This Level 4, 30-credit module introduces students to the foundational principles of occupational science that underpin occupational therapy practice. The module focuses on understanding occupations, including their defining features, meaning, and relevance to health and wellbeing, alongside the development of core occupation-based language. Students are also introduced to conceptual models of practice that inform how occupational therapists understand and support occupational participation.
The module is delivered through a hybrid approach combining lectures, seminars, small-group activities, and self-directed study. Case-based examples are used to support students in applying theoretical knowledge and models of practice to real-world contexts and service users.
Assessment consists of two components: a presentation analysing an individual’s occupational participation using an occupational therapy model of practice within a life-course context, and a 1500-word written assignment exploring the relationship between occupation, health, and wellbeing. Together, these assessments develop foundational academic, analytical, and professional reasoning skills.