Fieldwork is an essential component of the occupational therapy student's educational experience. The Department of Occupational Therapy at Augusta University is proud to have partnered with fieldwork sites all over the world to provide students with premier learning experiences.
What is Fieldwork?
The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) defines fieldwork as practice-based learning experiences that develop the students’ integration of classroom knowledge and laboratory skills. The profession uses the term fieldwork instead of internships or clinical rotations as the (OT) profession provides services in diverse sites outside of traditional hospital or medical model settings. OTs provide intervention services or practice in various community settings, rehabilitation centers, out-patient settings, school systems, private practice, long term care centers, in work and industrial settings, and in private homes.
Fieldwork experiences are designed to encompass a range of OT services. These experiences allow the student to try out concepts learned in the classroom or the laboratory. Each fieldwork experience is designed to progressively build on previous skills and knowledge. Augusta University OT curriculum design provides fieldwork experiences during each semester of the Master of Health Science (MHS) in OT program and includes learning activities such as supportive experiential learning experiences that progress the students’ level of knowledge, skills, and values for entry-level competence.
The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE, 2018) specifies fieldwork requirements for all students. The requirements are divided into two major classifications: Level I and Level II fieldwork experiences. Integrating Level I and II experiences can symbolize stepping stones toward competency.
The AOTA Standards describe the goal of Level I fieldwork "...to introduce students to the fieldwork experience and develop a basic comfort level with an understanding of the needs of clients." Level I Fieldwork is not intended to develop independent performance but to "include experiences designed to enrich didactic coursework through directed observation and participation in selected aspects of the occupational therapy process." A Level I experience gives OT students supervised, practical client experiences integrated throughout the curriculum.
Level I fieldwork follows a variety of formats including a virtual experience across the semester (OTHP 6000), once a week for 10 weeks at a community setting (OTHP 6001) and more traditional 1-week rotations (OTHP 6002 and 6003). There is also the potential for a study abroad experience during OTHP 6001 or OTHP 6002.
| Course | Description | Semester/Year | Credits |
| OTHP 6000 | OT Foundation | Summer/Year 1 | 1 |
| OTHP 6001 | Psychosocial Fieldwork | Fall/Year 1 | 1 |
| OTHP 6002 | Adults Fieldwork | Spring/Year 1 | 1 |
| OTHP 6002 | Pediatric Fieldwork | Spring/Year 1 | 1 |
| OTHP 6003 | Adults Fieldwork | Summer/Year 2 | 1 |
| OTHP 6003 | Nontraditional Camp Fieldwork | Summer/Year 2 | 1 |
(ACOTE Standards, 2018). Level II fieldwork aims “…to promote clinical reasoning and reflective practice, transmit the values and beliefs that enable ethical practice, and develop professionalism and competence in career responsibilities.” Level II fieldwork must be integral to the program’s curriculum design and must include in-depth experience in delivering occupational therapy services to clients, focusing on the application of purposeful and meaningful occupation and research, administration, and management of occupational therapy services.
At AU, the Level II experience includes a minimum of two 12-week, full-time experiences for comprehensive exposure to various clients and learning experiences. Students are placed in settings to foster diverse experiences for preparation for a generalist therapist. All AU OT students must complete at least one Level II FW in physical disabilities setting; students are not allowed to complete both rotations in pediatrics. Optional elective fieldwork experiences are also possible in a setting with a specific client population of the student’s choice.
The Level II fieldwork experiences are scheduled as follows.
| Course | Description | Semester/Year | Credits |
| OTHP 7009 | Level II Fieldwork A | 12 weeks | 9 |
| OTHP 7010 | Level II Fieldwork B | 12 weeks | 9 |
| OTHP 7011 | Optional Level II Specialty Fieldwork | TBD per individual student requests |
Students
Educators
Are you interested in becoming a fieldwork educator? Are you a current fieldwork educator but have questions? Contact Laurie Vera, MHS, OTR/L, the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator at augustaotfw@augusta.edu.
The College of Allied Health Sciences at Augusta University trains and educates today’s health care professionals: the therapists, technicians, administrators, managers and assistants who are the backbone of our country’s health care workforce.