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Catherine Rose Talastas is excited to start her second year in Dal Health鈥檚 new online Master of Science in Occupational Science Program. From her home in British Columbia, she is ready to complete her thesis project on a cause that is close to her heart.

At the beginning of the pandemic, Talastas recognized the severe effects that social media was having on her mental well-being: 鈥淚t filled up my time, but at the same time, I was so lost.鈥� The pandemic-induced growth in social media use means that students have witnessed an increase in online portrayals of anxiety and depression. Building upon this understanding, Talastas will be gathering qualitative data through semi-structured interviews with post-secondary students.

She insists that there are no right or wrong answers to her questions鈥攊nstead, she is seeking to investigate different perceptions of the interrelation between occupation and mental health. Talastas was prompted to address the following questions in her research:

• 鈥淗ow are other young adults feeling?
• What did they do to get through this?
• What are the aftereffects of their experiences?鈥�

Upon finishing her bachelor鈥檚 degree in occupational therapy at the University of the Philippines, Talastas was certain that she wanted to extend her education in occupation further, beyond therapy. She feels that occupation 鈥渋s still undervalued in terms of looking at health and wellness.鈥� It was the MScOS program鈥檚 distinguished faculty and interdisciplinary teaching methods that drew her to Dal. She is fond of the program鈥檚 social constructivist approach to education: a practice that sees knowledge as resulting from social interactions rather than individual experiences.

鈥淎ll of us occupational science students are different, there is no single recipe for what we do,鈥� she said.

The program鈥檚 online format allows Talastas to make interprofessional connections with students across the world, each from different sectors in occupation. In meeting fellow students and learning about their particular interest areas, Talastas鈥� appreciation of occupation has evolved:

鈥淎ll of their perspectives are really interesting- things I鈥檝e never really thought of before. Those different facets of understanding are really important,鈥� Talastas said.

In the MScOS program, students from diverse occupational backgrounds are taught to equip interdisciplinary approaches, theories and perspectives in their learning. This allows them to deepen their understandings of how human occupation relates to health, social and human rights, communities, and societies. Thanks to the program鈥檚 research thesis stream, students can focus on individuals or demographics that are of particular interest to them, while simultaneously advancing their skills in research and knowledge transferring.

In starting the online MScOS program, Talastas never thought she would be able to learn, form friendships, or engage in conversations as successfully as she has. Her classmates and professors are 鈥渞eally connecting with each other,鈥� united by their passion for occupational science regardless of the physical distance between them.

Talastas explains how 鈥淒al ticks all the boxes鈥� of what she wants in a master鈥檚 program. Professors and faculty are 鈥渧ery helpful鈥�, offering guidance on research skills, proposal writing, and the collection of data. She doesn鈥檛 ever feel overwhelmed, even as a full-time student with a part time job. She is grateful for all she has gained from the program, insisting:

鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 be able to get to this point if I didn鈥檛 have these kinds of supports.鈥�

Looking Ahead

In addition to a collaborative project that she and her classmates have been working on, Talastas presented her thesis proposal at the this Summer. Crediting Dal鈥檚 online MScOS program with fueling her 鈥渓ove鈥� for occupational research, she hopes to further her education in occupation. She was excited to meet her classmates and professors in person, exclaiming:

鈥淗opefully we get to publish all of the things that we do.鈥�