Course Overview

Please note: Teaching activities for the Degree Programme in Occupational Therapy are held at the Cittadella dell’Oasi in Troina (EN).

Graduates in Occupational Therapy (L/SNT2 – Health Professions of Rehabilitation) must acquire sound knowledge of the basic preparatory disciplines, including physics, medical statistics, sociology, and general and clinical psychology, as well as the biological sciences, including anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, general pathology and clinical microbiology. They must also develop in-depth knowledge of the disciplines specifically related to the occupational therapy profession, together with knowledge in the fields of human and psycho-pedagogical sciences, medical and surgical sciences, healthcare management, and interdisciplinary and clinical sciences.

The three-year educational programme is structured as follows.

1st year
Students acquire essential knowledge of physics, information technology, medical statistics, general and environmental sociology as applied to occupational therapy, morpho-functional sciences, general and occupational psychology, and healthcare management.

Students also begin the specific study of occupational therapy, including the foundations of the discipline and professional methodology. These represent essential prerequisites for the first internship experience, which is aimed at introducing students to the field of rehabilitation and enabling them to acquire both general and more specific occupational therapy skills.

Students are also expected to acquire a good command of English and its use in medical and scientific contexts, with particular reference to occupational therapy, as well as methodological skills in scientific research and epidemiology. A good knowledge of both written and spoken English is essential in order to access international scientific literature from the beginning of the programme and to undertake study experiences abroad, either before graduation, such as through the Erasmus programme, or after graduation.

Training is complemented by occupational therapy laboratory activities and elective credits, allowing students to explore areas of particular interest in both clinical practice and research.

2nd year
Students acquire knowledge of advanced biomedical sciences and interdisciplinary subjects. With regard to occupational therapy, particular emphasis is placed on physical and rehabilitation medicine, as well as legal, psychosocial and psychiatric aspects.

Courses in orthopaedics, physical and rehabilitation medicine, biomedical sciences and first aid are particularly important. In each of these areas, training is complemented by the study of the rehabilitation aspects of occupational therapy.

Internship experiences are designed to enable students to develop professional skills in clinical settings, where they can apply intellectual, interpersonal and practical abilities; identify theoretical issues arising from clinical practice; and search for the best available evidence in the scientific literature, comparing their experience with that of the relevant professional community in order to develop evidence-based best practice.

Students are also expected to acquire a good knowledge of information technology and its application in biomedical and scientific research.

Training is further complemented by occupational therapy laboratory activities and elective credits, allowing students to explore topics of specific interest in both clinical practice and research.

3rd year
Students acquire knowledge and methodologies relating to prevention and healthcare services, medical and surgical sciences, pharmacological and protective aspects, and the medical aspects of occupational therapy, with particular reference to the interdisciplinary and clinical aspects of the main diseases.

Students further develop their knowledge of rehabilitation through occupational therapy across different age groups, including children, adults and older people, and acquire the ability to work effectively in teams and within complex organisational settings.

During internship experiences, students progressively develop greater autonomy and responsibility, always under the supervision of qualified professionals.

Training is completed by occupational therapy laboratory activities and elective credits, allowing students to further explore areas of interest in both clinical practice and research.

Students are given the opportunity to develop their individual academic and professional interests during the preparation of the final dissertation, for which 6 ECTS credits are awarded.

In accordance with the applicable regulations, the curriculum includes:

• teaching activities in radiation protection, in accordance with the contents of Annex IV to Legislative Decree No. 187 of 26 May 2000;

• educational activities pursuant to Article 10, paragraph 5, letters a), c), d) and e) of Ministerial Decree No. 270 of 22 October 2004, corresponding to:

  • 6 ECTS credits for elective activities;

  • 9 ECTS credits for the final examination (6 ECTS) and English language training (3 ECTS);

  • 6 ECTS credits for other educational activities, including information technology (3 ECTS) and seminars (3 ECTS);

  • 3 ECTS credits for professional laboratories in the specific academic field of the professional profile, corresponding to one laboratory per year;

• 60 ECTS credits reserved for professional internships in the specific occupational therapy field.

The degree qualifies graduates to practise as Occupational Therapists.