Occupational Therapy, Dr.O.T.

 Return to: Academic Degree Programs Offered

Effective Summer 2018 - Enrollment in the DrOT is suspended, pending revision to an Occupational Therapy Doctoral (OTD) Degree Program. Check with Academic Advisor in CHHS in Spring 2018 for details on the OTD Program.

The Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (DrOT) is a post-professional practice degree offered through the College of Health and Human Services. Occupational therapists will advance skills and knowledge to enhance current practice and prepare to be an innovator in traditional and emerging areas of occupational therapy. The student will also have the opportunity to develop and/or refine academic, research, and clinical teaching skills.

This program is designed for occupational therapists seeking a post professional advanced practice doctorate in occupational therapy.

The DrOT will have three points of entry:

• Master of Occupational Therapy degree;
• Baccalaureate of Occupational Therapy with a masters degree in an area of study other than occupational therapy;
• Baccalaureate of Occupational Therapy without additional master degree completion. The post baccalaureate entry requires completion of all prerequisite courses for the DrOT core sequence.

Admission Requirements:

Applicants must meet the following admission requirements:

1. provide or show evidence of:
   1. a minimum graduate GPA of 3.0, on a 4.0 point scale;
      note: applicants not meeting this criterion may be considered for conditional admission status;
   2. initial certification from NBCOT;
   3. current state occupational therapy license;
   4. successful completion (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) of an upper division statistic course within the past five years; alternately, one may be taken concurrently with the first semester of graduate coursework;
   5. basic computer competency including word processing and use of the Internet; (students who are unfamiliar with web-supported instruction are encouraged to take ONTL - 5101 Introduction to Online Learning (2) prior to or during the first term of enrollment);
   6. application essay;
   7. curriculum vita or resume;
   8. three letters of recommendation; and
   9. a personal interview with a graduate program faculty advisor/mentor.
      AND
2. provide evidence of an occupational therapy masters degree.
   1. a masters degree from an occupational therapy program accredited by ACOTE;
   2. a baccalaureate degree in occupational therapy from an occupational therapy program accredited by ACOTE and a masters degree in occupational therapy or a related field;
   3. International students must have graduated from a masters level program accredited by the World Federation of Occupational Therapy (WFOT).
      OR 
3. provide evidence of a baccalaureate of occupational therapy degree.
   1. a baccalaureate degree from an occupational therapy program accredited by ACOTE;
   2. International students must have graduated with a bachelors degree from a World Federation of Occupational Therapy (WFOT) approved program;
   3. All bachelors prepared occupational therapists who have not earned an additional master’s degree must complete the DrOT transitional prerequisite courses. 

Application Procedure:

Application for admission to the DrOT program is rolling allowing students to enter each semester, A cutoff date for application will be posted on the DrOT web site for each semester and for summer session. The application process will consist of:

1. completion of the DrOT graduate application;
2. submission of official copies of all transcripts from schools attended;
3. an essay addressing the applicant’s reasons) for pursuing the Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree;
4. three letters of recommendation that address the applicant’s potential for post professional study; one letter should be from an employer or supervisor, one from an occupational therapy colleague, and one from an individual who can attest to your scholarly potential;
5. proof of initial NBCOT certification;
6. proof of current state occupational therapy license;
7. submission of the application fee.

Applications will be reviewed by members of the DrOT

Program Admission Committee and applicants will be invited to interview. Committee recommendation will be based on the review of the admission materials, recommendations, course work to date, essay and interview. The committee will recommend those candidates who are the best qualified to the DrOT Program Coordinator. Applicants will be notified of the decision via letter.

Degree Requirements

A. Required Courses (33 hours)

• OCCT - 8220 Research Methods for Occupational Therapy (3)
• OCCT - 8310 Advanced Theories in Occupational Therapy (3)
• OCCT - 8320 Occupation Centered Practice and Process (3)
• OCCT - 8340 Instructional Methods in Occupational Therapy (3)
• OCCT - 8345 Program Develop and Evaluation (3)
• OCCT - 8350 Leadership and Entrepreneurship in Occupational Therapy (3)
• OCCT - 8360 Advocacy: Legal and Ethical Policy and Leadership (3)
• OCCT - 8370 Funding Occupational Therapy Research (3)
• OCCT - 8415 Advanced Research In OT (4)
• OCCT - 8510 Pro-Seminar I (1)
• OCCT - 8520 Pro-Seminar II (1-3) (may be repeated two times for a total of 9 credits)
• OCCT - 8530 Pro-Seminar III (1-3) (may be repeated one time for a total of 6 credits)

B. Specialty Concentration Elective Required:

(6 Credit hours minimum) Specialty concentration electives will be developed as part of the doctoral student study plan.

C. Culminating Project Required Courses (6 hours)

• OCCT - 9910 Doctorate in Occupational Therapy Capstone I (1-3) (may be repeated up to 6 credit hours)
• OCCT - 9920 Doctorate in Occupational Therapy Capstone Research Project II (1-3) (may be repeated up to 6 credit hours)

Total - Minimum 45 Hours

Applicants who have a baccalaureate of occupational therapy without additional master degree completion will be required to complete the DrOT transition prerequisite courses before starting the DrOT core courses.

• OCCT - 6730 Theories of Occupation (3)
• OCCT - 7790 Research Methods for Occupational Therapy (3)

Admission to Candidacy

Candidacy is awarded by a committee of the DrOT faculty. Candidacy serves as the gateway for student progression to thecapstone research project sequence.

Capstone Research Project I will give the student the opportunity to incorporate theory, research and best practice methods in a specialty concentration.

Capstone Research Project II will be grounded in theory and evidence. Through the capstone research project the student will contribute to the occupational therapy body of knowledge.