We have pre-accreditation status for the entry level OTD (clinical doctorate) in occupational therapy. We admitted our first OTD students in August 2023 and have our accreditation on site review in fall 2025. Students will begin with the MOT and during the first year learn more about the OTD. At the end of the firs year, students will decide to either stay MOT or change to OTD. Those choosing OTD will register for OTD courses in Fall 2. At the end of Fall 2, students will formally declare OTD.
Curriculum
MOT Program Length
7 Semesters
- Start Fall/August 2026
- End Fall/December 2028
- Includes summer
OTD Program Length
8 semesters
- Start Fall/August 2026
- End Spring/May 2029
- Includes summer
- Final semester Capstone Experiential
Content Threads
- Pediatric
- Adult
- Psychosocial
- Research
- Leadership
Clinical Experiences
- 3 – Level I internships (psychosocial, pediatric, adult)
- Program development experiential
- 2 – Level II internships, 12 weeks, 40 hrs/wk
- 8 week – Pediatric community client, faculty mentored
- 8 week – Adult community client, faculty mentored
OTD Courses
18.5 credits
- OC TH 7110 Research II
- OC TH 7600 Pop-Based Programming
- OC TH 7871 Capstone I
- OC TH 7872 Capstone II
- OC TH 7873 Capstone III
- OC TH 7875 Capstone Experiential
Course Schedule
(OTD in *italics)
The classes in (Year 1 and Fall 2 and Spring 2) are held in person at the University of Utah campus in Salt Lake, City Utah. Most of the courses are offered Monday - Friday during the day between 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM. Fieldwork and capstone may be completed anywhere in the United States. Placements will be arranged at the discretion of the AFWC and Capstone Coordinator. All courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher and students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA. Students must be able to access PDF readers, word processing programs and LMS for course materials. Computers are available to borrow from the library. The buildings in which the courses are taught meet ADA accessibility requirements. Students needing accommodations should contact the Center for Disability & Access.
Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist, administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT®). After successful completion of this exam, the graduate 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.
First Year
Fall 1
OC TH 6010 - Foundations, Leadership and Scholarship of Occupation and Occupational Therapy (3)
OC TH 6020 - Culture and Therapeutic Relating (2)
OC TH 6040 - Creative Occupations (3)
OC TH 6050 - BCO (6)
OC TH 6100 - Intro to OT Process (2)
TOTAL CREDITS (16)
Spring 1
OC TH 6000 - Research (3)
OC TH 6211 - OT Process-Peds I (4)
OC TH 6311 - OT Process-Psychosocial I (1)
OC TH 6411 - OT Process-Adults I (3)
OC TH 7050 - Neuroanatomy (5)
TOTAL CREDITS (16)
*Students decide degree pathway. OTD students register for fall OTD courses*
Summer 1
OC TH 6212 - OT Process-Peds II (2)
OC TH 6312 - OT Process-Psychosocial II (3)
OC TH 6412 - OT Process-Adults II (3)
TOTAL CREDITS (8)
Second Year
Fall 2
OC TH 6213 - OT Process-Peds III (4)
OC TH 6413 - OT Process-Adults III (2)
OC TH 6600/*7600 - Pop-Based Programming (3)
OC TH 7210 - Leadership & Mgmt Seminar I (1)
OC TH 7310 - Case Based Learning 1 (1)
*OC TH 7110 - Planning Research (2)
*OC TH 7871 - Capstone I (3)
TOTAL CREDITS (11 MOT/16 OTD)
*Students formally declare OTD*
Spring 2
OC TH 6313 - OT Process-Psychosocial III (3)
OC TH 6414 - OT Process-Adults IV (3)
OC TH 6415 - OT Process-Adults V (2)
OC TH 7220 - Leadership & Mgmt Seminar II (2)
OC TH 7320 - Case Based Learning 2 (1)
*OC TH 7872 - Capstone II (3)
TOTAL CREDITS (11 MOT/14 OTD)
Summer 2
OC TH 7710 Fieldwork II-A (9)
TOTAL CREDITS (9 MOT)
Third Year
Fall 3
OC TH 7720 - Fieldwork II-B (9)
*OC TH 7230 - Leadership & Mgmt Seminar III (1)
*OC TH 7873 - Capstone III (.5)
TOTAL CREDITS (9 MOT/10.5 OTD)
MOT degree completion
Spring 3
*OC TH 7875 - Capstone Experiential (9)
TOTAL CREDITS (9 OTD)
OTD degree completion
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