Occupational Therapy - Starting May 2025
Doctorate
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Occupational therapy is where science and knowledge of the human body meets individuals where it means the most: everyday life.
As a Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) graduate from Trine University, you will be equipped to enable clients to develop, regain or adapt the skills to perform the activities needed to maximize functional independence. Occupational therapists work in clinics, acute care including intensive care unit (ICU) settings, post-acute rehabilitation, school-based settings, or even in technology fields.
Trine University offers a premier opportunity to engage in an interdisciplinary environment that enhances students’ personal and professional journeys.
OT at Trine
As part of Trine’s Doctor of Occupational Therapy program, you’ll be immersed in our
state-of-the-art Brooks College of Health Professions facility and master clinical
skills and technology advances that reflect current and emerging practice. You will
spend time growing in knowledge both inside and outside the classroom to develop professional
skills in practical healthcare settings. Examples include the wet lab/cadaver lab,
dry lab, hospital simulation center, virtual rehabilitation suite and specialized
technology lab/makerspace.
Our curriculum includes five integrated clinical experiences, giving you extensive exposure to real-life occupational therapy practice before starting your 24-week full-time rotation. Our program is built for students and incorporates content at multiple intervals, increasing in complexity, to ensure graduates are prepared for the workforce.
Your occupational therapy career
Once you complete your OTD degree at Trine, you will be prepared to sit for the National
Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) examination.
You will have the training and clinical exposure to complete occupational therapy evaluations and design and implement treatment interventions for patients of all ages.
Your diverse experiences and interactions with Trine students in other health professions programs will equip you to effectively communicate among interdisciplinary healthcare teams, and you will be prepared to advocate for persons, groups and populations.
According to the Bureau of Labor Services, occupational therapists make an average of $93,180 per year, with the number of jobs in the field expected to grow 12% over the next decade.
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We accept applications through the OTCAS System
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Accreditation
HLC
Trine University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
ACOTE
The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program has applied for accreditation
by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American
Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Ave, Suite 510E,
Bethesda MD, 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web
address is www.acoteonline.org. The program must be granted Candidacy Status, have a preaccreditation review, complete
an on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its 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). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational
Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to
practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification
Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit
for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. Students must complete
24 weeks of Level II fieldwork as well as an individual 14-week capstone experience
following the completion of the didactic portion of the program
Additional Information
Trine University OTD Program
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.
College Graduate Path
Using OTCAS, please review and submit the following items below to complete the application process for Trine University’s OTD Program.
- 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.
- Two letters of recommendation
- 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.
- 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. Submitted courses must have
a 3.0 or higher course grade.
- Professional writing
- Human nature
- Research, statistics, medical terminology
- Behavioral sciences
- Participate in a program interview, virtual or onsite
Application Procedures
- 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.
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.
- High school transcript showing a minimum of a 3.0 GPA (4.0 scale)
- Two letters of recommendation
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
- Trine University transcript (sophomores and juniors) showing a minimum of a 3.0 GPA (4.0 scale)
- Two letters of recommendation
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
Program Information
Degree
Doctor of Occupational Therapy
Duration
103 Hours
Level
Graduate
Campus Location
Fort Wayne, IN