Program Information
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.
USAHS offers an alternative path to the OTD degree through the Flex OTD format. This format combines online coursework with virtual and on-campus labs in an entry-level program designed for the student who is unable to attend classes on campus during the week per the Residential format.
The Flex format represents an expansion of the entry-level, campus-based Residential OTD format currently in place at the USAHS. The Residential and Flex formats share a common mission and curriculum while the delivery format, length of program, and number of credits per term differs. The Flex prerequisites, admission requirements, academic calendar, and policies are the same as the campus-based format.
For Students Entering the Fall 2025 Term or After
Mission Statement
The mission of the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program is to develop occupation-centered scholarly practitioners prepared for service by delivering innovative and quality education focused on integrity, creativity, and critical thinking. Graduates from the OTD program synthesize and apply evidence-based practice and ethical standards for occupation-centered service delivery across diverse settings for persons, groups, and populations. The doctoral capstone provides in-depth exposure in a designated area of interest as well as synthesis and application of knowledge in a mentored practice setting.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the OTD program, graduates will demonstrate the ability to:
- demonstrate effective verbal and written communication of occupational therapy services and in the dissemination of Doctoral Capstone project;
- apply knowledge from theory and practice in the planning and implementation of occupational therapy services in current and emerging areas of practice;
- design strategies consistent with being a reflective Practitioner when developing personal and professional goals;
- model principles of inclusive, ethical, and professional behaviors;
- integrate global perspectives of occupational therapy in intervention approaches;
- synthesize information, including multiple models and theories to determine appropriate assessment and intervention strategies for individuals and populations;
- 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;
- integrate competencies in effective interprofessional, intraprofessional, and community stakeholder collaboration;
- design and implement programs and interventions that address occupational barriers through effective clinical reasoning.
- 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 Flex OTD program is 96 credits and is offered over nine trimesters. Coursework is delivered online with corresponding live virtual weekday evening and weekend sessions plus on-campus labs during select weekends each trimester; more than 50% of the coursework is delivered online. The online courses consist of web-based text with graphics, videos, and audio clips. There are opportunities for faculty-to-student and student-to-student synchronous and asynchronous interactive collaboration. Assessment of online learning outcomes includes a variety of evaluation tools depending on the course outcomes, such as (1) regular quizzes completed online, (2) graded bulletin board assignments, (3) case reports, (4) group projects, (5) research papers, and (6) article critiques.
The campus lab sessions provide an avenue for teaching activities not well suited for online delivery, such as the hands-on learning that is vital to occupational therapy education, as well as oral presentations, lab practical testing, and socialization activities. Students are expected to make arrangements for other academic activities, including online exams and office hours, at times other than during lab weekends, which may include non-lab weekends.
Flex 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 2023 ACOTE OTD Standard D.1.3.For further information about accreditation contact: Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814, Telephone (301) 652-6611, www.acoteonline.org.
Degree Requirements
Students must meet the following program requirements to complete the OTD degree and be eligible for graduation:
Students must submit an application for graduation by the deadline for the term in which they anticipate completing all degree requirements. Students should see Commencement Ceremony and Graduation for information on University graduation requirements, participation in commencement, and degree conferral.
Standard Occupational Classification codes for which program is intended to prepare graduates: Occupational Therapist (29-1122); Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary (25-1071)
The University may delay the start of a cohort by one trimester.
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
The Flex OTD program satisfies the educational requirements for licensure in Washington state.
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