Doctor of Occupational Therapy
Draft Program Curriculum - 11.20.2019

The Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) is a post-baccalaureate, entry-level professional doctoral degree that will prepare students for work in any practice setting following graduation and state licensure. The curriculum integrates the occupational therapy profession’s foundational knowledge requirements, its basic theoretical tenets and perspectives, and a strong didactic and clinical education focus to support students in achieving competencies in screening, evaluation, fabrication and delivery of evidence-based plans of care. The curriculum is deliberately intended to incorporate the contexts associated with occupational therapy service delivery and will have an emphasis on inter-professional education in class and lab settings. Inter-professional activities will extend to opportunities for service to the local and regional community. View the Presbyterian College Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program course descriptions »

The total length of the program will be 117 credit hours, 3.0 years (nine semesters).  The curriculum will include two, 12-week fieldwork experiences and one, 16-week Doctoral Experience. Students must successfully complete a practical examination at the completion of their second year in order to begin the Fieldwork II practicum. They must also take and pass a written Department Exit Exam prior to matriculation to the final clinical experience (16 weeks). Successful completion of the terminal clinical practicum sequence and evidence of meeting the competencies for entry-level occupational therapy practice must be met to graduate.

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program Year 1

Spring Semester Year 1 Hours Summer Semester Year 1 Hours
OTH 704 Intro. to Occupational Therapy 1 OTH 710 Foundations in Occupational Therapy 3
OTH 706 Teaching and Learning 1 1 OTH 701 Kinesiology 3
OTH 700 Human Anatomy 5 OTH 708 Survey of Healthcare 2
OTH 707 Psychosocial Factors In care 3 OTH 720 Investigation, Evaluation, and Exploration of Essential Critical Inquiry 2
OTH 711 Occupational Patterns in Culture 3 OTH 702 Pathophysiology 2
OTH 709 OT Delivery Systems Management 2
OTH 719 Fieldwork Level 1 A 1
TOTAL 13 TOTAL 15
Fall Semester Year 1 Hours
OTH 703 Neuroanatomy 4
OTH 810 OT Practice in Mental Health 3
OTH 801 Motor Learning and Analysis 3
OTH 816 Technology and Environmental Adaptations 3
OTH 712 Teaching and Learning 2 1
OTH 713 Inter-professional Seminar 1 1
OTH 729 Fieldwork Level 1 B 1
TOTAL 16 Total Credit Hours Year 1 44

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program Year 2

Spring Semester Year 2 Hours Summer Semester Year 2 Hours
OTH 800 Physical Agent Modalities 2 OTH 812 Occupational Therapy in Adult Populations 2 (Neurology) 3
OTH 814 Assessment and Intervention in Contemporary Occupational Therapy 3 OTH 821 Leadership, Policy, and Promotion in OT 3
OTH 811 Occupational Therapy in Adult Populations 1 (Orthopedics) 3 OTH 822 Community Practicum (Half Class) 2
OTH 804 Teaching and Learning 3 2 OTH 831 Doctoral Project 2 1
OTH 805 Pharmacology 2 OTH 802 Inter-professional Seminar 2 1
OTH 830 Doctoral Project 1 1 OTH 819 Fieldwork Level 1 C 1
TOTAL 13 TOTAL 10-11
Fall Semester Year 2 Hours
OTH 813 Pediatric Practice in Occ. Therapy 5
OTH 820 Administration, Structure, and Management of Practice Settings 3
OTH 822 Community Practicum (Half Class) 2
OTH 803 Inter-professional Seminar 3 1
OTH 832 Doctoral Project 3 2
OTH 829 Fieldwork Level 1 D 1
TOTAL 13-14 Total Credit Hours Year 2 37

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program Year 3

Spring Semester Year 3 Hours Summer Semester Year 3 Hours
OTH 910 Clinical Fieldwork Level 2A (12 Weeks) 10 OTH 911 Clinical Fieldwork Level 2B (12 Weeks) 10
OTH 833 Doctoral Project 4 1 OTH 825 Professional Competency 1
TOTAL 11 TOTAL 11
Fall Semester Year 3 Hours
OTH 920 Doctoral Experience (14 Weeks) 12
OTH 900 Doctoral Project 5 2
TOTAL 14 Total Credit Hours Year 3 36
Total Program Credit Hours 117

American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
The 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 4720 Montgomery Lane, P.O. Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA.  The Presbyterian College OTD program is currently in process for accreditation.

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SASCOC)

Presbyterian College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SASCOC) and the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) based on the organization’s processes.

The program will apply for approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at the appropriate time.