Course Content

What will I study during my osteopathy degree?

During your academic and clinical training detailed below, you will develop as a learner, as a practitioner and as a person. Underpinning your academic learning are personal and professional skills, such as communication, problem-solving, analysis, critical reflection, self-awareness, responsibility, autonomy and leadership.

The tabs below highlight the areas you will cover during your osteopathic training and the modules covered each year.

Focus Areas and Supporting Studies of our Osteopathy courses

Focus Areas:

Osteopathic studies including theory, philosophy, concepts & principles, and practical skills such as case history taking, palpation (a refined sense of touch), observation, joint movement and soft-tissue techniques. Contact teaching time is far in excess of the University standard, which is essential for learning practical skills. Participation in the outpatient clinic is mandatory even at level 4.

Supporting Studies:

The detailed study of anatomy and physiology of the entire body, inside and out. Sociology of health and illness.

Focus Areas:

The osteopathy classes continue to build on the skills learnt at level 4, and progress to integrating the knowledge acquired in the other level 5 classes. Examples of techniques practised are articulation, muscle energy techniques, functional and indirect approaches, and high velocity thrust techniques. In clinic, students participate in an increasing range of patient examinations and treatments.

Supporting Studies:

A broad range of pathology, including theory, symptoms, signs, and how to assess using standard medical examination procedures. Some adjudicative studies such as pharmacology and imaging.

Focus Areas:

The osteopathy classes build on level 5, and continue to feature significant amounts of practical work alongside theoretical constructs.

Skills are applied to a wide range of scenarios, and clinical reasoning and hypothesis generation are expanded.

In clinic, students become ‘senior students’, responsible for conducting and evaluating patient care.

Supporting Studies:

Continuation of differential diagnosis, integrating co-morbidities into management plans. Research studies encompassing qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.

Focus Areas:

Osteopathy classes consolidate previous learning and find expression in autonomous clinical practice. The amount of support needed from Clinic Tutors decreases, and students play a role in helping junior students develop.

All of this is aimed at ensuring students are ready for their role as an independent healthcare professional at the point of graduation.

LSO osteopaths graduate as ‘general practitioners’, with basic skills in specialist areas which they may choose to go on and develop further in their future careers. These areas include paediatrics, obstetrics, geriatrics, sports injuries and rehabilitation, cranial, visceral and classical approaches.

Supporting Studies:

Professional practice including regulation, ethics and medico-legal considerations.

Business studies including preparing a business plan.

Course Overview Full-Time Students

All students

  • Osteopathy  – I
  • Osteopathy  – II
  • Anatomy and Physiology – Neuromusculoskeletal
  • Anatomy and Physiology – Visceral
  • Anatomy and Physiology – Head and Neck

 

Credits: 120 – level 4

Semester 1

  • Osteopathy  – III
  • Anatomy and Physiology – Neurology

Semester 2

  • Clinical Pathology
  • Professional Studies I

 

Credits: 120 – level 5

MOst students

  • Differential Diagnosis
  • Research and Criticality
  • Osteopathy IV
  • Professional Studies II

Credits: 120 – level 6

BOst students

  • Differential Diagnosis
  • Research Studies
  • Portfolio
  • Osteopathy IV
  • Professional Studies II

 

Credits: 120 – level 6

MOst students

  • Osteopathy V
  • Professional Studies III
  • Major Project
  • Portfolio

Credits: 120 – level 7

BOst students

  • Osteopathy V
  • Professional Studies III

Credits: 60 – level 6

Course Overview Part-Time Students

All students

  • Osteopathy  – I
  • Anatomy and Physiology – Neuromusculoskeletal
  • Anatomy and Physiology – Visceral

 

Credits: 75 – level 4

All students

  • Anatomy and Physiology – Head and Neck
  • Anatomy and Physiology – Neurology
  • Osteopathy  – II

 

Credits: 75 – level 4 & 5

All students

  • Clinical Pathology
  • Osteopathy III
  • Professional Studies I

 

Credits: 90 – level 5

All Students

  • Differential Diagnosis
  • Osteopathy IV
  • Professional Studies II

Credits: 90 – level 6

MOst students

  • Professional Studies III
  • Osteopathy – V (a)
  • Research & Criticality

Credits: 75 – level 6 & 7

 

BOst students

  • Professional Studies III
  • Osteopathy – V
  • Research Studies
  • Portfolio

Credits: 90 – level 6

MOst Students

  • Osteopathy V (b)
  • Major Project
  • Portfolio

Credits : 75 – level 7

BOst Students

Complete studies in year 5

Further detail about the areas covered in each of the above modules can be found on Anglia Ruskin University (our validating university) course pages.