2024-2025 Graduate Catalog

Occupational Therapy Doctorate, OTD

 

Dr. Claire M. Mulry, OTD, OTR/L, CAPS, FAOTA

Room: EC 226B

Phone: 908-737-5856

Email: ot@kean.edu

Program Description

The entry level Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) will train students to become licensed occupational therapists. The cohort based curriculum (with admission in Summer II) consists of 103 credits that are earned over ten semesters. The OTD is designed to provide entry level education in occupational therapy for individuals who have a baccalaureate degree in another field. Each student completes 7 semesters of required academic courses, a minimum of six months of supervised full time fieldwork in approved clinical settings, successfully passes a competency exam, and completes an additional 14 week doctoral residency with a capstone project. Clinical fieldwork must be completed within 24 months of academic courses.

Currently, in order to become an occupational therapist, the minimum educational requirement is a Master’s degree. The overall goal of this degree is to train generalist practitioners. However, the entry level doctoral degree trains practitioners with advanced skills in one or more of the following areas: clinical practice skills, research skills, administration, leadership, program and policy development, advocacy, education, and theory development (ACOTE, 2017). Educating and training occupational therapy practitioners with advanced skills is beneficial in the changing healthcare arena. Students successfully completing the program will be eligible to take the national certification examination administered by the National Board for Certification of Occupational Therapy, Inc. (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be able to identify him or herself as an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). All states, including New Jersey, require licensure in order to practice. State licenses are usually based on the successful passing of the NBCOT Certification Exam. 

*Please note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to complete fieldwork, take the certification examination and/or attain state licensure.

Prerequisites Coursework (B or better required)

General Psychology

3

Life Span Developmental Psychology1

3

Psychological Statistics

3

Introduction to Occupational Therapy2

3

Abnormal Psychology

3

Introduction to Sociology

3

or

Cultural Anthropology

3

Anatomy & Physiology I & II (w/lab)1

8

1These courses must be taken within 5 years of application to the program.

2Must be completed at Kean University

Students may complete the required prerequisite at any accredited institution. If you intend to complete these prerequisites at Kean University, you may apply to the University as an undergraduate second-degree, non-matriculated student.

 

Required Coursework

Summer Semester One - 4 Credits

BIO 6405HUMAN GROSS ANATOMY (D)

4

Fall Semester Two - 14 Credits

OT 6002FOUNDATIONS OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

1

OT 6210CONDITIONS ACROSS THE LIFESPAN I

2

OT 6612GROUP DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE LIFESPAN

3

OT 6400THEORETICAL GUIDELINES TO PRACTICE I

4

OT 6200INTRODUCTION TO RESIDENCY I

1

OT 6500APPLIED KINESIOLOGY FOR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

3

Spring Semester Three - 16 Credits

OT 6401THEORETICAL GUIDELINES TO PRACTICE II

4

OT 6303OCCUPATIONS ACROSS THE LIFESPAN

3

OT 6611COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS AND SERVICE

1

OT 6223CONDITIONS ACROSS THE LIFESPAN II

3

OT 6201INTRODUCTION TO RESIDENCY II

1

BIO 6406ADVANCED NEUROSCIENCE (D)

4

Summer Semester Four - 4 Credits

OT 7202LEADERSHIP: DEVELOPMENT AND APPLICATION

1

OT 6520RESEARCH METHODS IN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY I

3

Fall Semester Five - 17 Credits

OT 7521RESEARCH METHODS IN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY II

3

OT 7920SEMINAR IN PSYCHOSOCIAL PRACTICE

6

OT 7923SEMINAR IN PEDIATRIC PRACTICE

6

OT 7200RESIDENCY PROPOSAL I

2

Spring Semester Six - 17 Credits

OT 7525ADVANCED RESEARCH IN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

3

OT 7921SEMINAR IN ADULT REHABILITATION PRACTICE

6

OT 7610ORTHOTICS, PROSTHETICS AND MODALITIES

3

OT 6551EDUCATION, ADMINISTRATION, SUPERVISION, AND ADVOCACY

3

OT 7201RESIDENCY PROPOSAL II

2

Fall Semester Seven - 6 Credits

OT 7960ADVANCED FIELDWORK SEMINAR I

6

Spring Semester Eight - 6 Credits

OT 7961ADVANCED FIELDWORK SEMINAR II

6

Summer Semester Nine - 3 Credits

OT 7204RESIDENCY PROPOSAL III

3

Fall Semester Ten - 16 Credits

OT 7203DOCTORAL RESIDENCY

16

Total Credit Hours: 103