Graduate Programs

Deadlines and key dates:

• You may apply to start the program fall 2024
  • Applications open: November 2023
  • Priority application deadline: March 1, 2024
  • Notifications of acceptance: Beginning April 2024

Completed applications received after the priority deadline may be considered until the cohort is full or be placed on a waitlist. Apply beginning in November!

Detailed application requirements

Application materials required for WOU Graduate admission:

• Application and supporting materials will be submitted via the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Services (OTCAS) system.

Process: You will be notified via email regarding the acceptance status of your complete application.

Curriculum Overview [Curriculum Grid]

The Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program prepares graduates to work with individuals, groups, and populations who are affected by physical, cognitive, psychosocial, mental, developmental, and/or learning challenges, as well as adverse environmental conditions, to maximize their occupational functioning and maintain optimum health through a planned mix of acquired skills, performance motivation, environmental adaptations, assistive technologies, and physical agents. Occupational Therapy education includes instruction in the basic medical sciences, psychology, sociology, client assessment and evaluation, standardized and non-standardized tests and measurements, assistive and rehabilitative technologies, ergonomics, environmental health, special education, vocational counseling, health education and promotion, health advocacy, and professional standards and ethics.

The OTD program is a three-year professional doctorate degree that will prepare students for careers as occupational therapists and faculty in Occupational Therapy programs. The program is built upon a foundation of human occupation, lifespan development, mental health, anatomy and physiology, kinesiology, and neuroscience that supports evaluation and assessment, applied research, intervention and rehabilitation, clinical practice, and advocacy. The program will meet all national accreditation requirements as prescribed by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE).  The sixty-one learning outcomes required of all ACOTE accredited programs will be delivered over 11 terms, including 24 weeks of Level II Clinical Fieldwork and a 14 week Doctoral Capstone Experience.

Is there a specific degree required for entry? No, any four-year baccalaureate degree (or international equivalent) from regionally accredited institution as defined by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars is acceptable.

What’s the deadline for completing my baccalaureate degree and pre-requisite courses? The majority of pre-requisite courses should be completed by the end of the spring term prior to entering the program.  A small number of pre-requisite courses may be completed summer term before entry, but documentation of successful completion must be submitted prior to beginning the program.  Acceptance into the program will be contingent upon successful completion of all pre-requisites prior to the start of the fall entry term.

How recently must pre-requisite courses be taken? Pre-requisite courses must be completed within the 10-year period leading up to entry to the program.

Can I transfer in credits from another occupational therapy school? The WOU OT program is not able to accept credits from another occupational therapy school as a substitute for required coursework.

Are observation or service hours required for application? You are highly encouraged to shadow occupational therapy practitioners in a variety of settings prior to application but it is not absolutely required. Observation hours may be considered during the application review process for candidates who are similarly qualified.

When does the entry-level OTD program start? The program starts one cohort per year in the fall term (late September).

Is the program on semesters or terms? Terms (generally 10 weeks of classes plus a finals week).

How is the program structured? We follow a cohort model so that students will start and progress through the program as a group. Once beginning the program, you will be in classes or clinical experience year-round for a total of 11-terms.  The first two years will be primarily in person, predominantly at the WOU:Salem campus, while the third year will be primarily clinical experiences (Level II Fieldwork and Doctoral Capstone Experience) with some supporting online courses.

Can I attend part-time? At this point we are not offering part-time enrollment; however we are exploring the possibility of offering part-time enrollment at some point in the future.

Do students get summers off? No, the program goes year-round with regular breaks between terms.

How big are the cohorts? The first cohort will enroll approximately 30 students with the number gradually increasing each year until we reach a target of 40 students per cohort.

OT Mission:

To produce socially conscious and evidence-informed OT practitioners that utilize the power of occupation to promote the health and well-being of people and their communities in our region and the larger world.

OT Vision:

We envision a world where everyone has access to and the ability to participate in meaningful occupations that support health and well-being.

WOU OTD will achieve this vision by:

• Diversifying the profession of OT to increase access to occupational opportunities for historically underserved and minoritized persons in our communities locally, nationally, and globally.
• Cultivating student success by supporting the inclusion of, and respect for all learners, faculty, and staff while embracing the diversity of experience and thought present throughout our world.
• Producing resilient and innovative leaders who integrate the art and science of occupational therapy.

OT Philosophy:

The philosophy of Western Oregon University is reflective of the Philosophical Base of Occupational Therapy (AOTA, 2017) and is grounded in the belief that access to and the ability to engage in meaningful occupation is central to the health and well-being of all individuals, groups, and populations.  At the heart of the Occupational Therapy Program at Western Oregon University is an unwavering commitment to an educational journey that seamlessly integrates purpose, practice, and pragmatism. Our philosophy is rooted in the conviction that impactful education nurtures critical thinking, humility, and collaborative exploration. Through rigorous academic training, we equip students with the solid theoretical foundation to grasp human occupation, health, and well-being, as well as the clinical skills to effectively work with humans across the lifespan. Experiential learning transforms this knowledge into practical wisdom, cultivating empathy and collaboration with diverse individuals. Our philosophy underscores community engagement and advocacy for social justice, expanding the horizons of occupational therapy beyond clinical confines. By harmonizing purpose, practice, and pragmatism, we drive our mission to cultivate practitioners who ardently champion social and occupational justice, ushering valuable contributions to both the field of occupational therapy and society at large.

OT Philosophy of teaching and learning:

We believe that an OTD program should be developmental (Ringsted 2011) and subject-centered (Hooper et al, 2020), such that foundational knowledge and skills grow over time around the core subject of occupation. As students move through the program they will experience a  pragmatic curriculum designed to be universally accessible to diverse learners that provides the foundational knowledge and skills of OT in the 1st year, then integrates those skills and knowledge to translate them to practice settings in the 2nd year, and culminates in a 3rd year wherein students demonstrate their mastery of the art and science of occupational therapy through fieldwork and their capstone project. Using a social reform perspective (Pratt, 1998) our curriculum facilitates constant reflection, reconstruction, and critical analysis of dominant views in OT practice, on occupation, of occupational justice, and on occupational engagement. Lastly, The WOU OTD curriculum is future-based (Young, 1999) such that graduates are able to navigate an ever-changing healthcare landscape and society all the while promoting occupational justice and access to occupational engagement that promotes health and well-being.

 Curricular Threads and Program Outcomes

• The power of occupation
  • Work with individuals across the lifespan and in various contexts to harness the transformative nature of engaging in occupations (meaningful activities) that promote health, well-being, and participation in purposeful life roles.
• Weaving the art and science of occupational therapy
  • Utilize the unique blend of theoretical knowledge, clinical skills, creativity, and human connection to help people achieve meaningful and purposeful lives.
• Community health and social change.
  • Understand what creates healthy communities, how environments and contexts shape health and well-being, and how to act as social change agents alongside the communities we serve.
• Critical and innovative thinking for practice and scholarship
  • Think outside the box to engage in thoughtful analysis, problem-solving, and creative solutions within the context of occupational therapy practice. Continuously reflect on practice and the unique needs of individuals, groups, and populations.
• Steward leadership and occupational justice
  • Adopt roles that extend beyond traditional clinical practice to become advocates, facilitators, and supporters of positive change within the profession and society at large. Work to advance the field, promote ethical practice, and ensure that the principles of occupational justice are upheld.