Occupational science: A new source of power for participants in occupational therapy

Occupational science is an emerging discipline which has the potential to support the practice and study of occupational therapy and contribute new knowledge to society. It originated in the values and traditions of occupational therapy as articulated by Adolph Meyer, the “occupational behavior” framework of Mary Reilly, the spirit of Jean Ayres’ clinical practice for children, and the work of a community of scholars at the University of Southern California. Occupational science is a new, interdisciplinary synthesis of basic knowledge concerning the human as an occupational being. Disciplines contributing to the science are identified according to their congruence with the root beliefs of occupational therapy. The core courses constituting the new doctor of philosophy degree in occupational science are described. Finally, assumptions supporting occupational science such as the importance of skill, holism, and an optimistic view of human nature are made explicit. Occupational science is a promising resource for further legitimizing the practice of occupational therapy, providing a curricular framework for students and strengthening the contribution of academic departments of occupational therapy to the universe of knowledge constituting the university.