Doctor of
Occupational Therapy
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16200 Amber Valley Drive Whittier, CA 90604
Improve people's lives in a
growing and rewarding field.
1 YEAR TO
COMPLETION
EARLY CLINICAL PRACTICE
Begin clinical training as early as your second term. Students train at a modern health center with an enriched teaching environment.
REMOTE AND ON-CAMPUS LEARNING
NO BACHELORS DEGREE OR GRE REQUIRED
Students with at least 90 credits from a USDE recognized institution can be accepted into the program.
BECOME A REGISTERED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST
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). The curriculum embeds exam prep questions throughout core courses, and after successful completion of this exam and all requirements of the didactic, experiential component of the program, the student can take the NBCOT exam necessary for becoming an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR®).
Expected growth between
2018 and 2028 (1)
The time to join the occupational therapy revolution is now. Occupational therapy is the future of health and wellness at the local, state, national, and international levels. For OTA practitioners seeking a direct pathway to a doctoral degree, our OTD program at SCU is the only one in the country offering a primarily remote, hybrid structure. We focus on student success, the scholarship of ‘doing and learning’, interprofessional collaboration, occupational justice, lifelong learning, and evidence-based, occupation-centered care.
The aim of the OTD program at SCU is to provide each student with the skills, knowledge, and professionalism necessary to be confident, caring, and competent the very first day after graduation; that is, fully prepared to pass the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam and succeed in the OT workforce.
HEATHER THOMAS, PHD, OTR/L, DIPACLM
Program Director, Occupational Therapy
Southern California University of Health Sciences
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About This Program
Graduates of the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program will be agents of excellence who thrive in a student-centered curriculum emphasizing wellness promotion, health equity, inter-professional collaboration, lifelong learning, and evidence-based care in occupation-centered practice. The OTD at SCU offers a unique blend of primarily remote learning with on-campus experiences over 7 1/2 terms (approximately 2 ½ years) of classroom and experiential learning.
Median annual wage for occupational therapists in the Los Angeles area (2)
What Can Occupational Therapy Do For You?
The American Occupational Therapy Association has produced an informative video titled “What Can Occupational Therapy Do for You?”. If you are interested in learning more about this career, please visit the link attached above.
SCU’s program is the first and only bridge program for Occupational Therapy Assistants (OTA) that grants a Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) degree. Other institutions only provide a pathway to a master’s degree (MSOT/MOT). With SCU’s program, students spend roughly two and a half years earning a doctorate.
OTA to OTD BRIDGE PROGRAM
The OTD Merit Scholarship is available to incoming students who have demonstrated academic achievement. The scholarship award is $2,000 and will be awarded to students with a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher.
SCHOLARSHIPS
AVAILABLE
You are advised by a dedicated faculty mentor from the start of the program. All students meet with the faculty mentor twice a term, and as needed, to problem solve and build successful learning strategies
MENTORSHIP AND ADVISING
