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Occupational therapy is a health and rehabilitation profession. Occupational therapists provide services to individuals of all ages who have physical, developmental, emotional, and/or social deficits. Occupational therapists practice in public and private schools, rehabilitation centers, hospitals, hand therapy clinics, home health agencies, and in private practice.
Mission Statement
The mission of the USAHS’s OTD program is to graduate a diverse population of Occupational Therapy practitioners with the doctoral skills necessary to analyze human occupation and to implement science-driven and evidence-based interventions that promote quality of life for the clients whom they will serve. The OTD graduates will contribute to their profession and to a global society through their competence, ethical standards and professionalism. Upon successful completion of the OTD program, graduates will demonstrate preparation beyond the generalist level in practice, theory and research skills, leadership, advocacy, and program development.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the OTD program, graduates will demonstrate the ability to
- design strategies consistent with being a reflective practitioner when developing personal and professional goals;
- Integrate competencies in effective interprofessional, intraprofessional, and community stakeholder collaborations;
- design and implement programs and interventions that address occupational barriers through effective clinical reasoning;
- demonstrate effective verbal and written communication of occupational therapy services and in dissemination of Doctoral Capstone project;
- model principles of inclusive, ethical, and professional behaviors;
- demonstrate leadership skills needed for effective advocacy and for the advancement of the profession;
- produce evidence-informed information that contributes to the advancement of occupational therapy;
- synthesize information including multiple models and theories to determine appropriate assessment and intervention strategies for individuals and populations;
- apply knowledge from theory and practice in the planning and implementation of occupational therapy services in current and emerging areas of practice;
- integrate global perspectives of occupational therapy in intervention approaches;
- disseminate scholarly findings to impact the future practice of occupational therapy.
Program Prerequisites
Please see Admissions, Records, and Registration for prerequisites and application information.
Delivery of Coursework
The OTD residential program is 117 credits and is offered over eight trimesters. Coursework is provided in a blended learning format. This is a combination of an online learning component with classroom instruction. Lab classes are taught in a hands-on setting, while some portions of the course content are presented through a variety of interactive online activities and augmented by in-class discussions, patient interactions, and simulation.
Note: OTD students must complete 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork within 24 months following completion of all prior didactic portions of the program. Students must complete an individual 14-week capstone experience within 18 months following completion of the remaining didactic portion of the program. The doctoral capstone experience must be started after completion of all coursework and Level II fieldwork as well as completion of preparatory activities defined in 2018 ACOTE OTD Standard D.1.3.
For further information about accreditation contact: Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929, phone 301-652-AOTA, www.acoteonline.org.
Standard Occupational Classification codes for which program is intended to prepare graduates: Occupational Therapist (29-1122); Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary (25-1071)
California OT Licensure
As of the date of publication of the catalog/handbook, in order to be eligible for professional licensure as an Occupational Therapist in California, Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) or Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program graduates must hold a degree from an accredited Occupational Therapy program. MOT/OTD graduates that are applying for licensure in the state of California are required to submit the CA application for OT licensure, application fee, Proof of Passing Exam from the NBCOT and submit an official transcript showing MOT or OTD degree to the California Board of Occupational Therapy.
Washington State Residents
Occupational Therapy program students should check with the Washington Department of Health, Health Profession Quality Assurance Division, to determine whether the program will prepare them for licensure in Washington State.
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