Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate
100% of College of Nursing and Health Professions students reported participating in experiential activities
100% of Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) students complete fieldwork across three primary areas of practice
Lead with light and help people participate in everyday life through our accredited entry-level occupational therapy doctorate program.
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. At Valpo, our occupational therapy doctorate (OTD) program prepares future practitioners to provide occupational therapy services to clients using inter-professional collaboration, evidence-based practice, integrity, and compassion. Weaving threads of scholarship, service, community engagement, and leadership throughout the entire curriculum, this 109-credit hour program is intentionally designed to inspire and equip future practitioners 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.
Schedule a one-on-one consultation with a graduate admission counselor today! Email us at grad@valpo.edu or call 219.464.5313.
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. Regardless of what path your undergraduate journey has taken (biomedical engineering, digital media, secondary education, etc.), one of the unique features of Valpo’s OTD program is individuals of all undergraduate degree backgrounds can apply as long as the necessary prerequisites have been met. That means you don’t need to worry about backtracking before changing direction, you can begin your OTD journey right away!
CHEM
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
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.
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).
“Choosing Valpo for undergrad and now for the OTD program was probably one of the best decisions I have made. I fell in love with Valpo, both the city and the university, and I was able to stay close to family. All of the OTD professors are amazing and have made transitioning into graduate school so much easier. I’m so glad I have been able to be part of this program and I’m excited to see where it’ll take me!”
MARIA CAMACHO ’22, ’26 OTD
ADMISSION CHECKLIST
Must complete prerequisite courses
Minimum of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
Admission to Valparaiso University as a degree-seeking student
Undergraduate GPA of 3.3 or higher
Letter of intent explaining why the candidate is seeking this degree and goals for using this degree (2-page max)
Two letters of recommendation
Additional application requirements may apply. For more information, visit valpo.edu/grad.
Shine at Valpo
Take the next step toward your bright future by visiting valpo.edu/otd or by scanning the QR code.
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 .)
Valparaiso University 60 University Drive, Suite 101
Valparaiso, IN 46383
program information: valpo.edu/otd
email: ot@valpo.edu
web: valpo.edu/grad
email: grad@valpo.edu