OTD
[Applicant Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program - 2003]
Dr. Jayne Knowlton, OTD, OTR/L, CAPS, Director
Motivated by Roberts Wesleyan College's mission and vision, occupational justice, transformational growth, and innovative partnerships are woven throughout the applicant OTD program. ACOTE compliance is mandated to align with curriculum development for the education of entry-level doctorates of occupational therapy.
OTD students will develop competence and confidence in the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to become spiritually mature occupational therapy practitioners that will meet the needs of all persons, groups, and populations.
Since this program has as its principal objective the preparation of students for professional practice, the program recognizes its obligation to the profession, clients, colleagues, employing organizations, and society to select appropriate students for the graduate program. Admission to the program is based on six criteria: 1) a completed bachelor’s degree that includes three or more years of undergraduate or graduate study, 2) academic transcripts from all prior institutions with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00 on a scale of 4.00, 3) a completed OTCAS application form, 4) three letters of reference (one from a healthcare provider – preferably a licensed occupational therapist, and two from college or graduate professors who can speak to the candidate’s academic capabilities), and 5) evidence of at least 30 hours of clinical observation, volunteer work, and/or work in an occupational therapy setting prior to enrollment. 6) A writing sample will be included as part of an onsite interview (fall 2021 applicants will be provided with an alternate opportunity).
Admission Criteria:
- Bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy
- Cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.00 on a scale of 4.00
- Competitive GRE scores (waived for fall 2021 applicants)
- At least 30 hours of clinical observation, volunteer work, and/or work in an occupational setting. (For fall 2021 applicants -- Evidence of a minimum of 30 hours is required that include observing, volunteering, or working with an Occupational Therapy practitioner. Alternative experiential opportunities will also be considered.)
- Coursework completed within the past 10 years in:
- Anatomy & Physiology I with lab (4 credits)
- Anatomy & Physiology II with lab (4 credits)
- Introductory Biology with lab (4 credits)
- Lifespan or Human Development (3 credits)
- Anthropology or Sociology (3 credits)
- Abnormal Psychology (3 credits)
- Statistics (3 credits)
- Medical Terminology (at least 1 credit) -- highly recommended for fall 2021 applicants
- Research Methods (3 credits) – highly recommended
Transfer Credit:
Graduate credit earned in another regionally-accredited college or university and carrying a grade of B or better may be transferable toward an advanced degree at Roberts Wesleyan College if it forms an integral part of the degree program and is approved by the OTD Admissions Committee. Applicants to the program may transfer up to 15 credits from another regionally-accredited college or university graduate program in which they were matriculated graduate students in good standing. When a student who has completed coursework at another college transfers to Roberts Wesleyan College, only credits are transferred—no transfer grades are recorded nor counted in the cumulative grade point average. Academic credit is not given for life experience or previous work experience.
Graduate credit earned in accredited graduate schools and carrying a grade of B or better will be transferable toward an advanced degree at Roberts Wesleyan College to the extent that the student can demonstrate correspondence to a course(s) in the Roberts OTD degree program. This correspondence can be demonstrated by students providing catalog course descriptions, course syllabi, and, upon request, completed assignments for the courses being considered for transfer.
The program director, in collaboration with the faculty committee, will compare the content of the intended transferring syllabi to our program's comparable syllabi. The content of the transferring course must meet all ACOTE standards and be of comparable course rigor contained within the potentially waived course for the transfer of credit equal to the potentially waived course to be given. The program director will then determine the transferability of course credit.
Decisions regarding credit transfer are made independent of admissions decisions. Matriculation as a transfer student into the OTD program at Roberts Wesleyan College requires admission according to the procedures and standards outlined above.
SPECIFICS OF THE DOCTORAL OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY DEGREE
Minimum Total Hours: 111
Minimum Requirements:
A cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 must be maintained, with no grade less than a C-. Any didactic course, fieldwork I or II experience, or capstone course with a grade less than B- will be referred to the Occupational Therapy Department’s Academic and Professional Evaluation Committee (APEC) for individualized action, which may result in academic probation. At a minimum, students with GPAs below 3.0 will be placed on probation. The student's curriculum plan will be reviewed and necessary adjustments made. Students who earn more than nine semester hours with a grade of C+, C, or C- will be dismissed from the program. Any student who earns a course grade below C- will automatically be dismissed from the program. Students who are struggling with coursework should talk with their instructors and advisors when difficulties arise so that remediation may be done as early in the semester as possible.
Credits in the Program:
- DOTD 7700 (3) Professional Development I: Introduction to Occupational Therapy
- DOTD 7701 (5) Occupational Engagement
- DOTD 7702 (3) Research I: Evidence-based Practice
- DOTD 7703 (3) Occupational Justice: Ethics and Advocacy
- DOTD 7704 (5) Anatomy and Kinesiology
- DOTD 7710 (2) Professional Development II: Inter-Professional Education, Health Delivery Systems
- DOTD 7711 (5) Lifespan: Adult
- DOTD 7712 (4) Research II: Quantitative Research and Proposal
- DOTD 7714 (3) Pathophysiology
- DOTD 7715 (2) Fieldwork I: Psychosocial Occupational Performance
- DOTD 7716 (3) Psychosocial Occupational Performance
- DOTD 7720 (3) Professional Development III: Emerging Practice Entrepreneurship
- DOTD 7722 (3) Research III: Mixed Methods
- DOTD 7723 (3) OTD: Leaders and Managers
- DOTD 7730 (3) Capstone I: Design
- DOTD 7731 (5) Lifespan: Older Adult
- DOTD 7732 (3) Research IV: Data Analysis and Dissemination
- DOTD 7733 (3) OTD: Educators
- DOTD 7734 (3) Neuroscience
- DOTD 7735 (2) Fieldwork I: Adult/Older Adult
- DOTD 7740 (3) Capstone II: Program Proposal
- DOTD 7741 (5) Lifespan: Child/Youth
- DOTD 7743 (3) Competency
- DOTD 7744 (5) Technology and Innovation
- DOTD 7745 (2) Fieldwork I: Child/Youth
- DOTD 7750 (8) Fieldwork Level II
- DOTD 7760 (8) Fieldwork Level II
- DOTD 7770 (8) Capstone III: Experience
- DOTD 7780 (3) Professional Transitions
Graduation Requirements:
The OTD student must meet all College requirements for graduation as cited in the online graduate catalog. Students must achieve a 3.0 GPA, reflecting successful completion of all coursework to graduate from the OTD program. Students must complete all Level II Fieldwork and capstone requirements of the OTD Program within 24 months following completion of the didactic portion of the program.
Progression:
The curriculum for this program follows a sequential pattern whereby each semester builds upon the knowledge, skills, and attitude developed in prior coursework.
Successful completion of all coursework from the previous semester (C- or higher) is required for continuous progression. Students who earn more than nine semester hours with a grade of C+, C, or C- will be unable to progress and will be dismissed from the program.
Academic Warning:
Students who receive grades of less than a B- in any didactic course, fieldwork I or II experience, or capstone course will be referred to the program’s Academic and Professional Evaluation Committee (APEC) for individualized action. The student will be supported to improve their academic standing however will be warned that a decline in grades can result in probation. APEC will have access to students’ records for ongoing review each semester.
Students who are struggling with coursework should talk with their faculty and mentors when difficulties arise so that remediation may be done as early in the semester as possible.
Academic Probation:
At a minimum, students with GPAs below 3.0 will be placed on probation. The student's curriculum plan will be reviewed and necessary adjustments made via a learning contract. The contract may involve repeating a course, spending additional time in the field, additional supervision time on campus, individual counseling through the Roberts Wesleyan College Counseling Center, an independent study, or any other activity that would provide the student with additional practice, experience, or support necessary to improve skill(s), knowledge, and attitudes.
A person on probation is ineligible for appointed or elective office in student organizations.
Academic Suspension:
Academic suspension of a short-term nature such as one semester are not allowed during the OTD program due to the sequential nature of the program and the annual schedule of course offerings.
Academic Dismissal:
Students who earn more than nine semester hours with a grade of C+, C, or C- will be dismissed from the program. Students who earn a course grade below C- will be automatically dismissed from the OTD Program.
Dismissal from the program may be decided by APEC based on any of the following reasons:
- Student fails to maintain a 3.0 or better GPA cumulatively, following a probationary period as specified.
- Student does not make satisfactory progress in nonacademic or academic areas for a second semester during a probationary period.
- Inability to demonstrate improvement in personal and professional characteristics following given feedback.
- Failure to follow professional ethics.
- Untimely dismissal from a fieldwork or capstone placement.
Accreditation