Three Years

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.   

Spend the next three years immersed in courses and practical experience that prepare you for entry-level specialty practice.  

• 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

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.