Occupational Therapy Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) Degree

Why RIT: A Tech-Infused Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program

RIT has outstanding engineering, bioengineering, and computing programs that support the incorporation of technology into our occupational therapy doctorate program. With a unique focus on the application of technologies in occupational therapy and rehabilitation, such as tele-health, tele-rehabilitation, bionic rehabilitation, and the application AR/VR in occupational therapy, RIT’s occupational therapy doctorate program leverages the strengths of a nationally ranked, tech-focused university to provide a distinctive occupational therapy program. You’ll graduate as a highly competent occupational therapist and as a professional who is skilled in using the latest technological advances to improve patient care.

The goals of RIT’s occupational therapy doctorate program are to:

• Prepare highly qualified occupational therapists who can confidently serve in occupational therapy practice locally, regionally and beyond to overcome the shortage of occupational therapy health care services.
• Prepare innovative practitioners who can identify, formulate, and solve complex clinical problems by applying knowledge of occupational therapy, technology, and evidence-based practice.
• Prepare occupational therapy administrators and leaders in the growing and evolving health care system.

RIT’s Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program

RIT’s occupational therapy doctorate is a three-year, nine consecutive semester (six academic year semesters and three summer semesters), full-time graduate program. It is designed to provide you with the knowledge, skills, and clinical experience required to become a competent and compassionate occupational therapist. The curriculum combines classroom instruction, laboratory work, and extensive clinical training to prepare you for an occupational therapy career. It also integrates technology seamlessly into your course work so that you are well-positioned to lead the field and prepared for the future of occupational therapy.

Occupational Therapy Curriculum

Occupational Therapy Courses: RIT’s occupational therapy doctoral program is designed to prepare you to become a licensed occupational therapist. Occupational therapists are health care professionals who focus on helping people participate in the meaningful activities they need and want to do. The uniqueness of RIT’s occupational therapy doctorate program is its incorporation of technology. By incorporating aspects of RIT’s outstanding biomedical engineering, computing, and health care degrees, you will experience how the integration of technology into occupational therapy, tele-rehabilitation, bionic rehabilitation, and the application of AR/VR in occupational therapy and rehabilitation.

Clinical Education and Practice: A significant portion of the occupational therapy doctorate program is dedicated to clinical education and practice. You will participate in multiple fieldwork experiences in various care settings, such as hospitals, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation centers, schools, community agencies, and skilled nursing facilities. These opportunities allow you to apply your knowledge in real-world situations, where you will develop clinical reasoning skills while you work directly with patients under the supervision of licensed occupational therapists.

Licensure and Certification: Upon successful completion of RIT’s occupational therapy doctorate, you will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination, which is required to practice as a licensed occupational therapist in the United States. (Please note: Some states might have additional licensure requirements.)

Doctoral Capstone Experience: RIT’s occupational therapy doctorate program includes a 14-week doctoral capstone experience. This hands-on, highly specialized experience provides an opportunity for you to explore an area of occupational therapy in an in-depth, meaningful way. Some examples of a capstone experience can include a pilot study that has a clinical component to it, an analysis of policy and advocacy to influence federal funding or policy change, or serving as a consultant on a design team that is working to solve a clinically related, patient-centered problem. RIT’s capstone experience is offered only at the doctoral level, which sets RIT occupational therapy students apart from candidates with a master’s degree in the field.

Occupational Therapy Careers

As a graduate of RIT’s occupational therapy doctorate program, you will be prepared to pursue a variety of career paths in the field of occupational therapy. You may choose to work in hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, sports medicine facilities, schools, community health organizations, mental health facilities, nursing homes, home health care, early intervention programs, or in private practice. Occupational therapists collaborate with other health care professionals to provide comprehensive care to individuals of all ages with musculoskeletal, neurological, cardiopulmonary, mental health, sensory processing, and other health or developmental conditions. Occupational therapists also work in non-traditional settings such as corporate wellness programs, assistive technology development, and advocacy organizations, helping to improve the quality of life and functional independence of diverse populations.

Program Outcomes

The program outcomes data will be listed in this location in the future once it is available.