Doctor of Occupational Therapy (Post-Professional Program: OTD)

University of Illinois Chicago

The College of Applied Health Sciences offers the post-professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) degree. The OTD focuses on developing advanced professional skills for practice, leadership, management, and education. For the currently practicing occupational therapist, an OTD offers opportunities for career development and advancement. For a currently enrolled master’s student, an OTD offers the opportunity to enter the field with more specialized knowledge and skills. In comparison to a PhD, the OTD focuses less on conducting original research and more on applying existing research and evidence to improve everyday OT practice. The OTD program emphasizes UIC’s scholarship of practice and mentoring model. Students work closely with faculty members within their lines of inquiry, which assures that students have top-quality experiences doing mentored work that is relevant, forward-thinking, and that will make a difference in practice and in the lives of diverse occupational therapy clients. Students are admitted to this competitive program only when there is a good match between student interest and faculty scholarship and expertise. The OTD is composed of five major components: Core courses (research, theory, proseminar) Advanced practica (clinical, teaching, leadership/management, and scholarship of practice applied research) Elective courses Field exam OTD Project (major work in advanced area of specialization).

College of Applied Health Sciences