Program Description

The proposed degree program is for an entry level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) Program to be offered in addition to the current Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) degree.  This provides dual points of entry for degree applicants. The proposed OTD program would require a separate ACOTE accreditation in order for graduates to sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam and to ultimately become licensed as an occupational therapist.

The proposed program is designed to be an extension of the existing MSOT program, providing students the opportunity to earn a doctoral degree in one additional year. The curriculum during the first year of the program is parallel with the master level curriculum, with students in either the master or OTD program taking the same courses. No additional resources would be necessary. In the second year of the program the only change is in the research sequence, with some higher-level expectations in the doctoral program. The only additional change is in the summer semester, where master’s students will begin their level II clinical affiliations while doctoral students will begin planning for their capstone experience. The course sequence with master’s only and doctoral only courses highlighted is attached.

Students can either enter the program at the graduate or undergraduate level with a declared doctoral track, or transition to the doctoral program at the end of their first professional year. Students wishing to transition will need to apply for the doctoral program, similar to undergraduates transitioning to the master’s degree program. Students in the declared doctoral program must meet all entrance requirements at the end of their first professional year to be able to enter the doctoral program. The entrance requirements include:
•    A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
•    No grade below B-
•    A semester GPA of 3.0 or higher every semester in the professional program
•    Approval of the department

The combined undergraduate/graduate/doctoral program allows for maximal resource utilization with minimal cost within the department and program. The doctoral program is designed to be a total of 100 credits from the completion of a bachelor’s degree for incoming graduate students (3 years). Students entering at the undergraduate level will continue to take professional year 1 graduate courses during their senior year. The 100 credits is consistent with the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, the only other doctoral program in the School of Health Sciences, which has 115 total credits, as well as other local OTD programs, either currently accredited or in candidacy status with ACOTE. 

The ability to either enter at the doctoral level or transition at the end of the first year can be a significant admissions and retention tool for those students seeking a doctoral degree at application or wishing to transition. Students starting the master program can transition to the doctoral program at the end of the first graduate year, even if they did not elect that program at enrollment, as long as they meet the entrance requirements. Providing students choice of entry (and exit) point will set the Springfield College program apart from competitors. 

Admission to the Program:
The graduate program accepts a limited number of students each year to join the existing undergraduate Health Science/OT (HSOT) cohort in the first professional year of the program. The number of seats available for graduate applications varies each year depending upon the number of undergraduate students matriculating to the graduate program. Typically, there are 20 to 25 seats available at the graduate level. The program begins each year in the fall semester. 

Per ACOTE requirements candidates applying for graduate admission must have a completed baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution. Prerequisite courses must be completed prior to matriculation into the program. The prerequisite courses include:
•    Anatomy and Physiology, I and II courses with labs (must be taken within the past 5 years) (6-8 credits total)
•    Natural science course with lab (3 to 4 credits)
•    Abnormal Psychology course (3 credits)
•    Lifespan Development/Developmental Psychology course (3 credits)
•    Statistics (3 credits)
•    Sociology or Anthropology course (3 credits)
•    English and writing intensive courses (6 credits total)

Additional information: 
Springfield College is a participant in the OT Centralized Application System (OTCAS). Detailed application information can be found on the OTCAS website at www.otcas.org.

I. Degree Requirements (100 credits)

Both Doctoral Entry Level students as well those from the Springfield College Health Science/Pre-Occupational Therapy program must meet this complete list of degree requirements to obtain the Doctor of Occupationap Therapy degree; however, the graduate record/transcript of student entering from the Health Science/Pre-Occupational Therapy program will only reflect 81 credits because these students begin enrolling in their M.S. coursework in their 4th year of undergraduate study at Springfield College where the following 500-level coursework (19 credits) is applied to their undergraduate record/transcript: OCTH 501, OCTH 503, OCTH 505, OCTH 506, OCTH 510, OCTH 511, OCTH 512, OCTH 514, OCTH 515, and OCTH 520.

• OCTH 501 - Occupational Therapy Fundamentals Credits: 3
• OCTH 503 - Professional Seminar I Credits: 1
• OCTH 505 - Group Process Credits: 1
• OCTH 506 - Group Process Lab Credits: 1
• OCTH 510 - Functional Human Anatomy Credits: 3
• OCTH 511 - Functional Human Anatomy Lab Credits: 1
• OCTH 512 - Neuroscience and Occupation Credits: 3
• OCTH 514 - Neuroscience and Occupation Lab Credits: 0
• OCTH 515 - Functional Movement in Occupations Credits: 2
• OCTH 520 - Development, Occupation and Performance in Infancy and Childhood Credits: 4
• OCTH 560 - Evidence Based Practice I Credits: 3
• OCTH 561 - Evidence Based Practice in Occupational Therapy II Credits: 3
• OCTH 570 - Social Policy and Social Justice in Healthcare Credits: 2
• OCTH 584 - Clinical Education I and Professional Seminar II Credits: 2
• OCTH 621 - Application of Theory and Evidence in Pediatric Occupational Therapy Practice Credits: 3
• OCTH 625 - Performance, Dysfunction, and OT Adaptation in Adolescents Credits: 3
• OCTH 631 - Occupation, Dysfunction, and Adaptation in Adults I Credits: 3
• OCTH 632 - Occupation, Dysfunction, and Adaptation in Adults II Credits: 3
• OCTH 633 - Occupation, Dysfunction, and Adaptation in Adults III Credits: 3
• OCTH 634 - Occupation, Dysfunction, and Adaptation in Adults IV Credits: 4
• OCTH 635 - Development, Dysfunction and Occupational Therapy Adaptation in Older Adults Credits: 3
• OCTH 637 - Occupation, Dysfunction and Adaptation in Adults V Credits: 3
• OCTH 650 - US and Global Healthcare Systems: Occupational Therapy’s Role Credits: 3
• OCTH 651 - OT Management, Leadership, and Advocacy Credits: 3
• OCTH 683 - Professional Seminar III Credits: 1
• OCTH 684 - Clinical Education II Credits: 9
• OCTH 685 - Clinical Education III Credits: 9
• OCTH 687 - Professional Seminar IV Credits: 1
• OCTH 720 - OT in Community Practice: Capstone Experience and Project Development I Credits: 2
• OCTH 721 - Capstone Experience and Project Development II Credits: 5
• OCTH 722 - Capstone Experience and Project Development III Credits: 1
• OCTH 784 - Doctoral Capstone Experience Credits: 10
• OCTH 785 - Capstone Project Credits: 2