https://alliedhealth.ouhsc.edu/Prospective-Students Parent Page: Prospective Students id: 35979 Active Page: Doctor of Occupational Therapy id: 35995

The Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program prepares students to promote health and well-being by helping individuals adapt and thrive through meaningful everyday activities. Occupational therapists work with people recovering from illness or injury, living with developmental disabilities, or experiencing age-related changes.

Through evidence-based interventions, therapists help prevent, reduce, or overcome physical, emotional, and social challenges—empowering individuals of all ages to live productive, independent lives.

Graduates are eligible to sit for the national licensure exam and begin practice in this dynamic and impactful field.

How Long to Complete the Program?

3 years

Median Salary

$90,330

(Source: Industry and Occupational Employment Projections)

Average GPA of Admitted Class

3.69

Curriculum

The DPT program consists of 99 credit hours designed to provide students with the knowledge and clinical skills to thrive in the profession.

Course Requirements

Year 1

Summer Semester

COURSE NAME 
COURSE NUMBER 
CREDIT HOURS 
Foundations of OT 
OCTH 7003 
3 
Occupational Science 
OCTH 7002 
2 

Fall Semester

COURSE NAME 
COURSE NUMBER 
CREDIT HOURS 
Evidence-Based Practice 
OCTH 7162 
2 
Health and Wellness 
OCTH 7023 
3 
Occupational Performance and Task Analysis 
OCTH 7043 
3 
Mental Health  
OCTH 7063 
3 
Contexts for Occupational Performance 
OCTH 7312 
2 
Cognition, Occupation, and Participation Across the Lifespan  
OCTH 7082 
2 

Spring Semester

COURSE NAME 
COURSE NUMBER 
CREDIT HOURS 
Neuroscience 
AHS 8274 
4 
Community Participation & Program Development 
OCTH 7103 
3 
Clinical Management for Health 
OCTH 7012 
2 
Pediatric Foundations & Therapeutic Methods 
OCTH 7132 
2 
Research I 
OCTH 7133 
3 
Fieldwork I 
OCTH 7151 
1 
Seminar in Clinical Skills 
OCTH 7091 
1 

Year 2

Summer Semester

COURSE NAME 
COURSE NUMBER 
CREDIT HOURS 
Anatomy 
AHS 8415 
5 
Interprofessional Case Management 
OCTH 9391 
1 
Vision in Practice 
OCTH 7142 
2 

Fall Semester

COURSE NAME 
COURSE NUMBER 
CREDIT HOURS 
Principles of Human Movement 
OCTH 7143 
3 
Orthopedic Management of Upper-Extremity Dysfunction 
OCTH 8274 
4 
Neurorehabilitation for Children 
OCTH 8154 
4 
Preparing for Continuing Education and Academics 
OCTH 8052 
2 
Progressive Neurological Conditions 
OCTH 8122 
2 
Productive Aging 
OCTH 8112 
2 

Spring Semester

COURSE NAME 
COURSE NUMBER 
CREDIT HOURS 
Research II 
OCTH 8063 
3 
Program Evaluation 
OCTH 8033 
3 
Assistive Technology 
OCTH 8292 
2 
Capstone Exploration 
OCTH 8072 
2 
Neurorehabilitation for Adults 
OCTH 8234 
4 
Leadership and Management 
OCTH 8123 
3 

Year 3

Summer Semester

COURSE NAME 
COURSE NUMBER 
CREDIT HOURS 
Fieldwork II 
OCTH 9006 
6 

Fall Semester

COURSE NAME 
COURSE NUMBER 
CREDIT HOURS 
Fieldwork III 
OCTH 9026 
6 
Capstone Plan  
OCTH 9032 
2 

Spring Semester

COURSE NAME 
COURSE NUMBER 
CREDIT HOURS 
Capstone Dissemination 
OCTH 9011 
1 
Capstone Experience 
OCTH 9046 
6 

Admission Requirements

To be eligible for admission to the OTD program, applicants must have met the following requirements: 

  • Complete a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university prior to enrollment in the program 
  • Maintain a minimum 2.75 cumulative GPA and a minimum 2.75 science GPA as calculated by OTCAS. Note that the university does not recognize academic forgiveness nor reprieve policies. All attempts of a course are included in the calculation of GPAs 
  • Completed the required prerequisite coursework with a ‘C’ or higher prior to enrollment in the program. 

Applicants to the OTD program will need to complete an application through both the Occupational Therapist Centralized Application Service (OTCAS) and the OU Health Campus to be considered.

If after reviewing the qualifications for the program you are unsure of whether you meet them, please contact ahinfo@ouhsc.edu. We are here to help and support you as you pursue a career in the health sciences. 

Prerequisite Requirements 

OU Course Number 
Course Title 
Credit Hours 
PSY 2603 
Developmental Psychology 
3 
BIOL 2234 or 2255 
Human Anatomy 
4-5 
BIO 2124 
Human Physiology 
4 
PSY 2403 or 4453 
Introduction to Personality or Abnormal Psychology 
3 
BIOL 1005 or 1124 
Concepts in Biology or Intro Biol: Molecule/Cell/Phys    
4-5 
CLC 2413 
Medical Vocabulary 
2-3 
PHYS 2414 
Physics I for Life Science Majors 
4 
COMM 2513, ECON 2843, PSY 2113, 
or PSY 2003 
Understanding Statistics 
3 

Program Details

Location Offered

Oklahoma City

Degree Acquired

Doctor of Occupational Therapy

Application Window

OU Health Campus Opens: July 15th
Rolling Decisions Review Start: October 1st
Closes: February 15th

Admissions

Have questions about the admissions requirements? We're here to help you navigate the process.

Tuition and Aid

Need help with tuition and financial aid? We're here to help you explore your options and support you through the process.

Program Outcomes

Program results from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) will be found on the NBCOT School Performance Page when they become available.

Graduation Rates from the Doctor of Occupational Therapy program during the 3 years of 2025-2027 will be posted below when available.  

Graduation Rates

Below is the data for graduates from the OUHSC entry-level doctoral degree program in occupational therapy. The graduation rate is comprised of students who entered and completed the program within 150% of the length of the program.

Graduation Year 2025 2026 2027 3-year total
Number of students who entered the OTD Program Not Available Not Available Not Available Not Available
Number of students who graduated from the OTD Program Not Available Not Available Not Available Not Available
Graduation Rate (Percentile) Not Available Not Available Not Available Not Available

Accreditation

The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination of occupational therapists administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBOT). After completing this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination.  A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. 

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