The Course of Study in Osteopathy provides the scientific basis and theoretical and practical preparation necessary to be licensed to practice as an Osteopathy. The Osteopath, the graduate is the healthcare professional who carries out interventions to prevent and maintain the state of health through osteopathic treatment of somatic dysfunctions within the musculoskeletal system. The learning pathway provides basic, characterizing and related curricular educational activities; it also provides additional specific professionalizing educational activities such as seminars, internships partly compulsory, partly freely chosen by the student; finally, the learning pathway provides educational activities such as laboratories, preparatory for internship activities. The Degree Course in Osteopathy lasts 3 years and is divided into 6 semesters; the first year of the course is propaedeutic , the second year is aimed at learning about the dysfunctions of the musculoskeletal system and their relationship with orthopedic, neurological, and cardiorespiratory pathologies that may interfere with the health of the individual, and finally the third year is professionalizing and specialized. Graduates in the class are equipped with an adequate preparation in the basic disciplines, such as to enable them the best understanding of the most relevant elements underlying the processes necessary for the prevention and maintenance of the state of health, during all phases of life. Upon completion of the learning pathway, the student will be able to recognize the indication or contraindication to osteopathic treatment and will perform osteopathic evaluation through observation, perceptual palpation, and osteopathic testing in order to detect the presence of clinical signs of somatic dysfunction of the musculoskeletal system. The student will then be able to plan the osteopathic treatment to be performed through specific techniques selected for the individual patient and by promoting educational actions toward the patient and his or her habits in order to prevent alterations of the musculoskeletal system.
OCCUPATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL PROFILES AND OUTLETS
Function within a working environment
The graduates in Osteopathy are healthcare professionals who carry out, independently, or in collaboration with other health care professionals, prevention and health maintenance interventions through osteopathic treatment of somatic dysfunctions that are not attributable to pathologies related to the musculoskeletal system.
A degree in Osteopathy allows immediate entry into the world of work, which, both at the level of public agencies and private facilities, is constantly expanding the demand for this professional figure.
With reference to the diagnosis of medical competence, the graduate in Osteopathy, performs osteopathic evaluation through observation, perceptual palpation, and osteopathic testing to identify any somatic dysfunction that cannot be attributed to pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, and in consideration of indications and contraindications for osteopathic treatment.
Competencies associated with the function
Osteopaths perform their professional activities in health care facilities, public or private, on a salaried or freelance basis.
Career opportunities
The osteopath works on a freelance basis, in professional practices in collaboration with other professionals, or in a dependent relationship in social and health care facilities.
Based on the cultural profile and in compliance with the qualifying educational objectives of the L/SNT4 class, the specific mission of the degree course in Osteopathy is the training of health professionals who are responsible for the attributions provided for in Presidential Decree N. 131 of July 7, 2021, that is, they carry out independently, or in collaboration with other health figures, health maintenance prevention interventions through osteopathic treatment of somatic dysfunctions not attributable to pathologies, within the musculoskeletal system.
Learning Pathway - Osteopathy (L/SNT4)
First Year
Subject |
CFU |
SSD |
Basic scientific knowledge Applied Physics Complementary mathematics Applied medical sciences |
2 2 2 |
FIS/07 MAT/04 MED/50 |
Elements of biology Biochemistry Clinical biochemistry and clinical molecular biology Applied biology Microbiology and clinical microbiology |
1 1 2 2 |
BIO/10 BIO/12 BIO/13 MED/07 |
Elements of chemistry and ecology Inorganic chemistry Organic chemistry Ecology Laboratory medicine |
2 1 1 1 |
CHIM/03 CHIM/06 BIO/07 MED/50 |
Morpho-functional sciences Human and topographic anatomy Physiology Histology Physical and rehabilitative medicine in osteopathic settings General Pathology |
2 2 1 1 2 |
BIO/16 BIO/09 BIO/17 MED/34 MED/04 |
Osteopathic evaluation and medical statistics Medical statistics Osteopathic evaluation |
2 4 |
MED/01 MED/34 |
TO Internship |
15 |
MED/50 |
Knowledge of at least one foreign language |
4 |
|
Second Year
Elements of Pathology and First Aid Internal Medicine Medical Oncology Clinical pathology Nursing science |
2 1 1 2 |
MED/09 MED/06 MED/05 MED/45 |
Prevention health management Labour Law General Hygiene Institutions of Public Law Diseases of the musculoskeletal system |
1 2 1 2 |
IUS/07 MED/42 IUS/09 MED/33 |
Osteopathic sciences Osteopathic sciences I Osteopathic sciences II |
3 3 |
MED/33 MED/34 |
Human and Labour Science Business Management Business Organization Work and Organizational Psychology General Psychology Sociology of economic and labour processes |
1 1 1 2 1 |
SECS-P/07 SECS-P/10 M-PSI/06 M-PSI/01 SPS/09 |
History of medicine and diseases of the musculoskeletal system Diseases of the musculoskeletal system History of Medicine |
2 2 |
MED/34 MED/02 |
Toxicology and Legal Medicine Diagnostic imaging and radiotherapy Pharmacology Legal Medicine |
2 1 2 |
MED/36 BIO/14 MED/43 |
TO internship II |
20 |
MED/50 |
Third Year
Methodologies of ostheopathy Occupational medicine Research methodology - applied movement Research methodology - osteopathy |
2 2 2 |
MED/44 M-EDF/01 MED/34 |
Pathology in Ostheopathy Diseases of the musculoskeletal system Diseases of the neurological system Diseases of the visual system Medicine - cardiovascular system Medicine - respiratory system |
2 1 1 1 1 |
MED/33 MED/26 MED/30 MED/11 MED/10 |
Sciences in Ostheopathy Functional osteopathy Palpatory osteopathy Systemic osteopathy Topographical osteopathy |
2 2 2 2 |
MED/34 MED/34 MED/34 MED/33 |
Osteopathic manipulative treatment I Approach to the osteopathic manipulative treatment Approach in the myofascial area Approach in the musculoskeletal area Approach in the visceral area Bioengineering |
1 1 1 2 1 |
MED/33 MED/34 MED/33 MED/34 ING-IND/34 |
Osteopathic manipulative treatment II Osteopathic manipulative treatment II - 1 Osteopathic manipulative treatment II - 2 |
4 2 |
MED/34 MED/34 |
TO Internship III |
25 |
MED/50 |
ADE |
6 |
|
Seminar activities |
6 |
|
Professional Workshops |
3 |
|
Final Dissertation |
5 |
|
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
In order to be admitted in the course, the candidates should have acquired good human contact skills, good teamwork skills, and the ability to analyze and solve problems. Admission to the degree course is subject to a programmed number of students according to Law 264/99 and involves an entrance examination consisting of a multiple-choice test.
The student's initial preparation is assessed through the administration of an entrance test, common to all the Department's healthcare area courses, consisting of multiple-choice questions on topics of logic and general culture, chemistry, biology, physics, mathematics. The knowledge required for admission, defined annually by the MIUR, is verified by achieving a minimum score in the admission test.
Students admitted to the course with a level below the set minimum mark (at least 40% correct answers in the disciplines of biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics) will be assigned additional training obligations (OFA) to be made up within the first year of the course.In order to allow any verified educational obligations to be cancelled, personalised remedial plans will be activated under the responsibility of the teachers in charge of the relevant disciplines. The educational obligations are deemed to have been met by passing the relevant exam. The procedures are governed by the degree course's didactic regulations.
FINAL EXAMINATION
In order to attain the Bachelor's Degree, as provided for in the ministerial decree, the student must pass a final examination consisting in:
- a practical test in which the students must demonstrate that they have acquired the theoretical-practical and technical-operational knowledge and skills pertaining to the specific professional profile;
- the drafting of a final dissertation. The dissertation, on topics or disciplines closely related to the professional profile, may have a research, technical-application or compilation profile. A student who fails the practical test cannot be admitted to the dissertation.
Both phases of the final examination will take place in front of a Commission composed in accordance with the Regulations and the Faculty and Degree Course Teaching Regulations. The Degree examination is valid as a state exam qualifying for the profession. The final examination is organised in two nationally defined sessions.
The modality of implementation of the final examination and its timing are defined in the academic calendar, published on the University website and communicated by the Student Administration Office. For further information, please consult the following link: https://www.unilink.it/en/students/final-dissertation