Undergraduate Electives

OCCU 2000 - Occupation and Daily Life

This introductory course for students in any field of study is designed to explore the meaning of occupation in everyday life. Typically, the term “occupation” refers to categories of paid work. This course will explore a broader understanding of occupation as a framework for daily living; namely what we need to do, want to do, or have to do daily, and over time. Students will be exposed to a broad range of literature on occupation, including personal and environmental factors that influence, and are influenced by, occupation. Students will gain a deeper understanding of occupation as the foundation of everyday life through a range of perspectives and experiential activities. This elective is being offered online.

OCCU 3500 - Occupation Through the Life Span

Designed for students from any discipline, this course builds on basic concepts in occupational science. We explore how human development from infancy through late adulthood shapes access to participation in occupations that are the building blocks of occupational identities. Far beyond employment, ‘occupation’ refers to those things we want to do, need to do, and have to do, in our daily lives and throughout the lifespan. This elective is being offered face to face.

OCCU 4500 -To Do or Not to Do: Social Sanctioning of Occupations

This course will cover the key concepts and debates in occupational science, with focus on the social structures which lead to the binary labelling of occupations as "sanctioned" and "non-sanctioned." Students will gain in-depth understanding of the way society shapes the values and statuses associated with occupations, where available through a comparative, cross-cultural perspective. This will be achieved through a comprehensive, interdisciplinary study of literature relevant to occupations. This elective is being offered online.