Level 2 Fieldwork

Students begin the Level II Fieldwork (OT593 and OT594) component of the program after completing the four semesters of academic course work. A minimum of 24 weeks of occupational therapy internship, which are typically completed in two 12-week full-time placements, is required for graduation from the program. Generally, students opt to plan their fieldwork placements to occur in either the Summer and Fall, or, Fall and Winter, upon the completion of academic coursework. All degree requirements, including fieldwork, must be completed within five years from initial matriculation into the professional program.

During the first year of the program, students are oriented to the fieldwork components of the curriculum during the Fall semester. Students complete and submit applications for placements made by the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator at training facilities that have offered to sponsor a student from BU. When possible, Level II fieldwork assignments are completed by the end of the first year of the program. Training must be completed at a facility that has a formal affiliation with the University. The BU program has contracts with approximately 250 such active training sites across the United States.

Level II Fieldwork provides students with an in-depth, supervised experience in delivering occupational therapy services to clients, focusing on the application of meaningful occupation and research, administration, and management of occupational therapy services. It is recommended that each student gain exposure to a variety of clients across the lifespan and to a variety of settings. Exposure to client populations is generally categorized by settings that serve children (pediatrics), adults with mental health/psychiatric needs, and adults with physical disabilities. Examples of the types of fieldwork facilities include: acute care and rehabilitation hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, schools, private practice agencies, and community agencies (such as early intervention programs).

The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) website features some student testimonials about their fieldwork experiences in different settings.  For more information, visit the AOTA website at:  http://www.aota.org/Students/Current/Fieldwork/Experiences


Boston University’s general objectives of the fieldwork experience are identified below. These objectives are in keeping with the vision, mission, philosophy, and curriculum design of our occupational therapy program. Students are expected to meet these general objectives as they apply to the particular fieldwork setting to which they have been assigned.

 

  1. To participate actively in the supervisory process using it as a tool for consolidating and synthesizing knowledge, improving skills, and promoting professional growth.
  2. To develop increasing competence in the selection and administration of assessment instruments and in evaluating, interpreting, and documenting the occupational needs of individuals and groups.
  3. To plan, implement, and justify, orally and in writing, an intervention and discharge plan consistent with: evaluation results, the individual or group's essential roles, the theoretical model(s) applicable to the fieldwork setting, and evidence-based practice.
  4. To articulate and model client-centered, occupation-based practice applicable to the fieldwork setting, focusing on how psychosocial factors influence engagement in occupation and the development of client-centered, meaningful, occupation-based outcomes.
  5. To work collaboratively with clients, families, and colleagues in a professional context, respecting diverse social/cultural values and practices.
  6. To demonstrate personal responsibility for continued learning by initiating independent study and accessing appropriate resources such as: professional organization, related literature, and related websites.
  7. To demonstrate an awareness of and a concern for social and health care issues as these influence individual clients and their families as well as the community at large.
  8. To envision ways that an occupational therapist could develop programs in the community to support, maintain, and promote occupational performance and well being as they pertain to the population at the fieldwork setting.
  9. To achieve an effective transition from the role of a student to the role of an entry-level occupational therapist.

OT 590 – Fieldwork Seminar covers these objectives, along with fieldwork performance evaluation procedures, and other relevant topics during the Spring Semester of the second year of the professional program.


The Fieldwork Coordinator remains in contact with students and training sites, serving as a support for problem-solving, as needed, throughout students’ participation in Level II Fieldwork.