Occupational Therapy

      Betsy VanLeit, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA, Director
      Health Sciences Center
      School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics
      Occupational Therapy Graduate Program
      Health Sciences and Services Building, Suite 140
      MSC09 5240
      1 University of New Mexico
      Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131-5641
      (505) 272-1753, FAX (505) 272-3583

      Professors
      Terry K. Crowe, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA University of Washington
      Diane Parham, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA University of California, Los Angeles
      Janet L. Poole, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA University of Pittsburgh

      Associate Professor
      Betsy VanLeit, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA The University of New Mexico

      Assistant Professors
      Joanna Cosbey, Ph.D., OTR/L, University of Utah
      Carla Wilhite, O.T.D., OTR/L Creighton University

      Lecturers
      Sue Chrisman, M.A., OTR/L, Texas Women’s University
      Heidi Sanders, M.A., OTR/L, University of New Mexico

      Instructors
      Patricia Siegel, O.T.D., OTR/L, CHT, Texas Women's University
      Mary Thelander-Hill, M.O.T., Uuniversity of New Mexico

      Professor Emeritus
      Patricia Burtner, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA University of Oregon


      Introduction

      Occupational Therapy is a profession that therapeutically uses meaningful activities to improve health and well-being, enhance development, and prevent disabilities. An occupational therapist is involved in helping people learn or relearn the skills necessary to carry out the daily occupations of self-care, work/productivity and play/leisure that they need or want to do. Occupational therapists work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, public and private schools, community programs, mental health facilities, private practice, and home health agencies. Occupational therapists work with people of all ages who have physical disabilities, emotional or behavioral problems, developmental delays or other disabilities. They also work to facilitate the health and well-being of people with and without disabilities.

      The primary mission of The University of New Mexico’s Occupational Therapy Graduate Program is to improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities through participation in meaningful occupations. To do this, we prepare competent, ethical, culturally sensitive, and compassionate occupational therapists to serve communities in New Mexico and beyond; foster the pursuit of scholarly inquiry and dissemination by both students and faculty; transform occupational therapy practice through leadership and service to community and profession; and create partnerships to address the occupational challenges of diverse populations.

      Graduates are prepared to think critically and creatively in a variety of practice settings, to adapt to changing societal and individual needs, and to assume responsibility for their own professional growth. The graduate program (entry level professional Master of Occupational Therapy) consists of 21 months of professional academic preparation plus six months (2 semesters) of full-time fieldwork in the community. Upon successful completion of all requirements, the student is awarded a Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) degree and is eligible to take the National Certification Examination for Registration as an Occupational Therapist Registered (OTR) administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). In addition, most states, including New Mexico, require licensure in order to practice. State licenses usually are based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. The overall NBCOT pass rate for UNM students since the first graduating class is over 99%.

      Accreditation

      The Occupational Therapy Graduate Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). ACOTE is located at 4720 Montgomery Lane, PO Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220. AOTA’s phone number is 301-652-AOTA. ACOTE accreditation is recognized by the World Federation for Occupational Therapists (WFOT).


      Courses

      OCTH 499. Occupational Therapy Independent Study. (1-4)



      OCTH 508. Interdisciplinary Leadership in Family and Community Partnerships. (1)



      OCTH 514L. Introduction to Occupation and Health. (3)



      OCTH 518. Interdisciplinary Leadership in Advocacy and Public Policy. (2)



      OCTH 522L. Neuroanatomy. (3)



      OCTH 524L. Kinesiology of Occupation. (3)



      OCTH 534. Introduction to Evidence-Based Practice. (4)



      OCTH 538. Interdisciplinary Leadership in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities-Didactic. (3)



      OCTH 544L. Occupation Across the Lifespan. (5)



      OCTH 554L. Relationship Centered Care. (2)



      OCTH 564L. Applied Occupations: Orthopedic Practice [Applied Occupations I]. (6)



      OCTH 594. Graduate Seminar. (1-3 to a maximum of 10 Δ)



      OCTH 599. Master's Thesis. (1-6, no limit Δ)



      OCTH 604L. Applied Occupations: Neurological Practice [Applied Occupations II]. (5)



      OCTH 614L. Applied Occupations: Psychosocial Practice [Applied Occupations III]. (5)



      OCTH 624L. Advocacy, Communication and Leadership. (3)



      OCTH 634L. Neuroscience of Occupation. (2)



      OCTH 650L. Special Topics in Occupational Therapy. (2-6, to a maximum of 6 Δ)



      OCTH 654. Organization and Administration. (2)



      OCTH 664L. Applied Occupations: Pediatric Practice [Applied Occupations IV]. (6)



      OCTH 674L. Community Health. (4)



      OCTH 675. Fieldwork II. (1-12 to a maximum of 24 Δ [1-12 to a maximum of 36 Δ])



      OCTH 690. Independent Study. (1-4, no limit Δ)



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      Office of the Registrar

      MSC11 6325
      1 University of New Mexico
      Albuquerque, NM 87131

      Phone: (505) 277-8900
      Fax: (505) 277-6809