Best Accredited Universities for Doctoral Phd program in Occupational Therapy/Therapist

The Clinical Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (OTD) prepares graduates beyond the master degree with in-depth knowledge in a specific area such as practice, advocacy, policy, education, research and program development. Doctoral students actively engage in leadership experiences to develop capacity as a change agent in professional practice and develop in-depth knowledge in their practice areas. They learn to analyze the role of occupational therapy across the service delivery continuum for individuals, groups and populations and design an occupational therapy model for a specific client population. In the second year of study, doctoral students start developing their advanced practice skillset and the ability to participate in scholarly work.

The Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate (ELOTD) is for students entering with a degree in a field other than OT. As a student, you will experience an exciting program combining a diverse curriculum, research, service learning, and fieldwork. Founded in 1918) has one of the country top-ranked programs. Through education, research, and practice, we promote participation in meaningful activity of individuals, communities and populations with diverse needs and experiences.

Occupational therapists assist people with injuries or disabilities to better cope in their home or work environments. For example, this includes helping people with disabilities such as spinal cord injuries participate in work (or school) and social situations, and providing support for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes. Occupational therapy programs can be either at the doctoral (OTD) or masters (MSOT) level.

The university top-ranked programs range from a master degree in occupational therapy to a PhD in occupational science. Local engagement opportunities for MS and PhD students. Learn how the university MS and PhD students engage with the university dynamic curriculum.

NYU Steinhardt’s Doctor of Philosophy in Research in Occupational Therapy provides occupational therapists with the knowledge and skills to work in the profession as researchers, scholars, and educators. As a student, you will take courses in advanced occupational therapy and other disciplines across NYU. The Department of Occupational Therapy PhD develops outstanding, ethical practitioners and scholars who are prepared to respond to society's ever-changing needs and improve the quality of occupational therapy practice and research.

The Occupational Therapy department offers a 6-year combined Doctor of Occupational Therapy/PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences (OTD/PhD) Program for students with exceptional academic promise and strong motivation for a career in research. This program builds on the professional education in the Entry-Level OTD program, providing students PhD training to pursue a research and academic career. Developed in response to the profession’s need for research-trained scholars, the dual degree option provides a streamlined mechanism for earning both the OTD and the research-based PhD degree while capitalizing on the strengths of BU’s OT research faculty.

The occupational therapy program resides in the Department of Kinesiology and offers two graduate programs options in the OTD: an entry-level doctor of occupational therapy (Entry-Level) and a post-professional doctor of occupational therapy (Post-Professional). Occupational therapists interested in pursuing advanced research training may also apply to the M.S./Ph.D. in Kinesiology with a specialization in Occupational Science. The purpose of the graduate program is to prepare clinicians, researchers, and teachers who possess a solid foundation in both the theoretical and applied aspects of the disciplines of occupational therapy and science.

The School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences offers several dual degree programs that allow students to combine doctoral degrees. Students interested in a dual degree program apply simultaneously to the professional program and the Health and Rehabilitation Sciences PhD program. Students accepted into a dual degree program complete specified Health and Rehabilitation Sciences PhD courses while in their professional programs. In addition, specific research-oriented professional degree courses count toward the PhD degree.

The advanced practice occupational therapy doctorate (OTD) program trains practicing occupational therapists to engage as clinician-scholars in a multidirectional and interprofessional integration of basic research, client-oriented research, and population-based research, with the long-term aim of measuring and improving the health of the public. The 36-credit program is delivered in a creative and innovative online format. The curriculum includes a combination of courses focused on leadership, research, teaching and assessment strategies, and quality. x

The Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program is housed in the Department of Rehabilitation and Movement Science (RMS) in the School of Health Professions (SHP) on the Newark campus, in the division of Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (RBHS). The OTD program strives to recruit a qualified student population that reflects the diversity in our region and society. The department is committed to an open and inclusive environment that welcomes underrepresented minority groups with the overarching goal of contributing to an occupational therapy workforce built on the strengths of our diversity.