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Curriculum

Entry-Level OTD, Occupational Therapy (Professional)

How to Apply

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 Process Lab3
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 and Administration3
OT-GE 2745Mental Health Evaluation and 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 and Intervention3
OT-GE 2743Neurological Evaluation and Intervention3
OT-GE 2748Pediatric Evaluation and Intervention3
OT-GE 3812Capstone II: Program Development and 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 2742Rehab Evaluation and Intervention3
OT-GE 2744Cognitive Evaluation and Intervention3
OT-GE 2749Geriatrics Evaluation & Intervention3
OT-GE 3813Capstone III: Doctoral Capstone Project Proposal2
OT-GE 3323Level II Fieldwork: First Placement 13
OT-GE 3324Level II Fieldwork: Second Placement3
OT-GE 3810Doctoral Capstone Experience3
OT-GE 3814Capstone IV: Doctoral Capstone Project2
Electives
Other elective credits, by advisement6
Total Credits94
1

One 3-credit elective must be completed prior to taking OT-GE 3323 Level II Fieldwork: First Placement.

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 Lab 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 and Administration 3
 Credits16.5
3rd Semester/Term
OT-GE 2745 Mental Health Evaluation and 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 and Intervention 3
OT-GE 2743 Neurological Evaluation and Intervention 3
OT-GE 2748 Pediatric Evaluation and Intervention 3
OT-GE 3812 Capstone II: Program Development and 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 Rehab Evaluation and Intervention 3
OT-GE 2744 Cognitive Evaluation and Intervention 3
OT-GE 2749 Geriatrics Evaluation & Intervention 3
OT-GE 3813 Capstone III: Doctoral Capstone Project 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