Level I Fieldwork experiences vary in length and offer scaffolded learning experiences throughout the didactic portion of the curriculum. The goal of Level I Fieldwork is to, “introduce students to fieldwork, apply knowledge to practice and develop an understanding of the needs of clients” (ACOTE, 2023). At WashU OT, Level I Fieldwork experiences are designed to facilitate connections between didactic coursework and fieldwork by encouraging the application of practice concepts and process es, guided by participation in clinical activities in a variety of traditional and emerging settings.

The following table demonstrates how the Level I Fieldwork experiences are integrated into the curriculum and support students ability to integrate information from the classroom with their understanding of practice. Level I Fieldwork occurs in the greater St. Louis area and can be supervised by a variety of qualified professionals including, but not limited to, occupational therapy practitioners, teachers, nurses, social workers, physical therapists and speech language pathologists (ACOTE, 2023, Standard C.1.10).

Semester	Course
Fall Semester, Year 1	OT 6075 Fieldwork IA: Immersion in Professional Practice Settings
Spring Semester, Year 1	OT 6175 Fieldwork IB: Immersion in Mental and Behavioral Health Practice
Fall Semester, Year 2	OT 6375 Fieldwork IC: Immersion in Pediatric Practice
Fall Semester, Year 2	OT 6475 Fieldwork ID: Immersion in Adulty Practice for Cognitive Rehabilitation
Spring Semester, Year 2	OT 6575 Fieldwork IE: Immersion in Adult Practice for Physical Rehabilitation

 

After successfully completing required coursework and Level I Fieldwork, MSOT and OTD students complete two, 12-week Level II Fieldwork experiences. All students must successfully complete both Level II Fieldwork rotations to meet graduation requirements. The schedules for MSOT and OTD Level II Fieldwork rotations differ based on the course sequence required for each program as described in the table below. For more details about course sequence, please see the following curriculum grids:

Click here to view the MSOT curriculum grid.

Click here to view the OTD curriculum grid.

Degree Plan	Level IIA Fieldwork	Level IIB Fieldwork
MSOT	Summer, Year 2	Fall, Year 3
OTD	Fall, Year 3	Spring, Year 3

WashU OT maintains fieldwork contracts with numerous practice sites throughout the U.S. in a variety of settings across the lifespan. States in red represent where we have fieldwork contracts.

Students have the opportunity to preference Level II Fieldwork sites based on their interests and professional goals. Students choose the setting and locations within program guidelines, site availability and the requirements set by WashU OT and the ACOTE.

The Program in Occupational Therapy at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis greatly appreciates the partnership we have with our fieldwork sites and our Fieldwork Educators. WashU OT is an active participant in the Gateway Occupational Therapy Education Council (GOTEC), which offers regular trainings and resources to fieldwork educators. Please contact Jessie Bricker, AFWC, for further information specific to WashU OT or to schedule a training for your team.

AOTA has many resources for fieldwork educators to help you build your fieldwork program or improve your clinical supervision skills.

AOTA Fieldwork Resources

Fieldwork students can be a great addition to OT practice settings by offering clinicians an opportunity to grow their skills in clinical supervision and mentorship while bringing fresh perspectives on evidence-based practice to the setting. WashU OT is always interested in growing opportunities for our students in a variety of traditional and emerging practice settings across the US. If your organization is interested in taking WashU OT students for Level II Fieldwork, please contact us.

Partner with Us

If you are a student coordinator at one of our partnering sites, we are currently collecting availability for our upcoming Level II rotations. Please email [email protected].