The Future of Occupational Therapy Is Here

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Students on campus

The 3+3 B.S./OTD program requires six years of academic studies, including six months of clinical fieldwork and a 14-week doctoral capstone experience. In the end, you will have earned a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science with a minor in Neuroscience and Psychology, a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OTD) with a Specialization in Leadership.

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We'll work with you to build a learning plan that meets your needs and fuels your passion for the field. Our curriculum features a leadership and mentoring program with top clinicians, leaders, and businesses in the field, and our faculty experts are as relatable as they are experienced. You'll benefit from our intensive one-on-one time with them beginning in your first year.

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You're entering a diverse occupation, and our program will expose you to the full breadth and depth of the field. A Specialization in Leadership is baked into our innovative curriculum, and additional specializations in Social Justice, Innovation, Neurodiversity, or Trauma Informed Care can be attained through graduate electives.

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Some programs meet standards, our one-of-a-kind curriculum transcends them. You’ll learn to identify and utilize evidence-based practice, critical inquiry, and clinical reasoning to serve an ever diverse and dynamic world, using leadership, advocacy, and ethics in everything you do. 


Our “learn by doing” philosophy is built on transformational instruction. Years one through three are spent building an unshakeable foundation, during which you’ll learn the essentials of the OT profession. Beginning in year four, OT becomes the focus as you identify and pursue your unique path into the profession. Extensive fieldwork, doctoral capstone, and individual mentorship provide the professional preparation you need to hit the ground running after graduation.

CORE 

VALUES

  • Responsive occupation-based interventions
  • Excellence through innovation
  • Clinical curiosity and reasoning
  • Leadership, advocacy, and scholarship in everyday practice

CURRICULAR 

FOCUS

  • Social justice
  • Interprofessional and community collaboration
  • Reflective practice
  • Dynamic and diverse nature of occupations across the lifespan

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DOCTORAL-DEGREE-LEVEL OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PROGRAM
(Applicant Program)

The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program has applied for accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.


The program must be granted Candidacy Status, have a preaccreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates 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). 

After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.