FAQ

• What will the degree do for me professionally?
  The D.P.S. program will offer you the opportunity to enhance your clinical and analytical skills, apply evidence to practice, explore a clinical area of special interest, and earn an advanced clinical degree. Advanced clinical degrees are increasingly recognized as an important credential in health care in occupational therapy and other professions. Thus, you may qualify for more responsible positions in practice and administration.
• I only have a baccalaureate degree (B.A. or B.S. in occupational therapy). Do I need a master's to apply?
  Yes. You must have earned a master's degree prior to applying. This program is designed for occupational therapists that also have an earned master's degree.
• I am already a CHT. Is the upper quadrant specialization appropriate for me?
  Yes. You will be encouraged and mentored to go beyond your credentials.
• Will the upper quadrant specialization prepare you as a certified hand therapist (CHT)?
  Perhaps. You can incorporate this focus into your study plan and professional portfolio in order to prepare for the certification requirements both in terms of course work, study, and clinical requirements.
• Is clinical fieldwork required?
  Clinical fieldwork or a clinical residency may be selected as a learning opportunity to facilitate your goals in the educational plan for your professional portfolio. Your study plan and professional portfolio are developed at the outset of your educational program for the D.P.S.
• Can I work while getting a D.P.S.?
  You can continue to work full- or part-time and study at NYU in the late afternoons and evenings on a full-time or part-time basis.
• What is a professional portfolio?
  The professional portfolio is the student-directed terminal project. The portfolio includes carefully selected "artifacts" documenting the students' reasoning, evidence of advanced competency, and scientific evidence that supports their practice. The evidence illustrates how the academic coursework interfaces with advanced clinical competence.
• Is a dissertation required?
  No. You will complete a professional portfolio.
• What makes the NYU D.P.S. cutting-edge and innovative?
  You will study in a top-ranked occupational therapy department at a world-class university. For many clinicians, NYU is within easy commuting distance of your clinic. Clinically-relevant curriculum is offered in the late afternoons and evenings. The D.P.S. will invigorate your career through self-directed clinical mastery and professional competence while you earn a doctoral degree.
• Why should I get a D.P.S. at NYU?
  The D.P.S. will enable you to understand, create, and deliver cutting-edge evidence-based practice. You will leave with the latest tools and clinical methods.
• Is the D.P.S. a Ph.D.?
  No. The D.P.S. is a clinical, practice-oriented doctorate for the advanced clinician. Our D.P.S. program requires you to prepare a professional portfolio. The Ph.D. is a research degree for individuals pursuing a research and/or an academic career and requires students to complete a scholarly dissertation. The Department of Occupational Therapy offers a Ph.D. program for those who wish to pursue a rigorous program of research and scholarship in preparation for such a career.
• How is the D.P.S. different from an OTD?
  The Doctor of Professional Studies credential is an internationally recognized and respected clinical doctoral degree. The D.P.S. is a post-professional, practice-oriented degree for the clinician. The OTD credential is also a clinical doctorate. Because it is being used for both entry-level and post-professional degrees, and because some programs do not require a bachelor's degree for admission, the credential can be confusing for both the occupational therapy community and other health professions.
• Why should I consider getting a D.P.S.?
  The D.P.S. is an attractive and intellectually stimulating alternative for practitioners who want an advanced degree but are not seeking careers in research or academia. It will enable you to integrate your learning beyond the usual continuing education workshops and obtain the highest level of practice knowledge and expertise in a specialized area.
• What is the D.P.S.?
  The Doctor of Professional Studies (D.P.S.) in Occupational Therapy is a 36-point post-professional clinical doctoral program with specializations offered in pediatrics and upper quadrant care.