Occupational Therapy, Doctorate

Program Description

The Entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) Program prepares students for a professional career focused on helping people achieve skills and utilize resources to live independent and meaningful lives. The OTD program aims to meet the increasing demand for highly skilled occupational therapy practitioners within the dynamic nature of contemporary health and human services delivery systems. The program is structured towards producing client-centered occupational therapists with enhanced critical thinking abilities. It aims to produce professionals who can research, develop, implement, and evaluate procedures utilizing a high degree of independent judgment and to consult where appropriate with other members of the health care team. The OTD Program educate occupational therapists that possess advanced knowledge and skills as direct care providers, consultants, educators, managers, leaders, researchers, and advocates for the profession and the consumer, as defined and prescribed by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE).

Academic Advisement

Interested students should contact the Department of Occupational Therapy at (310) 243-2726 or visit https://www.csudh.edu/ot/ for program specific details, application and additional information.

Pre-Admission Disclosure for Academic Programs Leading to Licensure or Credentialing

Admission into programs leading to licensure and credentialing does not guarantee that students will obtain a license or credential. Licensure and credentialing requirements are set by agencies that are not controlled by or affiliated with the CSU and requirements can change at any time. For example, licensure or credentialing requirements can include evidence of the right to work in the United States (e.g., social security number or taxpayer identification number) or successfully passing a criminal background check. Students are responsible for determining whether they can meet licensure or credentialing requirements. The CSU will not refund tuition, fees, or any associated costs, to students who determine subsequent to admission that they cannot meet licensure or credentialing requirements. Information concerning licensure and credentialing requirements are available from Eric Hwang: WH A320 - (310) 243- 2726.

Accreditation

The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) has granted the OTD Program approval of candidacy status in February 2023 (step 1), which allows the Program to admit students. Although the “Candidacy Status” designation does not guarantee that the program will be accredited, it indicates that the resource allocation and plan for development of the proposed program appear to demonstrate the ability to meet ACOTE Standards. With the granted Candidacy Status, the program will submit a Report of Self-Study for review by ACOTE (step 2) and will have an on-site evaluation (step 3). The Program anticipates attaining its full accreditation in August 2025.  The AOTA is located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E Bethesda, MD 20814. TEL: (301) 652-AOTA.

Certification

Upon the Program’s full accreditation by the ACOTE, graduates are eligible to sit for the national certification examination for occupational therapists administered by the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this examination, the graduate will be an Occupational Therapist Registered (OTR).

Licensure

Graduates wishing to practice in the state of California must apply for a state license to practice. A state license is based on successful completion of the NBCOT Certification Examination.

Credentialing Requirements

A felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the certification examination administered by the NBCOT or to attain state licensure. NBCOT's certification examination application contains character review questions that must be answered by all exam candidates applying for the certification examination. Applicants who answer "yes" to any of these questions must submit an explanation and official documentation regarding their background to NBCOT's Regulatory Affairs Department at the time of application to take the examination. This information will be reviewed by the NBCOT on an individual basis prior to determining exam eligibility.

An individual who is considering entering an educational program or has already entered an educational program can request an early determination review to have their background reviewed prior to the application for the certification exam. If you have additional questions or would like additional information, you may contact the Credentialing Services at NBCOT, located at One Bank Street, Suite 300, , Gaithersburg, Maryland 20877; TEL: (301) 990-7979. Email: professional.conduct@nbcot.org.

Admission to the Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) Program

Applications to the OTD program are accepted one time each year. Students planning to seek admission to the program should complete the on-line application and submit a complete application packet including all supporting materials by February 28 preceding a summer semester admission to the program.

Applications for admission to CSU Dominguez Hills must be completed on-line at https://www2.calstate.edu/apply.

OTD Application opens: February 1^st

Application (ALL documents) deadline: February 28^th

Admissions Requirements

• A completed and awarded Bachelor of Arts or Sciences degree from a   regionally accredited college or university.
• Completion of the following prerequisites (must be within the last ten years, minimum 3 semester units each, a minimum of B average in all prerequisite courses, and a minimum of C for each course).
  • Human Anatomy with laboratory (3 Credits)
  • Human Physiology with laboratory (3 Credits)
  • Developmental Psychology or Human Development (Across the Lifespan) (3 Credits)
  • Abnormal Psychology (3 Credits)
  • Statistics (3 Credits)
  • Medical Terminology (academic credit or certificate, taken from an accredited institution)
    • Notes:​​
      • Combined Human Anatomy and Human Physiology courses are acceptable as long as each are offered with Lab components, total at least 6 semester units, focus on general gross human structures, and taken from an accredited institution.
      • For applicants who completed a 4-unit combined Anatomy and Physiology course with lab that covers all systems, you could take the 2-unit OTR 595 Case-Based Analysis of Anatomical Structures and Functions course offered through CSUDH College of Extended and International Education to meet both Human Anatomy and Human Physiology prerequisite requirements. For inquiries, email: otdadmissions@csudh.edu. 
      • It is acceptable to combine two or more Development courses that focus on different life stages, e.g. a course on Childhood Development from infancy to adolescent and a course on Adulthood and Aging.
      • The CSUDH OT Department offers a Medical Terminology in OT Practice Workshop that meets the Medical Terminology prerequisite requirement. For inquiries, email: otdadmissions@csudh.edu. 
• A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in bachelor's degree and pre-requisite coursework.
• Completion of 80 hours of documented volunteer experience under the supervision of a registered occupational therapist.
• Three letters of recommendation: one letter from the occupational therapist supervising volunteer hours and two from professionals that can attest to student's ability to complete graduate coursework.
• A minimum combined Verbal and Quantitative GRE Scores of 286, with required minimum scores of 140 on the Quantitative Reasoning and 146 on the Verbal Reasoning sections. A minimum Analytic Writing score of 4 is required. (Note: GRE scores must be within the last five years.)
• Attendance of an OTD Information Session prior to applying to the program.
• Download and complete Application Checklist
• Applicants who meet the aforementioned qualifications will be invited for a personal interview with members of the Occupational Therapy Program Admissions Committee.
• If accepted, completion of the CSUDH medical history questionnaire and physical examination with proof of required immunizations are mandatory.
• If accepted, student must sign up for all fieldwork management, background screening and/or compliance tracking systems being utilized by the program prior to admission.

For additional information about the admissions process for the Occupational Therapy Doctorate program, please contact the Department of Occupational Therapy at 310-243-2726, otdadmissions@csudh.edu or refer to the website https://www.csudh.edu/ot/

Semester One (Summer) - Foundations (13 units - 6 courses)

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
OTR 512	Human Anatomy	3
OTR 701	The Historical Analysis of Occupational Therapy Profession	2
OTR 713	OT Frameworks and Models of Practice	2
OTR 714	Introduction to Population Health	2
OTR 715	OTD Research Portfolio 1 Introduction to Research Portfolio: Literature Review	1
OTR 719	Therapeutic Activities and Group Dynamics Across the Lifespan	3

Semester Two (Fall) - Pediatrics (18 units - 8 courses)

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
OTR 527	Foundations of Kinesiology for Occupational Therapy	4
OTR 537	Assessments in Occupational Therapy Practice: Pediatrics	2
OTR 539	Interventions in Occupational Therapy Practice - Pediatrics	2
OTR 722	Clinical Fieldwork I in a Pediatric Setting	1
OTR 723	Clinical Reasoning in Occupational Therapy: Pediatric Conditions and Case Analysis	3
OTR 724	Person, Environment, Occupation and Health Promotion in Pediatric Populations	2
OTR 725	OTR Research Portfolio 2 - Methodologies in Quantitative Research	3
OTR 780	OT Professional Development Seminar: OT Code of Ethics	1

Semester Three (Spring - Adult (18 units - 8 courses)

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
OTR 547	Neurological Foundations of Oc	5
OTR 557	Assessments in Occupational Therapy Practice: Adult	2
OTR 559	Interventions in Occupational Therapy Practice: Adult	2
OTR 732	Clinical Fieldwork I in an Adult Setting	1
OTR 733	Clinical Reasoning in Occupational Therapy: Adult Conditions & Case Analyses	3
OTR 734	Person, Environment, Occupation, and Health Promotion in Adult Populations	2
OTR 735	OTD Research Portfolio 3 - Quantitative Research Project	2
OTR 781	OT Professional Development Seminar: The Reflective Occupational Therapist	1

Semester Four (Summer) - Adolescent (13 units - 8 courses)

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
OTR 517	Assessments in Occupational Therapy Practice: Adolescence	1
OTR 519	Interventions in Occupational Therapy Practice - Adolescence	2
OTR 742	Clinical Fieldwork I in and Adolescent Setting	1
OTR 743	Clinical Reasoning in Occupational Therapy: Adolescent Conditions and Case Analyses	3
OTR 744	Person, Environment, Occupation and Health Promotion in Adolescent Populations	2
OTR 745	OTD Research Portfolio 4 - Methodologies in Qualitative Research	2
OTR 782	OT Professional Development Seminar: Effective Communication and Team Dynamics	1
OTR 790	OTD Capstone Portfolio 1 Needs Assessment: Identifying OT Problem	1

Semester Five (Fall) - Geriatrics (16 units - 11 courses)

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
OTR 577	Assessments in Occupational Therapy Practice: Geriatrics	1
OTR 579	Interventions in Occupational Therapy Practice: Geriactrics	2
OTR 753	Clinical Reasoning in Occupational Therapy: Geriatric Conditions & Case Analyses	3
OTR 754	Person, Environment, Occupation, and Health Promotion in Geriatric Populations	2
OTR 755	OTD Research Portfolio 5: Qualitative Research Project	2
OTR 783	OT Professional Development Seminar - Program Development & Funding of OT Services	1
OTR 784	OT Professional Development Seminar: Administration and Management	1
OTR 785	OT Professional Development Seminar - Adaptive and Assistive Technology and Devices	1
OTR 786	OT Professional Development Seminar - Group Interventions	1
OTR 791	OTD Capstone Portfolio 2 - Evidence-based Practice: Reviewing Best Intervention	1

Semester Six (Spring) - (9 units - 1 course)

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
OTR 592	Fieldwork II A	9

 Semester Seven (Summer) - (9 units - 1 course)

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
OTR 592	Fieldwork II A	9

Semester Eight (Fall) - Capstone, Electives, and Advanced Clinical Courses (12 units - 2 courses)

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
OTR 792	OTD Capstone Portfolio 3 Capstone Experience	9
OTR 793	OTD Capstone Portfolio 4 Capstone Project 1	3

Semester Nine (Spring) - Capstone, Electives, and Advanced Clinical Courses (12 units - number of courses to be determined)

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
OTR 787	OT Professional Development Seminar-Ergonomics	1
OTR 788	OT Professional Development seminar- Leadership and Advocacy	1
OTR 789	OT Professional Development Seminar: Business Aspects of Practice	1
OTR 797	OTD Capstone Portfolio 5 Capstone Project 2 (Electives (6 units) to be determined with Academic Advisor Approval)	3
Electives (6 units) to be determined with Academic Advisor Approval
OTR 794	Independent Study	1
OTR 795	Special Topics	1-3
OTR 796	Practicum: Supervised Internship	1-3
OTR 798	Directed Research	1-3
OTR 799	Capstone	1-3

ENTRY-LEVEL OTD PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of the entry-level OTD, students will be able to…

1. demonstrate mastery of entry-level clinical assessment and intervention skills needed for evidence-based occupational therapy services that address all areas identified in the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework;
2. use research evidence to think critically on how to address client population needs;
3. apply occupational therapy theory related to how humans across the lifespan construct meaning and seek adaptation through occupation to achieve expected outcomes;
4. demonstrate in-depth knowledge of service delivery models, policies, and systems related to practice settings in both traditional and emerging areas;
5. apply the principles and constructs of the occupational therapy code of ethics in responding to individual, institutional, and societal problems;
6. demonstrate clear and effective communication, both written and verbal, to display professionalism and contribute to the enhancement of practice;
7. display sensitivity and responsiveness to societal and  cultural differences to better serve the needs of diverse and underserved populations;
8. initiate and conduct high-quality research that contributes to the understanding and promotion of health and well-being of individuals within occupational therapy practice;
9. contribute to the profession by submitting scholarly work to peer reviewed professional publications and/or for presentation at clinical or scientific meetings;
10. assume leadership, management, and administrative roles that influence service delivery to patients, families, students, and others in community and clinical settings;
11. participate in advocacy, education, and policy development that promote the advancement of occupational therapy profession;
12. demonstrate in-depth knowledge in one or more of the following areas: clinical practice specialty skills, research skills, administration, leadership, program and policy development, advocacy, education, and theory development.