Occupational Therapy is a healthcare profession that works with people of all ages, diagnoses, and living situations to help achieve increased independence in their valued occupations. We consider the tasks of daily living, such as making breakfast, taking a shower, caring for children, playing, and even sitting in school, as important occupations that help individuals succeed in life. When someone is unable to do one or several of their valued occupations, an occupational therapy assistant may have the opportunity to work with the individual on an established plan of care to achieve the goals that the individual has helped set. It is a growing, challenging, and exciting career path for anyone who enjoys using their creative skills to help individuals become, regain, or work toward independence.

An occupational therapy assistant is supervised by an occupational therapist.

 

The OTA curriculum consists of 6 general education courses and 18 OTA courses. The general education courses are offered through at Minnesota West in a variety of formats, including PSEO, in-person, online, and hybrid. The OTA courses are offered in-person on the Worthington campus. If you have any questions about the OTA curriculum or about applying to the OTA program, please contact OTA@mnwest.edu.

 

COURSE #	COURSE TITLE	CREDITS
	Summer - Year 1
BIOL 2201	Human Anatomy	4
ENGL 1101	Composition I	3
PSYC 1150	Lifespan Developmental Psychology	3
HC 1180	Medical Terminology in Healthcare  OR	2
BIOL 2245	Medical Terminology	2
	Total Credits Summer - Year 1	12
	Fall Year 1
BIOL 2202	Human Physiology	4
OTAC 1100	Introduction to Occupational Therapy Assistant	2
OTAC 1105	Clinical Conditions and Abilities	2
OTAC 1110	Foundational Skills for the OTA	4
OTAC 1115	Problem-Based Learning for the OTA I	2
PSYC 2221	Psychology of Mental Illness	3
	Credits Fall - Year 1	17
	Spring - Year 1
OTAC 1200	Movement of Occupations	3
OTAC 1210	Pediatric Applications	4
OTAC 1215	Problem-Based Learning for the OTA II	2
OTAC 1220	Rural & Community-Based OT	4
OTAC 1230	Level I Fieldwork A	1
OTAC 1240	Documentation for the OTA	1
	Credits Spring - Year 1	15
	Fall - Year 2
OTAC 2100	Mental Health Across the Lifespan	3
OTAC 2110	Adult Applications	4
OTAC 2115	Problem-Based Learning for the OTA III	2
OTAC 2120	Geriatric Applications	4
OTAC 2130	Level I Fieldwork B	1
OTAC 2140	Professional Seminar	2
	Credits Fall - Year 2	16
	Spring - Year 2
OTAC 2230	Level II Fieldwork A	6
OTAC 2240	Level II Fieldwork B	6
	Credits Spring - Year 2	12
	TOTAL CREDITS	72

The Telecommunications certificate includes the basic course work to become a telecommunications technician. This certificate is 17 credits and is designed to be completed in one semester.  It covers the basics of computer technology and careers, computer networking telecommunications and customer service, Telecommunications Technicians are responsible for high-speed communication networks and digital communication through fiber optic cables and wireless network access. Telecommunications Technicians install, maintain and repair telecommunications equipment.

COURSE #	COURSE TITLE	CREDITS
	Fall - Year 1
CST 1101	IT Exploration	2
CST 1125	Operating Systems	3
CST 1190	Introduction to Networking	4
CST 2110	PC Maintenance & Repair Hardware	3
CST 1400	Telecommunications I	3
CST 2310	Info Tech Customer Service	2
	TOTAL CREDITS	17

The Elementary Education Transfer Pathway Associate of Science offers students the opportunity to complete an Associate of Science degree with course credits that directly transfer to designated Elementary Education bachelor’s degree programs at Minnesota State universities. The curriculum has been specifically designed so that students completing this pathway degree and transferring to one of the seven

Minnesota State universities enter the university with junior-year status. All courses in the Transfer Pathway associate degree will directly transfer and apply to the designated bachelor’s degree programs in a related field.

The Associate of Science Education Transfer Pathway degree is a pre-teacher preparation program. Students take course work in education courses and have related field experiences, in addition to taking the required Minnesota Transfer Curriculum and general studies courses to complete an Associate of Science degree. Focus of course work is to prepare those interested in the teaching profession to learn culturally relevant teaching and learning pedagogies. This degree allows students to transfer into a teacher education program at a university or to work as an educational paraprofessional within a school district. Students should check specific transfer agreements and requirements of study at the institution where they plan to transfer and speak with advisors within the specific programs in which they are interested.

Students will have required field experiences and are expected to document these experiences, as they are directed by faculty. A Minnesota Human Services Background Study may be required; the background study is not mandatory to start the program. Contact the program coordinator for questions or concerns about the background study.

Curriculum Outline

Health information management technicians are the pivotal link in administrative and clinical data for the healthcare team. Health information management includes collecting, analyzing, storing, protecting and ensuring health information. These professionals can perform diagnostic and procedure coding, utilizes electronic systems for reimbursement, report data for enterprise-wide planning and research activities, and maintain a legal patient record. They work to ensure what is put in a medical record is accurate, timely, and accessible when needed, by those allowed to have access to it.

COURSE #	COURSE TITLE	CREDITS
	Fall - Year 1
HC 1180	Medical Terminology in Healthcare	2
HIMC 1140	Introduction to Health Information Management	3
HIMC 1165	Health Information Law	2
HIMC 2120	Quality Management in Health Information	3
HIMC 2140	Statistics in Health Information	2
	Total Credits Fall - Year 1	12
	Spring Year 1
HIMC 1150	Reimbursement and Insurance in Health Information	3
HIMC 2100	Computerized Health Information I	3
HIMC 2115	Computerized Health Information II	1
HIMC 2110	Leadership & Management in Health Information	3
	Credits Spring - Year 1	10
	TOTAL CREDITS	22