About

The UNLV School of Integrated Health Sciences offers an Occupational Therapy Doctorate degree program that immerses students in an intensive 120 credit hour curriculum designed for entry-level competence. The curriculum includes coursework, clinical fieldwork, and a doctoral capstone project. The program admits 36 students each summer and spans three consecutive semesters (summer, fall, spring) for three years. Students will be eligible to take the National Board for Certification in Occupational therapy (NBCOT®) exam after they successfully complete all program requirements, and the program receives full accreditation status.

Accreditation

The UNLV Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE®) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA®). ACOTE® is the accrediting agency for occupational therapy education and oversees the accreditation process for all new occupational therapy programs.

Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)
7501 Wisconsin Avenue
Suite 510E
Bethesda, MA 20814
Phone: 301-652-6611 x2042

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) degree, students should be prepared to:

  • Demonstrate professional behaviors on Level I fieldwork as measured by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Level I Fieldwork Competency Evaluation for OT and OTA Students (2017) and as outlined in the Program Handbook of the UNLV OTD Program.
  • Engage in the ethical practice of occupational therapy as outlined by the AOTA Code of Ethics (2015) as measured on the Self-Assessment of Professional Behavior during each Professional Development Seminar class.
  • Achieve entry-level competence in clinical practice as measured by achieving a score of at least 122 points on the AOTA Fieldwork Performance Evaluation (2002).
  • Select and pursue leadership and advocacy activities through the use of an annual Professional Development Plan.
  • Utilize evidence-based occupational therapy interventions to address the physical, cognitive, functional, psychosocial, sensory, and other aspects of performance in a variety of contexts and environments to support engagement in everyday life activities that affect health, wellbeing, and quality of life in individuals across the lifespan.
  • Demonstrate competence in critically evaluating research in each of the three research and evidence-based practice courses in the OTD curriculum, as evidenced by completing Critical Reviews of Research Studies assignments in each course.
  • Achieve entry-level competence in evaluating patient performance through performing standardized and non-standardized assessments in classroom and clinical observations.

Career Possibilities

The occupational therapy profession has been growing steadily since its inception in 1917. In the past few years there has been increased demand for occupational therapists due to the changing demographics in the country and changes in the healthcare delivery system. The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook states that employment of occupational therapists is projected to grow 17% from 2020 to 2030, which is faster than the average for all occupations. It also states that about 10,000 openings for occupational therapists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace current workers. Occupational therapists work in many areas of practice with populations across the lifespan in various settings such as:

  • Hospitals – general, psychiatric, pediatric, cancer, neurologic, orthopedic
  • Schools providing K – 12 education
  • Private practice agencies
  • Home health agencies, mobile outpatient care
  • Outpatient rehabilitation clinics
  • Hand therapy clinics
  • Skilled nursing facilities and other residential care settings
  • Correctional facilities
  • Industrial settings
  • Academic institutions
  • Research

Requirements

Occupational Therapy Doctorate

Plan Description

This is a program for those students who wish to pursue careers as occupational therapists. Completing this curriculum would enable students to sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification examination which would then enable them to apply for licensure as a registered occupational therapist (OTR) in Nevada or other states. 

For more information about your program, including your graduate program handbook and learning outcomes, please visit the Degree Directory.

Plan Admission Requirements

Application Deadlines

Applications available on the UNLV Graduate College website.

All domestic and international applicants must review and follow the Graduate College Admission and Registration Requirements.

Graduate College Admission Requirements

  1. Completed application in the Application Portal and non-refundable application fee. 
  2. Bachelor's Degree – You must hold a four-year baccalaureate from a regionally accredited institution or an approved equivalent.
  3. Grade Point Average – You must have a minimum overall grade point average of 2.75 (4.00=A) for the bachelor's degree or a minimum 3.00 (4.00=A) for the last two years (60 semester credits). 
  4. All applicants are required to submit an unofficial transcript from each postsecondary institution attended, showing all degrees and coursework, the dates awarded, and grades received. Official transcripts required upon admission.
    1. Credentials not in English must be accompanied by an English translation certified as true by a university official, an official representative of a United States embassy or consulate, the United States Information Service, the United States Education Foundation, or an approved professional translating service. Notarized copies of originals or translations are not considered official.

Department Admission Requirements

Students applying to the OTD program must have an earned baccalaureate degree from a regionally  accredited academic institution with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

The degree may be in any area of study as long as the student has successfully completed the following prerequisite coursework within the past 10-years with a grade of C or better:

  •     Statistics (3 credits)
  •     Biology (6 credits; human biology recommended) minimum BIO 189 and 190 or equivalent
  •     Human Anatomy & Physiology with labs (8 credits)
  •     General or Introductory Psychology (3 credits)
  •     Abnormal Psychology (3 credits)
  •     Developmental Psychology (3 credits)
  •    Introductory Anthropology or Sociology (3 credits)

All prerequisite coursework must be completed prior to admission into the program at the start of Summer term.

A minimum of 40 observation / volunteer hours OR enrollment in UNLV HSC 103.

Applicants to the program will submit a personal essay as part of the application.

Students will submit 3 letters of recommendation, one of which must be from a licensed occupational therapist that provided some of the observation hours.

Interviews (virtual or in-person) will be offered to qualified applicants. 

Students are accepted into a degree program as described in the Graduate Catalog. The faculty and corresponding sub-disciplines and sub-plans within the described programs are subject to change at any time.

Plan Requirements

Total Credits Required: 120

Course Requirements

Summer Semester 1st Year Courses - Credits: 9

Complete 9 credits by completing all of the following courses:

Fall Semester 1st Year Courses - Credits: 18

Complete 18 credits by completing all of the following courses:

Spring Semester 1st Year Courses - Credits: 19

Complete 19 credits by completing all of the following courses:

Summer Semester 2nd Year Courses - Credits: 9

Complete 9 credits by completing all of the following courses:

Fall Semester 2nd Year Courses - Credits: 16

Complete 16 credits by completing all of the following courses:

Spring Semester 2nd Year Courses - Credits: 19

Complete 19 credits by completing all of the following courses:

Summer Semester 3rd Year Courses - Credits: 9

Complete 9 credits by completing all of the following courses:

Fall Semester 3rd Year Courses - Credits: 12

Complete 12 credits by completing all of the following courses:

Spring Semester 3rd Year Courses - Credits: 9

Complete 9 credits by completing all of the following courses:

Degree Requirements

Students must receive a grade of B- or above in all required occupational therapy courses. Students who do not maintain a 3.00 average or who receive any grade less than a B- in any course at the end of the semester will be notified in writing and placed on probation at that time.

A second grade of C+ or lower received in any course in the ensuing semester or failure to restore the cumulative average to 3.00 or above during the ensuing semester will bring about separation from the program.

The student's status in the program will be determined by the Chair/Director on the recommendation of the Academic Review Committee (ARC) regarding the student's separation or action plan for remediation.

The student will not progress in the program if any of the following occur:

  • An earned F in any didactic course. This results in immediate separation without the option for reapplication.
  • Failure of a third attempt of any clinical competency check-off with the exception of the final practical exam.
  • A failure of a final practical exam (different than the competency check-off).
  • A grade of C+ or below in more than one course in any semester.
  • Inability to rectify probationary status within the time frame allotted by the ARC.
  • A student on probation whose actions warrant probation in another category (academic, professional behavior, clinical) may also be separated.


Students will complete a comprehensive examination which will be the Occupational Therapy Knowledge Exam (OTKE).  The comprehensive exam will be taken at the end of the Summer term of Year Three and must be successfully passed before they take classes in the Fall semester of Year Three. If the student does not earn a passing grade on this exam, they will be placed on probation and allowed to retake it again after a minimum of three months.  If they fail a second time they will be dismissed from the program.

Plan Graduation Requirements

  1. Doctoral Experiential Component (14 weeks)
  2. Final Capstone Project
  3. The student must submit and successfully present their final research project, professional paper, or case report by the posted deadline. The presentation must be advertised and is open to the public.
  4. The student must electronically submit a pdf copy of their approved, properly formatted thesis, doctoral project, or dissertation to the Graduate College for format check. Once approved, the student will submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest by the posted deadline. Deadlines can be found here.
  5. Students may apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements. All required forms must be submitted to the graduate college via the Grad Rebel Gateway.
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School of Integrated Health Sciences

With many degree offerings that are accredited by national organizations, the School of Integrated Health Sciences offers dynamic classroom instruction, laboratory/clinical practice, research, and mentoring. Our students develop skills that help them break into health-related fields and further their graduate or professional studies.

Website
https://www.unlv.edu/integratedhealth
Email
integratedhealthsciences@unlv.edu
Phone
702-895-3693
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