OU-Tulsa / Allied Health / Doctor of Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapists work with individuals who may be recovering from illnesses or injuries, contending with developmental disabilities, or coping with changes resulting from the aging process. This doctoral degree offers courses and hand-on training focusing on advanced clinical practice, administration, leadership, program development, research, advocacy and education. These courses and experiences prepare the graduate for roles outside of the traditional healthcare system in a rapidly growing job market.
Occupational Therapy provides the opportunity to help people across their lifespan to do the things they want, need, and love through targeted therapy in their everyday activities. At its core, the profession is about helping others live life to their fullest capabilities.
The job outlook for graduates of an OT program is growing “much faster than average” and 100% of graduates that have looked for a job post-graduation have found one. The program operates on two campuses and includes opportunities to interact with other aspiring health professionals in an interprofessional environment, which is in high demand in healthcare today.
Students joining the OTD program in Tulsa can expect a tight community of peers and faculty with a dedication to maintaining close connections and focused support for each student.
This three year program requires 99 credit hours to graduate, with a minimum 2.5 GPA. In addition to fieldwork experiences, our students engage in a 14-week Doctoral Capstone Experience, working with faculty and community mentors in an area of interest in one of the following areas: advanced clinical practice, research, program and policy development, or advocacy.
Foundational Coursework
Expansion of OT Scope
Experiential Learning
Fieldwork opportunities are available throughout the curriculum. Students enjoy opportunities to learn in a variety of settings including, but not limited to:
Here is a list of college named scholarships opportunities for currently enrolled College of Allied Health students who will be enrolling to continue their academic studies.
There is always a need for occupational therapy students and many of our graduates are in demand. In total, the occupational therapy program sends students to:
All candidates applying for the OUHSC program in this cycle are applying for the Doctorate Program.
The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program has applied for accreditation. It has been granted Preaccreditation Status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA, and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. The program must complete an on-site evaluation and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
Each professional licensing board in every state is autonomous and establishes and governs the standards a program or a graduate must meet to earn a license or certification in a professional field. States may also have other licensure requirements beyond the professional examination, including, but not limited to, background and drug tests, internships, or other standards.
Graduates from this program are eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). All states require licensure in order to practice, which is usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination.
Your doctorate degree in Occupational Therapy from OU-Tulsa can open doors that set you off on a journey of a lifetime.
