Occupational Therapy Doctorate

Program Overview

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Xavier University's Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program prepares students for entry-level practice as occupational therapists. The program emphasizes ethics, leadership, advocacy, and scholarship, providing hands-on experience through fieldwork opportunities in various settings. Accredited by ACOTE, the program offers state-of-the-art facilities and opportunities for international fieldwork and research. Graduates are equipped for diverse career paths in occupational therapy, including direct care, consultation, education, and advocacy.

Program Outline

The program is grounded in ethics and aims to develop practitioners, leaders, advocates, and scholars. Students gain skills that last a lifetime and are prepared to make a difference in the lives of others. The program offers hands-on practice opportunities in Cincinnati through access to hospitals, rehabilitation sites, educational settings, mental health facilities, skilled nursing homes, and community-based settings.

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Objectives:

• Participate in an international or immersive fieldwork experience aligned with Xavier's mission to prepare students for a diverse, complex, and interdependent world.
• Learn in intentionally designed, state-of-the-art learning and lab spaces.
• Complete a community-based Capstone Project and Experience in areas of leadership, advocacy, program and policy development, education, or research.
• Obtain certificates in: MoCA, CarFit, QRP Suicide Prevention, CITI Training for research.
• Become a competent and caring occupational therapist, leader, advocate, and scholar.

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Outline:

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Year 1:

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Fall:

• OCTD 501 Functional Neuroscience (3cr.)
• OCTD 502 Occupational Sciences (3cr.)
• OCTD 505 Occupational Therapy Professional Standards/Ethical Practice (3cr.)
• OCTD 508 Occupational Therapy Theory (3cr.)
• OCTD 510 Therapeutic Skills (2cr.)
• OCTD 512 Therapeutic Skills Lab (2cr.)

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Spring:

• OCTD 520 Occupational Therapy Measurement and Assessment (3cr.)
• OCTD 522 Occupational Therapy Quantitative Research Methods (3cr.)
• OCTD 524 Occupational Justice (3cr.)
• OCTD 526 Occupational Therapy Process Behavioral Health (3cr.)
• OCTD 528 Behavioral Health Lab (1cr.)
• OCTD 531 Occupation-Based Movement Analysis (1cr.)
• OCTD 532 Focused Topic Occupational Therapy Evidence-based Practice (1cr.)
• OCTD 534 Capstone Overview (1cr.)

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Year 2:

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Fall:

• OCTD 600 Occupational Therapy Process Pediatrics (3cr.)
• OCTD 602 Pediatrics Lab (1cr.)
• OCTD 606 Occupational Therapy Qualitative Research Methods (3cr.)
• OCTD 608 Environmental Analysis (3cr.)
• OCTD 610 Focused Topic School-based Practice (1cr.)
• OCTD 630 Occupational Therapy Management and Supervision (3cr.)
• OCTD 530 Focused Topic Grant Writing (1cr.)
• OCTD 614 Level I Fieldwork Pediatrics (1cr.)

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Spring:

• OCTD 604 Capstone Development I (3cr.)
• OCTD 620 Occupational Therapy Process Adults (3cr.)
• OCTD 622 Adults Lab (1cr.)
• OCTD 624 Culture and Occupation (1cr.)
• OCTD 628 Assistive Technology Lab (1cr.)
• OCTD 633 Scholarship III: Scholarly Study (3cr.)
• OCTD 634 Focused Topic Lab: Prosthetics, PAMs, Splinting (1cr.)

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Year 3:

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Fall:

• OCTD 700 Occupational Therapy Process Geriatrics (3cr.)
• OCTD 701 Occupational Therapy Process Geriatrics Lab (1cr.)
• OCTD 705 Capstone Project Development II (3cr.)
• OCTD 706 Advanced Practice: Population Health & Community-Based Practice (3cr.)
• OCTD 708 Occupational Therapy Leadership & Advocacy (3cr.)
• OCTD 612 Focused Topic Academia (1cr.)
• OCTD 712 Level I Fieldwork Adult/Geriatric (1cr.)
• OCTD 714 Level I TIDE Fieldwork (1cr.)

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Spring:

• OCTD 720 Level II Fieldwork A (6cr.)
• OCTD 722 Level II Fieldwork B (6cr.)

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Year 3.5:

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Fall:

• OCTD 800 Capstone Practicum (6cr.)
• OCTD 802 Capstone Dissemination (3cr.)

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Sample Courses:

• OCTD 510 Therapeutic Skills (3): Overview of intervention skills including therapeutic use of self, teaching-learning process, standard and electronic documentation, safety standards and procedures (HIPAA/BBP, vitals), functional mobility (wheelchairs, transfers), assistive devices, and select strength and movement assessments.
• OCTD 524 Occupational Justice (3): Exploration of justice theories, diversity factors, contexts and culture, power structures associated with life participation for marginalized persons, groups, and populations.
Includes national and international policies as well as human rights' advocacy.
• OCTD 600 Occupational Therapy Process: Pediatrics (3): Implementation of the occupational therapy process with pediatric populations using a rehabilitative approach.
• OCTD 706 Advanced Practice: Population Health & Community-Based Practice (3): Course content relates to evidence-based interventions and consultative services related to health and wellness occupational needs using community and population-based approaches.

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Careers:

Occupational therapy is a rewarding and satisfying career that requires a high level of skill and expertise. The occupational therapy doctoral degree provides "opportunities for the occupational therapist to possess the necessary knowledge and skills as a direct care provider, consultant, educator, manager, leader, researcher, and advocate for the profession and the consumer (ACOTE Standards, 2018)." Future graduates of Xavier's OTD program will have many exciting and promising opportunities for a fulfilling career.

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Other:

• The program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA).
• Students have the opportunity to complete an international Level I fieldwork experience.
• The program offers brand new lab facilities, including clinical, daily living, and technology labs.
• The program is housed in the Health United Building, which also houses student health and counseling services and a recreational center.
• The program is part of Xavier University's College of Professional Sciences, which prepares undergraduate and graduate students intellectually, morally, and spiritually for careers and professions of service.
• Xavier University is a private university located in Cincinnati, Ohio, providing a liberal arts education in the Jesuit Catholic tradition.