Bachelor of Science in Health Science (BSHS) to Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD)
Lead with light and help people participate in everyday life through Valpo’s pathway from our bachelor of science in health science (BSHS) to our accredited occupational therapy doctorate (OTD).
As an inclusive profession, occupational therapy maximizes health, wellbeing, and quality of life for all people, populations, and communities through effective solutions that facilitate participation in everyday living. And, with a solid foundation in health science, you’ll have the interdisciplinary knowledge to seamlessly transition into the OTD program and your bright future as a practitioner. At Valpo, our accredited entry-level occupational therapy doctorate program prepares future practitioners to use client-centered care and evidencebased practices to:
• Advocate for occupational therapy services for diverse populations, groups, and individuals as a member of a healthcare team.
• Assess occupational performance.
• Provide therapeutic interventions.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, clients, and stakeholders to formulate a successful transition from service and document results.
• Complete all duties in an ethical, legal, safe, and professional manner.
As a result, much like a lighthouse, our OTD students are given the supportive structure of curriculum, practice, and faculty mentorship to ensure their light not only shines brightly but also serves to light the way for others on their journey.
AN ACCELERATED PATHWAY TO A SURE FUTURE
With all the OTD prerequisites embedded in the BSHS-to-OTD pathway and meeting a minimum 3.3 GPA requirement, you will receive admission assurance, guaranteeing you a seat in the OTD program once you deposit. Ultimately, the BSHS-to-OTD pathway allows you to save a full year of schooling and deposit it into your graduate education.
BSHS-to-OTD Pathway
VALUE OF A VALPO GRADUATE DEGREE
Valpo is one of the highest-ranked institutions in the Midwest for academic reputation and value, with manageable options for graduate tuition. For more information, visit valpo.edu/otd.
PREREQUISITE COURSES
The prerequisite requirements listed above are in reference to courses offered at Valparaiso University. An applicant may request a course equivalency audit at any time by emailing OT@valpo.edu. Applicants must earn a grade of “C” or higher to fulfill the prerequisite GPA admission criteria. The occupational therapy doctorate coursework includes:
• All didactic courses
• Fieldwork experiences (level I and level II)
• Doctoral capstone experience
Valparaiso University admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, or religion. (For a full statement, see valpo.edu .)
Students must complete 24 weeks of level II fieldwork as well as a doctoral capstone experience within six months following the completion of the didactic portion of the program. web: valpo.edu email: undergrad.admission@valpo.edu
ACCREDITATION
The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is 301.652.AOTA and its web address is acoteonline.org. Graduates of the program 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).
SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS
For more information on financial aid, visit valpo.edu/aid
Take the next step toward your bright future by visiting valpo.edu/otd , or by scanning the QR code.
Valparaiso University 60 University Drive, Suite 101 Valparaiso, IN 46383
program information: valpo.edu/otd
email: ot@valpo.edu