Occupational Therapy Doctorate
Our classes are offered in a specific sequence and each only once a year. We enroll one group of about 20 students in the fall only.
Applications may be submitted after July for admission the following academic year. College juniors at participating institutions may submit their application a year ahead of time for early decision.
If you have questions, please contact us at occtherapydoctorate@utoledo.edu or 419.530.6670.
The following are required for admission:
- Bachelor’s degree in any field of study with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 at graduation. The bachelor’s degree must be completed prior to starting the program, NOT prior to application.
- Prerequisite courses: Applicants must receive a B- or better in all prerequisite courses. Prerequisite courses must be completed prior to starting the program, NOT prior to application:
- Introductory Biology (3 semester or 4 quarter credits), Lab required
- Human Anatomy and Physiology (6 semester or 8 quarter credits). Lab required, however, if Anatomy and Physiology are taken as separate courses, we require a lab for Anatomy but not Physiology
- Introduction to Psychology (3 semester or 4 quarter credits)
- Abnormal Psychology (3 semester or 4 quarter credits)
- Introduction to Sociology or Anthropology (3 semester or 4 quarter credits)
- Medical Terminology (course or proficiency test)
- Statistics (3 semester or 4 quarter credits)
- Lifespan Human Development: You may meet this requirement by EITHER:
- obtaining a B- or better in a Lifespan Human Development course (3 semester or 4 quarter credits) that covers human development from birth to death OR
- obtaining a B- or better in both a Child Development (3 semester or 4 quarter credits) course and a Gerontology/Psychology of Aging course (3 semester or 4 quarter credits)
Applying to the program:
- Applications are only accepted through the OT Centralized Application Service (OTCAS at https://otcas.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login). The application includes:
- An application fee to OTCAS
- All academic transcripts
- A personal statement
- Three letters of recommendation
- Applicants to the UToledo OTD Program must also
- Submit an additional writing sample (the essay prompt and submission are within OTCAS).
- Complete a Prerequisite Completion Plan form (within OTCAS)
- Pay the UToledo graduate application fee.
Transfer credits and work experience
To earn the UToledo’s OTD degree, students must complete all the occupational therapy course work here. Courses taken in other occupational therapy education programs cannot be transferred. Undergraduate students seeking to transfer to UToledo to complete their bachelor's degree should visit the UToledo Adult and Transfer page to learn more. We do not award course credit for work experience.
Enrolled students will need to have a personal computing device with internet access. Information technology has provided recommended specifications on this website.
Technical Standards. The purpose of these standards is to clearly state the expected capabilities of students in the OTD program. The demands of the occupational therapy doctoral program require students to be skillful in multiple domains, including cognition, emotional regulation, communication, and gross and fine motor coordination.
Across the curriculum, the following are required to successfully complete the program:
- Communicate orally and in writing to complete individual and group assignments at the graduate level including papers, exams, presentations, projects, and demonstrations;
- Maintain interpersonal relationships with instructors, faculty, advisors, mentors, fieldwork educators, classmates, peers, and clients;
- Commit time and effort to complete independent and group work according to timelines and due dates;
- Manage and prioritize multiple concurrent demands;
- Maintain access to and use current technologies to engage with learning materials, submit work, and engage in clinical practices;
- Be punctual and attend class, practicum experiences, and fieldwork at both on- and off-campus locations, including necessary transportation and on-site mobility;
- Demonstrate a realistic understanding of the field of occupational therapy including the scope and diversity of the profession and the requirements of therapists in their day-to-day work;
- Demonstrate the willingness and ability to assume responsibilities for the full spectrum of occupational therapy services;
- Meet health requirements including specific vaccinations and screenings. (A detailed list of these requirements can be obtained from the program. It is the applicant's responsibility to inquire as to inquire as to the implications of any individual health related circumstances.).
- Respond adequately to the health and safety needs of clients/patients, including
- Complete training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation,
- Have knowledge of Center for Disease Control standards for infectious control, and
- Respond appropriately to emergency situations in classrooms, practicum sites, and fieldwork placements;
- Submit to criminal background checks. Results may be required for fieldwork placement. Applicants/students with a criminal history may want to consult with respective licensing boards regarding their ability to obtain professional licensure.
- Maintain personal/professional records.
Potential applicants should, and enrolled students will, self-assess that their abilities align with these expectations. The faculty encourage applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age or status as a veteran of any conflict, and disability status. We urge applicants to ask questions about the program's technical standards for clarification and to determine whether they can meet the requirements with or without reasonable accommodations. We expect that any student who requires accommodation to attain the course objectives will work with the Student Disability Services to notify the course instructor at the first opportunity. Revealing a disability is voluntary; however, such disclosure is necessary before any accommodations may be made in the learning environment or in the program's procedures. We handle disability-related information in a confidential manner. Reasonable accommodations will comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and require program and institutional approvals.
Requirements and Criteria for Retention and Graduation. A student admitted into the OTD program must comply with rules and regulations for conduct and academic performance as stipulated by the College of Graduate Studies Health Science Campus and the College of Health and Human Services. This information can be found in the Health Science Campus Graduate Student Handbook (on the web http://www.utoledo.edu/graduate/currentstudents/references/) and the College of Health and Human Services OT Student Handbook provided at orientation.
- Graduation requires all courses of the OTD curriculum be completed to the academic standards outlined below. This includes all didactic courses, completion of the research course sequence and an individually advised scholarly project, 12 credits of full-time fieldwork arranged by the academic fieldwork coordinator, 10 credits in the capstone experience overseen by the doctoral capstone coordinator.
- A student will be placed on academic probation if her/his cumulative GPA falls below a 3.0 during any semester. If the student remains on academic probation for two consecutive semesters (including summer), the student will be dismissed.
- A student admitted under probationary status whose cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 following completion of the first 15 credits will be dismissed from the program and from the Health Science Campus College of Graduate Studies.
- A grade of C or better or a grade of S must be earned in all courses. No grade lower than a C is allowed in the total of 95 credits required for graduation. A student who receives a grade of C minus or lower or a grade of U may repeat the course one time, realizing that the sequence of study will be disrupted, and that additional time and expense will be required to complete the program. A student wishing to repeat a course will be required to apply for an academic leave until the course is re-offered in its regular sequence. However, one course within the research sequence can be repeated once without applying for academic leave with research advisor and program director approval. Both the original and repeated grades will appear on the transcript and be calculated into the cumulative GPA. Please refer to College of Graduate Studies Academic Standards for further details.
- A maximum of 2 courses of C or C+ may be part of the student’s Plan of Study. A student who exceeds the maximum will be subject to dismissal.
- A student who receives two or more grades of D, F or U in any one semester forfeits the opportunity to repeat and will be dismissed from the program.
- Continuous enrollment in the OTD program is required because of the sequential nature of the course work. Withdrawal from one course may require complete withdrawal from the semester and will be considered a stop-out. If a student elects to stop-out for any reason, they will be required to apply for an approved academic leave or withdraw from the program altogether. Academic leave may be effective from one to three semesters, after which time, readmission will be required.
- A student who has been dismissed from the program or who has been on academic leave for longer than one year, must apply for readmission into the OTD program. Readmission will be determined on an individual basis dependent on the reason for dismissal or the conditions requiring academic leave.
- Students are expected to comply with the requirements of fieldwork and capstone sites and the academic program in completing Level I and Level II fieldwork experiences, and the Capstone experience. Level I fieldwork will be completed during the academic portion of the program while Level II fieldwork and the Capstone experience will be completed after the academic portion of the program is completed. The student will need to complete a minimum of two Level II fieldwork placements at full-time capacity or equivalent to meet the 6-month Level II fieldwork requirement. The student will need to complete a minimum of 14 full-time weeks of at least 32 hours per week or equivalent to meet the Capstone experience requirement. Additionally, the student must complete and disseminate an individual Capstone project that relates to the Capstone experience.
- Students must complete all level II FW in 24 months following the didactic portion of the program. The capstone experience must be completed within 12 months following completion of level II FW.
- Completion of all program requirements within 7 calendar years.
- All professional occupational therapy coursework must be completed at The University of Toledo.
- It is ultimately the responsibility of the student to assure that all administrative and academic requirements have been met.
- Professional and ethical behavior is expected from each student throughout the occupational therapy program. Behaviors align with the American Occupational Therapy Association’s ethical standards for practice.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| OCCT 7110 | OT Research I: Evidenced-Informed Practice | 4 |
| OCCT 7120 | OT Research II: Scholarly Project Proposal | 2 |
| OCCT 7130 | OT Research III: Scholarly Project Implementation | 2 |
| OCCT 8140 | OT Research IV: Scholarly Project Completion | 2 |
| OCCT 8150 | OT Research V: Scholarly Project Presentation | 2 |
| OCCT 7210 | OT Advocacy I: Education in Healthcare | 2 |
| OCCT 7220 | OT Advocacy II: Community & Academic Education | 2 |
| OCCT 8230 | OT Advocacy III: Advocacy & Populations | 2 |
| OCCT 8240 | OT Advocacy IV: Leadership & Management | 3 |
| OCCT 7410 | OT Foundations I: Domain & Process | 3 |
| OCCT 7420 | OT Foundations II: Models of Practice | 4 |
| OCCT 7430 | OT Foundations III: Conditions | 2 |
| OCCT 8440 | OT Foundations IV: Interprofessional Education | 1 |
| OCCT 8450 | OT Foundations V: Program Development | 4 |
| OCCT 7510 | OT Practice I: Human Movement & Performance | 5 |
| OCCT 7520 | OT Practice II: Neuroscience | 5 |
| OCCT 7530 | OT Practice III: Children & Youth | 3 |
| OCCT 7540 | OT Practice IV: Neurorehabilitation | 3 |
| OCCT 8550 | OT Practice V: Physical Rehabilitation | 5 |
| OCCT 8560 | OT Practice VI: Behavioral & Mental Health | 3 |
| OCCT 8570 | OT Practice VII: Professional Reasoning Across the Lifespan | 5 |
| OCCT 8580 | OT Practice VIII: Clinical Care | 2 |
| OCCT 7710 | OT Fieldwork & Professional Development I | 1 |
| OCCT 7720 | OT Fieldwork & Professional Development II | 1 |
| OCCT 7730 | OT Fieldwork & Professional Development III | 1 |
| OCCT 8740 | OT Fieldwork & Professional Development IV | 2 |
| OCCT 8750 | OT Fieldwork & Professional Development V | 1 |
| OCCT 8760 | OT Fieldwork & Professional Development VI | 1 |
| OCCT 9810 | OT Fieldwork: Level II A (3 credit hours, taken twice) | 6 |
| OCCT 9820 | OT Fieldwork: Level II B | 6 |
| OCCT 9900 | Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone | 10 |
| Total Hours | 95 | |
Unique features of the program include fieldwork or experiential opportunities in every semester, and the opportunity to complete an individualized capstone to develop specialized skills in a practice area of choice, and an individual research project.
| First Term | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| OCCT 7110 | OT Research I: Evidenced-Informed Practice | 4 |
| OCCT 7210 | OT Advocacy I: Education in Healthcare | 2 |
| OCCT 7410 | OT Foundations I: Domain & Process | 3 |
| OCCT 7510 | OT Practice I: Human Movement & Performance | 5 |
| OCCT 7710 | OT Fieldwork & Professional Development I | 1 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Term | ||
| OCCT 7120 | OT Research II: Scholarly Project Proposal | 2 |
| OCCT 7420 | OT Foundations II: Models of Practice | 4 |
| OCCT 7430 | OT Foundations III: Conditions | 2 |
| OCCT 7520 | OT Practice II: Neuroscience | 5 |
| OCCT 7720 | OT Fieldwork & Professional Development II | 1 |
| Hours | 14 | |
| Third Term | ||
| OCCT 7130 | OT Research III: Scholarly Project Implementation | 2 |
| OCCT 7220 | OT Advocacy II: Community & Academic Education | 2 |
| OCCT 7530 | OT Practice III: Children & Youth | 3 |
| OCCT 7540 | OT Practice IV: Neurorehabilitation | 3 |
| OCCT 7730 | OT Fieldwork & Professional Development III | 1 |
| Hours | 11 | |
| Fourth Term | ||
| OCCT 8140 | OT Research IV: Scholarly Project Completion | 2 |
| OCCT 8230 | OT Advocacy III: Advocacy & Populations | 2 |
| OCCT 8440 | OT Foundations IV: Interprofessional Education | 1 |
| OCCT 8550 | OT Practice V: Physical Rehabilitation | 5 |
| OCCT 8560 | OT Practice VI: Behavioral & Mental Health | 3 |
| OCCT 8740 | OT Fieldwork & Professional Development IV | 2 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fifth Term | ||
| OCCT 8150 | OT Research V: Scholarly Project Presentation | 2 |
| OCCT 8240 | OT Advocacy IV: Leadership & Management | 3 |
| OCCT 8450 | OT Foundations V: Program Development | 4 |
| OCCT 8570 | OT Practice VII: Professional Reasoning Across the Lifespan | 5 |
| OCCT 8750 | OT Fieldwork & Professional Development V | 1 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Sixth Term | ||
| OCCT 8580 | OT Practice VIII: Clinical Care | 2 |
| OCCT 8760 | OT Fieldwork & Professional Development VI | 1 |
| OCCT 9810 | OT Fieldwork: Level II A | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Seventh Term | ||
| OCCT 9810 | OT Fieldwork: Level II A | 3 |
| OCCT 9820 | OT Fieldwork: Level II B | 6 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Eighth Term | ||
| OCCT 9900 | Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone | 10 |
| Hours | 10 | |
| Total Hours | 95 | |
Note. Student must complete all Level II fieldwork within 24 months following didactic portion of the program. The capstone experience must be completed with 12 months following completion of Level II fieldwork.
- PLO 1. PRACTICE: Compare, contrast, and evaluate models of practice and integrate them with the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework.
- PLO 2. PRACTICE: Examine the interactions between occupations, client factors, performance skills, performance patterns, and contexts and environments.
- PLO 3. PRACTICE: Describe the relationship between human development and occupation from a life span perspective.
- PLO 4. PRACTICE: Distinguish the relationships between wellness and occupation, identify at risk populations and implement occupation-based interventions to enhance wellness and prevent disease.
- PLO 5. PRACTICE: Investigate and grade the demands of an occupation, reflecting the specific body structures, body functions, performance skills, and performance patterns that are required to successfully engage in occupation.
- PLO 6. PRACTICE: Interpret screening, assessment, and occupational profile data to evaluate clients' occupational performance.
- PLO 7. PRACTICE: Interpret evaluation results to diagnose problems related to occupational performance and participation.
- PLO 8. PRACTICE: Illustrate collaboration with clients to develop individualized goals for occupational performance and implement interventions to achieve them.
- PLO 9. PRACTICE: Practice occupational therapy services consistent with clients' needs and context, including reassessment and discharge.
- PLO 10. PRACTICE: Show how to effectively communicate and educate via written, oral, and nonverbal means, with clients, family members, significant others, team members, and the community at large.
- PLO 11. PRACTICE: Demonstrate therapeutic use of self, including personality, insights, perceptions, and judgments, as part of the therapeutic process.
- PLO 12. PRACTICE: Show how to effectively and professionally document all aspects of the occupational therapy process.
- PLO 13. PRACTICE: Recognize and apply codes, guidelines, polices, and standards of practice put forth by AOTA and regulatory bodies.
- PLO 14. PRACTICE: Apply accepted Practice Standards regarding supervision of and collaboration with occupational therapy assistants.
- PLO 15. ADVOCACY: Evaluate and judge the relevance of current socio-political, legal, economic, international, geographic, demographic, and health disparity issues and trends, including as they affect occupational therapy practice.
- PLO 16. ADVOCACY: Justify, design, and engage in initiatives that meet society's occupational needs within existing organizations and through new, entrepreneurial services and programs (e.g., private practice) to move the profession of occupational therapy forward as an integral discipline in health care, human services, and education.
- PLO 17. ADVOCACY: Apply principles of management, administration, and supervision (e.g., COTAs, students, other rehabilitation personnel, volunteers) into a personal framework for directing and developing occupational therapy services, personnel, and programs.
- PLO 18. ADVOCACY: Choose, design, and implement teaching/learning experiences for a variety of audiences.
- PLO 19. ADVOCACY: Practice in collaborative interprofessional practice to improve service delivery in complex systems and organizations.
- PLO 20. ADVOCACY: Demonstrate advocacy efforts for clients and the profession to influence practice, legislation, policies, and reimbursement funding.
- PLO 21. RESEARCH: Use principles of research design to describe, analyze, critique, and interpret research protocols and articles relevant to the field of occupational therapy.
- PLO 22. RESEARCH: Interpret research findings to enhance their practice and promote research in the profession at multiple levels including collaboration with independent researchers.
- PLO 23. RESEARCH: Produce and disseminate guided, individualized, scholarly projects.
- PLO 24. RESEARCH: Identify specific ways that occupational therapists can contribute to occupational therapy research, including initiation of research, collaboration in research, participation in advanced studies, application for grants, and support of research as a member of the profession of occupational therapy.
- PLO 25. RESEARCH: Explain, apply, and demonstrate professional ethics as they are pertinent to laws and institutional policies that govern client confidentiality and rights of research participants.
- PLO 26. AUTONOMOUS DECISION MAKING: Recognize and accept personal responsibility for life-long learning, professional behavior, and demeanor through reflective practice.
- PLO 27. AUTONOMOUS DECISION MAKING: Develop skill in seeking out information (e.g., library resources, electronic media, internet searches) to compile evidence in support of practice, advocacy, and research.
- PLO 28. AUTONOMOUS DECISION MAKING: Show leadership skills and guide the profession by disseminating research, conducting presentations, and assuming leadership and mentorship roles, including fieldwork education.