Program Overview

Introduction to the Howard University Occupational Therapy Program

The Howard University Department of Occupational Therapy is proud to offer an Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Program leading to a Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD). The program has a rich history of excellence in leadership, graduating highly sought-after therapists, and developing national and international health professionals.

Program Overview

The Doctorate of Occupational Therapy program is designed to prepare students as entry-level occupational therapists and generalists. The program fosters leadership skills, evidence-based practice, and a focus on the underserved community, allowing students to develop as top practitioners and change agents in the field of occupational therapy.

Program Structure

The entry-level OTD program at Howard consists of three years of research, theory, and concentrated skill-based coursework; competency requirements; six-month fieldwork; 14-week doctoral capstone experience (DCE), and capstone project as requirements for graduation. Upon successful completion of 96 credits, including all coursework and fieldwork experiences, candidates can sit for the national certification examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).

Curriculum

The OTD curriculum follows a developmental progression where the organization of the learning experiences builds on knowledge gained and mastery of educational outcomes. Throughout the curriculum, students are exposed to five core themes:

• Occupation and Human Performance
• Critical Thinking and Clinical Reasoning
• Diversity and the Underserved
• Research and Scholarship
• Leadership and Professionalism

Accreditation

The Howard University Occupational Therapy program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).

Admission Requirements

All applicants must complete the following prerequisites prior to admission to the Entry-Level OTD Program:

• Developmental Psychology (3 Credits)
• Abnormal Psychology (3 Credits)
• Gross Anatomy (4 Credits)
• Physiology (4 Credits)
• Sociology (3 Credits)
• CPR Certificate

Application Process

The Howard University Occupational Therapy program subscribes to the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service, known as OTCAS. All applicants need to apply online using the OTCAS application. The application deadline is March 15 of each year.

Admission Criteria

Admission consideration may be granted to applicants who satisfy all admissions criteria, including:

• Undergraduate degree from an accredited university or college
• Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• Completion of required prerequisite courses
• Verification of 40 hours of observation in an occupational therapy setting
• Completion of the OTCAS Application
• Submission of three letters of recommendation
• Participation in a personal interview

Program Outcomes

The first entry-level OTD class was accepted in Fall 2021 and graduated in Spring 2024. Program outcomes include:

• Board Passage Rates: program results from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT)
• Employment Rate: 95% of graduates were employed as OTs within six months of passing the National Certification Examination

Academic Policies

The academic policies in the Department of Occupational Therapy adhere to the guidelines and procedures outlined in the Division of Allied Health Sciences Admissions, Retention, and Graduation Policies and the Occupational Therapy Graduate Retention and Graduation Policy. Specifically:

• Minimum grade in any course taken at accredited institutions to be considered for advanced standing is "C"
• Minimum semester and cumulative GPA required for good standing in the program is 3.0

Course Scheme

The total credits required for the program are 96 credit hours, with the following course scheme:

First Year

• Fall Semester:
  • OCCG-760 Musculoskeletal Anatomy (4 Credits)
  • OCCG-517 Health & Wellness (2 Credits)
  • OCCG-521 OT Theory & Concepts (3 Credits)
  • OCCG-523 Occupational Science (3 Credits)
  • OCCG-316 Clinical Kinesiology (3 Credits)
  • OCCG-518 Research Method in OT (2 Credits)
• Spring Semester:
  • OCCG-702 Doctoral Research Projects I (1 Credit)
  • OCCG-513 Clinical Neuroscience (3 Credits)
  • OCCG-515 Life Participation & Aging (2 Credits)
  • OCCG-516 Human Performance & Movement Analysis (2 Credits)
  • OCCG-520 Pediatrics in OT (3 Credits)
  • OCCG-532 Clinical Decision Making I (1 Credit)
  • OCCG-514 Pathophysiology (3 Credits)
  • OCCG-544 Fieldwork Level I (1 Credit)
• Summer Semester:
  • OCCG-740 Evidence Based Research (3 Credits)
  • OCCG-704 Minority Health & Health Equity (3 Credits)

Second Year

• Fall Semester:
  • OCCG-530 Theories & Assessment in Mental Health (3 Credits)
  • OCCG-531 Theories of Occupational Performance & Assessment in Physical Dysfunctions (3 Credits)
  • OCCG-539 Clinical Decision-making in OT II (1 Credit)
  • OCCG-742 Organizational Leadership (3 Credits)
  • OCCG-533 Analysis of Human Performance & Technology (3 Credits)
  • OCCG-545 Fieldwork Level (Intermediate) (1 Credit)
  • OCCG-540 Theories of Human Performance & Interventions in Pediatrics (3 Credits)
• Spring Semester:
  • OCCG-538 Theories of Occupational Performance & Intervention in Physical Dysfunctions (3 Credits)
  • OCCG-537 Theories of Group Dynamics & Interventions in Mental Health (3 Credits)
  • OCCG-616 Professional Issues & Ethics in OT (2 Credits)
  • OCCG-534 OT Administration & Management (2 Credits)
  • OCCG-657 Evidence-Based Research (2 Credits)
  • OCCG-706 Doctoral Research Projects II (1 Credit)
  • OCCG-707 Program Development, Entrepr & Grant Writing (3 Credit)
  • OCCG-543 Clinical Decision Making In OT III (1 Credit)
  • OCCG-546 Fieldwork Level I (Advanced) (1 Credit)
• Summer Semester:
  • OCCG-541 Fieldwork II Experience (6 Credits)
  • OCCG-708 Doctoral Research Projects III (1 Credit)

Third Year

• Fall Semester:
  • OCCG-542 Fieldwork III Experience (6 Credits)
  • OCCG-709 Board Prep Seminar (3 Credits)
• Spring Semester:
  • OCCG-701 Doctoral Capstone Experience (6 Credits)
  • OCCG-711 Capstone Project (3 Credits)