Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate
Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate
This fully online, post-professional OTD program is to create exceptionally qualified academic leaders in the occupational therapy education space. The program will provide occupational therapists with the necessary clinical expertise, who are interested in pursuing a career in academia, the knowledge and the skills to be a highly skilled academic leader or faculty member. This degree will provide you with a professional edge in academia by uniquely preparing you to oversee academic programs with occupational therapy clinical coursework, apply ACOTE accreditation standards, mentor clinical faculty, and with expertise in financial oversight of clinical programs.
Based on the most recent survey by ACOTE, 76% of faculty are over the age of 40. Taken together, the increase in number of academic programs and the aging OT population, there is a need to develop a pipeline of qualified OT's who are prepared to step into faculty and academic leadership roles to carry the profession forward. Currently, most OT professionals who have a doctoral degree have either a clinical OTD for entry to the field or a post-professional doctorate to complement their master's point of entry degree.
Program Details
- 100% online
- 30 credit hours
- Full-time and Part-time options
- Cohort Model
Cost of Attendance
Graduate students are eligible for up to $20,500 in the federal direct unsubsidized loan annually; this includes Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. Please visit our Cost of Attendance page to view current tuition and fees.
COST OF ATTENDANCE >
Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate Curriculum
The Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate program is 9 courses (30 credit hours):
- 100% Online
- Full-time and Part-time options
- Complete the program full-time in 5 semesters taking one course every 7 weeks
- Complete the program part-time in 8 semesters taking one course in each semester
- Cohort Model
Learning Outcomes
- Apply clinical pedagogical theory and evidenced-based scholarship to design, assess, or revise OT or OTA programs.
- Effectively develop, teach, and evaluate both online and traditional courses.
- Create OT and OTA curricula with appropriate assessment to effectively document both didactic and competency-based skills.
- Ensure ACOTE accreditation standards are addressed and embedded throughout the curriculum.
- Mentor and supervise faculty teaching and scholarship, including those transitioning from clinical backgrounds.
- Evaluate scholarly literature and engage in evidenced-based research in support of the profession and interprofessional collaboration.
Complete the program full-time in 5 semesters taking one course every 7 weeks.
| Full-time: 5 Semesters | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spring Semester Year 1 | ||
| DOTD 720 | Pedagogy | 3 credits |
| DOTD 730 | Higher Education Leadership | 3 credits |
| Summer Semester Year 1 | ||
| DOTD 740 | Boyers Model of Scholarship | 3 credits |
| DOTD 750 | Budgeting | 3 credits |
| Fall Semester Year 1 | ||
| DOTD 760 | Curriculum Development | 3 credits |
| DOTD 770 | Effective Assessment | 3 credits |
| Spring Semester Year 2 | ||
| DOTD 825 | Effective Distance Learning | 3 credits |
| DOTD 835 | Development of Curriculum to Standards | 3 credits |
| Summer Semester Year 2 | ||
| DOTD 890 | Capstone | 6 credits |
Complete the program part-time in 8 semesters taking one course in each semester.
| Part-time: 8 Semesters | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spring Semester Year 1 | ||
| DOTD 730 | Higher Education Leadership | 3 credits |
| Summer Semester Year 1 | ||
| DOTD 750 | Budgeting | 3 credits |
| Fall Semester Year 1 | ||
| DOTD 770 | Effective Assessment | 3 credits |
| Spring Semester Year 2 | ||
| DOTD 835 | Development of Curriculum to Standards | 3 credits |
| DOTD 720 | Pedagogy | 3 credits |
| Summer Semester Year 2 | ||
| DOTD 740 | Boyers Model of Scholarship | 3 credits |
| Fall Semester Year 2 | ||
| DOTD 760 | Curriculum Development | 3 credits |
| Spring Semester Year 3 | ||
| DOTD 825 | Effective Distance Learning | 3 credits |
| Summer Semester Year 3 | ||
| DOTD 890 | Capstone | 6 credits |
Application Requirements
To be considered you must be a licensed Occupational Therapist and:
- Hold a master's degree from an accredited program, with 5 years of documented experience in the field of occupational therapy
OR
- Hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited program, with 8 years of documented experience in the field of occupational therapy; work as a fieldwork educator or teaching experience in an OTA program preferred
Students with a bachelor's degree only:
North Central College provides a pathway into the OTD program for licensed occupational therapists with a bachelor's degree only. Admitted students who hold a bachelor's will be required to start in Fall and complete 6 credit hours in order to begin the OTD program in January with the rest of the cohort.
Steps to Apply
1. Start your application
A username and password will be generated and sent to the email you provide. You will have 30 days to complete the online application.
Separately from the application, you will need to submit additional items. In order to submit the online application, you will be required to upload the following:
-
Submit a personal statement addressing your interest in OT or OTA education including how being an educator will satisfy your own professional goals.
- A current resume that includes educational and employment history, college extracurricular activities, community activities, honors and leadership roles, hobbies and nonacademic interests.
2. Submit official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions
Official transcripts must be submitted to the School of Graduate and Professional Studies directly from the institution attended. Official transcripts can be sent by mail or electronically from verified services. Hard copy transcripts hand-delivered by students will be accepted if received in an official sealed envelope from the institution.
3. Submit letters of recommendation
Submit two letters of recommendation that speak to the candidate's commitment to teach in OT or OTA programs. Letters can be emailed to grad@noctrl.edu.
An interview may be required.
All application materials can be submitted electronically to grad@noctrl.edu or by mail to the School of Graduate and Professional Studies, 30 N. Brainard Street, Naperville, IL 60540.