Occupational Therapy
An occupational therapist understands the way a person functions, and the interaction between the individual and their environment, assisting patients to regain the ability to continue with their usual daily activities and learn new skills after an accident or illness.
This programme is also offered in Latvian.
Programme Fact File
Health Care
accredited until
Professional Bachelor's Degree in Health Care
The study programme allows students to acquire the basic disciplines of medicine, theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the selected speciality, by obtaining in-depth knowledge on the assessment of environmental accessibility, readjustment thereof, the practical use of technical aids. For better practical readiness for professional work students undergo clinical placement in hospitals and rehabilitation centres in Latvia.
Study environment and methods
Study environment
Studies take place in a modern and well-equipped environment and are organised in the form of lectures, video lectures, seminars, practical classes and active independent work. Students have the possibility to improve their theoretical and practical knowledge and take their first steps in research by participating in the interdisciplinary health care scientific group, bringing together professionals of the field who share the same views. In addition to compulsory courses, students have access to various elective courses allowing to improve one’s physical condition and acquire an in-depth knowledge of human health.
- 1st study year
In the 1st year students acquire general humanities and social sciences subjects e.g., psychology and medical ethics as well as subjects that develop their social, communicative and organisational skills, and focus on the basics of Occupational Therapy, e.g., basics of OT, assessment methods in OT, knowledge about disability and environmental accessibility, universal design and practical skills in assessment and adjustment of environmental accessibility.
- 2nd study year
In the 2nd year students proceed with general subjects as well as theoretical subjects in OT - paediatric and adult diseases, internal diseases, neurology, traumatology and orthopaedics, psychiatry, first aid, and pharmacology. Additionally second year students master conceptual placement models in OT, OT in paediatrics, including clinical training in paediatrics and creative activities in OT.
- 3rd study year
Students continue professional specialisation courses – OT for adults, ergonomics, general rehabilitation, the turnover system for technical aids, and public and environmental health. Students commence clinical placement.
- 4th study year
Students have clinical placement in hospitals and rehabilitation centres, working with patients who have somatic or psychiatric illnesses or inhibited mental development. Students also acquire elective courses that provide a broader understanding of the health care sector.
Study methods
- lectures
- classes
- teamwork
- individual classes
- Syllabus
Course code Study course title Offered by Course leader Credit points/ETCS MK_049 Anatomy Silvija Umbraško 5 / 7.5 REK_075 Assessment and classification of Functional capacity limit Signe Tomsone 2 / 3 REK_123 Assistive technologies and enviromental accessibility Ieva Jēkabsone 3 / 4.5 REK_054 Basics in Occupational Therapy Lolita Cibule 4 / 6 SL_013 Basics of Biostatistics Andrejs Ivanovs 2 / 3 VPUPK_116 Basics of Psychology Jeļena Ļubenko 2 / 3 BUMK_026 Biology and Genetics Agnese Zariņa 2 / 3 REK_021 Circulation and system of Technical aids Zane Liepiņa 2 / 3 KPUMTK_010 Civil and Environmental Defense, First Aid Oļegs Sabeļņikovs 2 / 3 FLK_032 Clinical Pharmacology Līga Henke 1 / 1.5 REK_090 Clinical practice for persons with mental delay Ieva Rugina 4 / 6 REK_091 Clinical practice in psychiatry Ieva Rugina 8 / 12 REK_093 Clinical practice in somatic medicine I Zane Liepiņa 6 / 9 REK_094 Clinical practice in somatic medicine II Zane Liepiņa 8 / 12 REK_097 Conceptual models of practice Lolita Cibule 5 / 7.5 REK_004 Creative Activities in Occupational Therapy Ināra Kalniņa 4 / 6 LUSDK_052 Cultural and Religious Diversity Ingrīda Bolgzda 2 / 3 REK_024 Development of Bachelor’s Thesis and Defence Ināra Kalniņa 10 / 15 VPUPK_196 Developmental psychology Aelita Vagale 2 / 3 SVUEK_046 Economic andBasics of Business Anita Kokarēviča 2 / 3 AURK_021 Emergency Care I Indulis Vanags 1 / 1.5 AURK_003 Emergency Care II Baiba Arkliņa 1 / 1.5 VC_079 English in Rehabilitation Tatjana Zakutajeva 2 / 3 AUVMK_035 Environmental Science and Basics of Civil Protection Sabīne Grīnberga 1 / 1.5 REK_172 Ergonomics, course work Zane Liepiņa 4 / 6 VPUPK_027 Family Pedagogy Aira Aija Krūmiņa 2 / 3 FLK_023 General Pharmacology Līga Henke 1 / 1.5 REK_032 General Rehabilitation Anita Vētra 3 / 6 SUUK_118 Healthy Food Preparation Lolita Vija Neimane 2 / 3 MVI_002 History of Medicine Institute of the History of Medicine Maija Pozemkovska 1 / 1.5 ISK_192 Internal Diseases Juris Karpovs 1 / 1.5 VPUPK_028 Introduction to Art Therapy Jana Duhovska 2 / 3 REK_037 Knowledge about invalidity Ieva Jēkabsone 1 / 1.5 SVUEK_077 Legal Aspects of Professional Activity Aldis Liepiņš 1 / 1.5 REK_176 Massage Ints Zeidlers 2 / 3 VC_007 Medical Terminology in Latin & Greek Aija Zilvestre 1 / 1.5 VC_078 Medical Terminology in Russian Ludmila Jermakoviča 2 / 3 REK_076 Mental retardation Ieva Rugina 1 / 1.5 REK_129 Methods of Research I Lolita Cibule 2 / 3 REK_130 Methods of Research II Lolita Cibule 2 / 3 REK_117 Metogology assesment with Ergotherapy Lolita Cibule 2 / 3 NUNK_015 Neurology Zanda Priede 2 / 3 SUUK_049 Nordic Walking Irēna Upeniece 2 / 3 SUUK_102 Nutritional education Lolita Vija Neimane 2 / 3 REK_115 Occupation and cultural environment Ieva Jēkabsone 2 / 3 REK_051 Occupational Therapy in pediatrics Ieva Rugina 12 / 18 REK_053 Occupational Therapy: geriatric/gerontology Signe Tomsone 4 / 6 REK_052 Occupational Therapy: Public Health Zane Liepiņa 5 / 7.5 BKK_006 Paediatric Traumatology and Orthopaedics Arnis Eņģelis 1 / 1.5 PEK_034 Paediatrics Iveta Dzīvīte-Krišāne 2 / 3 PIC_001 Pedagogy Nora Jansone-Ratinika 2 / 3 VPUPK_168 Pedagogy in Heath Care Aira Aija Krūmiņa 2 / 3 VPUPK_169 Personality and Health Jana Duhovska 2 / 3 LUSDK_211 Philosophy and Ethics Olafs Brūvers 2 / 3 CFUBK_050 Physiology Maija Rumaka 4 / 6 REK_133 Principles of hand splinting Lolita Cibule 1 / 1.5 PUNK_018 Psychiatry Biruta Kupča 3 / 4.5 REK_135 Psychiatry in Occupational Therapy Ināra Kalniņa 3 / 4.5 VC_040 Russian in Rehabilitation Ludmila Jermakoviča 2 / 3 VPUPK_166 Self-Efficacy and Self-Regulation Jeļena Koļesņikova 2 / 3 SUPK_099 Sociology Ritma Rungule 2 / 3 REK_013 Somatic diseases Zane Liepiņa 6 / 9 SUUK_084 Sports and Games Indra Vīnberga 2 / 3 SUUK_136 Sports for Health 2 Indra Vīnberga 2 / 3 REK_023 State Examination Ināra Kalniņa 2 / 3 ORTK_002 Traumatology and orthopaedics Andris Jumtiņš 1 / 1.5 REK_022 Universal design Ieva Jēkabsone 1 / 1.5 LUSDK_016 Violence, psychosocial factors Ilvija Razgale 2 / 0
Admissions requirements
Head of Programme
