Offered by: Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program
Program Director: Heather Thomas, Ph.D., OTR/L, DipACLM
The Occupational Therapy Department offers the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD), a 101-credit program consisting of a mix of lecture, lab, and clinical instruction. Students are expected to enroll full time for 7 1/2 consecutive terms including summer. Courses are offered on-ground, blended, and in an online interactive format. Classes are generally held Monday through Friday during the day. Level I and Level II Fieldwork and the Doctoral Capstone may require students to travel.
The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program has applied for accreditation and has been granted Candidacy Status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.
The program must have a preaccreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT®). 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. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
Through an innovative approach to education, we prepare exceptional practitioners who are evidence-based, occupation-centered, and skilled in a lifestyle approach to integrative health. Our graduates are life-long learners who promote transformational occupational justice and health equity for diverse persons, groups and populations.
- Evidence-Based Knowledge: Critically apply the latest research and knowledge bases that support occupational therapy practice and contribute to the growth and dissemination of research inclusive of in-depth knowledge applied in the doctoral capstone project and experience.
- Therapeutic Use of Occupations: Articulate and apply therapeutic use of occupations with individuals, groups or populations for the purpose of participation in roles and situations in home, school, workplace, community, and other settings.
- Client-Centered Care: Develop and implement client-centered care that is inclusive of cultural values, beliefs and needs and considers occupational justice and health equity.
- Lifestyle Health + Occupational Performance Outcomes: Articulate and apply occupational therapy theory and evidence-based evaluations and interventions to achieve expected outcomes as related to occupation and lifestyle health.
- Occupational Therapy Process: Plan and apply evidence-based occupational therapy interventions to address the physical, functional cognitive, psychosocial, sensory, and other aspects of performance in a variety of contexts and environments to support engagement in everyday life activities as related to occupation, well-being, and quality of life, as informed by the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework (OTPF).
- Leadership: Demonstrate leadership skills employing therapeutic use of self and science driven evidence in all practice areas and settings inclusive of: a direct care provider, consultant, educator, manager, researcher, and advocate for the profession and the consumer.
- Ethical Reasoning: Uphold the ethical standards, values, and attitudes of the occupational therapy profession in all.
- Collaboration and DEI: Collaborate with stakeholders to provide evidence-based care and demonstrate health equity, inclusion and diversity across all practice settings.
- Lifelong Learning: Demonstrate the ability to participate as an active, self-directed learner applying the skills of a life-long learner.
Applicants for the OTD degree must submit the following:
- A verified application through the Central Application Service for Occupational Therapy (OTCAS) portal
- All academic or licensure infractions, misdemeanors, and/or felonies must be disclosed on OTCAS and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Failure to disclose will result in denial and/or rescinding of an enrollment offer. The OTD program is required to report an applicant’s failure to disclose to the American Occupational Therapy Association.
- Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
- Two academic or professional letters of recommendation
(updated 1/12/24)
Applicants for the OTD degree must meet the following admissions standards. Exceptions are made on an individual basis.
- A completed bachelor’s degree or a minimum of 90 semester hours (135 quarter units) of coursework (including online courses and labs) from an accredited institution (accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or an equivalent foreign agency).
- Successful interview with the Occupational Therapy Interview Committee.
- Meet the physical and technical requirements to successfully complete the program, with or without reasonable accommodations.
- A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- A minimum core science prerequisite grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- 7 semester credits (10.5 quarter credits) of Human Anatomy (with lab) and Human Physiology
- Two courses required: either a combination of two human anatomy & physiology courses (with lab) over two terms, or a human anatomy course (with lab) and a human physiology course taken separately.
- *A combination human anatomy & physiology course will be accepted; the same course cannot fulfil both anatomy and physiology prerequisites.
- If not titled “Human,” a course description must demonstrate a human focus.
- A minimum general course prerequisite grade point average (GPA) of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale; pass/fail grades considered on a case-by-case basis.
- 16 semester credits (24 quarter credits) of general courses including:
- Abnormal Psychology (3 credits)
- Human Development (lifespan) (3 credits)
- Introduction to Sociology or Cultural Anthropology (3 credits)
- Must be a course taken within the Sociology or Anthropology department
- Statistics (3 credits)
- Must be a course taken within the math, social science, or health science department.
- Medical Terminology (1 credit)
- English Composition (3 credits)
- Any course not titled “English Composition” must be a writing-intensive course that includes instruction on comprehension, investigation, evaluation, explanation, and refutation.
- Recommended prerequisites (not required): Conversational Spanish.
Upon acceptance, students must submit program-specific documentation through the University’s clinical documentation management system, EXXAT. Pre-matriculation requirements must be fulfilled prior to matriculation, unless stated otherwise.
- A physical examination completed by a licensed healthcare provider confirming the student’s ability to perform duties as outlined in the program’s technical standards.
- Proof of current immunization status as outlined in the Occupational Therapy Student Screening and Immunization Requirements form
- Government-issued photo ID
- Active medical insurance
- Criminal background check*
- Drug screen
- Pre-matriculation reading and/or assignments
*Any student that has resided or is currently residing in New York may be subject to additional fees for the criminal background check retrieval per state law of New York.
The Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) degree may be conferred upon those who have fulfilled the following requirements:
- Completed 101 credits within the required categories of coursework:
- 11 credits in Foundational Knowledge
- 15 credits in Clinical and Professional Skills
- 16 credits in Occupational Therapy Process
- 2 credits in Interprofessional Education
- 8 credits in Level I Fieldwork and Seminar
- 20 credits in Level II Fieldwork
- 29 credits in Research, Scholarship, and Doctoral Capstone Project
- Completed 960 hours (24 weeks) of Level II Fieldwork
- Completed 14-week Mentored Doctoral Experience and Doctoral Capstone Project
- Earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75
- Met residency requirements
- Completed all degree requirements within 15 trimesters (5 years) of matriculation
- Submitted a Petition to Graduate
The Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program does not accept transfer credits.
The Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program requires that students complete all credits at Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU) to qualify for degree completion.
The program expects that all students will be punctual for all required activities. Failure to do so is a discourtesy to course instructors, clinical preceptors, and patients. Required activities may occur outside of regular campus hours, including nights and weekends. Therefore, students should be flexible and available for participation as required by the program.
The following program policies apply in addition to University attendance policy. Students must be present for at least 90% of scheduled class sessions for each course; some courses may have higher attendance standards indicated in the syllabi. Students in online courses who do not respond after one attempt to reach them will be marked absent. Students who arrive for class after the scheduled start time are considered tardy; students who depart from class before the scheduled completion time are considered to have departed early. Faculty members will monitor tardiness and early departure. Upon the second instance of either, faculty members may discuss the issue with the student. Upon the third instance, the student will receive one absence.
Students who wish to pursue authorization of make-up work must contact the instructor within 48 hours of absence. When make-up is authorized by the instructor consistent with University policy, the work must be completed within five school days of the original assessment date. Students who do not take the assessment or complete the makeup work on the scheduled date, or who do not contact the instructor within 48 hours, will receive a zero for the assessment or work. Students authorized to make-up missed assessments can earn a minimum passing score as the maximum grade.
Graduates are eligible to sit for the Occupational Therapist Registered (OTR®) Certification Examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT®), a prerequisite for licensure in all fifty of the United States, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia.
Jurisdictional requirements for state licensure vary and may change; students are responsible for monitoring requirements where they wish to practice to ensure they meet local qualifications.
Level II Fieldwork is designed for students to develop the knowledge, skills, and behaviors necessary for professional practice. OTD students participate in client care and engage in other educational experiences under the supervision of a licensed occupational therapist. Students earn credit by completing a minimum of 24 weeks and 960 Level II fieldwork hours, written and practical assignments, and skills assessments evaluated by the AOTA Fieldwork Performance Evaluation for the Occupational Therapy Student through two Level II fieldwork courses beginning in the 5th term. Students earn credit by completing a minimum of 24 weeks and 960 Level II fieldwork hours (OCTH 0645, OCTH 0655), written and practical assignments, and skills assessments evaluated by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Fieldwork Performance Evaluation for the Occupational Therapy Student.
SCU fieldwork experiences are reflected in traditional, nontraditional, and emerging settings. Students must complete Level II Fieldwork in at least two practice areas/settings. Students may complete Level II fieldwork in a minimum of 1 setting, if it is reflective of more than one practice area, or in a maximum of four different settings. Students are responsible for all travel and housing costs related to the Level II Fieldwork placement. Passage of Level II Fieldwork is required to proceed to the Capstone experience (OCTH 0702).
Additional information on Level II Fieldwork is available through the Fieldwork and Capstone Handbook, Program Director, or Academic Fieldwork Coordinator.
The Capstone Project begins after completion of all coursework, Level II Fieldwork, and preparatory activities associated with Doctoral Seminars (OCTH 0636, OCTH 0640) and Capstone Seminars (OCTH 0700, OCTH 0701, OCTH 0703, OCTH 0704). SCU’s Capstone Coordinator, faculty capstone mentor, and the student collaborate together on individualized objectives and plans for supervision
This doctoral capstone consists of two parts: the Capstone Experience and the Capstone Project.
- Term 7: Mentored Doctoral Capstone Experience (OCTH 0702). The capstone experience is a minimum of 14 weeks (560 hours). No more than 20% of the 560 hours can be completed off site for independent study activities such as research and writing. The capstone experience must be consistent with the program’s curriculum design, the individualized specific objectives, and the final capstone project. The student is responsible for all travel and housing costs related to the Capstone. Prior fieldwork or work-experience may not be substituted for this doctoral capstone experience.
- Term 8a: Capstone project (OCTH 0705). The Capstone project is completed and disseminated by the student to demonstrate synthesis and application of in-depth knowledge gained in the focused area of study. The student’s performance in producing and completing the Capstone project will be formally evaluated. The doctoral capstone must reflect the sequence and scope of the curriculum by incorporating one or more of the curriculum threads/themes: lifestyle health, evidence-based occupation-centered care, lifelong learning, occupational justice, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
The OTD Capstone coordinator will ensure that each student has a mentor with expertise consistent with students’ area of focus prior to commencing the doctoral capstone experience. The mentor does not have to be an occupational therapist.
The Doctor of Occupational Therapy program may allow students to remediate F grades immediately after completion of the course; students that remediate courses in the Occupational Therapy program are awarded an RC or RF grade.
An RC (Remediation - Minimum Pass) grade indicates that a course was failed and then successfully remediated to a minimum pass grade. The original F grade is replaced on the transcript with the RC grade; both the original F and the RC grade count towards Academic Warning, Probation, and Dismissal.
An RF (Remediation - Fail) grade indicates that a course was failed and then unsuccessfully remediated. The original F grade is replaced on the transcript with the RF grade; both the original F and the RF grade count towards Academic Probation or Dismissal.
Due to the rigorous nature of the program, students are discouraged from working while enrolled in the program. Course and clinical rotation schedules will not be modified for students who are employed.
Courses identified as *IPE are either taken with students from other programs, cover topics relevant to integrative healthcare, or are clinical courses offered in integrative healthcare settings.
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