Program Overview

Occupational Therapy, Entry-Level OTD (Professional Program)

Overview

The entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program is designed for students who have a bachelor's degree in another subject. This program prepares students to be eligible for a national certification examination and for practice as an occupational therapist.

Admission and Degree Requirements

• Prior Degree: Bachelor’s degree completed by the time of enrollment, no specific major is required or preferred.
• Prerequisite Courses: Completion of six prerequisite courses by the time of enrollment, with a grade of B or above recommended:
  • Introduction to sociology: Introduction to anthropology or social psychology course is also acceptable.
  • Developmental psychology: Child development, child psychology, or lifespan development course is also acceptable.
  • Psychopathology: Course must cover child and adult conditions.
  • Statistics: One course offered in a math, statistics, psychology, sociology, or similar department. A research methods course is not acceptable.
  • Human anatomy (minimum of four semester hours): Course must cover all body systems. 30 clock hours of human cadaver lab study is required. The lab can be completed at UIC after enrollment. A two-course sequence in combined human anatomy and physiology is acceptable if both courses are completed at the same school.
  • Human physiology: Course must cover all body systems. Lab required. Exercise physiology lab is acceptable if general physiology lab is not available. A two-course sequence in combined human anatomy and physiology is acceptable if both courses are completed at the same school.
  • Medical terminology: Course is recommended but not required. Students may also complete a self-study course in medical terminology upon acceptance.
• Grade Point Average: GPA of at least 3.00/4.00 (B average) for baccalaureate and graduate coursework to date is expected; however, exceptions can be made if other components of the application are higher than the cohort average. Students with a GPA below 2.75 are not typically admitted unless special circumstances have affected the GPA.
• English Proficiency: Additional information on the English proficiency test requirement for international students can be found on the UIC Admissions website. Minimum test scores for this program are:
  • TOEFL iBT: 80
  • IELTS Academic: 6.5
  • PTE Academic: 54
• Letters of Recommendation: Three letters of recommendation.
• Personal Statement: A statement that addresses choice of career, experiences to date, and short-term and long-term goals.
• Experience: While the program does not require a prescribed number of experience hours, the admissions process values experience of different types, and includes a rating of experience with the application. Experiences include extracurricular, leadership, employment, volunteer, research, international, and personal disability experiences.
• Achievements: Special achievements are also considered, including awards and recognitions, and exemplary accomplishments.
• Other Requirements for International Applicants:
  • Financial Documents: See OT Department website for detailed description.
  • Academic Translations: See OT Department website for detailed description.
• Tests: The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is not required.

Degree Requirements

• Minimum Semester Hours Required: 110.
• Coursework: The 38 required courses include 26 didactic courses, 7 fieldwork courses, 2 seminar courses, a 14-week capstone experience, and 2 capstone project courses. Successful completion of the coursework is necessary to be eligible to sit for the national certification examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).
• Course List:
  • Year 1, Fall (16 Hours):
    • OT 600: Introductory Occupational Therapy Knowledge and Skills
    • OT 601: Communication and Therapeutic Relationships
    • OT 602: Client-Centered Practice Using Occupation-Focused Models
    • OT 603: Occupational Development Across the Lifespan
    • OT 604: Fieldwork Level I-A
    • OT 605: Professional Development and Leadership I
    • OT 607: Research Foundations for Evidence-based Practice I: Examining Client Factors and Interventions
  • Year 1, Spring (16 Hours):
    • OT 610: Conceptual Practice Models
    • OT 611: Occupational Performance and Participation: Evaluation
    • OT 612: Occupational Performance and Participation: Outcomes and Interventions 1
    • OT 615: Prof Develop & Leadership 2
    • OT 617: Research Foundations 2
  • Year 1, Summer (7 Hours):
    • OT 624: Policy, Payment, Advocacy and Access to Occupational Therapy
    • OT 626: Population Health and Community Participation
    • OT 628: Group Theory and Process
    • OT 629: Fieldwork Level I-B
  • Year 2, Fall (15 Hours):
    • OT 630: Occupational Therapy Process: Application 1
    • OT 631: Occupational Performance and Participation: Outcomes and Interventions 2
    • OT 632: Occupational Performance and Participation: Outcomes and Interventions 3
    • OT 635: Professional Identity, Development and Leadership 3
    • OT 636: Research Foundations for Evidence-based Practice 3: Knowledge Synthesis for Clinical Practice
    • OT 637: Research Foundations for Evidence-Based Practice 4: Assessing Community Needs and Evaluating Programs
  • Year 2, Spring (16 Hours):
    • OT 647: Fieldwork Level I-C
    • OT 648: Fieldwork Level I-D
    • OT 640: Occupational Therapy Process: Application 2
    • OT 641: Occupational Performance and Participation: Outcomes and Interventions 4
    • OT 645: Professional Development and Leadership 4
    • OT 646: Research Foundations for Evidence-Based Practice 5: Knowledge Translation and Health Communications
    • OT 649: Fieldwork Level II-A: Part 1
    • OT 695: Scholarship of Practice Proseminar
  • Year 2, Summer (10 Hours):
    • OT 650: Fieldwork Level II-A: Part 2
    • OT 654: Management & Prog Development
    • OT 655: Professional Identity, Development and Leadership 5
  • Year 3, Fall (14 Hours):
    • OT 690: Capstone Seminar
    • OT 668: Capstone Project 1
    • OT 669: Fieldwork Level II-B
  • Year 3, Spring (16 Hours):
    • OT 678: Capstone Project 2
    • OT 679: Capstone Experience
• Time Limits:
  • All elements of the program must be completed within 6 years.
  • The program is normally completed on a full-time basis and part-time status is only granted by petition to the Academic Standing Committee.
  • A formal plan for progressing in the program on part-time status must be part of the petition to the Academic Standing Committee.
  • Students must progress to Fieldwork Level IIA (OT 649/OT 650) within 12 months of completing all prerequisites for Level IIA Fieldwork.
  • Each 12-week Level II Fieldwork requirement, i.e., OT 649/OT 650 (FW Level II-A: Part 1/ FW Level II-A: Part 2) and OT 669 (FW Level II-B) must be completed within 24 months of beginning the Level II fieldwork requirement.
  • An individual 14-week capstone experience must be completed within 24 months after it begins.
  • The doctoral capstone experience must be started after completion of all pre-requisite coursework and Level II fieldwork, as well as completion of preparatory activities defined in 2023 ACOTE OTD Standard D.1.3.
  • Leaves of absence beyond one year are not routinely considered at any point in progression in the program.
  • Exceptions to the above may be considered by the Academic Standing Committee on a case-by-case basis.
• Graduation Requirements:
  • All required or elective courses graded A-F must be completed with a grade of C or better. Students who earn below a C in a required or elective course are dismissed.
  • All required or elective courses graded on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis (e.g., Level I Fieldwork, Level II Fieldwork), must be completed with a grade of Satisfactory. Students who earn an Unsatisfactory grade in an S/U course are dismissed.
  • Students are required to maintain a 3.00 GPA in all required entry-level OTD courses and electives during their OTD matriculation and at graduation.
  • A student with a degree GPA less than 3.00 will not be approved for graduation. Approval for graduation is achieved by raising the OTD GPA to 3.00 or greater prior to the end of the last term required for graduation.
  • Students on academic notice who fail to raise their average to 3.00 or to otherwise fulfill the terms of their academic notice within the deadline will be dismissed.
• Capstone Project: The entry-level OTD is a professional program. Students are required to complete a doctoral capstone project, per ACOTE requirements.