Find out more about the fieldwork sequence
In your fieldwork, you will explore your own identity as a student therapist while learning about the role of occupational therapy in a variety of practice settings. Please check back for updates to this page as fieldwork evolves in the OTD.
Fieldwork sequence
Overview of Fieldwork
- OT 786B: Practicum: Integrative Experiential Learning I (1 credit) Completed fall semester of first year
- OT 786C: Practicum: Integrative Experiential Learning II (2 credits) Completed spring semester of first year
- OT 787: Level IIA Fieldwork – Adults and Older Adults (12 credits) Completed summer of first year
- OT 786D: Practicum: Integrated Experiential Learning III (1 credit) Completed fall semester of second year
- OT 786E: Practicum: Integrated Experiential Learning IV (1 credit) Completed spring semester of second year
- OT 788: Level IIB Fieldwork – Lifespan Experience (12 credits) Completed summer or fall of third year
Integrated Experiential Learning (IEL) Fieldwork
- In the CSU OTD curriculum, the term integrated experiential learning or IEL is used in place of Level I fieldwork. This is because students complete off-campus experiences at a fieldwork site, in addition to on-campus seminars with faculty and peers.
- During your IEL fieldwork, you will build a professional identity progressing from engagement in structured experiences, to observing, assisting, and co-treating with occupational therapists and inter-professional team members.
- You will develop professional reasoning and performance skills by engaging in the occupational therapy process with occupational therapy and nonoccupational therapy fieldwork educators.
- During the IEL seminar, you discuss and share hypotheses about the impact of the client’s physical, psychological, social, and environmental factors on engagement in occupation. Additionally, you will reflect and process fieldwork experiences with the integration of IEL course objectives.
- IEL fieldwork is a stepping-stone toward level II fieldwork and entry-level practice.
- Because of limited availability of fieldwork sites and to ensure the best possible fit between you and a fieldwork site, you will likely be assigned to a site outside of Northern Colorado
OT 786B Integrated Experiential Learning I
- Engage in fieldwork to explore the role of the occupational therapist in community settings with adults and older adults, with a focus on professional identity formation. Develop skills in building therapeutic alliances, considering diversity, inclusion, and psychosocial factors influencing occupation. Content and experiences from fieldwork are integrated with concurrent occupational therapy courses.
OT 786C Integrated Experiential Learning II
- Engage in fieldwork which is integrated with concurrent coursework to explore the role of occupational therapy service delivery with adults and older adults. Assist fieldwork educators with the occupational therapy process to develop novice-level practice skills and professional identity.
OT 787 Level IIA Fieldwork: Adult to Old Age
- Develop entry-level occupational therapy competence providing occupation-centered practice with adults and older adults through immersion in the occupational therapist role for the equivalent of 12-weeks. Build professional behaviors and identity while bridging the didactic portion of the curriculum during supervised practice. Use professional reasoning gained through the first three semesters of the curriculum while progressively taking on greater responsibility for service delivery.
- You progress to level IIA fieldwork in the summer after the first year of intensive coursework providing you with an opportunity to gain competence practicing as an entry-level occupational therapist.
- You will do the level IIA placement in adult and older adult settings, including acute care, in-patient rehabilitation, skilled nursing, outpatient rehab, acute long-term care, psychosocial, community, and behavioral health settings.
- Because of limited availability of fieldwork sites and to ensure the best possible fit between you and a fieldwork site, you may be required to commute up to 1 1/2 hours OR relocate to another region.
- You will return to campus after level IIA fieldwork to build new insights and perceptions about a practice that enhance reflective discussions to a deeper level of analysis.
OT 786D Integrated Experiential Learning III
- Engage in fieldwork that is integrated with concurrent coursework to explore the role of occupational therapy with neonates to adolescents. Assist and collaborate with fieldwork educators and caregivers to implement the occupational therapy process, and develop novice-level practice skills and professional identity.
OT 786E Integrated Experiential Learning IV
- Build competence in professional reasoning used for evaluation, intervention planning and implementation for adolescents and young adults (age 12 – 26 years). Engage in lab and mentoring experiences to enhance occupational performance, participation, and well-being across settings while considering social inequities in community contexts.
OT 788 Level IIB Fieldwork
- Develop entry-level occupational therapy competence providing occupation-centered practice across the life span through immersion in the occupational therapist role for the equivalent of 12 weeks. Build professional behaviors and identity while bridging the didactic portion of the curriculum during supervised practice. Use professional reasoning gained through the OTD curriculum while progressively taking on greater responsibility for service delivery.
- This level IIB placement can occur either in the summer or the fall of year three
- You can choose the practice area, location, and timing to do your level IIB fieldwork, going beyond the scope and not the same as your first level IIA placement.
- Because of limited availability of fieldwork sites and to ensure the best possible fit between you and a fieldwork site, you may be assigned to a site outside of Northern Colorado
- You must complete all fieldwork experiences prior to beginning your Capstone experience