2019-2020 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog

Post Professional Doctorate in Occupational Therapy

General Admission Requirements
Dr.O.T. Curriculum

This program will be available to only master's prepared occupational therapists.

Master prepared occupational therapists admitted to the program are required to complete 36 credits of doctoral level coursework. All doctoral courses will have an advanced practice focus, that may include service learning, problem-based learning, and/or global learning, to demonstrate applicability to a broad clientele. Additionally, a Capstone project, grounded in theory and evidence-producing research will be required. Students completing this program will have sufficient understanding of research to be intelligent consumers of research publications and be able to use research findings to support evidence-based practice.

Accreditation
Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle St, Suite 7-500,
Chicago, IL 60604
Phone: (800)-621-7440

General Admission Requirements

A minimum of two years of practice as a registered occupational therapist
Cumulative GPA for last 60 credit hours of 3.25
Critical evaluation of an occupational therapy article selected by the OST Department faculty
Identification of specific, individual goals and timelines for seeking the Dr.O.T. degree, within a personal statement
Personal interview with two members of the OST Department faculty
Three letters of support from professional colleagues, supervisors, or department heads

Note: Students must maintain at least part-time employment throughout their matriculation in the doctoral program. Exceptions to this requirement will be addressed by a faculty committee on a case by case basis.

Dr.O.T. Curriculum

Core Courses (required of all Dr.O.T. students)

Policy, Advocacy, & Leadership Courses

OST 710 - Health Disparities and Social Determinants of Health Credits: 3
OST 725 - Leadership for Occupational Therapy Credits: 3
OST 735 - Public Policy and Advocacy Credits: 3

Advanced Practice Courses

OST 715 - Critical Analysis of Occupational Science Credits: 3
OST 720 - Cultural and Contextual Influences on Occupational Performance Credits: 3

Education Courses

OST 750 - Critical Thinking and Transformative Learning Credits: 3
OST 754 - Curriculum Design in Occupational Therapy Credits: 3
Doctoral Project
OST 730 - Applied Research Strategies for Practice Credits: 3
OST 790 - Doctoral Project Preparation Credits: 3
OST 793 - Doctoral Project Defense Credits: 1 to 6

Additional Credits (all Dr.O.T. students will complete one of the following):

OST 780 - Special Topics in Occupational Therapy Credits: 1 to 3
OST 799 - Independent Study in Occupational Therapy Credits: 1 to 3

Potential Elective Courses within the OST Department

OST 738 - Outcome Measures for Occupational Performance Credits: 3
OST 740 - Best Practice in School-Based Occupational Therapy Credits: 3
OST 744 - Advanced Occupational Therapy Practice: Birth to 3 years Credits: 3
OST 758 - Evaluation in Occupational Therapy Education Credits: 3
OST 760 - Introduction to Hand Rehabilitation Credits: 3

All electives in the OST department will be offered at three credits.
Electives from outside the program will be approved by the Dr.O.T program coordinator.
Students may consider courses from: education, public health, assistive technology certificate program, or other master's level courses offered at GVSU.