Offered By: Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) - AZ (Phoenix Metro) Program
Program Director: Kalyn Briggs, PhD, OTR/L
College of Health Professions
Dean: Heidi Nelson, PT, DSc, DPT
The College of Health Sciences offers the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) - AZ (Phoenix Metro), a 107-credit, limited residency/hybrid professional degree program consisting of a mix of lecture, lab, and clinical fieldwork instruction. Students are expected to enroll full-time for 6 consecutive terms including summer. Courses are offered on-ground, blended, and in online and online interactive formats. Synchronous classes are generally held Monday through Friday during the day (Mountain time zone), although classes and clinical fieldwork experiences may be scheduled at any time including evenings and weekends. Level I and Level II Fieldwork and the Doctoral Capstone may require students to travel.
The program is designed to provide geography and residency flexibility for students who need flexibility to complete a professional degree.
Year One (Terms 1-3): Online coursework throughout each term, as well as two, concentrated on-ground blocks of 6 to 11 days per term for immersive laboratory courses (integrated fieldwork, labs, in-class learning) in the Phoenix metro area.
Year Two (Terms 4-6): Online coursework throughout each term, as well as 24 weeks of off-site, on-ground clinical fieldwork experiences. Fieldwork experiences may require students to travel up to 75 miles, though some opportunities may require more extensive travel. The program strives to provide convenient, effective locations for the fieldwork experience.
This entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program has applied for accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-6611 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.
This program is a hybrid delivery program. While many courses are held online, some courses will require in-person attendance in Arizona. See Clinical Experiences in the University Catalog. See State Authorization information in the University Catalog.
Our mission is to educate students with a strong foundation in professionalism, professional reasoning, ethics, and practice skills to become competent practitioners and leaders in the field of occupational therapy. Through integrative whole person health education, grounded in evidence and occupation-based practice, we prioritize health equity and the provision of client-centered care to enhance occupational performance.
Occupation-Based Practice: The graduate will be able to evaluate, plan and implement occupation-centered interventions and programs that promote health and well-being for diverse individuals, communities, and populations across the lifespan.
Client-Centered Practice: The graduate will be able to develop and implement culturally responsive, context-sensitive, client-centered care that honors autonomy, shared decision-making, and therapeutic relationship.
Integrative Health: The graduate will be able to integrate conventional and complementary intervention approaches and effectively collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to reflect client preferences, Whole Health principles, and emerging health trends.
Professional Reasoning: The graduate will be able to evaluate, plan and implement intervention plans using appropriate professional reasoning skills to address complex occupational needs and support ethical, evidence-informed clinical decisions.
Professional Development & Leadership: The graduate will be able to reflectively develop a personalized professional development and leadership plan, and will demonstrate behaviors consistent with Occupational Therapy professional identity and leadership: accountability, advocacy, and cultural responsiveness.
Evidence-Informed Practice: The graduate will be able to critically appraise relevant research to create evidence-informed interventions, projects, or protocols that demonstrate their ability to synthesize knowledge and apply evidence in innovative and ethical ways
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.
Applicants for the OTD degree must meet the following admissions standards. Exceptions are made on an individual basis.
- A completed U.S. bachelor’s degree or higher 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
- 8 semester credits of Human Anatomy (with lab) and Human Physiology
- Two courses required: either a combination of two human anatomy 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.
3 semester credits of Biology (with lab)
3 semester credits of General Physics, Kinesiology or Biomechanics
- 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.
- 12 semester credits of general courses including:
- Abnormal Psychology (3 credits)
- Human Development (lifespan) (3 credits) or Developmental Psychology (3 credits)
- 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.
- Statistics (3 credits)
Recommended prerequisites (not required): Medical Terminology
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*
- 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 107 credits within the required categories of coursework:
- 17 credits in Foundational Knowledge
- 40 credits in Integrated Content
- 48 credits in Synthesized Content
- 2 credits in Interprofessional Education
- 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)- AZ (Phoenix Metro) program does not award advanced standing or accept transfer credits.
There is an exception for students who meet the admissions requirements for the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) - PP (Post-Professional) program. Those students receive 77 credits by advanced standing towards the 107-credit Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) degree.
The Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)-AZ (Phoenix Metro) program requires that students complete all credits at Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU) to qualify for degree completion.
There is an exception to this requirement for students accepted to the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) - PP (Post-Professional) program. Those students must complete a minimum of 30 credits at SCU..
The following program policies apply in addition to University attendance policy.
Students are expected to have their cameras on during live online sessions. Any student who turns their camera off during an online session and does not respond to the instructor or proctor after one attempt to reach them will be marked absent. Students should inform their instructor - in advance when possible - if there is a reason they cannot turn on their camera.
To obtain credit for a didactic course, a student must be present for at least 90% of scheduled class sessions for each course.
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 ensuring 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 4th term. Students earn credit by completing a minimum of 24 weeks and 960 Level II fieldwork hours (OTAZ 640 - Level 2 Fieldwork A , OTAZ 660 - Level 2 Fieldwork B ), 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 (OTAZ 663 - Doctoral Capstone Experience ).
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 activities associated with Doctoral Seminars (OTAZ 650 - Doctoral Mentorship I , OTAZ 661 - Doctoral Mentorship II ). SCU’s Capstone Coordinator, faculty capstone mentor, and the student collaborate on individualized objectives and plans for supervision.
This doctoral capstone consists of two parts: the Capstone Experience and the Capstone Project.
Term 6a: Mentored Doctoral Capstone Experience (OTAZ 663 - Doctoral Capstone Experience ). 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 6b: Capstone project (OTAZ 664 - Doctoral Capstone Project ). 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 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 (OTD) - AZ (Phoenix Metro) 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.
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