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 Department of Morphology Silvija Umbraško 5 / 7.5 REK_075 Assessment and classification of Functional capacity limit Department of Rehabilitation Signe Tomsone 2 / 3 REK_123 Assistive technologies and enviromental accessibility Department of Rehabilitation Ieva Jēkabsone 3 / 4.5 REK_054 Basics in Occupational Therapy Department of Rehabilitation Lolita Cibule 4 / 6 SL_013 Basics of Biostatistics Vinita Cauce 2 / 3 VPUPK_116 Basics of Psychology Department of Health Psychology and Paedagogy Jeļena Ļubenko 2 / 3 BUMK_026 Biology and Genetics Department of Biology and Microbiology Agnese Zariņa 2 / 3 REK_021 Circulation and system of Technical aids Department of Rehabilitation Zane Liepiņa 2 / 3 KPUMTK_010 Civil and Environmental Defense, First Aid Oļegs Sabeļņikovs 2 / 3 FLK_032 Clinical Pharmacology Department of Pharmacology Līga Henke 1 / 1.5 REK_090 Clinical practice for persons with mental delay Department of Rehabilitation Ieva Rugina 4 / 6 REK_091 Clinical practice in psychiatry Department of Rehabilitation Ieva Rugina 8 / 12 REK_093 Clinical practice in somatic medicine I Department of Rehabilitation Zane Liepiņa 6 / 9 REK_094 Clinical practice in somatic medicine II Department of Rehabilitation Zane Liepiņa 8 / 12 REK_097 Conceptual models of practice Department of Rehabilitation Lolita Cibule 5 / 7.5 REK_004 Creative Activities in Occupational Therapy Department of Rehabilitation Ināra Kalniņa 4 / 6 LUSDK_052 Cultural and Religious Diversity Department of Welfare and Social Work Lolita Vilka 2 / 3 REK_024 Development of Bachelor’s Thesis and Defence Department of Rehabilitation Ināra Kalniņa 10 / 15 VPUPK_196 Developmental psychology Department of Health Psychology and Paedagogy Aelita Vagale 2 / 3 SVUEK_046 Economic andBasics of Business Department of Public Health and Epidemiology Anita Kokarēviča 2 / 3 AURK_021 Emergency Care I Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Indulis Vanags 1 / 1.5 AURK_003 Emergency Care II Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Baiba Arkliņa 1 / 1.5 VC_079 English in Rehabilitation Language Centre Tatjana Zakutajeva 2 / 3 AUVMK_035 Environmental Science and Basics of Civil Protection Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine Sabīne Grīnberga 1 / 1.5 REK_172 Ergonomics, Course Work Department of Rehabilitation Liene Saukuma 4 / 6 VPUPK_027 Family Pedagogy Department of Health Psychology and Paedagogy Aira Aija Krūmiņa 2 / 3 FLK_023 General Pharmacology Department of Pharmacology Līga Henke 1 / 1.5 REK_032 General Rehabilitation Department of Rehabilitation Anita Vētra 3 / 6 SUUK_118 Healthy Food Preparation Department of Sports and Nutrition 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 Department of Internal Diseases Juris Karpovs 1 / 1.5 VPUPK_028 Introduction to Art Therapy Department of Health Psychology and Paedagogy Kristīne Vende-Kotova 2 / 3 REK_037 Knowledge About Disability Department of Rehabilitation Ieva Jēkabsone 1 / 1.5 SVUEK_077 Legal Aspects of Professional Activity Department of Public Health and Epidemiology Aldis Liepiņš 1 / 1.5 REK_176 Massage Department of Rehabilitation Ints Zeidlers 2 / 3 VC_007 Medical Terminology in Latin & Greek Language Centre Aija Zilvestre 1 / 1.5 VC_078 Medical Terminology in Russian Language Centre Ludmila Jermakoviča 2 / 3 REK_076 Mental retardation Department of Rehabilitation Ieva Rugina 1 / 1.5 REK_129 Methods of Research I Department of Rehabilitation Lolita Cibule 2 / 3 REK_130 Methods of Research II Department of Rehabilitation Lolita Cibule 2 / 3 REK_117 Metogology assesment with Ergotherapy Department of Rehabilitation Lolita Cibule 2 / 3 NUNK_015 Neurology Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery Zanda Priede 2 / 3 SUUK_049 Nordic Walking Department of Sports and Nutrition Irēna Upeniece 2 / 3 SUUK_102 Nutritional education Department of Sports and Nutrition Lolita Vija Neimane 2 / 3 REK_115 Occupation and cultural environment Department of Rehabilitation Ieva Jēkabsone 2 / 3 REK_051 Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics Department of Rehabilitation Ieva Rugina 12 / 18 REK_053 Occupational Therapy: geriatric/gerontology Department of Rehabilitation Signe Tomsone 4 / 6 REK_052 Occupational Therapy: Public Health Department of Rehabilitation Zane Liepiņa 5 / 7.5 BKK_006 Paediatric Traumatology and Orthopaedics Department of Paediatric Surgery Arnis Eņģelis 1 / 1.5 PEK_034 Paediatrics Department of Paediatrics Iveta Dzīvīte-Krišāne 2 / 3 PIC_001 Pedagogy Centre for Educational Growth Nora Jansone-Ratinika 2 / 3 VPUPK_168 Pedagogy in Heath Care Department of Health Psychology and Paedagogy Aira Aija Krūmiņa 2 / 3 VPUPK_169 Personality and Health Department of Health Psychology and Paedagogy Jana Duhovska 2 / 3 LUSDK_211 Philosophy and Ethics Department of Welfare and Social Work Olafs Brūvers 2 / 3 CFUBK_050 Physiology Department of Human Physiology and Biochemistry Maija Rumaka 4 / 6 REK_133 Principles of hand splinting Department of Rehabilitation Lolita Cibule 1 / 1.5 PUNK_018 Psychiatry Department of Psychiatry and Narcology Biruta Kupča 3 / 4.5 REK_135 Psychiatry in Occupational Therapy Department of Rehabilitation Ināra Kalniņa 3 / 4.5 VC_040 Russian in Rehabilitation Language Centre Ludmila Jermakoviča 2 / 3 VPUPK_166 Self-Efficacy and Self-Regulation Department of Health Psychology and Paedagogy Jeļena Koļesņikova 2 / 3 SUPK_099 Sociology Department of Sociology and Psychology Ritma Rungule 2 / 3 REK_013 Somatic diseases Department of Rehabilitation Zane Liepiņa 6 / 9 SUUK_084 Sports and Games Department of Sports and Nutrition Indra Vīnberga 2 / 3 SUUK_136 Sports for Health 2 Department of Sports and Nutrition Indra Vīnberga 2 / 3 REK_023 State Examination Department of Rehabilitation Ināra Kalniņa 2 / 3 ORTK_002 Traumatology and Orthopaedics Department of Orthopaedics Andris Jumtiņš 1 / 1.5 REK_022 Universal design Department of Rehabilitation Ieva Jēkabsone 1 / 1.5 LUSDK_016 Violence, Psychosocial Factors Department of Welfare and Social Work Ilvija Razgale 2 / 3
Admissions requirements
Head of Programme
