Entry-Level Occupational Therapy OTD

Degree: Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)
https://www.towson.edu/chp/departments/occutherapy/programs/elotd/

Program Director: Sonia Lawson, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Phone: 410-704-2313
Email: slawson@towson.edu

Admission Requirements

Application deadlines and a full listing of materials required for admission can be found on the website.

The Entry-level Doctorate in Occupational Therapy Program consists of 97 units and is designed for those students without a degree in occupational therapy. It requires 36 months (including breaks) completed over three years and includes a capstone research project and fieldwork experiences.

Prerequisites for Admission

Complete 8 prerequisite courses prior to entering the Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate. Five of the eight prerequisites must be completed at the time of application. One must be either Anatomy and Physiology I or Anatomy and Physiology II. Any outstanding prerequisites must be completed with qualifying grades prior to beginning the program. GRADE ALTERNATIVES: Certain CLEP and/or AP scores may be used for non-science prerequisites, and medical terminology may be satisfied by a certificate course offered by an accredited college or university.

Visit the Admission Requirements & Deadlines page for specific details. Contact us if your undergraduate degree was earned 10 or more years ago and you are concerned about your last 60-credit GPA.

• The following prerequisite courses must be completed with a “B-” or better:

1. Medical Terminology
2. Human Growth and Development (must cover development across the entire lifespan)
3. Human Anatomy and Physiology II with lab (taken within the last five years)
4. Human Anatomy and Physiology I with a lab (taken within the last five years)
5. Basic Statistics
6. Abnormal Psychology
7. Introduction to Sociology or Introduction to Anthropology
8. The following prerequisite course must be completed with a “C” or better.

• Introduction to Physics with a lab (must include mechanics, heat, energy, and light. Biomechanics does not qualify)

Degree Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Units
Summer 1
OCTH 600	FOUNDATIONS OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY	3
OCTH 600L	FOUNDATIONS OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY - APPLICATIONS [LAB]	1
Fall 1
BIOL 527	NEUROMUSCULAR MECHANISMS OF THE UPPER BODY	2
OCTH 521	KINESIOLOGY OF OCCUPATION	3
OCTH 614	PRINCIPLES OF PSYCHOSOCIAL OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PRACTICE	5
OCTH 620	PSYCHOSOCIAL LEVEL I FIELDWORK	3
OSC 742	ORIGINS AND EVOLUTION OF OCCUPATIONAL SCIENCE	3
Spring 1
OCTH 606	ADULT AND OLDER ADULT NEUROLOGICAL OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY	3
OCTH 607	ADULT AND OLDER ADULT MUSCULOSKELETAL OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY	3
OCTH 619	ADULT PHYSICAL REHABILITATION LEVEL I FIELDWORK	3
OCTH 603	ISSUES IN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY	3
Summer 2
OCTH 609	ADVANCED RESEARCH METHODS AND DATA ANALYSIS IN OCCUPATION BASED PRACTICE	3
OCTH 678	ASSESSMENT THROUGHOUT THE LIFESPAN	3
Fall 2
OCTH 612	OT HEALTH PROMOTION INITIATIVES IN THE COMMUNITY	3
OCTH 624	OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PRACTICE WITH CHILDREN AND YOUTH	5
OCTH 626	OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY FIELDWORK FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH	3
OCTH 782	RESEARCH PRACTICUM	3
Spring 2
OCTH 635	LEVEL II FIELDWORK I	9
OCTH 636	LEVEL II FIELDWORK II	9
Fall 3
OCTH 627	ADMINISTRATION AND ORGANIZATION OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY SERVICES	3
OSC 744	PARTICIPATION AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF PEOPLE IN THEIR CONTEXT	3
OCTH 881	CAPSTONE RESEARCH PROJECT I	3
Elective		3
Minimester 3
Elective		3
Spring 3
OCTH 882	CAPSTONE RESEARCH PROJECT II	3
OCTH 895	DOCTORAL EXPERIENTIAL PRACTICUM	9
Total Units		97

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. 

Students are required to complete two elective courses during the length of the program. Elective courses must be approved by the student's adviser.

NOTE: Students have the option of earning a graduate certificate from Towson University in Autism Studies or in Family-Professional Collaboration. Students who elect to earn a certificate may be required to extend the length of the Occupational Therapy program in order to complete the entire certificate program. 

Annual Health, Insurance and CPR Requirements

All students in entry-level clinical OT programs must submit and maintain certain health documentation as detailed in the Department of Occupational Therapy and Occupational Science Policy for Health Related Documentation to maintain good standing in the program and be eligible for fieldwork. Students who do not remain compliant with the requirements as outlined in the full policy will fall out of good standing in the program and may be prohibited from enrolling in course work and participating in fieldwork placements. The full policy is provided upon admission to an entry-level clinical OT program and available by request.

Abbreviated Departmental Health Related Documentation

• Secure and maintain a CastleBranch account (instructions provided upon admission)

• Annual 2-step PPD, Tspot, or Quantiferon Gold Blood Test required for duration of program

• Adult Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Tdap) vaccination must remain current for duration of program

• Positive Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) Titer

• Positive Varicella Titer

• Positive Hepatitis B Titer OR Hepatitis B Declination Waiver

• A Physical Examination (may be requested annually)

• Annual Seasonal Influenza Vaccine for duration of program

• Current American Heart Association Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers CPR certification for duration of program (Instructor-Led and Blended courses accepted; fully online courses are not permitted)

• Proof of Health Insurance Coverage for duration of program

• Covid-19 Vaccination, including any subsequent boosters

• Criminal Background Check(s) and or Drug Test(s) as required for fieldwork

Academic Standards

In addition to the standard policies of academic standing, the following additional policies must be upheld by all students:

• Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.00 for all courses in the major.

• Students may receive a maximum of two “C” grades and are dismissed from the program upon receipt of a third grade of C or lower (or "unsatisfactory"), regardless of whether a grade was replaced if a course was repeated.

• Students may repeat a maximum of one course, including Level II Fieldwork.

• A withdrawal for academic reasons is considered a failure.

Completion of an online exit survey is required for graduation clearance in addition to successful completion of all other program requirements.

Plan of Study 

First Year
Term 1	Units	Term 2	Units	Term 3	Units
Summer		Fall		Spring
OCTH 600	3	BIOL 527	2	OCTH 606	3
OCTH 600L	1	OCTH 521	3	OCTH 607	3
		OCTH 614	5	OCTH 619	3
		OCTH 620	3	OCTH 603	3
		OSC 742	3
	4		16		12
Second Year
Term 1	Units	Term 2	Units	Term 3	Units
Summer		Fall		Spring
OCTH 609	3	OCTH 612	3	OCTH 635	9
OCTH 678	3	OCTH 624	5	OCTH 636	9
		OCTH 626	3
		OCTH 782	3
	6		14		18
Third Year
Term 1	Units	Term 2	Units	Term 3	Units
Fall		Minimester		Spring
OCTH 627	3	Elective	3	OCTH 882	3
OCTH 881	3			OCTH 895	9
OSC 744	3
Elective	3
	12		3		12
Total Units 97

1. Fulfill an occupational therapist's role as a team member of a service delivery team by using knowledge of health care systems, organizations, and management principles.
2. Analyze, adapt, and apply purposeful activities and other modalities to facilitate the ability of clients to lead their lives with a meaningful balance in the areas of human occupation.
3. Use research theoretical models and research evidence to support and modify occupational therapy evaluation and intervention processes and occupational therapy programs.