Doctor of Occupational Therapy Entry-Level (CUW)

The OTD program at Concordia University Wisconsin prepares students to obtain employment in a variety of settings. The didactic coursework, community-based experiences, and clinical education come together to prepare students as entry-level occupational therapists. Students participate in clinical experiences which include individual and group treatment sessions in pediatric and adult populations. Students have multiple opportunities to develop skills in advocacy, leadership, and research. At CUW, we prepare uncommon OTs who are ready to serve their communities and clients. 

Mission Statement

The mission of Concordia University’s Doctorate of Occupational Therapy program is to positively impact communities by developing Christ-centered occupational therapists who empower others to reach their highest potential through leadership, best practice, advocacy, and innovation.

Accreditation

The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program is accredited 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 https://acoteonline.org/. Students must complete 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork as well as an individual 14-week capstone experience within 24 months following the completion of the didactic portion of the program. The doctoral capstone experience must be started after completion of all coursework and Level II fieldwork as well as completion of preparatory activities defined in 2018 ACOTE OTD Standard D.1.3.

Licensure/Certifications

Graduates of the program may sit for the National Certification Examination for the Occupational Therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) located at One Bank St., Suite 300, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, (301)-990-7979. Graduates who successfully complete the exam will receive the credentials: Occupational Therapist Registered OTR®. Please note that most states require additional licensure/certification to practice. Be forewarned that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. Program data specific to Concordia University Wisconsin on the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) Exam can be found on the NBCOT website

General Academic Information

Our occupational therapy curriculum offers you exposure to many real-world scenarios that will test your knowledge. You’ll have multiple opportunities for client contact, ranging from children to older adults, school systems to acute care to community wellness programs. Some of these experiences are clinical fieldwork placements, while others are client evaluation and consultation in a classroom or community setting. In your first year, you’ll begin working with clients in the community to put theory into practice.

This is a full time graduate professional program taught in a blended format. Students interact with their classmates and professors online before and after in person classes, which focus on active learning and/or lab activities. Students must enroll in the MOT program first, in one of three tracks, as determined by their educational background:

  • Accelerated
    • High school students looking to earn a bachelor's and doctoral degree in 5 years
    • High school students should apply through undergraduate admissions for the BSRS program
  • Bridge
    • COTAs looking to further their education and opportunities as an OTR
      • Candidates holding an associate's degree must apply through the Bridge BSRS 
      • Direct entry for those holding a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution
  • Post-baccalaureate
    • Applicants holding a bachelor's degree looking to earn a doctoral degree

Students should expect to pay the tuition and fees as noted on the website

Program Learning Outcomes 

Upon completion of the program, graduates of the Concordia University Wisconsin OTD program will: 

  • Demonstrate the skills to be effective change-makers in surrounding communities.
  • Facilitate the health and wellbeing of individuals of all ages in various community settings.
  • Combine theory, evidence, and clinical reasoning in a reflective process of evaluation, intervention, and targeting of outcomes.
  • Effectively and efficiently solve occupation-based problems. 
  • Be competently prepared for direct access.
  • Intentionally make clinical decisions using Christ-centered values. 
  • Develop leadership skills.
  • Effectively communicate and collaborate in a variety of communities.
  • Demonstrate professional behaviors while using knowledge based skills for the effective practice of occupational therapy.

Curriculum

Please contact the Occupational Therapy Department for track progression plans.

OT 5520Concepts of Occupation3
OT 5530Functional Anatomy4
OT 5540Introduction to Advocacy and Leadership2
OT 5550Research in Practice I4
OT 5560Occupations Across the Lifespan3
OT 5570Explore Community Clinic3
OT 5580Facilitated Community Clinic3
OT 5590Functional Neuroscience and Neurorehabilitation I4
OT 5600Research in Practice II3
OT 5610Personal Advocacy & Leadership1
OT 5620Clinical Reasoning: Behavioral Health3
OT 5630Occupational Kinesiology and Orthopedic Rehabilitation I4
OT 6520Clinical Reasoning: Pediatrics3
OT 6540Pediatric Summer Camp1
OT 6560Behavioral Health Fieldwork1
OT 6580Clinical Reasoning: Adult Practice Areas3
OT 6610Clinical Reasoning: Orthopedic Rehabilitation II3
OT 6620Community Advocacy and Leadership3
OT 6630Occupations of Health and Wellness3
OT 6650Community Clinic: Leading the OT Process3
OT 6710Research in Practice III3
OT 6740Community Clinic Administration4
OT 6760Professional Advocacy & Leadership2
OT 6800Clinical Reasoning: Gerontology3
OT 6850Clinical Reasoning: Neurorehabilitation II3
OT 6870Clinical Reasoning: Work/Ergo3
OT 7550Level II Fieldwork A6
OT 7580Level II Fieldwork B6
OT 8550Research in Practice IV: Capstone Planning3
OT 8600Capstone Experience7
Total Hours97

Admission Requirements

Students interested in the entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) must first apply to the Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) Program.

During the second semester of the MOT program, interested students may apply for the OTD program, through an internal process, if they meet the following requirements:

  • Cumulative OT GPA of 3.0 or better
  • Semester GPA of 3.0 or better in all completed semesters
  • Current enrollment in the Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) program 
  • No current or past professional or academic probation (students may still apply if they have received a warning)

Students must complete the following requirements while applying to the OTD program:

  • Attend the OTD information session with the OTD Program Director and Doctoral Capstone Coordinator
  • Meet with CUW OT faculty advisor to discuss decision to apply to the OTD program
  • Complete the “OTD Exploration Form”
  • Complete written essay, following the provided prompt
  • Request two (2) CUW OT faculty members to complete the “OTD Applicant Rating Form” 
  • Submit entire application packet, including the signed application form, written essay, and completed exploration form, in accordance with cohort due dates
  • Interview with OT Faculty, schedule to be determined after application deadline

All applicant files will be reviewed by the OT Admissions Committee and the OTD Program Director. 

Note: The program does not accept occupational therapy transfer credits.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester 1Hours
OT 5520 Concepts of Occupation 3
OT 5530 Functional Anatomy 4
 Hours7
Semester 2
OT 5540 Introduction to Advocacy and Leadership 2
OT 5550 Research in Practice I 4
OT 5560 Occupations Across the Lifespan 3
OT 5570 Explore Community Clinic 3
OT 5590 Functional Neuroscience and Neurorehabilitation I 4
 Hours16
Semester 3
OT 5580 Facilitated Community Clinic 3
OT 5600 Research in Practice II 3
OT 5610 Personal Advocacy & Leadership 1
OT 5620 Clinical Reasoning: Behavioral Health 3
OT 5630 Occupational Kinesiology and Orthopedic Rehabilitation I 4
 Hours14
Semester 4
OT 6520 Clinical Reasoning: Pediatrics 3
OT 6540 Pediatric Summer Camp 1
OT 6560 Behavioral Health Fieldwork 1
 Hours5
Semester 5
OT 6580 Clinical Reasoning: Adult Practice Areas 3
OT 6610 Clinical Reasoning: Orthopedic Rehabilitation II 3
OT 6620 Community Advocacy and Leadership 3
OT 6630 Occupations of Health and Wellness 3
OT 6650 Community Clinic: Leading the OT Process 3
OT 6710 Research in Practice III 3
 Hours18
Semester 6
OT 6740 Community Clinic Administration 4
OT 6760 Professional Advocacy & Leadership 2
OT 6850 Clinical Reasoning: Neurorehabilitation II 3
OT 6800 Clinical Reasoning: Gerontology 3
OT 6870 Clinical Reasoning: Work/Ergo 3
OT 8550 Research in Practice IV: Capstone Planning 3
 Hours18
Semester 7
OT 7550 Level II Fieldwork A 6
 Hours6
Semester 8
OT 7580 Level II Fieldwork B 6
 Hours6
Semester 9
OT 8600 Capstone Experience 7
 Hours7
 Total Hours97

Course options and schedule are subject to change.