Occupational Therapy, Post-professional, O.T.D.

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

The post-professional Doctorate of Occupational Therapy program is designed for occupational therapy clinicians who want to enhance their careers and be leaders in their profession. Students learn to apply evidence-based literature and add to the evidence, practicing at a heightened level of professional accountability. Students will directly relate current job experience to gain additional theoretical knowledge and clinical competence. With the individual attention from a variety of highly experienced clinicians, students will achieve a higher level of confidence and skill in their practice area.

Program Requirements

Students in the post-professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program will complete 36 credits. All courses in the curriculum must be completed with a cumulative average of B or better.

Personal health insurance is required for all students in this program. Students may select the university insurance coverage or a private company as long as the coverage meets that of the University policy.

Students are required to become members of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).

Required Courses

OTH 705 - Occupation and Population: Policy, Advocacy, and Ethics
OTH 708 - Research, Outcomes, Quality Assurance: Translation of Research to Practice
OTH 710 - Occupational Therapy Capstone I
OTH 720 - Occupational Therapy Capstone II
OTH 735 - Occupational Science
OTH 750 - Assistive Technology and Contemporary Practice
MPH 580 - Health Literacy and Communication
NUR 644 Healthcare Leadership and Management (online at University of Maine)

Program Policies

Time Limit:

The time limit for completion of the OTD program is dated from the date of first matriculation and ends at five years.

Grade Policy:

All courses in the occupational therapy curriculum must be completed with a minimum of B- (2.67) in order to carry graduate credit. If a student receives a grade below B-, the student must repeat the course in the next semester that it is offered. Because occupational therapy courses are not offered every semester, it may be necessary for the student to take a leave of absence from the program until the required course is offered again. A student is only permitted to repeat one course. If a student receives a grade below B- in a second course, he or she may be dismissed from the program.

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in each semester in order to progress in the program. A student whose grade point average falls below a 3.0 in any semester will be placed on academic probation and will have one semester to bring the grade point average up to at least a 3.0. Students who fail to do this may be dismissed from the program. A student may not be placed on probation more than once.

Transfer Policy:

The Doctor of Occupational Therapy program abides by the University of Southern Maine transfer policy as outlined in the graduate catalog. Students may transfer a maximum of 6 credits from a MOT degree or from another OTD program. In addition, all transfer courses must be evaluated by the OTD Program Director to determine whether they meet the content requirements of the appropriate ACOTE standards. Only those courses that meet the standards will be accepted for transfer.