Occupational Therapy Programs
Locations: Distance learning
Formats: Online
Program duration: Bachelor’s-level entry: 6-13 trimesters | Master’s-level entry: 3-8 trimesters Please note the Bachelor’s-level entry program typically takes 4 years and 4 months to complete, and the Master’s-level entry typically takes 2 years and 8 months to complete based off the most recent 2-year graduate data (2019-2020 and 2020-2021); however, individual experiences will vary based on factors including, but not limited to individual progress, credits transferred, and other factors.
See Requirements & Program Details
PPOTD at Glance:
*Time to completion may vary by student, depending on individual progress, traditional vs. accelerated pathway, credits transferred and other factors.
Want to take on a leadership role within occupational therapy? The USAHS Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy (PPOTD) program offers practitioners with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in occupational therapy the opportunity to advance their studies in clinical practice, research, leadership, advocacy, and education. Designed for those who are practicing or ready to practice, the PPOTD helps OTs stay competitive and up to date.
You will progress through the post-professional OTD program with a diverse cohort of your peers, learning from faculty-practitioners who are experts in their specialty areas. This doctoral program emphasizes active inquiry, critical thinking, applied learning, and reflective practice. It will help you, as a registered occupational therapist, advance your rehabilitation science practice and interprofessional perspective, and become a change agent in the world of healthcare.
One Degree,
Multiple Pathways
PPOTD to EdD Bridge Program
For those who wish to teach in an OT academic program, we offer a bridge program from our PPOTD to our Doctor of Education (EdD) degree. Most students may transfer 24–27 PPOTD credits to the EdD and complete the EdD faster.
Professional Certification Opportunities
We also offer an optional certification track: The ImPACT® Trained Occupational Therapist (ITOT) certification is available for students who first complete the Evidence-Based Concussion Management course as an elective.
The Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy program includes 7 core courses for master’s-entry students and 12 core courses for bachelor’s-entry students. You will complete the remainder of your coursework with elective courses and seminars. Our exceptionally flexible Post-Professional Doctor of OT program allows you to start with the introductory courses, end with the capstone, and in the meantime take any core or elective course in any order. Your course load may be as small as one course per term or as large as you feel comfortable taking on-provided you complete a minimum of 9 credits per year.
We offer two optional specializations:
You may choose to earn one of these specializations or to concentrate your electives in another topic area (e.g., pediatrics or orthopedics). Or you may take a variety of electives from our wide selection of courses.
We also offer this optional certification track:
The courses required to complete the Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree are listed below for students who enter the program with either a master’s or bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy.
Bold courses are a prerequisite for OCT 7495, The Science of Occupation
Italicized courses are taken at the end of the program.
**USAHS MOT alumni may replace IPE 7050 with transfer credits, if criteria are met.
| BS Level Student Courses Total Core Credits Hours for BS Level Student | Credit Hours 43 |
|---|---|
| IPE 7001 Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice or IPE 7001B - Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice (B) | 3 |
| IPE 7050 Evidence-Based Practice for Healthcare Professionals or IPE 7050B - Evidence-Based Practice for Healthcare Professionals (B) | 3 |
| IPE 7121 Organizational Leadership & Policy in Healthcare or IPE 7121B – Organizational Leadership & Policy in Healthcare (B) | 3 |
| COM 7130 Healthcare Communication & Collaboration | 3 |
| HSA 7200 Foundations of Healthcare Administration or HSA 7200 B - Foundations of Healthcare Administration (B) | 3 |
| HSC 7200 Information Literacy for Evidence-Based Practice | 1 |
| OCT 7200 Reflective Practice | 3 |
| OCT 7470 Clinical Integration I | 7 |
| OCT 7471 Clinical Integration II | 8 |
| OCT 7495 The Science of Occupation | 3 |
| OCT 7496 Capstone I: Project Proposal and Preparation | 3 |
| OCT 7499 Capstone II: Project Development and Dissemination | 3 |
Below is a sampling of electives you may take to complete the remaining credits you need for the PPOTD degree. They are clustered according to topic. Again, you may choose to focus in a particular area of practice or select any combination of courses that interest you.
| Teaching & Learning Specialization Elective Courses | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| EDF 7013 Practical Application of Online Teaching** | 3 |
| EDF 7050 Teaching Methods in Higher Education** or EDF 7050B Teaching Methods in Higher Education (B)** | 3 |
| EDF 7161 Program and Curricular Design for Health Science Education** | 3 |
| EDF 7175 Foundational Theories in Education** or EDF 7175B Foundational Theories in Education (B) ** | 3 |
| EDF 7171 Motivation Theory in Healthcare Education | 3 |
| Executive Leadership Specialization Elective Courses | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| HSA 7200 Foundations of Healthcare Administration** or HSA 7200B Foundations of Healthcare Administration (B)** | 3 |
| HSA 7236 Accounting, Finance and Economics for the Healthcare Leader** | 3 |
| HSA 7250 Human Resources Management and Organizational Development in Healthcare** | 3 |
| HSA 7260 Operations and Quality Management in Healthcare** | 3 |
| IPE 7133 Strategic Planning in Healthcare Administration** | 3 |
| HSC 7440 Fundamentals of the Healthcare Startup Business | 3 |
| HSC 7470 Legal and Regulatory Issues | 3 |
| IPE 7100 Ethics in Healthcare | 3 |
| IPE 7121 Organizational Leadership & Policy in Healthcare** or IPE 7121B Organizational Leadership & Policy in Healthcare (B)** | 3 |
| Orthopedic Elective Courses | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| BSC 7301 Ergonomics | 2 |
| HSC 7210 Extremity Evaluation and Manipulation (E1) (seminar plus coursework) | 2 |
| HSC 7320 Fundamental Skills for Hand and Upper Extremity Therapy | 2 |
| Pediatric Elective Courses | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| BSC 7101 Application of Motor Control and Motor Learning Theory to Neurologic Interventions | 2 |
| BSC 7125 The Pediatric Client with Neuromotor Involvement | 3 |
| BSC 7200 Autism: Evidence, Etiology and Impact | 3 |
| HSC 6036 Metabolic Disorders | 1 |
| HSC 7325 School-Based Practice | 3 |
| General Rehabilitation Elective Courses | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| BSC 7101 Application of Motor Control & Motor Learning Theory to Neurologic Interventions | 2 |
| BSC 7155 Functional Performance in the Older Adult | 2 |
| BSC 7301 Ergonomics | 2 |
| HSC 6036 Metabolic Disorders | 1 |
| HSC 7401 Pharmacology | 3 |
| IPE 7025 Psychosocial Strategies for Healthcare or IPE 7025B Psychosocial Strategies for Healthcare (B) | 3 |
| IPE 7200 Cultural Competence in Healthcare or IPE 7200B Cultural Competence in Healthcare(B) | 3 |
| IPE 7255 Evidence-Based Concussion Management | 3 |
| General Elective Courses | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| COM 7130 Healthcare Communication and Collaboration | 3 |
| EDF 7111 Research Methods I | 3 |
| EDF 7121 Research Methods II | 3 |
| EDF 7181 Technology in Higher Education | 3 |
| EDF 7235 Ethical Principles in Healthcare | 3 |
| HSC 7200 Information Literacy for Evidence-Based Practice | 1 |
| HSC 7416 Foundations of Imaging | 3 |
| IPE 7316 Women’s Health and Wellbeing | 3 |
| IPE 7400 Healthcare Informatics and Technology Management | 3 |
| IPE 7421 Interprofessional Approaches to Regional and Global Population Health or IPE 7421B Interprofessional Approaches to Regional and Global Population Health | 3 |
| OCT 7455 Special Topics in Professional Practice | Varies |
| IPE 7575 Team-based Emergency Care | 2 |
| MHS 7315 Contemporary Trends in Wellness | 3 |
| ImPACT® Trained Occupational Therapist (ITOT) certification | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| IPE 7255 Evidence-Based Concussion Management | 3 |
The Capstone Project
The capstone project is the final step in your PPOTD program. You will be assigned a faculty advisor who will guide you through systematic development, completion, and documentation of a culminating scholarly project.
*Please note the program typically takes 2 years and 8 months to complete, based off the most recent 2-year graduate data (2019-2020 and 2020-2021); however, individual experiences will vary based on factors including, but not limited to: individual progression, part-time vs. full-time enrollment, credits transferred, changing specializations, unsuccessful course completion, leaves of absence or other personal circumstances.
The program has rolling admissions and students can apply at any time. To be considered for admission, all candidates must submit an online application, which includes the following*:
Applicants should be licensed occupational therapists or be eligible for licensing and should be employed as occupational therapists or have a minimum of one year’s experience as an occupational therapist. USAHS MOT graduates who enter the program within six months of their MOT graduation may enter without a license but must be licensed and employed as an OT by the beginning of the second term of the program.
*USAHS MOT graduates who graduated within six months of starting the PPOTD program only need to submit an online application.
USAHS will consider accepting graduate credits from other accredited institutions (up to 25% of academic credits may be transferred) provided they are consistent with your area of interest and meet USAHS standards. Please contact your enrollment advisor for further details. USAHS MOT graduates may receive 6 (six) credits toward their PPOTD.
Foreign-trained candidates who do not require a student visa to participate in University courses and/or degrees can be considered for admission. To enter the program the following will apply:
The Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy program is flexible and is designed to meet your individual needs. Students with a Bachelor’s degree can complete the program in 3-4 years and students with Masters degrees can complete in as little as 1-2 years, if enrolled full-time*. The program tuition and fees are as follows.
| School Expenses | 60 Credit Hour Program |
| Tuition | $32,353.00 |
| Program Fees | $4,676.00 |
| Books & Associated School Expenses | $1,000.00 |
| Total Program Direct Expenses | $38,029.00 |
|---|
All tuition and fees are estimates and subject to change.
| School Expenses | 29 Credit Hour Program | 35 Credit Hour Program |
| Tuition | $20,571.00 | $24,828.00 |
| Program Fees | $2,672.00 | $2,672.00 |
| Books & Associated School Expenses | $1,000.00 | $1,000.00 |
| Total Program Direct Expense | $24,243.00 | $28,500.00 |
|---|
All tuition and fees are estimates and subject to change.
*USAHS graduates who completed the MOT program in the last six months, may qualify for an additional tuition reduction.
Student loans may be available to assist with funding your PPOTD program. USAHS has financial aid counselors who are available to explain your options.
Financial aid counselors can be reached by email, phone, or on campus. Regular office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday in each time zone. If you are unable to meet during regular office hours, after-hours appointments are available by request.
Please visit our Financial Aid Contact page for more information.
*Please note the program typically takes 4 years and 4 months to complete (Bachelor’s entry) and 2 years and 8 months (Master’s entry), based off the most recent 2-year graduate data (2019-2020 and 2020-2021); however, individual experiences will vary based on factors including, but not limited to individual progress, credits transferred, and other factors.
The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), 1001 Marina Village Parkway, Suite 402, Alameda, CA 94501, (510) 748-9001.
For more information, visit our Accreditation page.
USAHS currently is accepting applications for enrollment in the program for residents of the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
USAHS is not accepting applications from states where the institution does not have state authorization. However, prospective students are encouraged to check back in the near future as the program may be offered in additional states. Current and admitted students are also advised to monitor this page for any updates prior to relocating to another state, as this can have an impact on continued enrollment in the program.
It remains the student’s responsibility to understand, evaluate, and comply with all requirements relating to authorization or endorsement for the state in which she or he resides.
“The mission of the Post-Professional OTD (PPOTD) program is to graduate students with advanced knowledge in practice excellence who have the leadership and clinical skills necessary to promote the profession of occupational therapy. High priority is placed on active inquiry, critical thinking, and reflective practice.”
Become an occupational therapy practitioner with your master’s in OT. Help people of all ages overcome physical and cognitive barriers and improve their quality of life. We offer the MOT program in two formats: Residential and Flex.
Our entry-level doctoral program follows the same curriculum as the MOT, plus two additional trimesters focused on expanded roles in the profession. You will gain research experience by completing a capstone project on a topic of your choice.
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