Occupational Therapy - Starting May 2025

View the OTD Handbook

 

Trine University's OTD program is designed to provide a seamless transition from the classroom to clinical practice. Our distinctive level I fieldwork model titled Clinical Application and Reflection Experience (CARE) offers early and consistent hands-on experience. Starting in your first year and continuing throughout your 5 semesters on campus, you will engage in a series of rotations working alongside a classmate in real-world settings. These placements, organized by our Academic Fieldwork Coordinator, will take place in a variety of settings, including pediatrics, adult rehabilitation, and geriatrics. The rotations are designed to progressively build your skills and confidence, equipping you for success prior to beginning full-time level II fieldwork. Our specialized CARE seminars provide a platform for reflection, mentorship, and further skill development. This structured approach, combined with our spiral curriculum along with strong support from faculty and fieldwork educators ensures you are fully prepared for the challenges and rewards of a career in occupational therapy.

View full PDF

The Doctoral Capstone Project is a culminating experience that provides students with in-depth exposure to a designated area of interest. The project requires the synthesis of educational content gained throughout the curriculum, resulting in the creation of an innovative project that facilitates the advancement of the profession. Students will collaborate with OTD faculty and community stakeholders to develop the project focus and project plan, including individualized student goals and objectives. The capstone project is student-directed, which requires students to implement leadership skills as they actively manage each step of the capstone process. Additionally, students will demonstrate adaptability to effectively navigate the dynamic nature of capstone project development and implementation. Students will implement the project in the last semester of the program in OTD 7844 Doctoral Capstone Experience, followed by a presentation of the capstone project in the final week of the semester in which students will demonstrate synthesis and application of knowledge gained.

View full PDF

Trine University OTD Program 

Trine University's OTD program does not offer credit for previous work experience, experiential learning, coursework, or advanced placement. Transfer credit will not be accept. This policy ensures that all students complete the full scope of the OTD curriculum to meet program standards and achieve the competencies necessary for the degree.

Trine University's Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program focuses on providing equal opportunities to all undergraduate students seeking a career that offers a wide range of practice settings. A few examples of where occupational therapists (OTs) can specialize include school-based services, behavioral health, intensive care units, and beyond. The OTD program was specifically designed to recruit a diverse population of students and provide a curriculum that will create equitable learning for all students. The curriculum uses a spiral model and provides opportunities for students to gain exposure to content, explore the implications of real-world practice, and demonstrate mastery. Faculty will offer learner-based instruction and provide hands-on multimodal educational experiences. Trine University's OTD program does not offer credit for previous work experience, experiential learning, coursework, or advanced placement. This policy ensures that all students complete the full scope of the OTD curriculum to meet program standards and achieve the competencies necessary for the degree.

College Graduate Path

Trine University's OTD program does not offer credit for previous work experience, experiential learning, coursework, or advanced placement. Transfer credit will not be accept. This policy ensures that all students complete the full scope of the OTD curriculum to meet program standards and achieve the competencies necessary for the degree.

Using OTCAS, please review and submit the following items below to complete the application process for Trine University’s OTD Program.

1. Applicants must graduate with a bachelor's degree from an accredited school with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale).
   • Due to grading changes made by schools in response to the COVID-19 situation, grades of satisfactory (S), pass (PA), and the like will be accepted for courses submitted for evidence of preparation for OTD admission (completed from January through August 2020).
   • Optional submission of GRE scores through the OTCAS System. The GRE code for Trine University is 1811.
2. Two letters of recommendation
3. Personal Essay- Candidates must complete a personal essay explaining why they desire to pursue an occupational therapy career. The submission should summarize lessons learned from personal life experiences or interactions/observations with healthcare professionals.
4. Evidence of Preparation: Reflect on undergraduate courses to rate readiness in 4 category areas to ensure preparation for an entry-level OTD program. Applicants must select and submit at least one course from their transcript that applies to each category below. For submitted courses, the applicant will rate their understanding of each area using a 5-point Likert scale and provide a description addressing how the selected courses relate to occupational therapy and career goals.
   • Professional writing
   • Human nature
   • Research, statistics, medical terminology
   • Behavioral sciences
5. Participate in a program interview, virtual or onsite

Application Procedures 

Trine University's OTD program does not offer credit for previous work experience, experiential learning, coursework, or advanced placement. Transfer credit will not be accept. This policy ensures that all students complete the full scope of the OTD curriculum to meet program standards and achieve the competencies necessary for the degree.

• Submit a completed application in the OTCAS system. 
• Optional submission of GRE scores through the OTCAS System. The GRE code for Trine University is 1811.
• Participate in a program interview, virtual or onsite.

Trine University's OTD program does not offer credit for previous work experience, experiential learning, coursework, or advanced placement. This policy ensures that all students complete the full scope of the OTD curriculum to meet program standards and achieve the competencies necessary for the degree.

Direct Entry Path

Before applying to the OTD Direct Entry Program, students must first be admitted to Trine University. Once admitted, you will receive a direct entry application via email specifically for the OTD Direct Entry Program. To proceed with the OTD Direct Entry application, students must meet the program’s direct entry requirements. To align with students interests four pathways are offered. Available pathways include Exercise Science, Applied Health Science, Educational Studies, or Psychology.

1. High school transcript showing a minimum of a 3.0 GPA (4.0 scale)
2. Two letters of recommendation
3. Personal Essay- Candidates must complete a personal essay explaining why they desire to pursue an occupational therapy career. The submission should summarize lessons learned from personal life experiences or interactions/observations with healthcare professionals.
4. Evidence of Preparation: At the end of the candidate’s sophomore year at Trine, the candidate will submit evidence of preparation to the OTD program. Candidates will reflect on completed undergraduate courses to rate readiness in 4 category areas. Submitted courses must have a 3.0 or higher course grade. Applicants should reflect on undergraduate courses to rate readiness in 4 category areas to ensure preparation for an entry-level OTD program. Applicants must select and submit at least one course from their transcript that applies to each category below. For submitted courses, the applicant will rate their understanding of each area using a 5-point Likert scale and provide a description addressing how the selected courses relate to occupational therapy and career goals.
   • Professional writing 
   • Human nature 
   • Research, statistics, medical terminology
   • Behavioral sciences
5. Participate in a program interview, virtual or onsite.

Once accepted as an undergraduate student at Trine University, a candidate will complete the application for Direct Entry into the OTD program and agree to technical standards. A direct entry student must maintain a 3.0 GPA during their undergraduate studies. 

The OTD Program cannot accept students until notified by ACOTE in December 2024/ January 2025. If admission approval is granted by ACOTE, the applicant will receive a packet with a formal letter of admission and a letter of intent. After signing and dating the letter of intent, the applicant will return it to Trine with the enrollment deposit.

Ongoing advising will be completed with a member of the OTD faculty each semester to ensure continued progress towards direct entry admission.

Early Admission Path

Existing students must complete an application for early admission for one of the three existing pathways (Exercise Science, Applied Health Science, or Psychology).  Using Trine's online application portal, please review and submit the following items below to complete the application process for Trine University’s OTD Program.

1. Trine University transcript (sophomores and juniors) showing a minimum of a 3.0 GPA (4.0 scale)
2. Two letters of recommendation
3. Personal Essay- Candidates must complete a personal essay explaining why they desire to pursue an occupational therapy career. The submission should summarize lessons learned from personal life experiences or interactions/observations with healthcare professionals.
4. Evidence of Preparation: At the end of the candidate’s sophomore year at Trine, the candidate will submit evidence of preparation to the OTD program. Candidates will reflect on completed undergraduate courses to rate readiness in 4 category areas. Submitted courses must have a 3.0 or higher course grade. Applicants must select and submit at least one course from their transcript that applies to each category below. For submitted courses, the applicant will rate their understanding of each area using a 5-point Likert scale and provide a description addressing how the selected courses relate to occupational therapy and career goals. Submitted courses must have a 3.0 or higher course grade.
   • Professional writing 
   • Human nature 
   • Research, statistics, medical terminology
   • Behavioral sciences
5. Participate in a program interview, virtual or onsite.

The OTD Program cannot accept students until notified by ACOTE in December 2024/ January 2025. Once an admission decision is communicated, the applicant will receive a packet with a formal letter of admission and a letter of intent. After signing and dating the letter of intent, please return it to Trine with the enrollment deposit.

By signing the letter of intent, the candidate acknowledges the agreement to adhere to the technical standards of the pathway. An early admission student must maintain a 3.0 GPA during their undergraduate studies. 

Ongoing advising will be completed with a member of the OTD faculty each semester to ensure continued progress towards early admission. 

Trine University OTD students are required to maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA (64 credits). Per the course catalog, a 2.0 is an average score and is the lowest passing grade for graduate courses. OTD students are allowed up to 8 course credits with a grade of C, however the cumulative GPA of 3.0 must still be maintained. Following the successful completion of didactic coursework, students must pass 24 weeks of Level II Fieldwork rotations, the 14-week Doctoral Capstone Experience, and 1 credit Doctoral Capstone Presentation. Trine University completes a degree audit for all students to ensure graduation requirements are met before a degree is conferred.

Refunds of tuition, room, and board due to withdrawal/drop are determined by the schedule on the Business Office website. Refunds of tuition and room and board follow the schedule below. The international fee and enrollment fee are not refundable.

Tuition Fall and Spring Semester

• Week One—100%
• Weeks Two & Three—50%
• Week Four—0%

Tuition Summer Semester

• Week One—100%
• Week Two—0%

In the rare case an “exception” to the refund policy is granted, a $50 administration fee may be assessed. Please note: If a student receiving financial aid withdraws during the semester, that aid is subject to the federal refund calculation. Any student who is dismissed or suspended for misconduct shall not be entitled to any refund. No refund is provided at any time on fees, books and supplies, or personal expenses.
Withdrawal from the University

If a student decides to drop or withdraw after registering for classes:

• The student is responsible for completing the proper paperwork and filing it with the Office of the Registrar or the Educational Center Director. By failing to do so, the student accepts financial responsibility for all charges incurred on their account.
• The student may be eligible for a full or partial refund of tuition and room and board, depending on when the official withdrawal takes place.
• It may result in a change in the total amount due for the semester.
• It may result in a loss of financial aid from a federal, state or institutional source.
• Failure to attend classes does not constitute a drop/withdrawal.

Refer to Trine University’s Withdrawal policy. The policy is outlined in the Withdrawal from the University section of the Trine University Course Catalog. Additional policies related to withdrawal, including Withdrawal/ Drop Schedule, Credit Balances/Refunds, and 1098-T Tax Information, are outlined in Section 2.15 Student Accounts. The policy includes information regarding Administrative Withdrawal from the University.