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Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (DrOT) Program (Online)

Program Description

The Post-Professional Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (DrOT) Program prepares occupational therapists for leadership and scholarship in academic communities and/or healthcare organizations. The program has two tracks. The first track is for occupational therapists that have already completed a master’s program in any field of study (MS to DrOT). For these students, the Post-Professional Doctorate of Occupational Therapy consists of 33 credit hours. For students with a Bachelor’s in Occupational Therapy who do not possess a master’s degree, they will be enrolled in the second track which includes completing three additional courses they complete in the Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program (BSOT to DrOT). For these students, the Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate consists of 42 credit hours.  This program is offered in a synchronous online format.

All graduates will be able to:

  1. Critically appraise evidence-based practice strategies to maximize target population outcomes.
  2. Disseminate information to the occupational therapy body of knowledge through design and implementation of evidence-based practice scholarship.
  3. Implement strategies to address the ethics, policies, and laws that impact the practice of occupational therapy in the dynamic health care environment.

Program Objectives

  1. Critically appraise evidence-based practice strategies to maximize target population outcomes.
  2. Disseminate information to the occupational therapy body of knowledge through design and implementation of evidence-based practice scholarship.
  3. Implement strategies to address the ethics, policies, and laws that impact the practice of occupational therapy in the dynamic health care environment.

Scholarly Project

All students in the DrOT program are required to plan, implement, evaluate, and disseminate a scholarly project. The DrOT project is guided by evidence-based practice or quality improvement processes that focus on changes that positively influence healthcare outcomes through direct or indirect patient care with a focus on the student’s identified area of expertise.

Admission

Students must have graduated from an accredited college or university with a final GPA standing of 3.0 (B) or greater in undergraduate or graduate occupational therapy work undertaken, whichever degree is the highest held. Students must show evidence of passing the OTR NBCOT examination.

Students who do not meet minimum requirements but have reason to believe that they can succeed in and benefit from graduate study will be considered on an individual basis and, if appropriate, admitted conditionally. Specific requirements for different admission statuses are given below. The Admissions Office will provide comprehensive application criteria, including a complete list of the admission requirements for the specific graduate program in response to an application request. Online applications may be submitted through the university website. All application materials, including transcripts, become part of the records of Bradley University and may not be returned to the applicant for any reason.

Degree-Seeking student’s admission is decided following receipt of the following materials:

  1. A completed application form and required documents
  2. Official transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate work
  3. A reflective essay of 2 double-spaced pages indicating the student’s reasons for pursuing a graduate degree and the relationship of graduate study to any professional goals
  4. Two letters of recommendation unless otherwise noted in program admission requirements. Recommendation forms for each degree are available either online or from the Graduate School Office. Persons writing the recommendations should not be related to the applicant.
  5. Minimum of Bachelors of Science in Occupational Therapy
  6. Current state licensure as an Occupational Therapist in good standing
  7. Minimum of 1-year work experience as an Occupational Therapist
  8. No GRE required

Curriculum Tracks

Required Courses for MS to DrOT

  • OTD 801 Professional Engagement in OT 3 hrs.
  • OTD 803 Evidence-based Clinical Inquiry in OT 3 hrs
  • OTD 811 Research Methods- Quantitative 3 hrs.
  • OTD 813 Research Methods- Qualitative 3 hrs.
  • OTD 821 Practice and Research Ethics 3 hrs.
  • OTD 823 Educational Principles in OT 3 hrs.
  • OTD-831 OT Professional Advocacy 3 hrs.
  • OTD 833 Advanced Practice Trends in OT 3 hrs.
  • OTD 841 Management Strategies in OT 3 hrs.
  • OTD 843 EBP Project 1- Discovery and Design 3 hrs.
  • OTD 845 EBP Project 2- Implementation 3 hrs.

Total: 33 hrs.

 

Required Courses for BS to DrOT

  • OTD 685 Introduction to Occupational Science 3 hrs.
  • OTD 690 Interprofessional Education 3 hrs.
  • OTD 695 Assessment and Evaluation 3 hrs.
  • OTD 801 Professional Engagement in OT 3 hrs.
  • OTD 803 Evidence-based Clinical Inquiry in OT 3 hrs.
  • OTD 811 Research Methods- Quantitative 3 hrs.
  • OTD 813 Research Methods- Qualitative 3 hrs.
  • OTD 821 Practice and Research Ethics 3 hrs.
  • OTD 823 Educational Principles in OT 3 hrs.
  • OTD-831 OT Professional Advocacy 3 hrs.
  • OTD 833 Advanced Practice Trends in OT 3 hrs.
  • OTD 841 Management Strategies in OT 3 hrs.
  • OTD 843 EBP Project 1- Discovery and Design 3 hrs.
  • OTD 845 EBP Project 2- Implementation 3 hrs.

Total: 42 hrs.

Sample Course Sequence

Track 1: MS to DrOT, 33 credit hours

Semester 1

  • OTD 801 Professional Engagement in OT (first 7 weeks) 3 hrs.
  • OTD 803 Evidence-based Clinical Inquiry in OT (second 7 weeks) 3 hrs

Semester 2

  • OTD 811 Research Methods- Quantitative (first 7 weeks) 3 hrs.
  • OTD 813 Research Methods- Qualitative (second 7 weeks) 3 hrs.

Semester 3

  • OTD 821- Practice and Research Ethics (first 7 weeks) 3 hrs.
  • OTD 823- Educational Principles in OT (second 7 weeks) 3 hrs.

Semester 4

  • OTD-831- OT Professional Advocacy (first 7 weeks) 3 hrs.
  • OTD 833- Advanced Practice Trends in OT (second 7 weeks) 3 hrs.

Semester 5

  • OTD 841- Management Strategies in OT (first 7 weeks) 3 hrs.
  • OTD 843- EBP Project 1- Discovery and Design (second 7 weeks) 3 hrs.

Semester 6

  • OTD 845- EBP Project 2- Implementation (first 7 weeks) 3 hrs.

Track 1 Total: 33 hrs.

Track 2: BS to DrOT, 42 credit hours

Semester 1

  • OTD 685 Introduction to Occupational Science (first 7 weeks) 3 hrs.
  • OTD 690 Interprofessional Education (second 7 weeks) 3 hrs.

Semester 2

  • OTD 695 Assessment and Evaluation (first 7 weeks) 3 hrs.
  • OTD 801 Professional Engagement in OT (second 7 weeks) 3 hrs.

Semester 3

  • OTD 803 Evidence-based Clinical Inquiry in OT (first 7 weeks) 3 hrs.
  • OTD 811 Research Methods- Quantitative (second 7 weeks) 3 hrs.

Semester 4

  • OTD 813 Research Methods- Qualitative (first 7 weeks) 3 hrs.
  • OTD 821- Practice and Research Ethics (second 7 weeks) 3 hrs.

Semester 5

  • OTD 823- Educational Principles in OT (first 7 weeks) 3 hrs.
  • OTD-831- OT Professional Advocacy (second 7 weeks) 3 hrs.

Semester 6

  • OTD 833- Advanced Practice Trends in OT (first 7 weeks) 3 hrs.
  • OTD 841- Management Strategies in OT (second 7 weeks) 3 hrs.

Semester 7

  • OTD 843- EBP Project 1- Discovery and Design (first 7 weeks) 3 hrs.
  • OTD 845- EBP Project 2- Implementation (second 7 weeks) 3 hrs.

Track 2 Total: 42 hrs.

 

Program Completion Requirements

To successfully complete the program, students must have achieved a final minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. If a student receives less than a C in a course, the student is required to retake the course at his or her expense. If a student receives 2 “C” grades or less in more than 2 courses, the student will be dismissed from the program. The Plan of Study varies based on students' term of entry (e.g., spring, summer or fall). Students can complete the program in as little as six semesters by following a prescribed Plan of Study based on the admitted track. No final comprehensive exam is required for graduation.

Policy for Readmission

DrOT students who leave in good standing may apply for readmission to the program. Students who do not enroll in courses in their degree program for more than three consecutive semesters (fall, spring, summer) and have not been granted a leave of absence will be required to reapply for admission and undergo re-evaluation by the Admissions Committee of the program in which they are seeking readmission, in order to determine whether they may continue in the program. All courses must be completed within 5 years of the initial date of enrollment to obtain the degree. 

This is the official catalog for the 2023-2024 academic year. This catalog serves as a contract between a student and Bradley University. Should changes in a program of study become necessary prior to the next academic year every effort will be made to keep students advised of any such changes via the Dean of the College or Chair of the Department concerned, the Registrar's Office, u.Achieve degree audit system, and the Schedule of Classes. It is the responsibility of each student to be aware of the current program and graduation requirements for particular degree programs.