Occupational therapy is a profession that follows a person-centered health plan to support people to perform their life activities effectively and efficiently without the need for any support. In this article, we have covered all the curiosities about the occupational therapy department. 

What is the Department of Occupational Therapy? 

Occupational therapy is a profession that follows a person-centered health plan to support people to carry out their life activities effectively and efficiently without the need for any support. The basic principles and theories of the occupational therapy department are to provide therapeutic interventions to increase participation in daily activities and improve standards by addressing physical, mental, social and emotional functions in a comprehensive manner. People who are entitled to graduate by successfully completing the education process receive the title of "Occupational Therapist". Üsküdar University Occupational Therapy department students receive a comprehensive and systematic education in which the basic techniques and requirements of occupational therapy science are addressed in accordance with international standards.

How many years does occupational therapy last?

Ergotherapy is an undergraduate program with a 4-year education period. This department branch, which is located in the Faculty of Health Sciences of universities, accepts students with numerical score type. In order for students to successfully complete the undergraduate program and receive the title of occupational therapist, they must complete the compulsory 240 ECTS. Although it is a new department, the occupational therapy department, which increases the number of graduates every year, is currently available in 14 universities.

For detailed information about Üsküdar University Occupational Therapy Department, please visit Faculty of Health Sciences Occupational Therapy Department.

What are the courses taken in the Department of Occupational Therapy?

The Occupational Therapy undergraduate program includes courses that include basic sciences related to the field and applications that require therapy competence. In the first year of undergraduate education, students take courses such as Introduction to Occupational Therapy, Occupational Therapy Theories, Growth and Development, Limb Anatomy, Health Policies, Health Sociology and Anthropology, while in the second year, they take courses such as Neuroanatomy, Psychopathology and Neurophysiology for the adaptation of occupational therapy to human life and pharmacological examination. In the third year, the neurodevelopmental functioning of occupational therapy is examined, while in the fourth and final year, clinical practices are focused on the student's mastery of the field.

What Does an Occupational Therapy Graduate Do?

People who graduate from the Department of Occupational Therapy have a wide range of job opportunities in different fields to support individuals to carry out their daily activities alone. Occupational therapists generally do the following jobs;

• Rehabilitation Centers: They support the rehabilitation of people suffering from physical victimization, neurological disorders or various health problems, enabling them to return to their daily routines.
• In Private Clinics or Hospitals: They contribute to the diagnosis, treatment and recovery of patients in different departments of health institutions. They can work in various units such as neurology and geriatrics.
• Home Care Services: They work to improve the standard of living of children, the elderly, adults and people with disabilities by supporting them to meet their own needs.
• Educational Institutions: Intervene in the difficulties faced by children during the education process and try to solve some behavioral and mental problems.
• Industrial Occupational Therapy: They work to enable employees who have lost some functional characteristics as a result of a work accident to work in a favorable environment upon return to work.
• Mental Health Centers: They support the recovery process of people suffering from neurological or psychiatric disorders and support their reintegration into society.

Ergotherapy graduates have the opportunity to work in different units in their chosen field. The professional skills that a person possesses play a critical role in determining the field of study. For this reason, occupational therapy students should explore their interests and abilities throughout their undergraduate education and customize their job opportunities according to their personal preferences.

What are the Working Opportunities in Occupational Therapy Department?

People who successfully complete their undergraduate education in occupational therapy have a wide range of employment opportunities in public / private institutions and organizations. The main employment opportunities of occupational therapy graduates are as follows;

• Private / State / University Hospitals
• Rehabilitation Centers
• Special Education Institutions
• Mental Health Centers
• Elderly Care Homes or Nursing Homes
• Universities or Educational Institutions
• Public Health Centers
• Civil Society Organizations
• Specialty Clinics
• Home Health Care

Occupational therapists can enrich their work opportunities according to the fields they specialize in and their individual preferences. Therefore, occupational therapy graduates should be able to customize their chosen field according to their own knowledge.

Why Üsküdar University Department of Occupational Therapy?

Usküdar University Occupational Therapy Department offers its students a comprehensive education in which they will gain both theoretical and practical skills for four years with its education program prepared in accordance with the basic principles of occupational therapy. During the undergraduate period, it aims to bring qualified young occupational therapists to the health sector who have the basic knowledge to make life sustainable with occupational therapy and have gained the skills to put the knowledge gained in theory into practice.