Accelerated Doctor of Occupational Therapy (DrOT) Program

At University of the Sciences when you declare occupational therapy as your major as a freshman, you can complete the coursework for a BSHS and earn a Doctor of Occupational Therapy (DrOT) in 6 years. You’ll advance from the pre-professional to professional phase of the occupational therapy program by meeting all academic criteria and completing program requirements.

In your first three years, you’ll gain a foundation in the sciences and humanities. Upon entering the professional phase of the occupational therapy program, you’ll learn how to work effectively with clients as well as how disability and non-disability related needs can affect their lives. And you’ll actively participate in the classroom and out in the field as you begin to apply the skills you’ve learned.

Hands-on experience is an integral part of our accelerated occupational therapy program

• Fieldwork experiences occur every semester starting the first professional year
• Two 12-week Level II fieldworks
• One 14-week, 560-hour experiential, which will complement your capstone

Students are required to maintain an overall 3.00 GPA each semester with all grades above a C throughout the professional phase of the program.

Courses in the DrOT Program are delivered primarily onsite, with lab and fieldwork experiences required off-site in the community, and two courses delivered fully online (OT 612 & OT 697).  Students are required to complete two level II fieldwork courses for a total of 24 full-time equivalent weeks off-site in the community during the last two semesters of the program. 

It is required that students have internet access and satisfactory computer skills to complete course requirements.  Assignments may include on-line work, presentation formats, researching the literature, and sending files electronically.  Communications with instructors are generally via email and may also be face to face or via the telephone during scheduled office hours or by appointment.

As of 2019, to assist with online learning throughout the program, all new incoming DrOT students are required to complete the specified orientation course to the University’s learning management system.

Curriculum

The following is a typical curriculum for students entering University of the Sciences’ accelerated Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program in fall 2019; other students should refer to their advisor for their curricula.

First Year

General Biology I, II
General Biology Lab I, II
Seminar for Health Science
Precalculus
Physical Education I, II
Introduction to Psychology
Writing and Rhetoric I, II
Introduction to Sociology
Health Sciences Orientation II
General Education Humanities or Free Elective

Second Year

Introduction to Communication
Psychology of Human Development
Biostatistics
Abnormal Psychology
Survey of Physics
Multidisciplinary Inquiry Requirements I, II
General Education Humanities or Free Electives
Humanities Free Elective
Free Elective
*General Chemistry I, and Lab (are recommended)

Third Year

Human Structure and Function I, II
Human Structure and Function Lab I
Overview of OT Practice I, II
Writing for Healthcare Profession (Or Scientific Writing)
Ethics Elective
Medical Terminology
Elective courses

Fourth Year

Summer

Neuroscience
Overview of Occupational Therapy Practice (required only for transfer students)

Fall

Human Development and Performance (Lab)
Movement Analysis (Lab)
Introduction to Clinical Skills (Lab)
Theories of Occupational Therapy
Level I Experiences Seminar
Human Occupation: Concepts and Practice (Lab)
IPE For Health Professionals

Spring

Doctoral Seminar I
Clinical Medicine
Evaluation and Assessment in Occupational Therapy (Lab)
Fieldwork Level I: Clinical Experience
Therapeutic Groups (Lab)
Introduction to Applied Research Methods
Clinical Leadership, Management, and Supervision
Past, Present, and Future OT

BSHS in Health Science is awarded

Fifth Year

Summer

Doctoral Seminar II
Occupational Therapy Interventions I: Contextual Approaches (Lab)
Fieldwork Level I: Community Living Client
Applied Research II

Fall

Doctoral Seminar III
Interventions II: Developmental Issues (Lab)
Interventions III: Psychosocial Issues (Lab)
Fieldwork Level I: Community Service Learning
Applied Research III

Spring

Fieldwork Level I: Clinical Fieldwork
Interventions VI: Cognitive Issues(Lab)
Interventions V: Rehabilitation Approaches (Lab)
Interventions VI: Assistive Technology (Lab)
Evidence-Based Practice
Fieldwork If: Program Development

Sixth Year

Summer

Fieldwork Level IIa

Fall

Fieldwork Level IIb
Research Independent Study

Spring

Doctoral Capstone Project
Doctoral Experiential Component

Doctor of Occupational Therapy (DrOT) is awarded

For detailed course descriptions and other information about the Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program curriculum, see the University catalog.