Three Years
A Leader in Excellence
Huntington University has a heritage of excellence in academics, and our first doctoral program reflects that heritage. Occupational therapy (OT) sits on the cutting edge of healthcare; our vision when so few other schools were offering doctoral programs in occupational therapy has made us a leader in OT education from the beginning.
We are an established program with a track record of quality graduates who are highly certified and competitively placed in the field. Our renowned faculty have professional experience in the field – many are still practicing occupational therapists as well as educators – and our facilities in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Peoria, Arizona are top-of-the-line.
Program Format
Huntington University's doctoral program in occupational therapy (OTD program) is a three-year, full-time degree program. Classes take place in person at our two locations.
You’ll be learning directly – live and in person – from OT experts who are fully equipped to provide practical learning experiences and connect you with fieldwork in your area of interest. Are you ready for three years well spent?
What You'll Learn
Spend the next three years immersed in courses and practical experience that prepare you for entry-level specialty practice.
Professional Development in Occupational Therapy
Occupational Participation and Engagement
Research I: Critical Inquiry and Evidence Based Practice
Applied Kinesiology and Anatomy
Professional Ethics and Advocacy in Health and Wellness
Pathophysiological Influence on Occupation
Global Outreach and Missions
Psychosocial Implications for Occupational Therapy
Occupational Performance I: Adult
Research II: Quantitative Methods
Neuroscience
Fieldwork I and Seminar: Psychosocial
Diagnostics
Occupational Therapy in Leadership and Management
Lifespan Development
Research III: Qualitative Methods
Technology in Occupational Therapy
Occupational Performance II: Youth and Children
Research IV: Design
Capstone Development Seminar
Fieldwork I and Seminar: Youth and Children
Occupational Therapy in Education
Emerging Practice Areas
Occupational Performance III: Older Adult
Research V: Data Collection and Analysis
Capstone Project Design
Fieldwork I and Seminar: Adult and Older Adult
Professional Competency
Pharmacology
Fieldwork II
Fieldwork II
Capstone: Experiential Component
Executive Function
Preview Your Future
Join us during one of our Doctoral Program in Occupational Therapy Preview Days. The Preview Day is designed to be an opportunity for you to meet the OTD faculty, current students, other prospective OTD candidates, and tour the facility. Applicant interviews are also conducted by invitation during Preview Days.
Specialty Pathways Offered
Specialty Pathway in Pediatrics
- Doctoral capstone projects with pediatric specialty focus
- Collaborative research, presentations, and scholarly work
- Pediatric publication in the Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, and Early Intervention
- Student-led NICU and early intervention special interest club with leadership opportunities
- Specialty presentations on early intervention and NICU practice, feeding challenges, and family-centered coaching
- Community-based advanced clinical training with faculty
- Pediatric continuing education opportunities that are American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) sponsored
- Local and national opportunities to network with pediatric specialists and DPT program students
Specialty Pathway in Hand Therapy
- Student
- Level II clinical rotations at top hand facilities in the country and related doctoral capstone projects
- Specialty modules and clinical integration
- Collaborative research, presentations, and scholarly work
- Related publications in the Journal of Hand Therapy and Journal of OT Education
- Student-led hand and orthopedics special interest club with leadership opportunities
- Hosted Matheson Ergonomic Course – earn credentials as a Certified Ergonomic Evaluator Specialist (CEES)
- Continuing education courses that are American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT) sponsored
- Elective advanced anatomy program with cadaver dissection
- Advanced custom orthotics
- National presentations at annual ASHT and AOTA meetings
- Multiple faculty specializing in hand therapy (CHT) and ergonomics (CEES)
Doctor of Occupational Therapy Courses
- OTD 700 Professional Development in Occupational Therapy
- OTD 701 Occupational Participation and Engagement
- OTD 701L Laboratory for OTD 701
- OTD 702 Research I: Critical Inquiry and Evidence Based Practice
- OTD 703 Applied Kinesiology and Anatomy
- OTD 703L Laboratory for OTD 703
- OTD 704 Professional Ethics and Advocacy in Health and Wellness
- OTD 705 Pathophysiology Influence on Occupation
- OTD 706 Global Outreach and Missions
- OTD 710 Psychosocial Implications for Occupational Therapy
- OTD 710L Laboratory for OTD 710
- OTD 711 Occupational Performance I: Adult
- OTD 711L Laboratory for OTD 711
- OTD 712 Research II: Quantitative Methods
- OTD 713 Neuroscience
- OTD 713L Laboratory for OTD 713
- OTD 714 Fieldwork I and Seminar: Psychosocial
- OTD 715 Diagnostic
- OTD 720 Occupational Therapy in Leadership and Management
- OTD 721 Lifespan Development
- OTD 722 Research III: Qualitative Research Methods
OTA to OTD Program
The purpose of the Huntington University occupational therapy capstone, also known as the doctoral experiential component (DEC), is the synthesis of evidence-based practice and occupational therapy principles. As a capstone student, you will demonstrate the advanced skills you acquired in class while you gain experience in a clinical or practical setting.
First, students complete coursework in at least one area of study, choosing from clinical practice skills, research skills, administration, leadership, program and policy development, advocacy, education, or theory development. The DEC then provides capstone students with an opportunity to apply that study to a specific area of practice that interests them. Students develop and complete a DEC that is consistent with the program’s curricular design and will utilize advanced skills beyond the generalist level.
