Programme Specification. MSc Contemporary Occupational Therapy (post- registration) Valid from: September 2012 Faculty of Health and Life Sciences

Transcription

1 Programme Specification MSc Contemporary Occupational Therapy (post- registration) Valid from: September 2012 Faculty of Health and Life Sciences

2 SECTION 1: GENERAL INFORMATION Awarding body: Teaching institution and location: Final award: Programme title: Interim exit awards and award titles: Brookes course code: UCAS/UKPASS code: JACS code: Mode of delivery: Mode/s of study: Language of study: Relevant QAA subject benchmark statement/s: Oxford Brookes University Oxford Brookes University, Oxford MSc Contemporary Occupational Therapy (postregistration) PG Cert Contemporary Occupational Therapy (post-registration) PG Diploma Contemporary Occupational Therapy (post-registration) HC91 P B930 Online distance learning Full time/ part time English Nil External accreditation/recognition: (applicable to programmes with professional body approval) Faculty managing the programme: Date of production (or most recent revision) of specification: Health and Life Sciences 06/06/12 SECTION 2: OVERVIEW AND PROGRAMME AIMS 2.1 Rationale for/distinctiveness of the programme This programme recognises that occupational therapists need to respond to an ever changing and challenging practice environment. It therefore aims to enable occupational therapists, to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to transform their own practice, the practice of the teams they work within and influence their organisations in order that they may respond to the needs of the people using their services. This is a distance learning programme delivered online, a key focus of this programme is on the dynamic interaction between students and lecturers, drawing on expertise and helping students work together.

3 There will be an emphasis on developing an online community where students will be supported to learn by sharing their professional experience. Students will develop their knowledge and practice through working collaboratively with others, including students from other professions whilst undertaking shared compulsory and acceptable modules. An occupational therapy focus throughout the programme will be facilitated through the use of the communal area and links with named occupational therapy lecturers. Students will have opportunities to explore specialist areas of practice within the programme including options to complete work based learning modules. They will develop research skills and have the opportunity to undertake an in depth study in a topic of their choosing. 2.2 Aims of the programme There are two central aims to this programme: 1. To provide students with the opportunity to challenge and critically evaluate their multi-professional and uni-professional clinical expertise in order to respond to the current and future needs of health and social care delivery and to advance occupational therapy practice. 2. To enable students to acquire, critically reflect on and challenge knowledge, values and professional strategies in order to: be a clinical leader and evidence based expert in the field of occupational therapy, providing effective and evidence based interventions. be a reflective practitioner, responsive to the needs of empowered and informed clients and able to practise within a sound clinical and ethical reasoning framework respond to the research agenda and contribute to the body of knowledge thus advancing the profile of occupational therapy work within an interdisciplinary team, across traditional boundaries and where possible, work in extended roles. SECTION 3: PROGRAMME LEARNING OUTCOMES Knowledge, understanding and skills: On completion of this programme students will have achieved the following: 3.1 Academic literacy (1) Critically analyse, synthesise, and articulate knowledge from a number of sources, integrating theory, policy and research, in a manner that advances occupational therapy practice. (fits also 2) Critically discuss your own beliefs and concerns about the purpose, nature and challenges of occupational therapy practice. (fits also 3) Demonstrate a robust commitment to scholarship and its application to occupational therapy practice. (fits also 2) Explore a specialist area of practice through the acceptable modules and apply to your own occupational therapy practice (fits also 3) 3.2 Research literacy (2) Articulate the range of research methods that can be used in relation to the generation of knowledge. Utilise research skills to promote evidence based practice in occupational therapy practice. Demonstrate a rigorous approach to further develop and implement the evidence base to enhance occupational therapy practice (fits also 1).

4 Design and conduct a piece of research to further your understanding and develop a specific area of occupational therapy practice (fits also 1). Initiate, plan, and carry out research. 3.3 Critical self-awareness and personal literacy (3) Examine and critically analyse occupational therapy practices and make practical application of new knowledge in the workplace. Positively influence collaborative practice for yourself and others taking into account professional boundaries and the complexity of occupational therapy practice. 3.4 Digital and information literacy (4) Develop the following digital literacies in online communication: Engaging productively in online communities Developing fluency and projecting own voice in online interactions Functioning as an effective member of appropriate professional communities of practice Ability to effectively search, store, organise and evaluate a range of digital information 3.5 Global citizenship (5) Critically analyse the direct and indirect impact of socio-political drivers at local and national and international level on occupational therapy practice. SECTION 4: PROGRAMME STRUCTURE AND CURRICULUM 4.1 Programme structure and requirements: PG Certificate Module Module Name Status and credits Number P49204 Occupational therapy: New perspectives Core: 20 Credits P49202 Mastering professional practice Core: 20 Credits P49203 Evidence based practice Core: 20 Credits PG Diploma The above plus Module Module Name Method of assessment Number P49210 Advanced Research Design Core: 20 Credits And two of the following optional modules P44820 Leadership in Health and Social Care Optional: 20 Credits P44614 Health Promotion Optional: 20 Credits P40610 Rehabilitation: Theories and Concepts and Optional: 20 Credits Practical Applications P45004 Vulnerable Children and Young People Optional: 20 Credits P45503 Substance Misuse Optional: 20 Credits P49213 Work Based Learning Optional: 20 Credits P49212 Work Based Learning (double) Optional: 40 Credits

5 MSc The above plus Module Module Name Method of assessment Number P49215 Dissertation Core: 60 Credits SECTION 5: PROGRAMME DELIVERY 5.1 Teaching, Learning and Assessment The teaching, learning and assessment strategy for the programme is based on a developmental process of acquiring, modifying and refining skills and knowledge throughout the modules. The programme learning outcomes provide students with opportunities to achieve the post-graduate attributes of academic literacy, research literacy, critical self-awareness and personal literacy, digital and information literacy and global citizenship. Teaching and learning within the modules will enable students from different areas of practice, countries and cultures to develop their expertise as occupational therapists with reference to contemporary theory and the current evidence base. Through the VLE students will develop their digital and information literacy. Using the online environment they will explore relevant texts, listen to lectures delivered using voice tools and participate in discussions and wikis with their fellow students in order to develop their knowledge of the current policy and literature informing professional practice. They will have opportunities to apply relevant theory to interventions for service users through reflection, module activities and assessments. They will study compulsory modules that will enable them to access sources of evidence including databases in order to undertake literature reviews and work towards completion of a research project relevant to their area of practice. Each module within the programme will have its own summative assessment, normally one assignment of 3,500 words in length. Students will have opportunities evaluate their own work and gain feedback from peers and lecturers as they work towards completion of the modules. Assignments will be individually graded, however, each assignment is intended to contribute cumulatively towards the overall aims and learning outcomes of the programme thus reflecting the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences philosophy of lifelong learning and achievement of the post graduate attributes. 5.2 Assessment regulations The programme conforms to the University Regulations for Postgraduate Taught Programmes SECTION 6: ADMISSIONS 6.1 Entry criteria The following table indicates the entry requirements normally expected of students, however each applicant will be considered on their own merit. Criteria Prior qualification Experience Demonstrate Essential Normally UK first degree or equivalent overseas degree from a recognised institution and a professional occupational therapy qualification Have at least 6 months post registration experience as an occupational therapist in current or recent Occupational Therapy employment. Students who do not hold a first UK degree or equivalent overseas degree from a

6 preparedness/ability to work at masters level recognised institution (taken within the last 5 years) or students who have not studied at degree or equivalent level within the last 5 years, will be required to write and submit an assignment which will be taken into account as part of their application Applicants who do not hold the academic requirement of a degree may be considered for entry through accreditation of prior certificated learning or accreditation of experiential learning. English Language Applicants may also be admitted to the programme with recognition of prior academic credits. (i) British Council IELTS: level 6.5 or above (ii) TOEFL score of 575 or above for the paper based test, or 233 or above for the computer based test. (iii) Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English: Grade C or above (iv) O level English Language or GCSE English Language: Grade C or above (v) Oxford Brookes University English Language Entrance test pass Students will need reliable access to the Internet, preferably through a broadband connection. The student will need to have good IT skills and be proficient in the use of the Internet and online communication. Please see below for minimum computer requirements: Computer specifications The minimum computer specifications for study are as follows: PC Mac Internet Access Required account Required Internet connection Broadband recommended Processor Pentium III or above Power PC RAM 128MB or above recommended; 64MB will be adequate but computer performance may be slow. Disc At least 100MB available for file storage Software Microsoft Office 98 or later; or OpenOffice 1.0 or later [.doc or.rtf format will be required for assignment submissions]. Operating system MS Windows OS 8.6 or later 98/ME/NT/2000/XP/2003/Vista Screen resolution 800 x 600 (1024 x 768 recommended) 16-bit colour Printer Monochrome or colour Web browser Mozilla 1.5 or above (preferred option) Internet Explorer 5.5 or above, Netscape 7.0 or above, Mozilla 1.5 or above, Internet Explorer 5.1 (OS X 10.1) or above, Netscape 7.0 or above, Safari 1.2 Plug-ins & settings Macromedia Flash, Acrobat Reader, RealPlayer, Java 1.4.2_05, Javascript, Cookies and pop-ups enabled, firewall set to accept communication with learning platform.

7 SECTION 7: STUDENT SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE Students are allocated an Academic Advisor from the staff members in the programme team. Academic Advisors will monitor students progress and communicate with them regularly using the most appropriate method ( , telephone or other electronic media) regarding their academic development. It is likely that students will have at least two contacts with their Academic Advisor per semester. Student Support Co-ordinators provide advice and guidance, signposting, encouragement and information to help students progress through their chosen programme. Module leaders are able to provide advice on anything to do with the module organisation and content. The module leader produces the module handbook which includes all the information necessary for completion of the module. Upgrade is the University s study advice service for anyone who wants advice on: Study skills planning and writing essays, assignments and dissertations; Statistics, maths. Students will have the use of all the electronic Oxford Brookes University Library facilities and access to support from library staff. Library staff will be able to help with queries about finding information. The Student Disability Service provides support, advice and information to current and prospective students of Oxford Brookes University. They will work with students to develop an individual support plan to meet individual needs and will also give advice about how the University systems can support students with disabilities. Oxford Brookes Students' Union exists to ensure the welfare and representation of students attending the University. They offer a diverse range of welfare services and support structures to students as well as running many commercial services. International Students Oxford Brookes University has a community of more than 19,000 students, including more than 5,000 postgraduates. The Faculty runs a Cultural Orientation Programme also available online to orientate international students to the culture of the University and the Department and to enable them to develop the appropriate academic skills required for their programme of study. In addition, the University International Student Advisory Service (ISAS) provides welfare support, visa advice and counselling should you need it. The International Centre for English Language Studies (ICELS) offers academic English support throughout the semester. SECTION 8: GRADUATE EMPLOYABILITY This online programme allows students to study alongside their employment in order to develop and enhance their practice through the development of their professional reasoning and implementation of evidence based interventions. It is designed to enable students to develop their own practice and that of their teams and organisations in which they work in order to respond to the needs of the people using their services.

8 SECTION 9: LINKS WITH EMPLOYERS Students on this programme are able to relate all the course assignments to their work area. Optional modules include Work Based Learning modules where students are able to gain recognition and academic credit for learning gained through professional practice or employment. A learning contract is agreed between student, employer and an academic tutor. SECTION 10: QUALITY MANAGEMENT Indicators of quality/methods for evaluating the quality of provision The specific intention of this programme is to enable students to focus on a particular subject area or field of study in greater depth than they encountered during the course of previous study or experience. This programme meets the indicators of quality identified by the Faculty and University which are in line with the QAA. These include annual review and periodic review procedures, module evaluation and involvement of external examiners.