This program of study is directed at registered occupational therapists who are seeking advanced practice knowledge to support their adoption of pioneering approaches and opportunities, and to prepare them to be leaders in the field.  This program focuses on innovation and professional leadership in practice. Offered entirely online, therapists can obtain this education while continuing to work in the profession.

This program is designed for students who already possess a Master's degree in Occupational Therapy, or Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy with a Master's degree in another area and eligibility to practice professionally as an OT.

Applications for this program are accepted online. Detailed instructions on how to apply are available on the Department of Occupational Therapy Education website. The application deadline is December 1 for students entering the following summer semester. Applications are not reviewed until all information is received.

Admission requirements:

A degree in occupational therapy and a master’s degree from an accredited institution is required and must be documented by submission of an official transcript indicating the degree has been conferred before entering the program.

Official transcripts for all courses taken from any institution are also required.
Students with degrees from outside the U.S. may be subject to transcript evaluation indicating the degree is equivalent to a U.S. degree and meets the minimum cumulative grade-point average requirement.

·       Applicants must possess a cumulative grade-point average of at least a 3.2 on a 4.0 scale for his or her bachelor's degree program.  

·       Applicants who are not native speakers of English, whether domestic or international, must demonstrate they meet the minimum English proficiency requirement.

·       A background check is required during the admission process; it may affect the student's eligibility to enter the program

·       Applicants must provide documentation of registration as an occupational therapist (NBCOT in the USA, or equivalent in a country recognized by WOTF).

·       A current resume or curriculum vitae is required and must include information on the applicant's background and educational and professional interests. Professional leadership contributions, as well as community-based volunteer leadership activities, should be highlighted.

·       With the online application, applicants will submit a statement of career goals of approximately 400 or fewer words in length. Prepare a statement of your career goals that outlines the following:

·       Why you have chosen to pursue an OTD degree at this point in your career

·       What you hope to learn and achieve during your study toward this degree

·       How you plan to use this degree and what you hope to accomplish after you graduate

·       Three references are required, which can include a faculty member, advisor, employer, or other person familiar with the applicant's work and character.  

After an applicant has been admitted, a program may defer an applicant's admission for one year after which time the applicant must submit a new application.

Admission requirements are subject to change. In most cases, use the catalog of the year student entered the program.  Other years’ catalogs»

Post-Professional OTD curriculum - This program focuses on specialization and professional leadership in practice. This innovative curriculum is intended for practicing OTs, and is designed to be responsive to professional demands and to meet the highest academic standards. Core work and specialization opportunities have been integrated across the curriculum to create a base of both advanced knowledge and specialty knowledge that will prepare graduates for leadership in their chosen areas of concentration. The curriculum incorporates 4 key components: evidence-based practice, professional leadership, specialty practice, and teaching.

Degree requirements:

• Degree requirements are normally completed within 3 years of admission to the program although a maximum of 8 years is allowed.
• Cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of at least a 3.2 for all KU graduate coursework.
• Successful completion of the University’s Research Skills and Responsible Scholarship requirement. This is met by completing the following:
• Identify and examine practice-focused problems and develop quantitative approaches to evaluate efficacy of solution strategies.
• Explore program evaluation, efficacy of clinical methodology, and assessing client experience through narrative, interview, and other qualitative methodology by participating in qualitative coursework, appropriate for the student’s focus and approved by the OTD faculty mentor.
• Identify professional standards and ethics.
• Uphold professional standards and ethics as outlined in the OTD student handbook.
• Maintain appropriate professional credentials while participating in the OTD program.
• Complete annual KUMC Conflict of Interest reporting form.

• Successful completion of a minimum of 36 credit hours.
• Successful completion of the culminating OTD 890 Capstone Project. This is an individually designed, mentored project that demonstrates a synthesis of the knowledge and skills developed in the program.
• Enrollment in a minimum of one (1) credit hour the semester the student will graduate.
• Successful completion of the following courses:

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Core Courses		15
OTD 835	Quantitative Research for Applied Science
OTD 860	Multidisciplinary Theoretical Perspectives
OTD 865	Occupation-Based Practice
OTD 875	Professional Development
OTD 880	Program Evaluation
Interdisciplinary Electives		12
Four 3-hour courses, with one from each of the following areas: Leadership, Teaching, Qualitative Methods, General Elective
Practicum Courses		9
Each of the following will be taken in one, two, or three credit increments.
OTD 850	Teaching Practicum
OTD 885	Advanced Practicum
OTD 890	Capstone Project
Total Hours		36

•  Specific elective courses are selected to complement the student's program in consultation with the student's academic advisor.

The department will provide a program-specific handbook to each student upon their entry into the program.

Degree requirements and course descriptions are subject to change. Any courses taken as an equivalent must be approved by the Graduate Director and the Office of Graduate Studies. In most cases, use the catalog of the year student entered the program.  Other years’ catalogs».

Typical Plan of Study

The program's curriculum is a combination of online course meetings held at specific times and online learning activities on their own.

Prior to the first class, students will complete an online tutorial that will introduce them to Blackboard Collaborate.

Year 1
Summer	Hours	Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours
OTD 850	1	OTD 850	2	OTD 835	3
Teaching Elective	3	OTD 825	3	General Elective	3
	4		5		6
Year 2
Summer	Hours	Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours
OTD 880	3	OTD 875	3	OTD 860	3
OTD 865	3	Leadership Elective	3	OTD 885	3
	6		6		6
Year 3
Summer	Hours
OTD 890	3
	3
Total Hours 36

This is an example plan of study as course offerings may vary by semester and year. Your plan of study will be finalized in consultation with your advisor. 

TECHNICAL STANDARDS

Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctoral Degree Program

A Doctoral Degree in Occupational Therapy signifies that the holder is prepared to assume leadership in clinical practice after developing advanced practice competencies.  It follows that graduates must have the knowledge and skills to promote evidence based practice, professional leadership, teaching, and advanced practice.  Therefore, all individuals admitted to the University of Kansas Medical Center Occupational Therapy Doctoral degree program must have the following abilities and expectations with or without accommodations.

The following technical standards, in conjunction with the academic standards, are requirements for admission, promotion, and graduation. The term “candidate” refers to candidates for admission to the program as well as current students who are candidates for retention, promotion, or graduation. KU School of Health Professions maintains a strong commitment to equal educational opportunities for qualified students with disabilities who apply for admission to the program or who are already enrolled.  The technical standards are not intended to deter any candidate for whom reasonable accommodation will allow the fulfillment of the complete curriculum.  Candidates with disabilities are encouraged to contact the Academic Accommodations Office at (913) 945-7035 or cukoko@kumc.edu early in the application process to begin a confidential conversation about what accommodations they may need to meet these standards. This process is informed by the knowledge that students with varied types of disabilities have the ability to become successful health professionals.

1. Problem Solving:  The culminating activity in the preparation of an occupational therapist is clinical reasoning.  The post professional occupational therapy student is expected to develop advanced expertise and demonstrate leadership, teaching, advanced practice, and evidence-based practice skills.  Therefore, a candidate must be able to understand research, make correct observations, and engage in reasoning, analysis, and synthesis.
2. Judgment:  The candidate will be expected to demonstrate judgment in classroom and practical settings which shows an ability to make mature, sensitive, and effective decisions in the following areas:  a) relationships with supervisors, peers, and patients/clients/consumers,  b) professional behavior,  c) the effectiveness of intervention strategies.  The candidate must demonstrate an understanding of the rationale and justification for his or her performance.
3. Communication:  a) Written communication:  The candidate must be able to assimilate information from written sources (texts, journals, medical/school records, etc.).  The candidate must be able to attain, comprehend, retain, and utilize new information presented in written formats.  Candidates are required to use information from written sources and must be able to produce appropriate written documentation.  B) Verbal and nonverbal communication:  Candidates must be able to produce the spoken word and to elicit information from patients/clients/consumers, supervisors, and peers with skills in describing not only factual information, but the more subtle cues of mood, temperament, and social responses.  Communication with patients/clients and all members of the intervention or academic team must be accurate, sensitive, effective, and efficient.  Response time to emergencies/crisis situations, as well as more routine communication must be appropriate to the situation or setting.
4. Sensorimotor:  Candidates must have gross motor, fine motor, and equilibrium functions, as well as a functional use of the senses of vision, hearing, and the tactile sense that will enable them to perform the career tasks which are the target of their career paths.
5. Behavioral and social attributes:  Candidates are expected to exhibit professional behaviors and attitudes during their participation in classroom, clinical, and research experiences.  This includes, but is not limited to, appropriate written (including electronic messages) and spoken language, flexibility toward change, and acceptance of responsibility for one’s own conduct.  Students are expected to exhibit a positive attitude toward patients/clients/consumers, peers, and supervisors.

~~~~~~~