This course examines current approaches to leadership and management in occupational therapy. Students will develop an understanding of leadership theories, management techniques, communication, team building, conflict resolution, group process, and delegation. These leadership and managerial issues will be viewed through a contemporary lens with the impact of changing demographics of health care in mind.

This course explores healthcare advocacy from an occupational therapy perspective. The Occupational Therapy Practice Framework highlights advocacy as part of the occupational therapy process for all practitioners. Students will learn about client-centered advocacy, as well as how to effect change through legislative advocacy. The impact of advocacy through the use of professional organizations (lobbying) will also be explored.

This course explores interprofessional collaboration in the healthcare professions, including practical methods of implementing interprofessional programming. Students will develop an understanding of the importance of values-based interprofessional collaboration, including developing scenarios for reflection and exploring modalities used in best practices

In order to have an understanding of research, it is important to first have an understanding of how assessment works and how it is linked to research. This course explores the development of assessments, and how different types of assessments are used to answer clinical and research questions. Students will learn how to analyze and synthesize assessments used in both the clinic and for research studies.

In order to effectively practice in a field that demands use of an evidence-base to support interventions, occupational therapists must have a firm understanding of how to read and interpret research literature. Students will develop skills in locating and appraising research articles. As part of the process, students will gain an understanding of the various types of research utilized in occupational therapy. Additionally, students will assess research quality and develop a format for writing and communicating accurately regarding their assessment of complex studies.

This course helps to prepare students to analyze best practice evidence to support occupational therapy. With an emphasis on levels of evidence and research critique, this course examines research outcomes based on quality and applicability of the studies. Statistical significance and effect size will also be explored, along with ways to incorporate research review into occupational therapy practice.

This course will assist the student in developing an understanding of the research process. Emphasis will be placed on the occupational therapist as a producer and consumer of research. Students will undertake a conceptual review of research designs and methods relevant to the profession.

This course helps students develop a better understanding of the process of seeking grant funding from a variety of funding sources. Students will identify a topic of interest within occupational therapy and develop a letter grant proposal up to the submission stage. Students will learn about the grant review process and specific information grant reviewers look for.

Under the guidance and supervision of a faculty member, the student will develop a capstone proposal in the customary format of a statement of the problem to be studied, its significance to the field, and a review of the relevant literature. At the conclusion of Capstone 1, the student should have a developed research question and completed background literature review.

Under the guidance of the capstone committee, the doctoral candidate will complete the capstone proposal following protocol outlined. The proposal will include the following required elements: problem, purpose, background, research question, participants, setting, methods, and tools. Following the completion of the proposal, the doctoral candidate will defend the proposal to the capstone committee.

Under the guidance of the capstone committee, the doctoral candidate will complete data collection and analysis. Once the analysis is complete and approved by the capstone chair, the results and discussion sections of the capstone will be written. Following chair approval of the written capstone, the capstone defense will be scheduled.

Under the guidance of the capstone committee, the doctoral candidate will complete the capstone following the approved content and protocols of the proposal. Following the successful defense of the completed capstone, the doctoral student will publicly present a poster/oral report on the findings and conclusions of the capstone.