Doctor of Occupational Therapy
The University of Saint Mary offers a Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) degree, which prepares students to take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) and seek State licensure as an occupational therapist. States may have different required qualifications for licensee applicants. Although the OTD program at the University of Saint Mary prepares students to take the NBCOT, it is the student’s responsibility to pass that examination.
Program Outcomes
The Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program will prepare graduates for a career in occupational therapy as entry-level practitioners ready to contribute to the well-being of all and meet the occupational needs of society. OTD students will:
- Demonstrate excellence in practice as occupation-grounded and evidence-based entry-level occupational therapy professionals.
- Establish professional identity as future-focused leaders in practice, partnerships, and the profession.
- Exhibit commitment to lifelong learning and engagement in scholarly activities.
- Uphold ethical principles and demonstrate professionalism through reflection, reasoning, and responsiveness when working with people, populations, and institutions.
- Influence change by being visionary system thinkers and problem solvers for practice, policy, payment, and the profession.
- Demonstrate genuine care and respect by advocating for justice, health and well-being for all people, populations and society.
Program Admission Requirements
Admission into the Doctor of Occupational Therapy program is competitive. Completion of the listed prerequisite requirements does not guarantee admission into the program. Prerequisites are subject to change without notice. Applications for the OTD program are to be submitted through the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS).
Students seeking admission to the Doctor of Occupational Therapy program are required to complete a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with a minimum 3.00 GPA. Complementary degree programs include but are not limited to natural sciences (biology, kinesiology), social sciences (psychology, sociology, arts, policy, cultural) and related courses of study such as family studies and disability studies.
The OTD program encourages students seeking admission to the OTD program to engage in a well-rounded undergraduate learning experience as a foundation for success. The following courses are encouraged but not required as part of the application process or admission to the OTD program:
- Psychology
- Sociology OR Anthropology
- Human Anatomy with lab
- Human Physiology with Lab
OTCAS application including official transcripts is required.
Accreditation Status
The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program is accredited 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. Graduates of the program 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.
ACOTE® accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational programs satisfy the states’ educational requirements in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Students graduating from an ACOTE® accredited occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant educational program are eligible to take the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification exam and apply for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. For more information regarding state qualifications and licensure requirements, please refer to the AOTA State Licensure webpage.
Doctor of Occupational Therapy Curriculum Overview by Semester
The OTD curriculum must be completed in sequence and consists of didactic courses, fieldwork, and doctoral capstone experience and project. The OTD curriculum has organizing threads that structure courses and learning experiences to develop students into professionals ready for entry-level occupational therapy practice: (1) occupation, (2) practice, and (3) professional identity. The curriculum consists of 107 credits and the program length is 8 semesters.
Fall Year 1 (19 crs)
| OTD 619 | Foundations of Occupational Therapy | 3 |
| OTD 621 | Analysis of Occupational Performance | 3 |
| OTD 622 | Neuroscience | 3 |
| OTD 623 | Human Development and Occupation | 3 |
| OTD 625 | Theories and Models In Occupational Therapy | 3 |
| OTD 626 | Applied Anatomy and Kinesiology | 4 |
Spring Year 1 (17 crs)
| OTD 630 | Occupational Therapy in Children and Youth | 4 |
| OTD 631 | Level I Fieldwork I | 2 |
| OTD 632 | Professional Reasoning I | 3 |
| OTD 633 | Therapeutic Interventions I | 3 |
| OTD 634 | Research in Occupational Therapy | 2 |
| OTD 635 | Professional Development I | 3 |
Summer Year 2 (7 crs)
| OTD 710 | Occupational Therapy in Mental Health | 2 |
| OTD 711 | Level I Fieldwork II | 1 |
| OTD 712 | Professional Reasoning II | 2 |
| OTD 713 | Therapeutic Interventions II | 2 |
Fall Year 2 (16 crs)
| OTD 720 | Occupational Therapy in Rehabilitation and Participation | 4 |
| OTD 721 | Level I Fieldwork III | 2 |
| OTD 723 | Therapeutic Intervention III | 3 |
| OTD 725 | Professional and Ethical Issues in Health Care | 3 |
| OTD 728 | Capstone I | 1 |
| OTD 734 | Research Integration and Knowledge Translation in Occupational Therapy | 3 |
Spring Year 2 (17 crs)
| OTD 722 | Administration and Management in Occupational Therapy | 3 |
| OTD 730 | Occupational Therapy in Productive Aging | 4 |
| OTD 731 | Level I Fieldwork IV | 2 |
| OTD 733 | Advanced Topics in Occupational Therapy | 3 |
| OTD 735 | Professional Development II | 3 |
| OTD 738 | Capstone II | 2 |
Summer Year 3 (8 crs)
Fall 1 Year 3 (6 crs)
Fall 2 Year 3 (5 crs)
Spring Year 3 (12 crs)