The Doctorate of Occupational Therapy Program at Trine University supports students in developing the skills, competencies, and knowledge base necessary to practice entry-level occupational therapy across a variety of health care settings, and in the community. Occupational therapists collaborate with clients to support their optimal engagement in occupation through outcomes focused on improvement or enhancement of the client’s occupational performance; prevention of unhealthy conditions, risk factors, or diseases; improvements in the client’s quality of life and well-being; and by supporting clients’ access to and participation in the full range of daily life activities and roles which the client prioritizes. OTD students will be immersed in rich discussions, mentoring, and authentic hands-on classroom learning combined with experiences in both traditional healthcare settings in the community, and in emerging areas of occupational therapy. The curriculum synthesizes the humanities, occupational science, theoretical perspective, research and advocacy, and evidence-based occupational therapy practices, to prepare the OTD students for their final Level II Fieldwork experiences. Students move beyond the generalist level of occupational therapy as they complete their OTD journey by creating, implementing, managing, and presenting an in-depth Capstone Project following their mentored capstone residency experience, choosing an area of their special interest to develop additional expertise.
Mission
The OTD Program at Trine University will provide an innovative educational environment that develops successful occupational therapy leaders within the healthcare team and professional graduates who engage the community through evidence-based practice to optimize health and wellness.
Vision/Philosophy Statement
The OTD Program at Trine University will be recognized as a premier provider of occupational therapy education characterized by strategic engagement with an interdisciplinary team of healthcare students, dynamic instructional design, and occupation-based approaches that result in successful workforce-ready graduates.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the Doctorate of Occupational Therapy program, the student will be able to:
1. Demonstrate the ability to plan, implement, and lead the occupational therapy evaluation process.
2. Utilize critical reasoning to develop innovative client-centered interventions across the lifespan to enhance meaningful engagement.
3. Perform professional roles and responsibilities that are compliant with current practice standards and align with ethical considerations and values of occupational therapy.
4. Advance the field of occupational therapy through interprofessional collaboration, advocacy, community engagement, and optimization of health and wellness.
Accreditation
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 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.
The program must be granted Candidacy Status, have a pre-accreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
Degree Requirements
Program Requirements