Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant (OTP)

Systems thinking is essential for OTA and PTAs to thrive in private and public health sectors. In this course, students will learn the history and evolution of the Canadian Healthcare System and analyze how it impacts current healthcare delivery, funding models, and universal healthcare governance in Canada. Students will apply their knowledge by participating in debates, systems mapping exercises, reflections, and collaborative problem-solving tasks using various digital tools.

Foundational knowledge of anatomy and physiology is essential for safe and effective OTA and PTA practice. Through lectures, self-directed modules, and low-stakes quizzes, students will explore the normal structure and function of the human body with an introduction to biochemistry, cell tissues, and body systems. Other units emphasize neuroanatomy and neurophysiology, the musculoskeletal system, the cardiovascular system, the respiratory system, and thermoregulation.

This course provides foundational knowledge and skills required to be a safe OTA and PTA. First, through lectures and interactive sessions, students will understand human movement and the function of the human body. Then, students will apply this knowledge in a clinical lab setting, with opportunities to observe, facilitate and provide therapeutic handling techniques to enhance functional movement.

This course introduces the discipline-specific roles, responsibilities, and legal boundaries of the OTA and PTA professional practice. Through reflective discussion and case study analysis, students apply problem-solving and critical thinking skills to OTA/PTA practice.

Communicating effectively in clinical settings is essential for OTA and PTA professionals. Therefore, this course teaches students to communicate within various therapeutic and interprofessional contexts. Through role-play and scenario-based practice, students will strengthen their verbal, non-verbal, written, and digital communication skills. Students will also learn to self-regulate while navigating difficult conversations and adapting to different communication styles during conflict management and resolution, intercultural communications, email etiquette, reporting, and documentation.

This course offers the student a survey of developmental psychology, covering topics across the human lifespan, from infancy through to old age. Through readings and lecture material, students will examine theories of child development and the research that bears on these theories. Students will also examine physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development. Finally, students will address major themes in developmental psychology, including the nature-nurture issue, the effects of early experience, and continuity - discontinuity in developmental change.

This course reinforces core PTA principles and clinical techniques essential for practice in a lab setting. It builds upon the PTA skill set practiced in Human Kinetics and PTA - Principles & Techniques 1, focusing on therapeutic modalities to treat a variety of impairments. In a traditional classroom and lab setting, students will observe, facilitate and provide therapeutic handling techniques to enhance functional movement, for example, ultrasound, neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), heat, and ice. In addition, students will strengthen critical thinking skills and refine their judgement in a clinical setting by performing and demonstrating rehabilitation exercises using clear instructions, evidence-informed rationales, assistive devices, and effective communication skills.

This course focuses on OTA principles and clinical techniques specific to OTA practice in a lab setting. Students will understand different types of distinctive OTA terminology and treatments. Students will focus on occupational therapy practice, including remedial and compensatory activities types. Students will learn how to instruct exercises and assistive devices and explain the clinical rationale for the assignment. Students will practice problem-solving, critical thinking, and clinical judgement throughout this course.

This course builds upon working knowledge of anatomy and physiology, enabling students to explore etiology, pathophysiology, and risk factors of the health conditions. Through lectures, class discussions, and case studies, students will develop critical thinking skills as they learn about the common conditions they will encounter in their first placements and evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions.

Students will explore how the social determinants of health impact health and wellness in Canada. Students will critically analyze how social, economic, and political factors influence health outcomes and inequalities. Using systems thinking approach and anti-oppression principles, students will learn how to recognize bias and analyze how bias impacts the roles and responsibilities of OTA and PTA practitioner

Essential for professional growth, OTA and PTA practitioners must approach client care with multiple perspectives. In this course, students understand client-centered practice and how to be a reflective practitioner. By approaching clinical interventions with a holistic lens, students will adapt their practice to a specific client’s needs, while reflecting on improving and optimizing therapeutic outcomes and establishing an inclusive approach to client care.

Students will practice their clinical skills at their introductory clinical placement. Clinical instructors will guide students through the role of an OTA and PTA within the assigned practice setting. Individually or in small groups, students will have their first interactions with clients as members of an interprofessional team while working in the role of an OTA and PTA student.

The purpose of this course is to teach students ethical practice within the field of OTA and PTA. Students will learn how the OTA and PTA standards will govern their professional behaviour. They will apply this knowledge to their decision-making, professional conduct, and direct-client service.

This course reinforces core PTA principles and clinical techniques essential for practice in a lab setting. It builds upon the PTA skillset practiced in Human Kinetics and PTA - Principles & Techniques 1, focusing on therapeutic modalities to treat a variety of impairments. In a traditional classroom and lab setting, students will observe, facilitate and provide therapeutic handling techniques to enhance functional movement, for example, ultrasound, neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), heat, and ice. In addition, students will strengthen critical thinking skills and refine their judgement in a clinical setting by performing and demonstrating rehabilitation exercises using clear instructions, evidence-informed rationales, assistive devices, and effective communication skills.

This course reinforces core OTA principles and clinical techniques essential for practice in a lab setting. It builds upon the skills practiced in Human Kinetics and OTA - Principles & Techniques 1 while exploring the use of modalities and topics not covered in those courses. Students will observe, facilitate, and provide therapeutic techniques to enhance functional movements, such as cognitive retraining and other advanced therapeutic techniques in a traditional classroom and lab setting. In addition, students will strengthen critical thinking skills and refine their judgement in a clinical setting by performing and demonstrating rehabilitation exercises using clear instructions, evidence-informed rationales, assistive devices, and effective communication skills.

This course will introduce the mental health system and explore mental health conditions and illnesses that students may encounter as OTA and PTAs. In addition, students will practice techniques to assist with therapeutic interactions for mental health disorders and employ effective communications using a client-centered rehabilitation approach.

This course builds upon the student’s working knowledge of anatomy and physiology, emphasizing common conditions that students will encounter on placements. Students will reinforce their knowledge on health conditions, enabling further understanding of therapeutic interventions and reflective practice.

Students will practice their clinical skills at their second clinical placement, with a 1:1 or 2:1 student preceptor ratio. Clinical instructors will guide students in putting their skills to practice and solidifying learnings through the role of an OTA and PTA student within the assigned practice setting. In addition, students will continue to work as members of interprofessional teams within specific clinic settings such as MSK, Neuro, Clinic, or Acute settings.

This capstone course fosters self-reflection and growth as students prepare to enter the OTA and PTA profession as reflective practitioners. Guided by OTA and PTA competency profiles and Seneca’s core literacies, students will complete reflection tasks and curate artifacts for evidence of learning in professional portfolios, demonstrating development in critical areas of professional practice such as accountability, communication, and collection of client intervention. Students will also evaluate their career readiness by working closely with advisors to develop cover letters and resumes.

Students will build their clinical skills practiced in previous clinical placements, with a 1:1 or 2:1 student preceptor ratio. This placement helps students apply their foundational knowledge and fully exhibit their skills, becoming entry-level practitioners within the assigned practice setting. In addition, students will continue to work as members of interprofessional teams within specific clinic settings such as MSK, Neuro, Clinic, or Acute settings.

Students will build their clinical skills practiced in previous clinical placements, with a 1:1 or 2:1 student preceptor ratio. This placement helps students apply advanced-level knowledge and skills equitably and inclusively to optimize client care, working within an assigned practice setting. In addition, students will continue to work as members of interprofessional teams within specific clinic settings such as MSK, Neuro, Clinic, or Acute settings. Upon completing the final placement, students will be at entry-level and ready to enter the workforce.