Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD)

The OTD curriculum builds on foundational sciences and occupational therapy principles, advancing into leadership, research, and specialized practice areas. Students complete:

• Didactic coursework: anatomy, neuroscience, occupational performance, and evidence-based practice.
• Fieldwork: Level I and Level II placements in diverse clinical settings.
• Doctoral capstone: a culminating project focused on leadership, research, or program development.

Courses for the major degree

• Degree: Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)
• Format: hybrid. The majority of coursework is completed via distance learning, with pre-determined residency weeks for laboratory requirements and competencies.
• Length: 3 years, including Level I and Level II fieldwork and the capstone
• Start term: Fall
• Accreditation: pending candidacy status from the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)

The Occupational Therapy program provides occupation-based programs with a faculty of scholars and clinicians dedicated to developing highly respected, dynamic practitioners and professional leaders.

D'Youville's OT program prepares students to assume these roles within educational, medical, and community-based settings. Emphasizing theory, scholarship, clinical skills, and professionalism, the programs foster competencies to meet the challenges of serving people in an ever-changing global environment.

Students receive a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OTD) upon achievement of the following:

• Fulfillment of OT program requirements, including satisfactory performance in Level II fieldwork.
• Completion of project requirements as specified in the graduate research course syllabi.
• Completion of credit hours as specified in the OTD curriculum summary. See the D'Youville Catalog.
• Adherence to the academic, personal, and professional standards of the OT program.
• Fulfillment of all financial obligations to the university.
• Application for graduation with the Registrar.

Accreditation statement

The Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate program is a new program at D'Youville University and is seeking candidacy accreditation status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). The ACOTE accreditation standards provide the basis for the occupational therapy degree program competencies.

Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)
7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814
Telephone: 301.652.6611
Web: www.acoteonline.org

World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT)

The D'Youville Occupational Therapy program is also approved by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists. More information about WFOT can be found at www.wfot.org.

National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)

Following completion of all occupational therapy course requirements and fieldwork experiences, students can apply to take the NBCOT exam. NBCOT exam results for D'Youville can be found in Program Success Rates. 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.

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
• Minimum GPA of 3.0
• Prerequisite courses in anatomy, physiology, psychology, and statistics
• GRE is not required
• Two letters of recommendation, either one academic and one professional or two academic, that speak to the applicant's professional attributes including commitment to ethical practice, ability to collaborate, communication skills, and academic potential

Occupational therapy education and practice is mentally, physically, and psychologically demanding. To succeed in the OTD curriculum and fieldwork experiences, students must meet essential performance standards in:

• Cognitive and analytical reasoning
• Communication, including written, verbal, and interprofessional
• Professional and ethical behavior
• Physical capabilities required for therapeutic activities and safe clinical practice
• Information technology literacy

These expectations reflect ACOTE's requirements for professional competencies and program integrity. Reasonable accommodations are available, but all students must meet core competencies necessary for safe OT practice. Students will acknowledge the technical standards and complete an online learning module in program orientation to assess computer sufficiency. Students who do not meet basic standards will receive additional training.

Illustration based on a 3 percent tuition increase annually; fees are subject to change. Books and supplies are an estimated indirect cost. According to FAFSA, cost of attendance is defined as the total amount of attending the program, which includes tuition and fees, books, supplies, transportation, loan fees, and fees associated with distance education.

Applicants complete prerequisite coursework in anatomy, physiology, psychology, and statistics.

Placeholder: add course numbers, credit hours, and minimum grades once the department confirms them.

A variety of financial aid options are available, including scholarships and graduate assistantships. Visit Cost & Aid to review graduate aid, or contact the Office of Financial Aid to talk through your options.