Level I Fieldwork

The fieldwork experience is a vital part of the Master of Occupational Therapy program. These experiences are designed to give the student an opportunity to observe and have “hands on” training in a clinical setting. Students are encouraged to complete fieldwork in a variety of settings and with a variety of ages: medical model, community based, physical dysfunction, mental health, pediatrics, geriatrics, among others. The first type of experience is called level I fieldwork. 

Level I A is completed during the second semester and can be completed during the week of spring break, or on five consecutive Fridays during the semester. Level I B is completed immediately following the second semester and is two weeks in length (full-time). Level I C is three weeks long and is completed full-time between Thanksgiving and Christmas of the third semester in the program. The final level I (D) is completed during the fourth semester in conjunction with Issues in Practice IV. This last level I fieldwork placement is completed throughout the semester during the school week.

Each level I fieldwork placement builds upon the skills acquired from the previous fieldwork experience and progressively increases in length allowing the student more time to demonstrate competence , thus allowing fieldwork educators to better mentor and evaluate student performance. Objectives have been established for each of these fieldwork experiences and students have the opportunity to apply what they have learned on level I fieldwork within various coursework embedded throughout the curriculum. Level I fieldwork is supervised by currently licensed or credentialed occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants, psychologists, physician assistants, teachers, social workers, nurses, and physical therapists, among others. (ACOTE, 2006, pp.12) Students must successfully complete all level I fieldwork placements prior to starting any level II fieldwork.