Doctor of Occupational Therapy - Program Details

Students will analyze and evaluate the history, and philosophical and theoretical base of occupational therapy, as well as the influence of related ethical, and socio-political factors on the profession. Students will apply this knowledge base as it relates to meeting current and future health and occupation-based participation needs of all persons, groups, and populations from a holistic perspective including spirituality. Theory guides practice, driving student knowledge acquisition of theory development, leading to desired impact on society and integration of occupational justice.   Students will explore professional and intra-professional roles in the context of national and international health care systems and settings for service delivery.   This would also include supervising and collaborating with certified occupational therapy assistants. Students will create a preliminary professional plan synthesizing course content to support regulatory compliance of OT practice. 

Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Doctorate of Occupational Therapy Program

Students will develop skills in activity analysis to evaluate occupation-based participation as described in the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Process, 3rd Edition. Students’ therapeutic use of self, spirituality, and communication skills for effective interaction in professional teams and communities are applied to the promotion of health, wellbeing, and quality of life for all persons, groups, and populations. 

Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Doctorate of Occupational Therapy Program

Students will translate knowledge of foundational evidence-based exploratory and analysis skills for conducting research. Students will identify a problem leading to potential research topics that transform health, well-being, and quality of life. Students will explore concepts within evidence to support assessment, interventional, and programing decisions. Students will engage in locating, selecting, analyzing, and evaluating scholarly literature to inform evidence-based decisions. Students will gain skills in use of critically appraised topic (CAT) format to communicate research assessment and analysis results. 

Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Doctorate of Occupational Therapy Program

Students will analyze the role of the social determinants of health that influence the ability of persons, groups, and populations to meet occupational participation needs.  Students will integrate the AOTA Code of Ethics, faith and occupational justice into OT practice.  Factors to be explored include epidemiological, sociocultural, socioeconomic, diversity, and lifestyle choices. Community level assessment skills are developed to facilitate access to resources through referrals toward transition of services.  

Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Doctorate of Occupational Therapy Program

Biology, kinesiology, and biomechanics are explored and analyzed for recognition and identification of client factors related to compromised occupational performance.  Students develop assessment and intervention skills through cadaver exploration, kinesiology practice activities, and lecture to determine client factors influencing occupational performance. 

Prerequisite: Acceptance into the Doctorate of Occupational Therapy Program

Students will develop effective team skills in communicating occupational needs with clients, families, communities, and inter-professional team members. Students collaborate with certified occupational therapy assistant (COTA) students and professionals to holistically meet the needs of all persons, groups, and populations. Students will learn to interpret the health, well-being, and quality of life impact of reimbursement systems, funding mechanisms, and service delivery models in the context of state and federal systems. Students will integrate course content by exploring roles of occupational therapists in service delivery models. 

Prerequisites: Successful completion of fall semester year 1 course work of OTD Program

Students will develop a knowledge base to demonstrate competency of adult specific assessments and case study analysis with inter-professional collaboration. Students will demonstrate skills in upper extremity, work rehabilitation, and static splinting skills. Students will participate in knowledge translation in areas of normal developmental expectations in occupations and disease states, to develop skills and apply knowledge of evidence-based assessment, intervention, and documentation strategies for the adult clients in habilitation, rehabilitation, and population health to transform health, well-being, and quality of life. Interventions include the application of preparatory physical agent modalities, ergonomic principles, and assessments in various environments including virtually with telehealth. 

Prerequisites: Successful completion of fall semester year 1 course work of OTD Program

Students will continue the research thread by building on literature review skills with analysis of quantitative and qualitative research methods for evaluation of scholarly literature. Students will develop a research project proposal relevant to the profession of occupational therapy to transform health, well-being, and quality of life. 

Prerequisites: Successful completion of fall semester year 1 course work of OTD Program

Students examine normal human development and pathological changes that can occur over the lifespan that impact occupational participation. Students engage in a systems approach to gain knowledge of the effect of client factors. The role of the occupational therapist in occupational needs identification for intervention planning is explored.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of fall semester year 1 course work of OTD Program

Students will observe and engage in psychosocial practice to translate knowledge regarding psychosocial factors that limit engagement in occupation, well-being, and quality of life. Students begin with direct observation of service delivery, progressing to participation in client centered practice through therapeutic use of self and application of evidence-based reasoning with a health care or wellness practitioner to develop professional behaviors and communication skills. 

The fieldwork I seminar is a processing time to analyze professional behaviors, treatment strategies, and integrate and refine skills in service delivery as future occupational practitioners.

 Prerequisites: Successful completion of fall semester year 1 course work of OTD Program

Students will develop greater skills in the therapeutic use of self by including faith-based and occupational justice considerations in interventions for improved occupational performance and engagement with clients who have psychosocial issues and/or behavioral deficits. Students will explore environmental and contributing factors to psychosocial well-being and inclusive occupational participation.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of fall semester year 1 course work of OTD Program

Students will build on research knowledge, and research method skills to collect project data within the scope of occupational therapy using ethical and methodologically sound practices. The course activities will directly support team research projects that promote the health, well-being, and quality of life for all persons, groups, and populations.  

Prerequisites: Successful completion of spring semester year 1 course work of OTD Program

Students will explore health and wellness service delivery systems, and the impact of policy and regulations through the perspective of leadership and management. Students will determine how change can be effected by participation in delivery systems and professional organizations. Based on their understanding of leadership and management, students will formulate professional, life-long learning, and business plans to create strategies for ongoing quality service provision for all persons, groups, and populations.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of spring semester year 1 course work of OTD Program

In this course, the student will develop teaching and learning skills that apply across OT practice areas. Students will learn how to disseminate knowledge with clients, family, caregivers, and the community to promote occupational participation. The academic role includes instructional design, grant proposal writing, and education regarding advocating for the OT profession to health care and community stakeholders.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of summer semester year 1 course work of OTD Program

Students explore, in collaboration with a faculty mentor, areas of interest in clinical practice, research, administration, leadership, program design, policy development, advocacy, education, and theory development.  The student will network to connect with community agencies to identify societal needs of health, well-being, and quality of life related to the project and experience.  Students will also create a grant proposal which could fiscally support scholarly activities and program development related to the capstone area. 

Prerequisites: Successful completion of summer semester year 1 course work of OTD Program

Students will analyze theories of aging to gain understanding of older adult occupations for application of evidence-based assessments and interventions to promote inclusive occupational participation, productive aging, and well-being. Students will engage in analysis of ergonomic principles including application of technology and environmental adaptations.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of summer semester year 1 course work of OTD Program

Students will integrate previously acquired skills from OTD 702, OTD 712, and OTD 722 by completing statistical analyses and generating a scholarly report appropriate for a peer reviewed journal.   This scholarly report will be made accessible to the public in order to promote occupational justice, advocacy, evidence-based and occupation-based interventions, and service to all persons, groups, and populations.  

Prerequisites: Successful completion of summer semester year 1 course work of OTD Program

Students explore neurologically related structures and functions of the human body throughout the human lifespan to determine impact on occupational participation.  The influence of neurological conditions on human occupational performance will be examined. Students will interpret and analyze developing theoretical perspectives in understanding the influences of neuroscience on behavior and performance.  

Prerequisites: Successful completion of summer semester year 1 course work of OTD Program

The adult and older adult fieldwork I experience will engage the student in directed clinical or simulated observation and participation. Students apply classroom learning about psychosocial issues that limit engagement in occupation. Students begin with direct observation of service delivery, progressing to participation in client centered practice through the therapeutic use of self and application of evidence-based clinical reasoning with a health care or wellness practitioner to develop professional behaviors and communication skills. 

The fieldwork I seminar is a processing time to analyze professional behaviors, treatment strategies, and integrate and refine skills in service delivery as future occupational practitioners.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of summer semester year 1 course work of OTD Program

Students will explore and demonstrate understanding of high, medium and low tech assistive technologies, including funding issues and the legislative impact on the role of technology in occupational engagement. Students will develop skills in the use of technology for service delivery including telehealth and electronic medical records. Technology and innovation engages students to utilize assistive technology as an intervention for client factors in promoting occupational participation for all people along the lifespan. 

Prerequisites: Successful completion of fall semester year 2 course work of OTD Program

Students will apply case management of service delivery in traditional, non-traditional and emerging practice areas while considering the influence of societal factors in community, regional, and national settings. Students will explore how to extend occupational therapy into innovative practice roles by integrating concepts from teaching-learning, health literacy, community access, partnerships, and entrepreneurship. Students will develop skills in innovative roles and be able to communicate the value of holistic occupational therapy services for all stakeholders to advocate for the profession of occupational therapy.  

Prerequisites: Successful completion of spring semester year 1 course work of OTD Program

Students continues to develop a Capstone project through synthesis and application of knowledge gained from the focus area exploration of OTD 730, theory, and prior program coursework. Upon completion, the student will present and defend an individual project that relates to the doctoral capstone experience and demonstrates synthesis of in-depth knowledge in the focused area of chosen study within clinical practice skills, research skills, administration, leadership, program and policy development, advocacy, education, or theory development. 

Prerequisites: Successful completion of fall semester year 2 course work of OTD Program

Students will examine and translate knowledge of evidence-based assessments, interventions, and theory in hospital, school, and community settings for children and youth having occupational deficits. Occupational profiles and OT assessments will be completed to determine client needs, client factors, performance patterns, and performance skills leading to design and provision of therapeutic use of play, self-care, and school-based interventions for the promotion of occupational participation and performance. 

Prerequisites: Successful completion of fall semester year 2 course work of OTD Program

Students will participate in interactive case simulations using skills, therapeutic use of self-including mature spirituality, and knowledge indicative of a competent entry-level occupational therapist. Assessment, treatment planning, interventions, and practice management domains over the lifespan are reviewed and practiced. Students will perform assessments, including those for cognition, balance, and sensory function, as well as intervention skills, including safe administration of preparatory physical agent modalities, transfers, and safe patient handling. Students will reinforce skills in supervision of OTAs, billing, documentation, and contractual obligations for ethical service delivery to persons, groups, and populations.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of fall semester year 2 course work of OTD Program

Students will observe and engage in child and youth practice to translate knowledge regarding factors that limit engagement in occupation, well-being, and quality of life. Students begin with direct observation of service delivery, progressing to participation in client centered practice through the therapeutic use of self and application of evidence-based clinical reasoning with a health care or wellness practitioner to develop professional behaviors and communication skills.

The fieldwork I seminar is a processing time to analyze professional behaviors, treatment strategies, and integrate and refine skills in service delivery as future occupational practitioners.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of fall semester year 2 course work of OTD Program

Students will build on the prior research courses during which groups implemented and analyzed findings. In this course, students will create a scholarly report and disseminate results of the research project that includes a presentation to stakeholders. The course activities will directly support team research projects and promote the health, well-being, and quality of life for all persons, groups, and populations. Prerequisites: Successful completion of fall semester year 2 course work of OTD Program.

OTD 750 is the first Fieldwork II 12-week experience to fulfill the required 24 weeks full-time minimum. All Fieldwork hours may be completed in one setting if it is reflective of more than one practice area. Each student can participate in up to four different settings (C.1.11.). Full-time application of skills and knowledge translation are to provide service delivery under the supervision of a qualified occupational therapy practitioner serving as a role model. Students analyze and apply occupational therapy theory, research, assessments, treatment interventions, and evidence-based practice in the clinical or community setting for health, well-being, and quality of life of persons, groups, and populations.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of all course work and Fieldwork I.

OTD 760 is the second Fieldwork II 12-week experience to fulfill the required 24 weeks full-time minimum. All Fieldwork hours may be completed in one setting if it is reflective of more than one practice area. Each student can participate in up to four different settings (C.1.11.). Full-time application of skills and knowledge translation are to provide service delivery under the supervision of a qualified occupational therapy practitioner serving as a role model. Students analyze and apply occupational therapy theory, research, assessments, treatment interventions, and evidence-based practice in the clinical or community setting for health, well-being, and quality of life of persons, groups, and populations.   Students must complete the OTD 760 Fieldwork II experience in a different practice area(s) from OTD 750.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of OTD 750 Fieldwork II

Capstone experience includes a 14 week, 560-hour experiential component in which the student demonstrates meeting or exceeding written objectives that reflect the implementation of the capstone project in an area of in-depth focus.  The resultant cumulative deliverable will support the needs of occupational participation of all persons, groups, and populations in alignment with the program mission and be disseminated.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of all OTD course work, Fieldwork I and II.

Students engage in examining and practicing challenging post-graduation scenarios including leadership/personal leadership styles, professional development planning, professional mentoring, licensing, and specialty certification.  Also included will be an exploration of the OT job market and OT-specific employment strategies.  Achievement of program objectives leads to a culmination of students who have developed into the role of spiritually mature, service-oriented occupational therapy practitioners that transform health, well-being, and quality of life for all persons, groups, and populations.     

Prerequisites: Successful completion of 1st year curriculum and 2nd year fall curriculum