Occupational Studies
10 courses · Santa Ana College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Classes: Fall 2026 · Spring 2027
OS 301 Therapeutic Approaches to the Older Adult
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 Lecture
- Prerequisite
- Student must be admitted to the Occupational Studies program.
This course will build upon the developmental concepts of aging to examine quality of life in older adulthood. The focus of this course will be on evaluating older adults from an occupational perspective and analyzing the skills needed to maintain independence and to successfully participate in meaningful activities throughout the older years.
OS 304 Movement Theory & Analysis
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 Lecture
- Prerequisite
- Limitation on Enrollment: Student must be admitted to the Occupational Studies program.
Movement is a significant aspect of occupational performance. This course will focus on current theories of motor control and motor learning with an emphasis of how these theories can be applied to provide evidence-based practice to people with motor dysfunction.
OS 305 Advanced Pediatric Practice for the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA)
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 Lecture
- Prerequisite
- Limitation on enrollment: Student must be admitted to the Occupational Studies program.
This course will build upon developmental concepts relative to pediatric Occupational Therapy (OT) practice. The focus of this course will be to examine a variety of settings related to pediatric occupational therapy practice and provide OT treatment to pediatric clients in these settings.
OS 310 Community-Based Occupational Therapy Practice
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 Lecture
- Prerequisite
- Limitation on enrollment: Student must be admitted to the Occupational Studies program.
This course will focus on the practice of Occupational Therapy (OT) in community-based settings. This will include an in-depth analysis of the history and growth of OT practice in the community. Students will analyze the role of OT in community settings with a variety of populations and develop a plan for a community based program.
OS 312 Advanced Practice Areas in Occupational Therapy (OT)
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 Lecture
- Prerequisite
- Limitation on enrollment: Student must be admitted to the Occupational Studies program.
This course will provide a study of the advanced practice areas in occupational therapy. Advance practice areas in occupational therapy include: physical agent modalities (PAMs), hand therapy and feeding and swallowing. This class will focus on the theory and application of PAMs for the use in occupational therapy; the fundamentals of hand therapy including treatment guidelines in occupational therapy; and feeding and swallowing issues with the occupational therapy client.
OS 325 Applying Research to Occupational Therapy Intervention
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 Lecture
- Prerequisite
- Limitation on enrollment: Student must be admitted to the Occupational Studies program.
The focus on this course is to utilize research in evidence-based practice of occupational therapy. This class will focus on obtaining evidence, evaluating research and utilizing qualitative research.
OS 402 Neurological Principles in Human Performance
- Units
- 4
- Hours
- 72 Lecture
- Prerequisite
- Limitation on Enrollment: Student must be admitted to the Occupational Studies program
This course will provide an in-depth study of the neurologic principles used in rehabilitation practice. This will focus on understanding the structures and function of the central and peripheral nervous systems and to the sequelae of injury to these systems. There will be an emphasis on cognitive, visual, and perceptual problems in adults with acquired brain injury. This course will also look at the role of the nervous system in various aspects of human behavior.
OS 403 Leadership for the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA)
- Units
- 2
- Hours
- 36 Lecture
- Prerequisite
- Limitation on enrollment: Student must be admitted to the Occupational Studies program.
This course will focus on leadership and the types of leadership that relate to the work of the OTA. Topics will include leadership, advocacy, promotion, supervision, fieldwork, ethical considerations, and participation in professional organizations.
OS 410 Healthcare Systems
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 Lecture
- Prerequisite
- Limitation on Enrollment: Student must be admitted to the Occupational Studies program.
This course will cover the various healthcare systems that influence the practice of occupational therapy. Topics will include economics, types of insurance, healthcare policies, ongoing healthcare reform, and the role of technology. As a part of this course students will complete an independent, in-depth, study of one of the key practice areas in OT as identified by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).
OS 412 Capstone Seminar
- Units
- 3
- Hours
- 54 Lecture
- Prerequisite
- Limitation on Enrollment: Student must be admitted to the Occupational Studies program.
This Capstone Seminar is designed to demonstrate the student’s accumulated training through the development of a project that reflects theory, advanced knowledge of practice, and innovation. Each student will complete a project that is individually mentored and demonstrates an increased level of self-direction.