CAS.OTD.OTD - Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Major in Occupational Therapy

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Program Description

The entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctorate program is a 105-credit program where faith, learning, and service converge to prepare students to be leaders in the field of occupational therapy. The OTD program at IWU believes dynamic, occupation-centered learning happens in community, when ideas are presented, challenged, and applied with opportunities for practice, reflection, revisiting, and redoing. (AOTA, 2021; AOTA, 2018; Taff, Grajo & Hooper, 2024). Students in the OTD program are supported intellectually, physically, and spiritually as they are also challenged in all three areas with the goal of holistic personal and professional enlightenment, maturity, and skill development for occupational therapy practice. As students grow in their understanding of themselves and their worldview as occupational beings, they are able to appreciate and respect the values, beliefs, and occupational identities of others, allowing them to deliver evidence informed, holistic occupational therapy (Taff, Grajo & Hooper, 2024). Through intentional collaboration and an immersive curriculum, OTD students learn to harness the transformative potential of active engagement in meaningful occupations as a cornerstone of rehabilitation practice.

The curricular threads of the OTD program at IWU include:

1) Meaningful occupation as therapy 2) Holistic care 3) Global occupational justice

The OTD program at IWU includes 5 trimesters of on-site courses, lab experiences and Level I fieldwork, 2 trimesters of full-time Level II fieldwork, and a 1-trimester doctoral capstone experience totaling 8 trimesters. Upon graduation, OTD students are eligible to sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy exam to earn certification as a registered occupational therapist OTR.

Learning Outcomes

The learning outcomes of the proposed program mirror outcomes developed by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), and the desired outcomes of Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) graduate education. Upon completion of the OTD program, graduates are expected to demonstrate competence in the following areas:

• Servant Leadership/Advocacy: Graduates of the OTD program will advocate, on behalf of consumers and the profession, as servant leaders who are actively involved in professional and community organizations.

• Moral Character: Graduates of the OTD program will promote occupational justice as people of moral character who apply Christ-like attitudes and ethical values.

• Scholarship/Research: Graduates of the OTD program will increase the body of knowledge in occupational therapy through scholarship and research in preparation for practice and life-long learning.

• Global Perspective: Graduates of the OTD program will address global and diverse occupational needs from a global perspective.

• Evidence-Based Practice: Graduates of the OTD program will apply occupational therapy scientific knowledge to create evidence-based intervention programs and/or protocols that are culturally responsive and client-centered.

• Occupational Therapy Theory: Graduates of the OTD program will apply theoretical models and practice frameworks when developing systems for the delivery of occupational therapy services.

• Residency Project: Graduates of the OTD program will demonstrate advanced practice competency in a chosen residency area.

*To have a Christ-like character is to possess the “fruit of the Spirit” as enumerated in Galatians 5:22 and 23. The Fruit of the Spirit is love, which includes the qualities of “joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” We strive to embody all of these qualities in our lives, thereby treating others as Christ would treat them. Jesus Christ was humble (John 13:1-5) and compassionate in His service to those He came into contact with (Ephesians 4:32). He also taught His followers to be forgiving to those who have wronged them (Colossians 3:13). Being Christ-like involves following Christ’s example of reaching out in love and serving others.

Program Requirements

Admissions Requirements for this Program

There are two paths of entry into the OTD Program at IWU:

Accelerated Entry Post-Baccalaureate Entry

• Interview (arranged by invitation when all other application materials have been received and reviewed).

• The following prerequisite courses or the equivalent must be completed with a grade of "B" or better. Unless specified, the courses below should have at least 3 credits to be considered as a prerequisite course. Students may complete up to two prerequisites in the summer session after acceptance into the program but before beginning the graduate level of study:

• Human Anatomy & Physiology I (with lab) OR Human Anatomy with Lab

• Human Anatomy & Physiology II (with lab) OR Human Physiology with Lab

• Abnormal Psychology OR Psychopathology

• Lifespan Development OR Development Psychology

• General/Introduction to Psychology (AP/Testing credit is ALLOWED)

• Statistics (math or psychology)

• General Sociology OR Anthropology

• Medical Terminology (1-3 credits accepted)

Graduation Requirements for this Program

To fulfill graduation requirements students must have completed all of the following:

• All credits required in the course of study with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25.

• Minimum grade of "B-" or higher in each course

• The successful completion of all Fieldwork assignments to include site assessment documentation.

• Payment of all program tuition and fees is required to receive a diploma.

• All required coursework for the OTD Program must be completed at Indiana Wesleyan University. Indiana Wesleyan University does not accept nor transfer credits from any other institution in substitution for any course, fieldwork component, or residency component of the OTD Program.