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Curriculum

Entry-Level OTD, Occupational Therapy (Professional)

How to Apply
Entry-Level OTD, Occupational Therapy (Professional)

The 94-credit Entry-Level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (EL-OTD) program will provide you with a robust curriculum taught by leading occupational therapy educators, ideal for those beginning their careers in OT.  You will experience a diverse range of fieldwork, capstone,  and research opportunities, bolstered by our vibrant New York City location. 

Core Course Sequence and Culminating Experience

You’ll study a curriculum that emphasizes evidence-based practice and applied research in courses such as Human Anatomy, Kinesiology, Neuroscience, Emerging Practice Areas, Research Methods, and Intervention and Evaluation. During the clinical fieldwork components of this program, you will collaborate with our extensive network of practitioners in diverse settings, including hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, outpatient centers, schools, community organizations, and private practices. The culminating doctoral capstone component offers you a deeper dive into a specific area of interest, equipping you with advanced knowledge and skills in leadership, scholarship, advocacy, and clinical competence.

Program Requirements

Course Title Credits
Required Courses
OT-GE 2000New Student Seminar in Occupational Therapy0
OT-GE 2002Human Anatomy3
OT-GE 2010Neuroscience3
OT-GE 3307Foundations of OT4
OT-GE 2707Activity Group Process3
OT-GE 2709Performance/Development Across The Life Span3
OT-GE 2739Survey of Mental Health Conditions2
OT-GE 3309Human Anatomy Lab2
OT-GE 2025Research Methods for Occupational Therapy3
OT-GE 2030Theoretical Bases for The Scope of Practice3
OT-GE 3303Survey of Medical Conditions2
OT-GE 3314Professional Issues I0.5
OT-GE 3232Kinesiology3
OT-GE 2750Health Advocacy & Administration3
OT-GE 2745Mental Health Evaluation & Intervention3
OT-GE 3302Introduction to Evidence-Informed Practice3
OT-GE 3811Capstone I: Needs Assessment in Healthcare and Community Practice2
OT-GE 3321Level I Fieldwork: Experience 1 and 21
OT-GE 3332Research Seminar I2
OT-GE 2738Emerging Practice Areas in Occupational Therapy1
OT-GE 2741Orthopedic Evaluation & Intervention3
OT-GE 2743Neurological Evaluation & Intervention3
OT-GE 2748Pediatric Evaluation & Intervention3
OT-GE 3812Capstone II: Program Development & Evaluation2
OT-GE 3305Emerging Leaders in the Occupational Therapy Profession3
OT-GE 3315Professional Issues II0.5
OT-GE 3322Level I Fieldwork: Experience 31
OT-GE 2726Research Seminar II2
OT-GE 3134Work and Ergonomics2
OT-GE 2742Rehabilitation Evaluation & Intervention3
OT-GE 2744Cognitive Evaluation & Intervention3
OT-GE 2749Geriatrics Evaluation & Intervention3
OT-GE 3813Capstone III: Doctoral Capstone Proposal2
OT-GE 3323Level II Fieldwork: First Placement3
OT-GE 3324Level II Fieldwork: Second Placement3
OT-GE 3810Doctoral Capstone Experience3
OT-GE 3814Capstone IV: Doctoral Capstone Project2
Electives
Elective credits by advisement6
Total Credits94

Additional Program Requirements

Capstone

The degree places a strong emphasis on evidence-based practice and applied research and requires a doctoral capstone as an integral part of the program’s curriculum design. The goal of the doctoral capstone is to provide in-depth exposure to a specific area of interest and prepare students with more advanced knowledge and skills in an area of leadership, scholarship, advocacy, and clinical competence. The doctoral capstone consists of a capstone project and experience. During the doctoral capstone, students will work with a faculty and site mentor to apply the knowledge and skills developed in courses and during fieldwork to design, implement, and disseminate an innovative response to an identified practice or professional need.

More information on the Capstone can be found on our Fieldwork and Capstone webpage.

Sample Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid
1st Semester/TermCredits
OT-GE 2000 New Student Seminar in Occupational Therapy 0
OT-GE 2002 Human Anatomy 3
OT-GE 2010 Neuroscience 3
OT-GE 3307 Foundations of OT 4
OT-GE 2707 Activity Group Process 3
OT-GE 2709 Performance/Development Across The Life Span 3
OT-GE 2739 Survey of Mental Health Conditions 2
 Credits18
2nd Semester/Term
OT-GE 3309 Human Anatomy Lab 2
OT-GE 2025 Research Methods for Occupational Therapy 3
OT-GE 2030 Theoretical Bases for The Scope of Practice 3
OT-GE 3303 Survey of Medical Conditions 2
OT-GE 3314 Professional Issues I 0.5
OT-GE 3232 Kinesiology 3
OT-GE 2750 Health Advocacy & Administration 3
 Credits16.5
3rd Semester/Term
OT-GE 2745 Mental Health Evaluation & Intervention 3
OT-GE 3302 Introduction to Evidence-Informed Practice 3
OT-GE 3811 Capstone I: Needs Assessment in Healthcare and Community Practice 2
 Credits8
4th Semester/Term
OT-GE 3321 Level I Fieldwork: Experience 1 and 2 1
OT-GE 3332 Research Seminar I 2
OT-GE 2738 Emerging Practice Areas in Occupational Therapy 1
OT-GE 2741 Orthopedic Evaluation & Intervention 3
OT-GE 2743 Neurological Evaluation & Intervention 3
OT-GE 2748 Pediatric Evaluation & Intervention 3
OT-GE 3812 Capstone II: Program Development & Evaluation 2
 Credits15
5th Semester/Term
OT-GE 3305 Emerging Leaders in the Occupational Therapy Profession 3
 Credits3
6th Semester/Term
OT-GE 3315 Professional Issues II 0.5
OT-GE 3322 Level I Fieldwork: Experience 3 1
OT-GE 2726 Research Seminar II 2
OT-GE 3134 Work and Ergonomics 2
OT-GE 2742 Rehabilitation Evaluation & Intervention 3
OT-GE 2744 Cognitive Evaluation & Intervention 3
OT-GE 2749 Geriatrics Evaluation & Intervention 3
OT-GE 3813 Capstone III: Doctoral Capstone Proposal 2
 Credits16.5
7th Semester/Term
Elective Credits, by advisement 6
 Credits6
8th Semester/Term
OT-GE 3323 Level II Fieldwork: First Placement 3
 Credits3
9th Semester/Term
OT-GE 3324 Level II Fieldwork: Second Placement 3
 Credits3
10th Semester/Term
OT-GE 3810 Doctoral Capstone Experience 3
OT-GE 3814 Capstone IV: Doctoral Capstone Project 2
 Credits5
 Total Credits94

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