Fieldwork Student
Level I and Level II Fieldwork
Fieldwork education is a valuable component of the entry-level doctoral program. Fieldwork provides the opportunity to connect the knowledge learned in the classroom to the various practice settings of occupational therapy.
Level I fieldwork is embedded into the didactic portion of the curriculum throughout three semesters. Students will have multiple pediatric, adult, and older adult Level I fieldwork experiences.
Level II fieldwork follows the didactic portion of the curriculum. Students will have two different full-time fieldwork sites across the United States. Level II Fieldwork must be completed within 12 months of the academic coursework on campus.
Xavier OTD Fieldwork Students Embrace Global Learning in Guatemala
Xavier University Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) third year students embark on a transformative nine-day international Level I fieldwork experience in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala for an unforgettable journey that brings classroom learning to life!
This immersive experience is part of the Total Immersive Diversity Experience (TIDE), a signature Xavier OTD Level I fieldwork designed to inspire cultural humility, global engagement, and interprofessional collaboration in future occupational therapists.
Under the direction of Dr. Stacia Galey, the course empowers students to grow as ethical, reflective, and compassionate practitioners by integrating Jesuit values with evidence-based, occupation-centered practice. Through this international fieldwork, students developed cultural responsiveness and lifelong learning skills while serving communities abroad.
Faculty and students partnered with occupational and physical therapy students from Universidad Rafael Landívar (URL), a fellow Jesuit university in Guatemala. Together, they delivered hands-on, client-centered care across three diverse sites:
- La Esperanza Rehabilitation Center – providing outpatient care for individuals with orthopedic and neurological conditions.
- Xecam Cantel Community Center – supporting individuals and families across the lifespan through health promotion and functional skill development.
- CREAR Rehabilitation Center – empowering children and adolescents with developmental and physical disabilities to enhance participation in daily activities, education, and community life.
Through these collaborations, Xavier and URL students co-created treatment plans, delivered occupation-based interventions, and applied culturally relevant therapeutic strategies, while learning to see health through a global lens.
Beyond fieldwork, students fully embraced Guatemalan culture through vibrant cultural immersion experiences. They learned traditional Mayan backstrap weaving, explored the healing use of medicinal plants, participated in a temascal (Mayan sauna) for health and spiritual renewal, visited ancient Mayan ruins, and lived with local host families.
These meaningful experiences deepened students’ appreciation for the intersection of culture, spirituality, and community in health and occupational participation as a hallmark of Xavier’s Jesuit education and global mission.
To participate in in Level I and II Fieldwork experiences, including TIDE, students must have liability insurance as offered by Xavier and all required vaccinations and immunizations up-to-date.