Occupational therapy is an approach to healthcare that focuses to develop, recover, or maintain the daily living and work skills of individuals with physical, mental or developmental conditions.
The scope of services covered by occupational therapy include providing support, performing comprehensive assessments and interventions in home, school, workplace and/or community settings in order to help clients achieve independence or optimum functions in their daily lives.
The Bachelor of Occupational Therapy offered by UKM is a 4-year degree program.
Students in the first year are introduced to basic medical sciences such as anatomy and physiology as well as to theories and models in occupational therapy before advancing to more specialised topics in subsequent years.
Subjects in Year 2 and 3 focus on occupational therapy in specific contexts, such as paediatrics, geriatrics, neuropsychology, orthopaedic, community rehabilitation, in addition to having practical sessions and practice placement at various public and community settings at hospitals, day care, and rehabilitation centres. Evidence-based practice in relation to interventions used by occupational therapists in a wide range of health and social care contexts are emphasised throughout classroom and clinical teachings.
Students undergo clinical placement in Year 4 where students apply occupational therapy approaches on a wide range of client groups. In addition, students will also gain valuable scholarly experience by undertaking actual research projects in various occupational therapy disciplines.
This course aims to prepare and develop students to practise as occupational therapists who are competent and able to work independently and as a member in a multidisciplinary team.