Occupational Therapy

The Occupational Therapy track is designed specifically for occupational therapists and graduate level students of occupational therapy. Licensed occupational therapists and students enrolled in the Tufts University Graduate Degree Programs in Occupational Therapy (OT) are invited to enroll in the Certificate Program at Tufts University School of Medicine (TUSM). A baccalaureate degree is required for admission. Tufts occupational therapy students may enroll in the certificate program concurrently with their occupational therapy studies and all applicable credits earned may be applied toward their OT master's degree. Courses are offered at the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (GSAS) campus in Medford and at the School of Medicine campus in Boston.

Core Courses For Occupational Therapy students:

To complete the Certificate Program, two GSAS occupational therapy courses are required of current OT students:

OTS 273 Theory and Management of Pain (equivalent to 4 TUSM credits*)

OTS 234 (Fall) or 235 (Spring) Occupational Therapy Practicum (equivalent to 4 TUSM credits*)
Completion of the Practicum is credited toward the Certificate ONLY if the practicum occurs in a pain-related environment.

*TUSM and GSAS OT programs count credits differently.

For Tufts Occupational Therapy Alumni & Licensed Occupational Therapists:

Alumni and licensed occupational therapists are required to successfully complete OTS273 and may receive credit for OTS 234/235 if the Practicum was completed in a pain-related environment within the 12 months prior to applying to the Certificate program.

TUSM courses required of all Occupational Therapy Certificate Students:

PREP0230 Neuroanatomy, Neurochemistry and Pharmacology of Pain (4 credits)

PREP0232 Ethical and Sociocultural Aspects of Pain (4 credits)

Elective Courses: To reach a total of 20 credits, students may choose from the following list of electives offered at TUSM:

PREP0238 Psychological Approaches to Evaluation & Treatment of Pain (2 credits)

PREP0236 Principles of Change and Education Applied to Pain Management (2 credits)

PREP0242 Advanced Pain Management in Special Populations (4 credits)

PREP0240 Complementary Medicine (2 credits)

HCOM0522 Health Behavior & Health Communication (4 credits)

PREP0233 Palliative Care and End of Life Issues(4 credits)

HCOM0510 Patient-Provider Interaction (4 credits)

Students may apply all credits earned in the Certificate of Advanced Study in Pain Topics toward matriculation in the MS-PREP program should they decide to continue their pain management studies.

Students who matriculate in the MS-PREP program will receive 4 credits for OTS 273 Theory and Management of Pain in lieu of PREP0234 Introduction to Clinical Pain Problems. With prior approval from the GSAS and TUSM program directors, students may receive 4 credits for OTS 234 or 235 Occupational Therapy Practicum if the practicum was conducted in a pain-related environment in lieu of one 4-credit elective course at TUSM.

In total, all 20 credits earned in the Certificate program may be applied toward the 48 credits required to earn a Master of Science in Pain Research, Education and Policy.