| Programme details | |
|---|---|
| Degree: | Bachelor of Science (BSc) |
| Discipline: |
Human Medicine
|
| Duration: | 48 months |
| Study modes: | full-time |
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The main goal of occupational therapy is to enable people to participate in meaningful activities of everyday living, for example, self-care, work and leisure activities. By enabling people to engage in activities that hold meaning for them, occupational therapists aim to enable people to improve their day-to-day quality of life.
Occupational therapists work in a variety of settings, including community, hospitals, rehabilitation units, schools, universities and reform centres. Examples of what occupational therapists do include:
Occupational therapy interventions consider:
This is the right course for you if you are a creative thinker who is open to finding solutions to a multitude of problems and if working with people with diverse abilities is something you enjoy and find stimulating. The course requires a high level of independent self-directed learning across a variety of academic modules as well as the completion of the mandatory practice education placements. Visiting an occupational therapy department will give you more understanding of what is involved in this profession.
The course is the longest established university-based occupational therapy course in Ireland. It uses many innovative teaching methodologies, including peer education, problem-based learning, as well as more traditional methods. Students and staff collaborate on projects that involve both research and service delivery, in existing and new areas of practice.
Occupational Therapy is based in the Trinity Centre for Health Sciences in a purpose-built complex in the grounds of St. James’s Hospital. The Trinity Centre for Health Sciences is located approximately 3 kilometres from the main campus, beside the Luas line running between Tallaght and the city centre. There are state of the art teaching facilities at the Discipline of Occupational Therapy, including a capacity for teleconferencing. The Trinity Centre houses other health sciences disciplines including Medicine, Physiotherapy, Radiation Therapy, and Nursing. This gives a multidisciplinary dimension to studying and working with other health professionals. A small number of modules on the course may take place on the main campus and offer opportunity for interaction with students from other undergraduate courses. Additionally, there will be an opportunity for students to engage in inter-professional learning with other health science students during the four-year undergraduate programme.
As a qualified occupational therapist from Trinity, you will be well equipped to pursue a very rewarding career working with people of all age groups in a wide range of service settings. The course is regulated by CORU, the Health and Social Care Professionals Council, and upon successful completion of the programme you will be eligible to apply for registration to practice as an Occupational Therapist in Ireland. In addition, the course is approved by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (www.wfot.org), meaning the qualification has international recognition that may enable you to work as an occupational therapist abroad. Many graduates from the programme are working in all parts of the world. Most occupational therapists, over time, develop specialised expertise in areas such as physical rehabilitation, mental health, hand therapy, intellectual disability, paediatrics, services for the elderly and community occupational therapy. Your degree and what you’ll study
This four-year degree course incorporates a practical approach to solving problems and fosters a research-oriented and reflective attitude. It embraces evidence-based practice.
The subjects studied in the first and second years include the study of occupation, occupational therapy theories and interventions with people from children to older adults, anatomy, psychology, disability studies, research methods and statistics. You will be encouraged to ‘learn by doing’ in subjects related to professional development such as communications and creative problem solving and in courses that teach the professional and technical skills of practice such as assistive technology. You will be required to engage in service learning through voluntary work and will use experiential learning and group work to develop knowledge and skills fundamental to the development of professional behaviour and practice. During the first two years, there are a total of 10 weeks in supervised practice education placement in a variety of health and community care facilities around the country. Assessment includes written examinations, essays, project work, presentations, and competency-based assessment while on supervised practice education.
During third and fourth year you will further
develop your knowledge of the theories, principles and practice of occupational therapy; gain an understanding of health/social care systems and policies and of the importance of practising in an evidenced-based manner.
Additionally, you will complete a group research project. You will have opportunities to develop important self-directed learning and research skills, which are key areas for practice and continuing life-long learning. Over the course of the final two years, you will spend a total of 22 weeks in supervised practice education.
Assessment includes written examinations, essays, project work, presentations, a research project, and competency based assessment while on supervised practice education.