Departmental Facilities

The School of Rehabilitation Therapy is housed in the Louise D. Acton building. Teaching laboratories, student meeting space, research space and clinical services are located on the ground floor and first floor. Administration and faculty offices are on the second floor. Research laboratory facilities are located in the LDA building, Botterell Hall and Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC), (amalgamated former Hotel Dieu Hospital and Kingston General Hospital), Providence Care, and the Human Mobility Research Centre (KHSC). Research spaces are well equipped to support various research programs in the study of human movement, motor control, and a broad range of studies in disability and wellness in the community. Projects may also be undertaken in a variety of clinical and community settings external to the School of Rehabilitation Therapy. 

Admission Requirements

All applications from individuals seeking professional qualifications in Occupational Therapy will be processed through the Ontario Universities Application Centre, Ontario Rehabilitation Sciences Programs Application Service (https://www.ouac.on.ca/orpas/).

The Occupational Therapy program is a Master's entry-level degree program leading to the MSc (OT) degree distinction. Applicants must have a four-year baccalaureate degree or equivalent with a minimum second class standing (70%+) from a recognized university. A Statement of Intent, two Confidential Assessment Forms and a Resume are utilized in the selection process.

Faculty

Director and Vice-Dean (Health Sciences)
Nixon, S.

Associate Director, Occupational Therapy Program
Ghahari, S.

Professor
Brouwer, B., Cramm, H., Finlayson, M.¹, McColl, M.A.³

Associate Professor
Aldersey, H.⁴, Batorowicz, B.², Donnelly, C., Fayed, N., Ghahari, S., Kessler, D.²

Assistant Professor
Bobbette, N., Edgelow, M., Fucile, S., Murphy, S.

Professor Emeritus 
Krupa, T., Lysaght, R., Paterson, M.

Adjunct  Lecturer
 Hall, A.

Cross-Appointed
Bona, M.

¹

Administrative Leave July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024

²

Academic Leave July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024

³

Academic Leave January 1, 2024 to June 30, 2024

⁴

Canada Research Chair (Tier 2)

Programs

Courses

Course credit units are as shown in each course description.  

OT 801 Conceptual Models in Occupational Therapy
This course introduces students to the central construct of occupation and to both the consequences and determinants of occupation. We will explore the most prominent theoretical models for understanding the relationship between occupation and health, and the factors that affect occupation. The course also covers the historical development of occupational therapy theory, and key theorists over the past 100 years. (4.0 credit units)

OT 802 Models of Practice in Occupational Therapy
This course introduces students to occupational therapy interventions, processes of change, and tools for being an occupational therapist. In addition, students will apply occupational therapy theory to practice situations. (2.0 credit units)

OT 823 Disability Theory  
This course introduces the concepts of disability, citizenship and societal participation. Conceptual frameworks of disability and issues and implications of disability will be discussed along with Canadian health and social policies relating to people with disabilities. (1.5 credit units)

OT 824 Culture, Equity and Justice
This course will guide students to explore effects of power and privilege on occupational participation and connect historical context to present day to envision a more just, equitable future. Students will examine biases and positionality to understand their role in creating systems and structures that enable, constrain and/or oppress occupations (3 credits).

OT 825 Lived Experience
​In this fieldwork course, pairs of first-year students meet with a volunteer from the Kingston community who identifies as having a health condition that contributes to experiences of disablement. The goal of this unique learning relationship is to improve students' understanding of disability and facilitate their embracing the concept of client-centred practice whereby a client's life experiences are acknowledged, and they become partners in the occupational therapy process. (1.5 credit units)

OT 826 Enabling Occupation in Children and Youth
This course provides students with the foundational knowledge to identify factors influencing performance and participation for children and adolescents. Evaluation and intervention approaches at the level of impairment, activity limitations, and participation restrictions will be explored by considering the context of service provision systems and the diverse roles of Occupational Therapy practitioners in collaboration with families and inter-professional service providers. (Lecture + lab) (4 credit units)
PREREQUISITES: OT 881, OT 882, OT 883, & OT 884

OT 827 Enabling Occupation in Older Adults     
This course provides students with the foundational knowledge necessary to identify factors influencing performance and participation of older adults. Evaluation and intervention approaches at the level of impairment, activity limitation, and participation will be explored by considering the diverse roles of occupational therapy practitioners in collaboration with families and inter-professional service providers across a range of service provision contexts. (3.0 credit units)

OT 845 Psycho-emotional Determinants of Occupation    
This course will focus on the psycho-emotional determinants of occupation as a framework for understanding how humans are inherently motivated for occupations. The intrinsic factors and learned responses associated with occupation will be examined and students will apply and evaluate applications of psycho-emotional theory in contemporary occupational therapy practice. (6.0 credit units)

OT 846 Occupational Therapy Fieldwork I 
This fieldwork course, completed continuously and offered in a practice setting, will allow the student to focus on generic assessment skills, developing communication skills and application of OT knowledge to the practice setting. (8.0 credit units)
PREREQUISITES: OT- 825 and OT -851 or permission of the course coordinator. 

OT 847 Occupational Therapy Fieldwork II
This fieldwork course, completed continuously and offered in a practice setting, will allow students increased independence in working with clients including assessment, intervention and application of OT knowledge. (8.0 credit units)  
PREREQUISITES:  OT- 846 or permission of the course coordinator. 

OT 851 Client-Centred Communication
This course focuses on the development of communication skills within the context of client-centred occupational therapy practice. The critical elements of the therapeutic relationship will be developed through interviewing and assessment strategies. This course will make extensive use of supervised videotaping, and interaction with community volunteers through the Clinical Education Centre. In addition, students will gain experience in professional communication skills. (4.0 credit units).

OT 852 Group Theory and Process
This course will examine group theory, process and application to occupational therapy practice. It will focus on groups both as a means to enabling occupational therapy change and as a means for working effectively in a complex health care system. Laboratory sessions will facilitate the development of effective techniques in group leadership and participation. (3.0 credit units)
PREREQUISITES: OT 851 or permission of the course coordinator.  

OT 853 Coaching and Counseling for Occupational Change
This half course consists of both theoretical background preparation and practical experiential learning opportunities to introduce occupational therapy students to selected talk- based interventions available for enabling occupational fulfillment and change (coaching, counseling and psychotherapy).  (3.0 credit units)
PREREQUISITES:  OT 851 or permission of the course coordinator 

OT 861 Community Development in Occupational Therapy
This course critically examines the theoretical foundations and processes of working with communities through community development in order to enable occupation at the community level. Theories of community development, the process of engaging with communities, and skills required for community development will be explored as they pertain to occupational therapy. This course lays the theoretical foundation for the community development fieldwork placement, OT 862.(3.0 credit units)
PREREQUISITES: OT 842, OT 851, and OT 852 or permission of the course coordinator.  
CO-REQUISITE: OT 862 or permission of the course coordinator. 

OT 862 Applied Community Development    
This fieldwork course, completed continuously, will provide the opportunity for students to explore the process of working with communities to enable occupation and to create inclusive communities and environments.  (6.0 credit units)
PREREQUISITES: OT 847 or permission of the course coordinator.

OT 871 Advanced Clinical Reasoning 
This course provides opportunities for students to develop advanced clinical reasoning skills applicable to all areas of occupational therapy practice. Based on the occupational therapy process, students will develop skills of critical thinking and inquiry. (3.0 credit units)
PREREQUISITES: all first-year courses and all second-year, fall-term courses or permission of the course coordinator.  

OT 875 Advanced Professional Practice  
This course is designed to provide students with opportunities to acquire an advanced understanding of the roles, rights and responsibilities incumbent with becoming an Occupational Therapist. Particular attention will be given to the legal and ethical parameters of practice, professional contributions and responsibilities within complex and changing environments and career development as advanced healthcare professionals. Course content is designed to be responsive to the shifting practice environment and offer students an opportunity to synthesize learning from other courses within the curriculum. (3.0 credit units)
PREREQUISITES: all first-year courses or permission of the course coordinator.

OT 877 Occupational Therapy Fieldwork III
This fieldwork course, completed continuously and offered in a practice setting, will allow students to consolidate OT knowledge and skills. The focus of this final fieldwork placement is for the student to maximize independence in the areas of assessment, intervention, programming and evaluation. (8.0 credit units)
PREREQUISITES: OT 847 or permission of the course coordinator. 

OT 881 Physical Determinants of Occupation I
This course introduces students to human occupation from the perspective of its anatomical, physiological and biomechanical dimensions. The course will use an integrated case study format to develop understanding of movement of the human body as it relates to occupation. The course will focus on the assessment methods used in physical rehabilitation and introduce musculoskeletal conditions as they relate to occupation. Theoretical frameworks and evidence-informed practice approaches and interventions will be addressed in class and weekly lab sessions.  (4.0 credit units)

OT 882 Psychosocial Determinants of Occupation I
This course introduces students to human occupation from the perspective of its psychological, emotional and social dimensions. This course will use a case study format to develop understanding of the person-level foundations and environmental conditions that enable occupational performance and are relevant to psychosocial practice. Theoretical frameworks and evidence-informed practice approaches and interventions will be addressed in class and weekly lab sessions. (3.0 credit units)

OT 883 Cognitive-Neurological Determinants of Occupation I
This course emphasizes the neuro-physiological organization of motor behaviour, sensory-motor integration, and the dynamic nature of the central nervous system and will provide a foundation for evaluating occupational performance with a focus on evaluation and intervention approaches for cognitive-perceptual and motor control problems for adults at three levels: impairment, strategy and function. Attention will be given to secondary motor performance problems. (4.0 credit units)
PREREQUISITE:  OT 881 

OT 884 Psychosocial Determinants of Occupation II
This course builds on attitudes, knowledge and skills developed in psychosocial dimensions of occupation I. Students will learn theoretical frameworks, practice approaches and evidence-informed interventions relevant to complex psychosocial issues within a range of specific occupational therapy practice contexts. Weekly labs will provide the opportunity for further skill development. (4.0 credit units)
PREREQUISITE:  OT 882

OT 885 Physical Determinants of Occupation II
This course analyzes human occupation from the perspective of its anatomical, physiological and biomechanical dimensions. The course will focus on intervention methods used in physical rehabilitation to enable occupation in musculoskeletal conditions. The course is designed to build on concepts introduced in OT881 and will use an integrated case study format to further develop an understanding of movement of the human body as it relates to occupation. Theoretical frameworks and evidence-informed practice approaches and interventions will be addressed in class and weekly lab sessions. (3.0 credit units)
PREREQUISITE: OT 881 

OT 886 Environmental Determinants of Occupation I 
This course provides students with foundational knowledge about environmental factors influencing occupational performance and participation in occupations. First, we examine the physical, social and institutional environments and occupational therapy approaches for assessment and intervention.  Then we explore various contexts across the lifespan, including home, school, work, and community. (3.0 credit units).
PREREQUISITES:  OT- 823, OT- 881, and OT -882 or permission of the course coordinator. 
EXCLUSION:  OT- 842

OT 887 Environmental Determinants of Occupation II 
This course builds on knowledge and skills developed in Environmental Determinants of Occupation I (OT 886). Students will learn assessment approaches and evidence-informed interventions relevant to environmental issues and assistive technology within a range of diverse occupational therapy practice contexts, including inter-professional collaboration.  (3.0 credit units)
PREREQUISITES:  OT- 886 or permission of the course coordinator; OT- 826; OT- 827
EXCLUSION:  OT- 842

OT 889 Cognitive-Neurological Determinants of Occupation II
This course builds on attitudes, knowledge and skills developed in Cognitive-Neurological Dimensions of Occupation I. Students will practice evaluations, and evidence-informed interventions relevant to complex cognitive-neurological issues within a range of neurological impairments in adults. Weekly labs will provide the opportunity for further skill development. (3.0 credit units)
PREREQUISITE:  OT 883 

OT 897 Critical Enquiry Foundations     
This course prepares students for the completion of OT 898 by examining world views, research designs, criteria for study quality, and evidence-based practice. Students develop skills to pose clinical questions, systematically search the literature, appraise scientific articles, and use research to inform rehabilitation practice. (3.0 credit units)
PREREQUISITE: Registration in the occupational therapy program. 

OT 898 Critical Enquiry Project
Students will work with a faculty supervisor to complete a critical enquiry project. The project will enable students to apply critical inquiry skills by participation in an area of clinical investigation and to examine the relevance of findings to clinical practice. (6.0 credit units)
PREREQUISITE: OT 897 or permission of the course coordinator.