Apply to Jefferson

Students participating in the Occupational Therapy Programs at Thomas Jefferson University must have all essential skills to perform successfully as a student. These requirements apply to classroom, laboratory and clinical/fieldwork envi­ronments. Students must be able to perform the following with or without rea­sonable accommodation. If you require reasonable accommodation, please contact:

• Center City: Accessibility Services
• East Falls: Office of Student Accessibility Services

• Acquire, process, retain and apply knowledge through a variety of instruc­tional methods such as written materials, oral delivery, visual demonstra­tions, laboratory experiences, clinical experiences and independent learn­ing.
• Complete reading assignments, search and analyze professional literature, and apply information gained to guide practice; learn, retain and use infor­mation from texts, journals, documentation and other written sources.
• Process (measure, calculate, analyze, synthesize and evaluate) large amounts of complex information; apply theoretical concepts to practice activities and perform clinical problem-solving in a logical and timely man­ner.
• Apply mathematical and basic statistical skills.
• Perceive and understand three-dimensional relationships and spatial rela­tionships necessary for education and practice-related tasks such as moving in a variety of environments, designing treatment equipment and fabricating splints.
• Participate equitably in cooperative group learning activities; actively par­ticipate in class discussions and as a member of a team.
• Orally present information to groups of people.
• Maintain attention for 2-4 hours; tolerate days when classes may last 8-10 hours.
• Take and pass tests/quizzes in a variety of formats.
• Complete written assignments and produce written documentation in stan­dard and organized English.
• Apply knowledge and judgment required to demonstrate ethical reasoning and behavior.
• Apply safety knowledge and judgment to a variety of situations.
• Comply with fieldwork site rules and regulations.
• Demonstrate problem-solving skills and judgment necessary to modify eval­uation or intervention methods when necessary to address the specific needs of client (behavioral, cultural, etc.), in order to maximize client per­formance.
• Apply clinical reasoning and judgment necessary for interpretation of eval­uation data and development of treatment plans.
• Identify and select occupations that are goal directed and motivate and challenge clients.
• Demonstrate judgment necessary to establish priorities and develop and use strategies.

• Demonstrate positive interpersonal skills including, but not limited to, coop­eration, flexibility, tact, sympathy and confidence.
• Demonstrate respect for diversity, including but not limited to, socio-cultural, socioeconomic, spiritual and lifestyle choices.
• Collaborate with classmates, clients, family members, significant others and team members.
• Function successfully in supervisory and instructor-student relationships; change and adjust behavior and performance in the classroom, laboratory or clinic on the basis of instructor feedback.
• Communicate in the English language effectively and clearly in oral and written forms, using proper spelling, punctuation and grammar to explain procedures and teach skills.
• Use language appropriate to the recipient, with faculty, peers, clients and other health professionals from different social and cultural backgrounds to obtain information from clients, peers, faculty, supervisors and other profes­sionals.
• Use communication skills needed to practice safely.
• Use therapeutic communication skills such as attending and active listening during therapeutic interactions; and motivating and facilitating client behav­iors in order to maximize client performance.
• Communicate effectively both verbally and non-verbally; elicit and describe factual information and perceive information derived from verbal and non­verbal communication and social cues.
• Be appropriately assertive as required to speak in class, initiate and guide the therapy process, establish limits as needed for the safety of self and clients and establish professional identity within complex systems.
• Utilize the computer for communication and class assignments.
• Exhibit professional demeanor including appropriate language and dress, and acceptance of responsibility for conduct.
• Demonstrate organizational and time management skills and ability to pri­oritize activities effectively as needed to attend class and fulfill class require­ments.
• Exhibit flexibility and adapt to changing environments and expectations.
• Cope with stresses encountered in the intensive educational process as well as clinical practice environments.
• Demonstrate consistent work behaviors including initiative, preparedness, dependability, punctual attendance and work site maintenance.
• Tolerate working in environments where there is exposure to disability, ill­ness, pain and death.
• Observe persons and scenarios and elicit relevant information for use in assessment and intervention.
• Plan, guide and implement both individual and group interventions.
• Maintain ethical standards including honesty, integrity and confidentiality at all times.
• Produce the required volume of work in the expected time frame.

Student must possess sufficient physical and sensory (sensorimotor) skills to:

• Demonstrate positive interpersonal skills including, but not limited to, coop­eration, flexibility, tact, sympathy and confidence.
• Demonstrate respect for diversity, including but not limited to, socio-cultural, socioeconomic, spiritual and lifestyle choices.
• Collaborate with classmates, clients, family members, significant others and team members.
• Function successfully in supervisory and instructor-student relationships; change and adjust behavior and performance in the classroom, laboratory or clinic on the basis of instructor feedback.
• Communicate in the English language effectively and clearly in oral and written forms, using proper spelling, punctuation and grammar to explain procedures and teach skills.
• Use language appropriate to the recipient, with faculty, peers, clients and other health professionals from different social and cultural backgrounds to obtain information from clients, peers, faculty, supervisors and other profes­sionals.
• Use communication skills needed to practice safely.
• Use therapeutic communication skills such as attending and active listening during therapeutic interactions; and motivating and facilitating client behav­iors in order to maximize client performance.
• Communicate effectively both verbally and non-verbally; elicit and describe factual information and perceive information derived from verbal and non­verbal communication and social cues.
• Be appropriately assertive as required to speak in class, initiate and guide the therapy process, establish limits as needed for the safety of self and clients and establish professional identity within complex systems.
• Utilize the computer for communication and class assignments.
• Exhibit professional demeanor including appropriate language and dress, and acceptance of responsibility for conduct.
• Demonstrate organizational and time management skills and ability to pri­oritize activities effectively as needed to attend class and fulfill class require­ments.
• Exhibit flexibility and adapt to changing environments and expectations.
• Cope with stresses encountered in the intensive educational process as well as clinical practice environments.
• Demonstrate consistent work behaviors including initiative, preparedness, dependability, punctual attendance and work site maintenance.
• Tolerate working in environments where there is exposure to disability, ill­ness, pain and death.
• Observe persons and scenarios and elicit relevant information for use in assessment and intervention.
• Plan, guide and implement both individual and group interventions.
• Maintain ethical standards including honesty, integrity and confidentiality at all times.
• Produce the required volume of work in the expected time frame.