Occupational Therapy, OTD

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Program Description

Occupational therapy is an evidence-based healthcare profession deeply rooted in science that helps people across the lifespan adapt to injury, illness, or disability through therapeutic intervention. The proposed Occupational Therapy Doctoral Degree (OTD) is a 108 credit, entry-level program that emphasizes the understanding that engagement in everyday activities is essential to the development, adaptation, and well-being of individuals and populations across the lifespan. The entry-level nature of the program is interpreted to mean that entering students need only a bachelor's degree to be admitted and reflects the direction of the discipline as further explained below. The program will prepare students to assist clients who are limited by physical, cognitive, psychosocial, developmental, and environmental conditions in order to maximize their independence and maintain optimum health and wellness. Students will engage in exemplary learning activities and training opportunities within an interdisciplinary team working with multiculturally diverse populations and engaging in rural and global health services within the context of community based practices. Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the National Certification Examination for the Occupational Therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) for licensure in Utah. In Utah, occupational therapists are licensed by the Utah Board of Occupational Therapy (https://dopl.utah.gov/ot/). 

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Admission Requirements

Apply through the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS). 
 
B.A. or B.S. from a regionally accredited institution or the equivalent for international students with the following prerequisites (with a grade of C or higher) or equivalent from other institutions: 

• Introduction to Occupational Therapy
• Human Anatomy and Human Physiology 
• Kinesiology or Biomechanics
• Statistics
• Sociology or Anthropology
• Abnormal Psychology
• Human Development Across the Lifespan
• Medical Terminology 

 Additional Requirements:

• 40 hours of occupational therapy observation 
• Three letters of recommendation one of which must be from an occupational therapist 
• Personal Essay 
• International students must demonstrate language proficiency in Standard American English.
• Criminal background check**
• Technical standards form (will be made available upon acceptance)
• Coursework completed at another university within the past five (5) years will be reviewed by the faculty admissions committee to determine whether students should receive credit 

 Note: ** Can be completed between acceptance and program start. 

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Program Curriculum

108 credits

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
OTD 7111	Analysis and Measurement of Movement	5
OTD 7112	Foundations of Occupational Therapy Practice	3
OTD 7113	Human Conditions	3
OTD 7114	Foundations of Research	3
OTD 7115	Fieldwork Seminar	1
OTD 7121	Neuroscience for Occupational Therapy Practice	4
OTD 7122	Occupational Development Across the Lifespan	3
OTD 7123	Occupational Analysis	3
OTD 7124	Advanced Research	3
OTD 7125	Capstone Seminar I	1
OTD 7131	Assessments of Occupation	3
OTD 7132	Behavioral Health Interventions and Group Process	6
OTD 7133	Fieldwork IA	1
OTD 7134	Capstone Seminar II	1
OTD 7211	Leadership, Ethics, and Advocacy in Occupational Therapy	3
OTD 7212	Children and Youth Interventions	6
OTD 7213	Fieldwork IB	1
OTD 7214	Technology in Practice	2
OTD 7215	Rural and Population Health	3
OTD 7216	Capstone Seminar III	1
OTD 7221	Clinical Reasoning	3
OTD 7222	Adult Interventions	6
OTD 7223	Fieldwork IC	1
OTD 7224	Business Practices	3
OTD 7225	Capstone Seminar IV	2
OTD 7231	Fieldwork IIA	11
OTD 7232	Capstone Seminar V	1
OTD 7311	Fieldwork IIB	11
OTD 7312	Capstone Seminar VI	1
OTD 7321	Capstone	13
Total Hours		108

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Graduation Requirements

1. Complete 108 required credits with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, no individual course grade lower than a C, a final grade of S for those courses that are S/N, and satisfactory professional behaviors.
2. Complete all program and university requirements.
3. Apply for graduation by the dates posted.  

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program Learning Outcomes

At the successful conclusion of this program, students will be able to: 

1. Integrate professional reasoning and clinical judgement to evaluate models, policies, and systems in current or emerging occupational therapy practice settings.
2. Develop and employ theoretically sound, evidence-informed occupational therapy programs, and practices that incorporate an ecological perspective of human health.
3. Demonstrate professionalism, ethical behavior, leadership, and advocacy skills to influence positive change with clients, communities, and the profession.
4. Appraise the diversity of individual and group occupations and provide culturally relevant and meaningful occupational therapy respecting the dignity of every person. 
5. Develop self-reflection skills to be compassionate, caring, and thoughtful occupational therapists committed to lifelong learning and promoting health, healing, and hope in response to human conditions.
6. Collaborate and form partnerships with related disciplines and stakeholders in the community to co-create and devise transformative strategies with ingenuity. 
7. Integrate and apply in-depth knowledge and proficiency, through capstone experience and project, in one of the following areas: clinical practice, research, administration, leadership, program and policy development, advocacy, or education.