Occupational Therapy - Professional Development - Online

This unique course is delivered online for occupational therapy graduates worldwide. You will cover topics such as entrepreneurial leadership to manage new ventures within the health and social care sector, coaching and leadership skills in preparation for supervision/mentoring roles, the clinical role of occupational therapy, as well as reviewing global health inequalities and international standards of practice. You will learn strategies to empower patients to manage their long-term conditions and develop research skills to inform clinical practice.

You will engage in learning using digital interactive tools, promoting communication and collaboration within an international peer-supported learning community. International experts will help deliver the programme which can be studied full-time (one year) or part-time (within three years). You will also engage in inter-professional learning alongside physiotherapy colleagues.

There will be an opportunity to reflect on current theory and practice, utilising evidence to translate learning and enhance practice. The course will equip you with the necessary skills, understanding, and confidence to live, work and study in international contexts, increasing your global employability.

For further course details please see "Course Web Page" below.

Year one
Entrepreneurial Leadership
The module seeks to build the student's awareness of "entrepreneurial leadership" and to provide a framework for engaging with and assessing the viability of an innovative project/new venture or the development of an existing one within the health and social care sector. It aims to give the student insights to the opportunities and challenges associated with establishing and managing the development of a new or existing venture, allowing them to audit their personal, entrepreneurial potential.

Professional Development in Practice
This module provides the opportunity for students to engage in professional development to enhance their working knowledge and application of effective learning, teaching and supervisory methods. This will develop their leadership skills in preparation for taking on a supervisory/mentoring role with students and junior staff in the future.

Research Project Preparation
The aim of the module is to develop research design skills to enable students to produce a working research proposal for the Masters project.

Research Evidence in Health Science
This 15 credit point, online module runs twice per academic year and offers health professionals an opportunity to develop their understanding of a range of research methodologies commonly used within healthcare. They will use this understanding of clinical research methods to develop skills in critically appraising and synthesising literature in order to inform and advance the quality of care and service delivery. For those students proceeding to the Masters award, the module will complement the 'Preparation for Project' module and provide a foundation for the Masters project.

Global Healthcare Perspectives
This online module explores the diversity of healthcare systems worldwide and the need for capacity building in many countries worldwide. Issues such as the clinical/practice role of occupational therapy and physiotherapy in disasters and catastrophic emergencies, professional body and international standards and quality assurance are explored.

Professional licensure requirements and professional body accreditation are discussed from a global perspective.

Long Term Conditions
This module will enable the student to increase their knowledge and understanding of the pathophysiology process of various long term conditions. Strategies to motivate and empower patients to manage their condition will be explored alongside the role of family and carers. Best practice will be discussed and justified by critical evaluation of literature.

Research Project
The aim of this project module is to engage the student in an independent piece of research activity under the guidance of a supervisor from the School of Health Sciences. It is expected that this research will add to the student's knowledge and perhaps inform future teaching, clinical practice or further research. The research activity will be allied to that carried out in the Centre for Health and Rehabilitation Technologies (CHaRT) within the Institute for Nursing and Health Research (INHR).

To apply to our postgraduate taught programmes, you must meet the University's General Entrance Requirements and any course-specific requirements.

These vary depending on the course and are detailed online.

Applicants must:
(a) have gained a second class honours degree or better in Occupational Therapy from a University of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, or from a recognised national awarding body, or from an institution of another country which has been recognised as being of an equivalent standard.

(b) be eligible for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council or equivalent.

(c) provide evidence of competence in written and spoken English (GCSE grade C or equivalent) and for non-native English speakers, IELTS 7.0 (with no contributing band at less than 6.5) or, as an alternative to (a) and/or (b)

If English is not your first language this course requires a minimum English level of IELTS (academic) 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5, or equivalent.

Visit ulster.ac.uk/englishrequirements for more details.

This course is open to international (non-EU) students (full-time only).

For full entry requirements please see "Course Web Page" below.

Your Application
Application is through the University's online application system (see "Application Weblink" below).

Full-time/Part-time/Online. This course is taught online so you can study where you want, when you want.

Career options
Completion of this course will equip you with the necessary knowledge, skills, confidence and expertise to live, work and study in international contexts, thereby increasing your employability.