-3
Gen Ed ‡ PSY* 111: General Psychology I 3
PSY* 201 ‡‡ Life Span Development 3
Subtotal: 18-20
Gen Ed Mode 1 3
OTA* 210 Occupational Therapy with Children 3
OTA* 210L Occupational Therapy with Children Lab 1
OTA* 212 Occupational Therapy with Adults 3
OTA* 212L Occupational Therapy with Adults Lab 1
OTA* 214 Occupational Therapy with the Elderly 3
OTA* 214L Occupational Therapy with the Elderly Lab 1
OTA* 232 Clinical Management 3
OTA* 206 Level I Advanced Fieldwork 0
Subtotal: 18
Gen Ed COM* 173: Public Speaking 3
Gen Ed ENG* 101: Composition 3
Gen Ed MAT* 109: Quantitative Literacy 3
OTA* 220 Group Approach in Occupational Therapy 3
Gen Ed SOC* 101: Principles of Sociology 3
SOC* 255 Medical Sociology or
ANT* 118 Health Healing and Culture 3
Subtotal: 18
OTA* 242 Level II Fieldwork 11
OTA* 244 Advanced Seminar 1
Subtotal: 12
Total Credits Required: 66-68
These courses are recommended for students who plan to transfer to a professional
level occupational therapy program.
BIO* 211 Anatomy and Physiology I 4
BIO* 212 Anatomy and Physiology II 4
MAT* 165 Elementary Statistics with Computer Applications 4
CSC* 101 Introduction to Computers 3
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of all Occupational Therapy Assistant degree
program requirements, graduates will
1. Sit for the National Certification Exam.
2. Be employed in a health service occupation that meets the manpower
needs of individuals, the community and the state.
3. Demonstrate the interpersonal skills necessary to function as a Certified
Occupational Therapy Assistant.
4. Comprehend the scope of Occupational Therapy practice.
5. Apply principles in analysis and application of occupational therapy
treatment in the spectrum of human occupation.
In addition, the graduate will complete the comprehensive learning outcomes
identified with the General Education Component.
‡ Must have been taken within last ten years.
‡‡ Must have been taken within last five years.
WARNING: All course numbers in the Connecticut Community College System
are in the process of change. For up-to-date information on any course number,
contact the MCC Registrar’s Office.
Division of Mathematics, Science & Health Careers: 860-512-2703 or www.mcc.commnet.edu
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DEGREES