Department of Occupational Therapy Assistant
Occupational Therapy Assistant Faculty and Staff
2024-2025
| Deborah S. Fitzcharles, MSHS, COTA | OTA Department Chair/Program Director, Instructor of OTA |
| Chassidy A. Johnson, MOT, COTA | Assistant Professor of OTA |
| Amanda M. Kramer, BA, COTA/L | Instructor of OTA |
| Katherine J. Schaab | Administrative Secretary |
Program Description
The bachelor of science in occupational therapy assistant (BSOTA) degree, offered at Huntington University in Huntington, Indiana, provides students with entry-level preparation for the field of occupational therapy as an assistant who works under the supervision of an occupational therapist. Graduates of the OTA program may enter the workforce following successful passing of the national exam or apply to a masters or doctoral program to become an occupational therapist or use their bachelor’s degree to apply to other graduate programs such as physical therapy and speech language pathology. Huntington University's OTA program was granted accreditation on April 9, 2020, and is the first program to be granted accreditation for a bachelors level program in occupational therapy assistant. Accreditation qualifies students to sit for the national certification examination in occupational therapy assistant (NBCOT). Program candidates may apply for admission in their sophomore year or earlier if they have approved transfer credit. The goal of the OTA program is to provide a Christian learning environment where compassionate care is a part of serving the health and wellness needs of others.
Coursework is completed with in-depth learning in designated classrooms and laboratory space. The OTA Program is located in the Dowden Science Hall on the first floor with two labs located on the lower level of the Science Hall and a pediatric focused lab in Meadows Hall. Students gain mastery skills in professional writing, assessment and intervention strategies, professional behaviors, commitment to life-long learning, scholarship, leadership, and technology through guided learning experiences.
The central themes of Huntington University’s Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant Program are the following:
Christ, Scholarship, Service
- Personal and Professional Life Journey (modeling faith, health, leadership, scholarship and professional service)
- Excellence in Innovation
The mission of the occupational therapy assistant program at Huntington University focuses on the personal and professional journey of students through providing Christ-centered education that focuses on developing occupational practitioners who are highly skilled to provide compassionate, competent, occupation-based interventions, while demonstrating leadership and advocacy skills and a commitment to life-long learning.
Program Distinctives
- Huntington University is an innovator in the field of occupational therapy as it has the first program to receive accreditation to provide the OTA degree at the bachelor level.
- The OTA program has ties to a doctoral degree pathway option at Huntington University.
- Rigorous coursework provides students with a comprehensive preparation.
- The program meets or exceeds requirements for ACOTE accreditation.
- Integration of faith and practice is embedded in coursework.
- Professors are licensed and experienced occupational therapy practitioners.
- Fieldwork provides students with multiple real-world clinical experiences.
Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)
Huntington University’s baccalaureate-degree-level Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is accredited (as of April 9, 2020) by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).
Additional information related to current accreditation status can be obtained from:
Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy (ACOTE)
of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E
Bethesda, MD 20814
Phone: 301-652-6611 Department extensions Accreditation - x2042
TDD: 1-800-377-8555
Fax: 301-652-7711
Website: www.acoteonline.org
Graduates of the program will be eligible 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). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT Certification Examination or attain state licensure.
Admissions Policies
Admission Requirements for Huntington University
Application for admission is the first step toward becoming a part of the Huntington University community. The application is available at www.huntington.edu/apply or by contacting the Office of Admissions for a paper application. You may contact the Office of Admissions by phone at 260-359-4000 or toll-free at 800-642-6493, by e-mail at admissions@huntington.edu, or by writing to Huntington University Admissions Office, 2303 College Ave, Huntington, IN 46750.
You should submit an application for admission to the Office of Admissions. To apply online, please visit www.huntington.edu/apply. You should also request that your high school guidance office send an official copy of your high school transcript to the Huntington University Office of Admissions. The admission decision is not final until complete records of all high school and previous college or university work have been received. Students who have not provided complete official records of all previous post-secondary work will not be permitted to attend classes. Attendance at all previous institutions must be reported on the application; fraudulent or incomplete information about one’s previous academic record will subject the individual’s admission decision to review for possible immediate dismissal.
Further information about the admission process to the undergraduate program at Huntington University may be found under Admissions Policies and Procedures.
Admission Requirements for the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
The occupational therapy assistant (OTA) program is unique in that it is a bachelor of science in occupational therapy assistant (BSOTA) degree. Application for the program is a two-step process.
Step 1: Students will apply as a freshman for undergraduate studies, declaring the major Pre-OTA (POTA) and register for Introduction to Occupational Therapy (OT100), which is offered in the fall semester to introduce students to the OTA program.
Step 2: Students can apply to the OTA program during fall semesters. Students will be required to meet the following criteria to be accepted to the OTA program and progress from Introduction to Occupational Therapy (OT100) to Human Occupations (OT200) in the spring semester.
- OTA Candidates must be currently enrolled at Huntington University or meet the transfer requirements. OTA Candidates must achieve a grade of B- (2.67 out of 4) or better in all prerequisite courses, which must have been completed within ten years prior to application. Courses in progress need to be outlined in writing for plan of completion. Official transcripts showing completion of prerequisites with a grade of B- or better will be required prior to program matriculation.
- Students will be required to pass background and substance abuse checks in order to be eligible for fieldwork. Eligibility requirements for the national exam for becoming an occupational therapy assistant can be retrieved at www.nbcot.org. NBCOT, One Bank Street, Suite 300, Gaithersburg, MD 20878; Phone: (301) 990-7979; E-mail: info@nbcot.org
Students will be notified of their acceptance in the OTA program during the same fall term they applied.
Prerequisites:
Overall GPA 3.0 or higher and prerequisite courses at B- or 2.67 or higher
| Biology with lab | 3-4 semester credits |
| Introduction to Psychology | 3 semester credits |
| Academic Writing and Research | 3 semester credits |
| Anatomy and Physiology I with lab | 3-4 semester credits |
| Anatomy and Physiology II with lab (enrolled or completed) | 3-4 semester credits |
| Medical Terminology | 2-3 semester credits |
| OT 100 Introduction to OT (enrolled or completed) | 2 semester credits |
OTA Admission Requirements for Huntington University Graduates with a Bachelor's Degree in OTA
Applicants who have earned a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy assistant from Huntington University within the past 10 years with a GPA of 3.5 or higher are eligible for automatic admission into Huntington University's doctorate of occupational therapy program provided they meet all other admission prerequisites. Additional review will be required for Huntington University graduates who earned their bachelor’s degrees 10 years or more prior to applying to the program.
Transfer Students
Undergraduate credits earned at other regionally accredited institutions may be transferrable to Huntington University's programs. Only courses with a grade of C or above are transferable.
Students in the Occupational Therapy Assistant program may only transfer in courses that meet core curriculum requirements and may not transfer courses in the major. All prerequisite courses for the OTA program must be completed with a grade of B- or better in order to transfer.
Further information regarding transfer students may be found under Transfer Students.
Class Attendance and Laptop Requirement
Students are expected to attend class regularly and to accept responsibility for all assigned work. All students taking courses in the OTA program are required to have access to a working laptop for test taking purposes. Students who have been absent from as many as one-third of the total class sessions for a course are considered to have failed the course and are suspended from it. Please refer to the OTA Student Handbook for specific policies regarding OT courses.
Further information regarding class attendance policies may be found under Attendance.
Progression in the OTA Program
Coursework is developmental in nature and requires coursework to be sequential as listed in the OTA Completion Plan. Completion of fieldwork must be completed within 24 months or two years from didactic coursework. The timeline from matriculation to graduation should not exceed six years.
Eligibility for Progression
- Students must earn a grade of at least B- or better in each OTA course.
- All OTA courses must be completed with a B- or better before progression into the next semester in the OTA curriculum. Individual course syllabi define evaluative components for each OTA course. If students receive a grade below a B- for an OTA course, then the course must be taken again the following year. If students are unsuccessful in two OTA courses, they will be dismissed from the OTA program. This includes fieldwork courses.
- In order to graduate from the OTA program with a bachelor’s degree in OTA, students must achieve an overall GPA of 3.0.
- Students must provide updated documentation of current CPR certification, health insurance, immunization/screening, etc., as required by the fieldwork site.
Incompletes
Students must petition the vice president for academic affairs and dean of the faculty for an incomplete by submitting an incomplete grade request form. When students are granted a grade of Incomplete (I) in an OTA course, a grade of B- or better must be earned prior to the first day of the next semester’s OTA courses. If students do not satisfactorily complete the required work for the course, students will not be allowed to continue in the OTA program.
Retention
Students compliant with grade requirements and OTA program policies and procedures as documented in the student manual will advance toward graduation through satisfaction of each semester requirements.
Graduation Requirements
The OTA program requires the completion of 71 credit hours in OTA and a cumulative 120 credit hours. Semester loads vary from 12-17 credit hours. The final semester includes 12 credit hours of fieldwork, which is completed at a fieldwork site at a designated clinical site off campus. In order to ensure all ACOTE accreditation standards are being met, students in the OTA program will graduate under the most current academic catalog and will follow the OTA specific policies for the most current OTA Student Handbook.
Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant Completion Plan
The four-year program completion plan is as follows:
| Fall Year 1 | 17 s.h. | |
| EX 287 | 2 | Medical Terminology |
| EN 121 | 3 | Academic Writing and Research |
| OT 100 | 2 | Introduction to Occupational Therapy |
| BI 111 | 4 | Biology in the Modern World with Lab |
| EX 101 | 2 | Wellness for Life |
| HS 115 | 3 | Historical Perspectives on Culture and Civilization I |
| SS 111 | 1 | First-Year Seminar |
| Spring Year 1 | 16 s.h. | |
| PY 111 | 3 | Introduction to Psychology |
| SO 111 | 3 | Principles of Sociology |
| MA 151 | 4 | Introduction to Probability and Statistics |
| HS 116 | 3 | Historical Perspective on Culture and Civilization II |
| EN 151 | 3 | Perspectives on Literature |
| Fall Year 2 | 17 s.h. | |
| BI 241 | 4 | Human Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab |
| PY 230 | 3 | Human Development |
| BT ___ | 3 | Introductory Bible |
| CO 215 | 3 | Public Speaking |
| PY 461 | 3 | Abnormal Psychology |
| 1 | Creative Studio Arts | |
| Spring Year 2 | 17 s.h. | |
| BI 242 | 4 | Human Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab |
| PL 220 | 3 | Introduction to Philosophy |
| BT 333TB | 3 | Theological Bioethics |
| OT 200 | 2 | Human Occupations |
| MI 285 | 3 | Understanding the Christian Faith |
| __ 115 | 2 | Artistic Appreciation |
| Fall Year 3 | 12 s.h. | |
| OT 300 | 4 | Foundation and Framework of Occupational Therapy Practice |
| OT 302 | 3 | Psychosocial Factors in Occupational Therapy |
| NU 305 | 3 | Pathophysiology |
| NU 350 | 2 | Interprofessional Research |
| Spring Year 3 | 12 s.h. | |
| OT 311 | 3 | Applied Anatomy and Kinesiology for Occupational Therapy |
| OT 311L | 1 | Applied Anatomy and Kinesiology Lab for Occupational Therapy |
| OT 312 | 3 | Pediatrics Interventions in Occupational Therapy |
| OT 312L | 1 | Pediatrics Interventions in Occupational Therapy Lab |
| OT 313 | 3 | Medical Documentation for Occupational Therapy |
| OT 314 | 1 | Fieldwork Ia: Clinical Immersion and Competency |
| Fall Year 4 | 14 s.h. | |
| OT 400 | 3 | Adult and Older Adult Interventions in Occupational Therapy |
| OT 400L | 1 | Adult and Older Adult Interventions in Occupational Therapy Lab |
| OT 401 | 3 | Management and Leadership in Occupational Therapy |
| OT 402 | 3 | Technology in Occupational Therapy |
| OT 414 | 1 | Fieldwork Ib: Clinical Immersion and Competency |
| OT 415 | 3 | Baccalaureate Project I |
| Spring Year 4 | 15 s.h. | |
| OT 420 | 6 | Fieldwork IIa: Clinical Immersion and Competency |
| OT 430 | 6 | Fieldwork IIb: Clinical Immersion and Competency |
| OT 440 | 3 | Baccalaureate Project II |
Courses in Occupational Therapy Assistant
This course introduces the students to OT, OT history, philosophical principles, current issues, and emerging practice areas, along with global perspectives. Students will understand the transition from student to practitioner, OT roles and responsibilities, relationships, practicing legally and ethically, and about OT professional organizations. Introduction to the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework (OTPF), OT across the lifespan, treatment settings, and models of care will be explored. Additionally, service management functions, OT process, theories of practice and frames of reference, intervention modalities, therapeutic relationships, and therapeutic reasoning will be covered.
Students begin to define the components and unique nature of occupation. Topics covered include health and wellness, sleep, life transitions and their effects on occupation and occupational balance for health promotion, wellness, prevention, and quality of life. Students begin to understand globalization, population health, chronic disease management, and at-risk populations. Spirituality, diversity, and cultural perspectives are included throughout the course. Students learn how policy effects occupation and the importance of teaching and learning. Other areas taught are interprofessional competency, health literacy, deprivation, justice, disparity, and social injustice. Students start to incorporate the OTPF, client-centered and evidenced-based practice, progressing to task and activity analysis. Adaptation and grading of occupations are also explored as well as safe performance of tasks within various contexts.
Prerequisites: EX 287, OT 100, and PY 230
Students will begin to interpret and demonstrate an understanding of the OT Practice Framework as it applies to OT practice. Students will be introduced to occupational therapy terminology and the interactions between the areas of occupation, performance skills, performance patterns, activity demands, context and environment and client factors all within different frames of reference, models of practice, and theoretical frameworks. Focus will be given to the therapeutic alliance, special environments of care, patient/client safety and dignity, mobility, and ensuring the use of purposeful and meaningful interventions. This course provides examination of the OTA/OTD collaborative relationship, including roles and relationships, shared decision-making, using evidence-based practice, scope of practice, ethics (AOTA Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice), liability, communication, and ethical conflict resolution. Students will learn to assess physiological status, safe patient positioning, physical transfers, wheelchair management, mobility devices, bed mobility, use of adaptive equipment for compensatory strategies, safe seated mobility, and safety in the workplace.
Prerequisite: OT 200
This course explores the role and skills of the OTA when working with specific symptoms and pathologies of psychiatric diagnoses and behavior disorders. Evaluation tools, frames of reference, treatment interventions and approaches, communication and interactions skills and documentation methods are practiced and learned. Therapeutic use of self and group dynamics are developed as part of the intervention process.
Prerequisite: OT 200
This course emphasizes the application of concepts of human anatomy (particularly the musculoskeletal system) and physical law to the study of human movement and skill analysis.
Must be taken concurrently with OT 311L.
Concepts of physics and kinesiology are applied through practical therapeutic analysis and assessment from a predominantly biomechanical frame of reference.
Must be taken concurrently with OT 311.
Pediatric assessment and intervention strategies incorporating theoretical strategies and evidence-based practice are applied to youth and children. These concepts are examined across the span of developmental stages of children and youth in relation to their occupational performance.
Must be taken concurrently with OT 312L.
Strategies for screening, assessment, and interventions are applied to youth and children through various play and evidence-based interventions.
Must be taken concurrently with OT 312.
Professional documentation skills are developed and critiqued to meet regulatory and reimbursement requirements. Emphasis is on effective communication in oral, nonverbal, written, and electronic methods. Students learn and apply the principles of OSHA, HIPPA, and telehealth/medicine.
The pediatric or psychosocial fieldwork I is directed observation and participation through clinical immersion. Students apply classroom learning pertaining to pediatric or psychosocial issues that limit engagement in occupation. Students participate in client-centered practice with a health care or wellness practitioner to develop professional behaviors and communication skills. Upon completion, students will be able to demonstrate appropriate competencies for the population.
Prerequisites: NU 305, NU350, OT 300, and OT 302
Adult and older adult assessment and intervention strategies incorporating theoretical strategies and evidence-based practice are applied for individuals, groups, and populations. These concepts are examined across the lifespan of the adult and progressing to end-of-life. Concepts related to these populations are explored such as productive aging, health and wellness, aging in place, and end-of-life care.
Must be taken concurrently with OT 400L.
Prerequisites: OT 311/L, 312/L, 313, and 314
Strategies for screening, assessment, and interventions are applied to adults and older adults addressing various roles and evidence-based practice.
Must be taken concurrently with OT 400.
The role of the OTA is defined regarding principles of leadership and management, agency/state/federal regulations, legislation, and reimbursement. Best practices regarding conflict resolution and ethical practice are also discussed and applied. Students will begin to develop and understand implementation of various business aspects of practice, including business plans, financial management, program evaluation models, and strategic planning. Students will develop an understanding of instructional design and teaching and learning from an academic standpoint.
Prerequisites: OT 311/L, 312/L, 313, and 314
The application and implementation of technology within occupational therapy practice is used to adapt and modify occupation for various populations. Students construct custom orthoses to address various human physical needs, understand the scientific principles behind the use of therapeutic modalities and develop the ability to choose and implement the modality as they would in OT practice. The utilization of technology to enhance occupational performance is incorporated across a variety of settings across the lifespan.
Must be taken concurrently with OT 400.
Prerequisites: OT 311/L, 312/L, 313, and 314
The pediatric or psychosocial fieldwork I is directed observation and participation through clinical immersion. Students apply classroom learning pertaining to pediatric or psychosocial issues that limit engagement in occupation. Students participate in client-centered practice with a health care or wellness practitioner to develop professional behaviors and communication skills. Upon completion, students will be able to demonstrate appropriate competencies for the population.
Prerequisites: OT 311/L, 312/L, 313, and 314
The Baccalaureate Project I course provides an in-depth learning experience in one or more of the following areas: clinical practice skills, administration, leadership, advocacy, and education. The course is founded on an individual or group project, which allows students to demonstrate application of knowledge gained throughout the OTA program. The course provides the students the opportunity to study, in depth, an area of interest. Students work with an assigned faculty advisor to create specific project objectives that are applied in OT 440 Baccalaureate Project II.
Prerequisites: OT 311/L, 312/L, 313, and 314
Fieldwork IIa is an 8-week, full time opportunity to carry out professional responsibilities under the supervision of a qualified occupational therapy practitioner serving as a role model. Students apply occupational therapy theory, research, assessments, treatment interventions, and evidence-based practice in the clinical or community setting to address physical and psychosocial factors.
Prerequisites: OT 400/L, 401, 402, 414, and 415
Fieldwork IIb is an 8-week, full time opportunity to carry out professional responsibilities under the supervision of a qualified occupational therapy practitioner serving as a role model. Students apply occupational therapy theory, research, assessments, treatment interventions, and evidence-based practice in the clinical or community setting to address physical and psychosocial factors.
Prerequisites: OT 400/L, 401, 402, 414, 415, and 420
This course is a continuation of OT 415 Baccalaureate Project I. Students continue to work with their assigned faculty advisor as they further study in depth their area of interest and work toward meeting the objectives of their individual or group project. The course culminates with students providing a presentation of a report of the individual or group project.
Prerequisites: OT 400/L, 401, 402, 414, and 415
An individualized study of a problem, a research paper or a project related to the occupational therapy field.
Prerequisite: Consent
A cooperative off-campus experience in an occupational therapy-related organization through which curricular knowledge and skills may be actively applied.
Prerequisite: Consent