The occupational therapy doctoral (OTD) program prepares clinicians, educators, researchers and future leaders in the profession through engaged, experiential and evidence-based educational opportunities to expand knowledge about the health benefits of occupation.

Accreditation
The Rocky Mountain College entry-level doctoral degree program in occupational therapy was granted full accreditation status for 7 years in August 2021, 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’s interim report will be due in Spring 2024 and the next on-site evaluation will be scheduled within academic year 2027-28.

For current accreditation status and additional program information, see program website at www.rocky.edu/otd.

Graduates of the Rocky Mountain College Occupational Therapy doctorate program are 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, individual states require licensure to practice. State licensing boards require a passing score on the NBCOT Certification Examination in order to grant a state license (OTR/L).

Note: A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

Character Review and Eligibility to sit for the NBCOT Exam
All students should review the requirements for certification by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) prior to applying to the OTD program (https://www.nbcot.org/en). Applicants should view the Character Review (http://www.nbcot.org/en/Students/Services#CharacterReview) to determine need for a character review prior to admission to the OTD program. Qualified candidates identified as requiring a Character Check by the NBCOT will be required to complete an Early Determination Review prior to admission to the OTD Program. A student may be conditionally accepted into the program with a spot held for the student and admission is granted upon a positive review in which the student would be eligible for certification by NBCOT. This will ensure students do not enroll in the OTD Program and if they are ineligible to take the National Board Exam to become a registered occupational therapist. Students are also required to review state licensure laws prior to admittance to determine eligibility for licensure upon completion of the OTD program and successful completion of the NBCOT Examination. Please note: A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

Instructional Themes

Student instruction in the RMC OTD Program is predicated on the following concepts (instructional themes):

• Student self-directed learning
• Interactive lectures provided by experts
• Clinical application
• Interdisciplinary seminars focused on community-based programming and practice, leadership and use of clinical reasoning skills
• Problem-solving based on clinical reasoning/reflection/reflexivity model application
• Development of research skills
• Teaching and course development
• Community-based program development
• Advocacy and policy development
• Appreciation for diversity/social justice and understanding of cultural, social, physical and virtual contexts and their impact on occupational performance
• Synthesis of theory and evidence to guide occupation-based, client centered occupational therapy services for individuals, groups and communities
• Fostering life-long learners who are committed to promoting the profession through engagement in state and national occupational therapy associations

Didactic instruction on the assessment and intervention of individuals with deficits in areas of occupation is based on a developmental continuum. The knowledge and skills developed in the first year of the program establishes the groundwork for all didactic and clinical experiences that will follow.

Fieldwork (also called affiliations, placements or internships) is an integral part of the curriculum with three level I fieldwork courses offered in the curriculum. Level II Fieldwork cannot begin until the student has successfully completed all previous program coursework. A student has 24 months to complete Level II Fieldwork (two 12-week placements) once his or her didactic coursework is completed). The capstone project is completed the semester following the successful completion of two 12-week Fieldwork II rotations. The Doctoral Experience or Capstone Project is a 14-week requirement that must be completed in order to meet graduation requirements.

Program Outcomes

The first cohort of RMC OTD program students graduated in November 2021 and sat for the NBCOT exam in 2021 and 2022. Program results from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) can be found online at: https://www.nbcot.org/EN/EDUCATORS/HOM#SCHOOLPERFORMANCE.

Curriculum Overview

The OTD program is a 9-semester, 3-year on-campus program (for the first 2 years of didactic work). The third year of the program is clinical in nature and students will be in clinical and capstone settings in a variety of locations throughout the country and world.

Year 1 – Introductory Courses – 36 credits
Year 2 – Evaluation and Intervention Courses – 35 credits
Year 3 – Level 2 Fieldwork/Clinical Rotations and Capstone Experience – 28 credits
Total Credits: 99

Program Requirements

Year One
Spring Semester (16 credits)
OTD 500: Introduction to Occupational Therapy (3)
OTD 502: Applied Neuroscience in Occupational Therapy (4)
OTD 504: Functional Anatomy & Movement Sciences in Occupational Therapy (6)
OTD 506: Culture and Community-based Program Development in Occupational Therapy (3)

Summer Semester (7 credits)
OTD 510: Theoretical Approaches in Occupational Therapy (4)
OTD 512: Activity Analysis in Occupational Therapy (3)

Fall Semester (13 credits)
OTD 516: Understanding Children as Occupational Beings (5)
OTD 518: Introduction to Occupational Science and Research (3)
OTD 520: Level 1 Fieldwork I: Pediatric Placement (1)
OTD 522: Assistive Technologies in Occupational Therapy (4)

Year Two
Spring Semester (16 credits)
OTD 600: Understanding Adults as Occupational Beings (5)
OTD 602: Level 1 Fieldwork II: Adult-based Placement (1)
OTD 604: Occupational Science and Research II (3)
OTD 607: Health and Wellbeing in Occupational Science (4)
OTD 608: Capstone Development I (3)

Summer Semester (6 credits)
OTD 612: Leadership and Management in Occupational Therapy (4)
OTD 614: Research Data Collection and Analysis (1)
OTD 626: Capstone Development Portfolio I (1)

Fall Semester (13 credits)
OTD 618: Occupational Therapy in Mental Health (5)
OTC 620: Level 1 Fieldwork III – Mental Health Placement (1)
OTD 622: Teaching Practicum (3)
OTD 627: Capstone Development Portfolio II (2)
OTD 628: Research Manuscript Development & Dissemination (2)

Year Three
Spring Semester (9 credits)
OTD 700: Level 2 Fieldwork in Occupational Therapy I (9)

Summer Semester (9 credits)
OTD 702: Level 2 Fieldwork in Occupational Therapy II (9)

Fall Semester (10 credits)
OTD 704: Capstone Experience (10)
OTD 706: Capstone Project Dissemination (0)

OTD 500 – Introduction to Occupational Therapy

Semester: Spring, Year 1
Semester hours: 3

This course provides an overview of the fundamentals of occupational therapy practice through use of the Official Documents of the American Occupational Therapy Association and other evidence-based sources. The fundamentals introduced are: practice definitions, philosophical and ethical underpinnings, professional roles and organizations, the clinical reasoning process, and an introduction to the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework–OTPF 4th Edition (Process and Domaine). The course emphasizes professional behaviors and values required for best-practice, evidence-based OT services.

OTD 502 – Applied Neuroscience in Occupational Therapy

Semester: Spring, Year 1
Semester hours: 4

In this course, basic structure and organization of the nervous system to function in typical individuals are connected. Neuroscience and how it correlates with diseases and disabilities are examined. Current review of neuroscience literature in matching function and dysfunction with structure and organization is relied upon. Case examples across the life span used to understand these potential relationships and link material to OT theories and frames of reference is guiding practice.

OTD 504 – Functional Anatomy and Movement Sciences in Occupational Therapy

Semester: Spring, Year 1
Semester hours: 6

This course covers the anatomy of the human body relevant to occupational therapy practice, including the skeletal system, muscle tissue, the muscular system, and the cardiovascular system. Basic components of motion, biomechanics, joint structure, specific muscle groups, and muscle function are addressed. Students will learn the basic components of palpation, joint structure and the study of kinematics, and will analyze functional activities necessary to carry out the tasks and roles of productive living using these principles. Two hours of lecture and four hours of laboratory, twice per week.

OTD 506 – Culture and Community-based Program Development in Occupational Therapy

Semester: Spring, Year 1
Semester hours: 3

This course explores cultural influences and health disparities of rural and Indigenous populations in relation to developing a community-based program. Course content will focus on theories that guide community-based program development. Students will conduct a needs assessment, develop a business plan, identify, and write a grant proposal and develop, implement, and evaluate a community-based program. 

OTD 510 – Theoretical Approaches in Occupational Therapy

Semester: Summer, Year 1
Semester hours: 4

In this course, students will be introduced to the theories, occupation-based models, and frames of reference that underlie occupational therapy practice. First, students will learn about the history and evolution of occupational therapy theory and how theory is applied across occupational therapy practice settings and client contexts. Then, students will gain an understanding of how to use theories, models, and frames of reference as tools to underpin clinical reasoning and inform interventions for persons, groups, and populations. Students will complete assignments and readings that will assist them in identifying past and present socio-political climates; students will also identify and describe how these factors influence and are influenced by practice by using both self-analysis and applied learning through case studies. Students will emerge with foundational knowledge in theory and with a toolkit for occupation-based, evidence-based, and client-centered practice.

OTD 512 – Activity Analysis in Occupational Therapy

Semester: Summer, Year 1
Semester hours: 3

Foundational to occupational therapy practice is an understanding of the interaction of occupation and activity. In this course, students will explore the interaction of occupation and activity through the activity analysis process. Students will conduct analysis of meaningful activities and occupations in the classroom and community contexts. In congruence with OTPF-4 guidelines, the analysis of performance skills, performance patterns, client factors, and contexts are expanded upon and considered to support the learner’s emergent clinical reasoning in intervention planning.

OTD 516 – Understanding Children as Occupational Beings

Semester: Fall, Year 1
Semester hours: 4

In this course, a holistic approach to development is presented to aid the student in understanding children as occupational beings and the rapidly changing needs of the pediatric client and their sociocultural context(s) will be illuminated. Students will use principles of human development to identify the impact of heritable diseases, genetic conditions, disability, trauma, and injury on the overall occupational performance of children and adolescents. The occupational performance of the pediatric clients and the population as a whole will be examined through the lens of occupation-based models and theories. To enhance the ability to determine and distinguish the need for intervention, students will administer assessments of occupational performance to include skilled observation and the selection of standardized and non-standardized screenings. Furthermore, students will gain experience in interpreting pediatric evaluation findings to include the consideration of occupational performance and participation deficits. Students will develop occupation-based intervention plans and strategies for children and families that are client-centered, culturally relevant, reflective of current occupational therapy practice, and based on available evidence. Students will further gain an understanding of children as occupational beings by identifying means of assessing, grading, and modifying the way children perform occupations and activities as well as proficiency in adapting processes and modifying environments for optimal participation. Strategies for efficient documentation of services and effective consultation with interdisciplinary professionals will be enforced and enhanced through the completion of weekly assignments. 

OTD 518 – Introduction to Occupational Science and Research

Semester: Fall, Year 1
Semester hours: 3

The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to the philosophical tenets of occupational science and their application to occupational therapy. The course will focus on understanding the scientific research process while developing introductory research skills including the principles of literature review and evidence synthesis, research questions, ethical policies and procedures for research, and an introduction to the application of different research methodologies. 

OTD 520 – Level 1 Fieldwork I: Pediatric Placement

Semester: Fall, Year 1
Semester hours: 1

In this fieldwork experience, classroom learning is enriched through directed observation and participation in clinical practice settings. Experiences are supervised by professionals working in one of a variety of clinical settings (e.g., early intervention, schools, clinics, hospitals, etc.). Placements are arranged to complement the intervention courses. Level 1 fieldwork experiences prepare students for the more complex Level 2 fieldwork clinical experiences.

OTD 522 – Assistive Technologies in Occupational Therapy

Semester: Fall, Year 1
Semester hours: 4

This course focuses on the evaluation, activity analysis, and intervention process related to using assistive technology in OT practice. Course content includes software, hardware and low-tech devices/strategies, and focuses on adaptation of activities and contexts to maximize patient/client function and independence.

OTD 600 – Understanding Adults as Occupational Beings

Semester: Spring, Year 2
Semester hours: 4

This course examines young, middle, and older adults as occupational beings. Students are exposed to a variety of clinic and occupation-based assessments used to evaluate common adult-based conditions. Students develop and implement intervention plans across the continuum of care. This course promotes evaluation and treatment of functional disability for adults in clinical and natural environments and focuses on occupational performance, while considering client factors, tasks and context. Application of knowledge, clinical reasoning, theoretical practice models, and cultural and contextual issues in evaluating and planning treatment are emphasized throughout the course. Best-practice documentation skills are applied to a variety of adult-based practice settings.

OTD 602 – Level 1 Fieldwork II: Adult-based Placement

Semester: Spring, Year 2
Semester hours: 1

In this fieldwork experience, classroom learning is enriched through directed observation and participation in adult-based clinical practice settings. Experiences are supervised by professionals working in one of a variety of clinical settings (e.g., hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, home-health, mental health agencies, etc.). Placements are arranged to complement the intervention courses. Level 1 fieldwork experiences prepare students for the more complex level 2 fieldwork clinical experiences.

OTD 604 – Occupational Science and Research II

Semester: Spring, Year 2
Semester hours: 3

The purpose of this course is to continue the work started in the Introduction to Occupational Science and Research course focused on understanding the process of scientific inquiry and the application of scientific evidence to address clinical concerns. Students will work with a research group under the guidance of a faculty member to refine a research question, design a research project, and develop a research proposal.

OTD 607 – Health and Wellbeing in Occupational Therapy

Semester: Spring; Year 2
Semester hours: 4

The purpose of this course is to give the student foundational to intermediate knowledge of holism and health promotion through an occupational science lens. In this course, students will be introduced to core concepts from occupational science, such as occupational balance, occupational identity, and meaning-making through occupation in order to gain a better understanding of the relationship between occupation, health, and wellbeing. Occupations will be viewed as therapeutic intervention. Students will identify meaningful interventions to support occupations including therapeutic exercise and the use of interventions to support well-being (e.g., complementary health and integrative health). Building on this conceptual foundation, students will participate in health promoting and holistic self-care occupations. The experiential component of the course is designed to enhance student awareness of their own health to include areas of occupation, performance skills, performance patterns, context, and client factors. Through assignments and engaged learning opportunities with their peers, students will learn to provide direct interventions and procedures to persons, groups, or populations to enhance safety, health and wellness, chronic condition management, and performance in occupations.

OTD 608 – Capstone Development

Semester: Spring, Year 2
Semester hours: 3

This course introduces students to a variety of curriculum-specific concepts and community-based projects that map onto the Doctoral Capstone Experience. In this course, students will evaluate access to community resources, and design community or primary care programs to support occupational performance for persons, groups, or populations. Students will demonstrate the ability to identify needs and design a program which they will implement in the summer term. Unique to the RMC OTD program, this course will also address factors related to the provision of OT services in rural communities.

OTD 612 – Leadership & Management in Occupational Therapy

Semester: Summer, Year 2
Semester hours: 4

This course uses case study analysis and real-world application to promote an understanding of the importance of effective leadership and management skills within the context of occupational therapy services. Students develop an understanding of federal and state legislation and regulations and the various contexts of service delivery in occupational therapy practice. Principles of reimbursement systems and their impact on occupational therapy are analyzed. Students explore their personal leadership style and examine how to use authentic, ethical approaches to lead/manage others to promote optimal patient outcomes and to advance the profession of occupational therapy in a global healthcare arena.

OTD 614 – Research Data Collection and Analysis

Semester: Summer, Year 2
Semester hours: 1

In this course, students will work with a research group under the guidance of a faculty member to obtain experience in conducting a research study by collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to determine the clinical significance of the findings. Students will acquire the skills needed to effectively report research information. 

OTD 618 – Occupational Therapy in Mental Health

Semester: Fall, Year 2
Semester hours: 5

This course provides students with a fundamental knowledge of child, adolescent, and adult-based psychosocial/mental health evaluations and interventions required to support adaptation and participation in occupation. The course focuses on enhancing student knowledge of core and specialty practice setting, mental health diagnoses, medications, stigma, and stereotyping. Students become familiar with the process of planning and implementing a mental health-based, occupational therapy group. The course is taught through a Trauma Informed Care (TIC) lens. Students will receive a TIC certificate of completion at the end of the course.

OTD 620 – Level 1 Fieldwork III: Mental Health Placement

Semester: Fall, Year 2
Semester hours: 1

This fieldwork experience enhances classroom learning about occupational performance of adolescents and adults who present with psychosocial or mental health concerns and increases student knowledge of clinical reasoning and conceptual practice models used in the mental health practice settings. Level 1 fieldwork experiences prepare students for the more complex level 2 fieldwork clinical experiences.

OTD 622 – Teaching Practicum 

Semester: Fall, Year 2
Semester hours: 3

The purpose of this course is to provide students with a basic understanding of teaching and learning as it applies to the development, implementation, and evaluation of occupational therapy course content and/or patient/family educational programs. Student understanding of the scholarship of teaching and learning is enhanced by examining the evaluation of teaching outcomes. Students develop a measure to evaluate and analyze teaching and learning outcomes over time and propose how data analysis results could inform OT educators or practitioners about best teaching and learning practices in occupational therapy.

OTD 626 – Capstone Development Portfolio I

Semester: Summer, Year 2
Semester hours: 1

This course is a continuation of the initial Capstone Development course (OTD 608). In this course, students will implement their community-based projects and will be able to develop ongoing processes for quality management and improvement (e.g., outcome studies analysis and client engagement surveys). Students will also identify and develop program changes as needed to demonstrate quality of services and direct administrative changes upon completion of the community-based projects. 

OTD 627 – Capstone Development Portfolio II

Semester: Fall, Year 2
Semester hours: 2

This course is a culmination of the community-based projects that students develop in the spring (OTD 608) and implement in the fall (OTD 626). In this course, students will identify and direct administrative changes to their projects, and present results to stakeholders and the year 1 cohort for project sustainability. Additionally, students will continue the development and completion of all components of the individual Doctoral Capstone Experience projects. 

OTD 628 – Research Manuscript Development & Dissemination

Semester: Fall, Year 2
Semester hours: 2

In this course, students will work with a research group under the guidance of a faculty member to create and finalize a final research manuscript paper of publishable quality in a peer-reviewed journal that supports clinical practice and create a scholarly presentation to disseminate research findings. 

OTD 700 – Level 2 Fieldwork in Occupational Therapy I

Semester: Spring, Year 3
Semester hours: 9

The purpose of this level 2 fieldwork experience is to provide students with an introduction to full-time occupational therapy practice within a clinical setting. Students gain experience in delivering occupational therapy services to a variety of individuals across the lifespan in a variety of settings. This course enhances interpretation of previously learned skills and knowledge through clinical reasoning and reflective practice. This level 2 fieldwork experience prepares students for entry-level, occupational therapy practice (part 1 of 2).

OTD 702 – Level 2 Fieldwork in Occupational Therapy II

Semester: Summer, Year 3
Semester hours: 9

The purpose of this level 2 fieldwork experience is to provide students with an introduction to full-time occupational therapy practice within a clinical setting. Students gain experience in delivering occupational therapy services to a variety of individuals across the lifespan in a variety of settings. This course enhances interpretation of previously learned skills and knowledge through clinical reasoning and reflective practice. This level 2 fieldwork experience prepares students for entry-level, occupational therapy practice (part 2 of 2).

OTD 704 – Capstone Experience

Semester: Fall, Year 3
Semester hours: 10

The goal of the doctoral capstone is to provide an in-depth exposure to one or more of the following areas in occupational therapy:

• Clinical skills
• Research skills
• Administration
• Program development and evaluation
• Policy development
• Advocacy
• Education
• Leadership

The student will complete a 14-week capstone experience (minimum 32 hours per week) and an individual related capstone project to demonstrate synthesis and application of knowledge gained. This course implements a previously proposed, developed, and approved capstone project from OTD 608, OTD 626, and OTD 627.

OTD 706 – Capstone Project Dissemination

Semester: Fall, Year 3
Semester hours: 0

Upon completion of the 14-week Doctoral Capstone Experience, students will disseminate the results of their capstone which will demonstrate synthesis of in-depth knowledge in the focused area of study.

• Kalyn Briggs, Assistant Clinical Professor, Director of OTD Program
• Amanda Carroll, Assistant Clinical Professor
• Danyela Farrar, Assistant Clinical Professor
• Philip Nordeck, Assistant Clinical Professor