OTD in Occupational Therapy
Entry-Level OTD
Students will complete 105 credit hours over 3 years in a full-time cohort model curriculum. The entry-level OTD program is for students with no previous OT degree to practice as licensed occupational therapists.
Blended OTD Program (less than 25% online):
Most didactic coursework in Year 1 and Year 2 of the entry-level OTD program takes place in-person in classrooms and labs at the University of Missouri campus. 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. Students complete one virtual Level I fieldwork during Fall semester Year 1 and one in-person Level I fieldwork (at least 32 hours) at a site assigned by the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator between Summer and Fall semesters of Year 2 coursework. During Spring semester of Year 2, students complete two full-time, in-person, 12-week Level II fieldwork placements at sites assigned by the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator. During Spring semester of Year 3, students complete one full-time, 14-week Doctoral Capstone Experience at a site assigned by the Doctoral Capstone Coordinator. We will accept 44 students per cohort into the blended program.
Hybrid OTD Program (up to 90% online):
The hybrid OTD program will involve online coursework for up to 90% of the curriculum, with on-site required labs and checkouts one to three times per semester for 3 to 5 consecutive days during Year 1 and Year 2. These on-site labs and checkout will take place in our existing Department of Occupational Therapy spaces in Lewis & Clark Halls. These labs and checkouts may be scheduled on weekdays, weekends, and/or between typical University of Missouri semesters.
Fall semester Year 3 coursework will be entirely online without on-site requirements. All Level I fieldwork, Level II fieldwork, and Doctoral Capstone Experience requirements in the hybrid program will be the same as in the blended OTD program described above. Students complete one virtual Level I fieldwork during Fall semester Year 1 and one in-person Level I fieldwork (at least 32 hours) at a site assigned by the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator between Summer and Fall semesters of Year 2 coursework. During Spring semester of Year 2, students complete two full-time, in-person, 12-week Level II fieldwork placements at sites assigned by the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator. During Spring semester of Year 3, students complete one full-time, 14-week Doctoral Capstone Experience at a site assigned by the Doctoral Capstone Coordinator. We will accept up to 20 students in the new hybrid OTD program
Traditional Entry Option for the Entry-Level OTD
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) on-campus 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.