OTD in Occupational Therapy
Entry-Level OTD
Students will complete 105 credit hours over 3 years in a full-time cohort model curriculum.
Most didactic coursework in Year 1 and Year 2 of the entry-level OTD program take place face-to-face.
Some courses in Year 1 and Year 2 may be taught in blended or online format. Fall semester coursework in Year 3 is taught entirely online.
Traditional Option
This includes students with no previous OT degree to practice as licensed occupational therapists. Students must complete a baccalaureate degree in any field, including several specific prerequisite courses, prior to beginning the entry-level OTD program.
Early-Entry Options for the Entry-Level OTD
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This early-entry option is available to prospective students interested in completing the entry-level OTD before completion of a bachelor’s degree. Accepted students start in the OTD program after completing a minimum of 90 credits of undergraduate coursework, all of the prerequisite course requirements, and all other admission requirements. Completion of their undergraduate degree will be contingent on their undergraduate institution allowing courses in the first year of the OTD program to count toward completion of their undergraduate degree. While not required, it is highly recommended students complete a bachelor’s degree either before, during, or after completion of OTD coursework.
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For University of Missouri Bachelor of Health Science in Health Science (BHS) students, the first year of the entry-level OTD program may count toward some of the BHS degree requirements. This program will allow students to potentially complete both degrees in six years. BHS students must work very closely with their undergraduate advisors before, during, and after application to ensure that they have completed University requirements, including MU General Education, as well as specific Health Science degree and OTD requirements. Students are not required to complete the BHS degree in order to complete the OTD program.
Students will also be required to pass a national certification exam administered by the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) in order to gain entry into the profession and obtain licensure. Students will have the ability to customize their educational plans through unique combinations of fieldwork and doctoral capstone experiences.
| Entry-Level OTD Required Coursework | ||
| OC_THR 5010 | Professional Development | 3 |
| OC_THR 5020 | Foundations and Theory in Occupational Therapy | 3 |
| OC_THR 5030 | Human Development and Occupation | 3 |
| OC_THR 5110 | Introduction to Evidence-Based Practice | 2 |
| OC_THR 5120 | Principles of Assessment | 3 |
| OC_THR 5130 | Conditions in Occupational Therapy | 2 |
| OC_THR 5140 | Human Motion and Occupation | 4 |
| OC_THR 5150 | Concepts of Neuroscience | 3 |
| OC_THR 5160 | Psychosocial Aspects of Occupational Therapy | 3 |
| OC_THR 5210 | Adult Practice | 4 |
| OC_THR 5220 | Pediatric Practice | 4 |
| OC_THR 5230 | Application of Evidence Based Practice | 2 |
| OC_THR 5240 | Professional Reasoning and Documentation | 2 |
| OC_THR 5260 | Occupational Therapy Practicum I | 2 |
| OC_THR 5270 | Assistive Technology in Occupational Therapy | 2 |
| OC_THR 5310 | Advanced Practice Strategies | 4 |
| OC_THR 5320 | Performance, Participation, and Well-Being | 2 |
| OC_THR 5330 | Functional Cognition | 2 |
| OC_THR 5350 | Proposal Development | 2 |
| OC_THR 5410 | Case Based Learning | 4 |
| OC_THR 5420 | Populations and Communities | 3 |
| OC_THR 5440 | Contemporary Topics in Occupational Therapy | 3 |
| OC_THR 5445 | Health Data Literacy in Occupational Therapy | 2 |
| OC_THR 5450 | Occupational Therapy Practicum II | 2 |
| OC_THR 5470 | Evidence Based Practice Seminar | 2 |
| OC_THR 5480 | Capstone I | 2 |
| OC_THR 5510 | Fieldwork Level II-A | 6 |
| OC_THR 5520 | Fieldwork Level II-B | 6 |
| OC_THR 5530 | Capstone II | 1 |
| OC_THR 6000 | Professional Seminar I | 1 |
| OC_THR 6010 | Advanced Occupation Based Practice | 3 |
| OC_THR 6015 | Complex Adaptive Leadership | 3 |
| OC_THR 6035 | Management, Policy, and Advocacy | 3 |
| OC_THR 6050 | Capstone III | 2 |
| OC_THR 6051 | Capstone III - Mentor Hour | 1 |
| OC_THR 6200 | Professional Seminar II | 2 |
| OC_THR 6210 | Capstone IV - Doctoral Capstone Experience | 7 |
Coursework is subject to minor changes as the program makes occasional curricular revisions to meet accreditation requirements and to reflect contemporary occupational therapy practice.
Post-Professional OTD with Master's in OT
This includes students entering with a master's degree in Occupational Therapy, and licensed to practice as occupational therapists. Students entering at this level will complete 36 credits which will be offered entirely online. Students will have the ability to customize their educational plans to meet their unique academic and professional goals. Since they are already practicing occupational therapists, they will not be required to complete fieldwork experiences. However, they will have the opportunity to select unique combinations of elective coursework and doctoral capstone experiences. Furthermore, because all post-professional coursework will be offered online, students may choose to complete their degree on a part-time enrollment basis.
| Post-Professional OTD with Master's in OT Required Coursework | ||
| OC_THR 5235 | Advanced Evidence Based Practice | 3 |
| OC_THR 5415 | Practice Analysis | 3 |
| OC_THR 5425 | Population Health | 3 |
| OC_THR 5435 | Professional Leadership and Development | 3 |
| OC_THR 6010 | Advanced Occupation Based Practice | 3 |
| OC_THR 6020 | Instructional Design and Application | 2 |
| OC_THR 6025 | Instructional Design Practicum | 1 |
| OC_THR 6045 | Capstone I - Doctoral Capstone Project | 1-3 |
| OC_THR 6046 | Capstone II - Doctoral Capstone Experience | 1-3 |
An additional 12 credits of elective coursework are required and must be approved by PPOTD advisor.
Coursework is subject to minor changes as the program makes occasional curricular revisions to reflect contemporary occupational therapy practice.
Post-Professional OTD with Bachelor's in OT
This includes students entering with a bachelor's degree in Occupational Therapy, and licensed to practice as occupational therapists. Students entering at this level will complete 15 hours of foundational coursework, followed by 36 credits of PPOTD coursework, for a total of 51 credits, which will be offered entirely online. Students will have the ability to customize their educational plans to meet their unique academic and professional goals. Since they are already practicing occupational therapists, they will not be required to complete fieldwork experiences. However, they will have the opportunity to select unique combinations of elective coursework and doctoral capstone experiences. Furthermore, because all post-professional coursework will be offered online, students may choose to complete their degree on a part-time enrollment basis.
| Post-Professional OTD with Bachelor's in OT Required Coursework | ||
| OC_THR 5610 | Theoretical Concepts of OT | 3 |
| OC_THR 5620 | Evidence Based Practice | 3 |
| OC_THR 5630 | Community Based OT Practice | 3 |
| OC_THR 5640 | Overview of Current OT Practice | 3 |
| OC_THR 5650 | Self-directed OT Practicum | 3 |
| OC_THR 5415 | Practice Analysis | 3 |
| OC_THR 5425 | Population Health | 3 |
| OC_THR 5435 | Professional Leadership and Development | 3 |
| OC_THR 5235 | Advanced Evidence Based Practice | 3 |
| OC_THR 6010 | Advanced Occupation Based Practice | 3 |
| OC_THR 6020 | Instructional Design and Application | 2 |
| OC_THR 6025 | Instructional Design Practicum | 1 |
| OC_THR 6045 | Capstone I - Doctoral Capstone Project | 1-3 |
| OC_THR 6046 | Capstone II - Doctoral Capstone Experience | 1-3 |
An additional 12 credits of elective coursework are required and must be approved by PPOTD advisor.
Coursework is subject to minor changes as the program makes occasional curricular revisions to reflect contemporary occupational therapy practice.