Doctorate in Occupational Therapy

Thursday Morning (January 20) Classes Transitioned to Remote

Due to the predicted freezing rain, sleet, and snow moving through our area and the potential for hazardous driving conditions, all in-person day classes starting prior to 12 p.m. (noon) on Thursday, January 20, will transition to being held online or remotely. All classes scheduled at 12:00 p.m. (noon) or later Thursday will be held as scheduled.

Additional information on the virtual format for each class will be provided directly by the individual instructor.

Faculty have been asked to prepare for online or remote sessions in the event of in-person meeting cancellations. These options will be determined by the faculty member and all questions should be directed to the Faculty teaching each course section. Faculty also have been asked to be very understanding and accommodating of the individual situations of their students who may have difficulty managing these alternative online or remote class meetings on short notice.

COVID-19 arrival testing being held at the Beckerman Recreation Center on Thursday will begin at 1:00 p.m.

Campus operations for residential students, unless otherwise noted, will operate as scheduled, though hours may be modified or changed based on conditions. Separate messages will be sent from the Peterson Library, the Beckerman Recreation Center, and Dining Services if any changes to their normal hours of operation are necessary.

Please note that only essential employees, as previously determined by their respective department leaders, should report to campus unless determined otherwise by their supervisor. All other employees should continue to fulfill the requirements of their role remotely.

If changes become necessary for Thursday's in-person afternoon classes beginning at 12:00 p.m. (noon) or later, it will be communicated by 10 a.m. Thursday.

Why Occupational Therapy?

Occupational Therapists help patients improve their daily lives, to help patients recover from accidents and illnesses, and work collaboratively in teams with other health professionals to help patients meet their goals. Occupational Therapists work in a wide range of settings including:

Acute care hospitals
Rehabilitation hospitals
Long term care and skilled nursing facilities
Schools and other educational settings

Curriculum

The program consists of nine semesters of full-time, on-site, and hybrid graduate coursework taken in the fall, spring, and summer terms. Students will obtain approximately 1080 hours of supervised clinical practice during the program. The curriculum covers topics to include:

Physical and Mental Health Conditions Across the Life Span
Human Occupation and Activity Analysis
Needs Assessment and Program Development
Applied Human Anatomy and Neuroscience

Eligibility

Students must have completed an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution with a 3.0 GPA. Students should have completed the following prerequisites as an undergraduate: one year of anatomy and physiology with lab, one year of English, a semester of physics with lab, one semester of statistics, one semester of abnormal psychology, one semester of sociology, one semester of developmental or lifespan psychology.

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Accreditation Status

The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program has applied for accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE's telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its Web address is www.acoteonline.org.

The program must be granted Candidacy Status, have a preaccreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates 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 individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

Students must complete Level II fieldwork and experiential requirements within 24 months following completion of the didactic portion of the program.

Distinguished, Expert Faculty

Our faculty are leaders and innovators in their fields, bringing both deep professional experience and academic rigor to the classroom.

Meet the Occupational Therapy Faculty

Nationally Recognized Center for Career Development

All University of New Haven students have access to the many resources available through the University’s Career Development Center, which has been named one of the best in the nation by The Princeton Review.

From career assessments, networking, and job shadowing to on-campus interviews and salary negotiation, the Career Development Center provides the skills and connections to identify a meaningful career and an opportunity to pursue your passion.

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Upcoming Graduate School Events

There are a variety of opportunities for you to learn more about our master’s degree programs, what it is like to be a student here, and the scholarships, assistantships and financial aid that we offer. Whether you want to meet us on campus or online, we have something for you.

Want to set up a personal visit? We're happy to help.

Learn more about scheduling a virtual campus visit.