Occupational Therapy

Enhance Your Role in the Field of Occupational Therapy

 Enhance your role in the field of occupational therapy through Valparaiso University’s post-professional doctor of occupational therapy (PPDrOT) program.

This program will empower you, as an occupational therapist, to develop in your profession through coursework customized based on your individual interests and expertise. You’ll graduate prepared as an innovator in health care, an educator and mentor of those joining the field, a stronger provider of evidence-based occupational therapy, and a voice for advocacy and policy-making in the broader world of health care.

Valpo’s (PPDrOT) program offers two tracks based upon your highest level of degree attained. Dependent on the applicable track, you may complete your degree in as little as 24–30 months. It is a predominately online program, with two required on-site weekends, specifically tailored to the working occupational therapist. Courses are taught online through interactive webinars, allowing for ample interaction with widely known, recognized leaders in the field, who serve as your instructors. 

No matter the track, you’ll gain the most up-to-date, relevant preparation as a top professional in the field, collaborate with other working health care professionals, and discover new knowledge applicable to the many career opportunities in occupational therapy as well as interprofessionally. In addition, you’ll be equipped to address issues of ethics, laws, social justice, and more that impact the dynamic practice of occupational therapy. 

The post-professional occupational therapy doctorate program offers two tracks based on the student’s highest level of degree attained:

M.S. to PPDrOT: Designed for students with a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy plus a master’s degree in any field or a master’s degree in occupational therapy, this 32-credit program is typically completed in two years.

Course Credit Hours
Clinical Inquiry in OT EBP 3
Evidence Methods- Quantitative 3
Evidence Methods- Qualitative 3
Ethics in Practice/Research 3
Educational Principles in OT 3
Professional Advancement 2
Advocating for the Profession 3
Leading the Profession Through Effective Management 3
Scholarly Project I – Project Exploration 2
Scholarly Project II – Project Design 2
Scholarly Project III – Project Implementation 2
Total Credits 32

 

B.S. to PPDrOT: Created for students with a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy who are certified as a professional occupational therapist, this 42-credit program is typically completed in two and a half years.

Course Credit Hours
Clinical Inquiry in OT EBP 3
Evidence Methods- Quantitative 3
Evidence Methods- Qualitative 3
Ethics in Practice/Research 3
Educational Principles in OT 3
Professional Advancement 2
Advocating for the Profession 3
Leading the Profession Through Effective Management 3
Scholarly Project I – Project Exploration 2
Scholarly Project II – Project Design 2
Scholarly Project III – Project Implementation 3
MPH 603 Epidemiology 3
MPH 662 Global Health Theory and Education 3
MPH 513 Social, Behavioral, and Cultural Factors in Health 3
Total Credits 42

 

Unique Features of This Program:

  • Courses are offered one at a time, online to cater to the working occupational therapist
  • Courses are taught as interactive webinars to allow interaction with the instructor
  • YOU customize your field of study based on YOUR areas of interest and expertise
  • Learn alongside other working healthcare professionals with a strong focus in interprofessional education
  • Complete the degree in as little as 18–24 months

Graduates will be able to:

  • Critically appraise and apply evidence-based practice strategies into daily practice, positively impacting communities far and wide
  • Contribute to the occupational therapy body of knowledge through creation and implementation of research
  • Understand and activate strategies that address ethics, policies, and laws impacting occupational therapy practices in the dynamic health care field

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