Occupations are the essence of productive living. Occupational therapists focus on the occupations used by people to live full, independent, quality lives. Occupations or activities of daily living include work or education, self-care, play/leisure and the effect that rest has on these activities. The goal of this profession is to maximize a person's ability to perform culturally appropriate daily occupations, which is an important value in today's health care system. Occupational therapists help persons promote an individualized, self-determined balance of occupations throughout the life-span. Occupational competence is developed by treating the "whole person" including physical, psychological, emotional, social and cultural competencies, as influenced by the occupational environment.

Occupational therapy service delivery contexts are exceedingly diverse. They include but are not limited to acute care, industrial rehabilitation, physical rehabilitation, mental health, long term care, home health, case management, consultation, school systems, early intervention, community services, education, disease prevention and health promotion. Important related concepts such as quality of life, productive function, independent living, full access, social-political integration, multiculturalism, spirituality, and balanced lifestyles are central to practice. As a result, graduates of this program are able to anticipate new practice opportunities, advocate for social justice, participate in research, use critical thinking, cooperate effectively with a variety of groups, and serve as professional leaders and community partners. These competencies are the essence of occupational therapy service delivery and underscore the principles that guide this program.

Occupational Therapy Degrees Offered

  • A 2 year post-baccalaureate, professional entry-level program awarding a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy. (MSOT)
  • A 3 year post-baccalaureate, professional/advanced professional entry-level program awarding an Occupational Therapy Doctorate degree. (OTD)

ACOTE accredited our MSOT program for the maximum re-accreditation period on August 5, 2016 and our OTD program for the maximum re-accreditation period on December 1, 2023. Information regarding the accreditation of Duquesne University's OT programs can be obtained by contacting the American Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE).Duquesne University's occupational therapy programs have consistently received accreditation for the maximum time periods. Information regarding the accreditation of this program can be obtained through the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510 E, Bethesda, MD 20814.. ACOTE’s telephone number, c/o AOTA is (301)-652-AOTA, and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.

In addition to the classroom didactic experience, each student completes five experiential components of fieldwork education and the OTD degree track includes an additionala 14-week Doctoral Capstone Experience (DCE). Fieldwork Education and the DCE offer the opportunity to put academic learning into practice. This applied knowledge and critical thinking are paramount to being a successful occupational therapy practitioner. It is necessary to demonstrate proficiency in both the fieldwork and academic components of both entry-level occupational therapy practice and to be certified and licensed as a professional healthcare provider in occupational therapy.

Occupational Therapy Program Outcomes 

This program of study within the Department of Occupational Therapy has been designed to provide students with skills necessary to work as an occupational therapist in a range of possible settings. Upon completion of this course of study, graduates of this 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: www.nbcot.org). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). All require licensure in order to practice and successful completion of the NBCOT Certification Examination.  A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT Certification Examination or attain state licensure.

The curriculum objectives are designed to produce powerful, competent, leading, entry-level practice scholars who innovatively and skillfully use occupation as the mediating influence and integrating energy between the person and environment to:

Practice Foundations

  • Demonstrate person-centered approaches to meet occupational performance and participation needs of individuals, groups, and populations (MSOT & OTD)

Person-Occupation-Environment Interaction and Performance Across the Lifespan

  • Synthesize information, problem solve, and use clinical and professional reasoning to select an appropriate theoretical basis, assessment and/or intervention strategies for individual, groups and populations across the lifespan and in diverse practice settings (MSOT)

  • Synthesize information, problem solve and use advanced clinical and professional reasoning to select an appropriate theoretical basis, assessment and/or intervention strategies for individual, groups and populations across the lifespan and in diverse practice settings (OTD)

Healthcare Delivery Systems and Equitable Population Focused Services

  • Demonstrate a strong worldly professional identity through analyzing the relationship between global health and development for individuals, communities, and populations (MSOT & OTD)

Practice Scholarship

  • Demonstrate skills to use and create evidence to support their practice setting and evidence-based practices (MSOT)
  • Create evidence and disseminate the acquired knowledge regarding ‘best practices' to benefit their practice setting (OTD)

Community Engaged Learning, Fieldwork Education and Doctoral Capstone

  • Achieve generalist, entry-level practice competencies via a broad exposure to practice settings, delivery models and systems (MS and OTD)
  • Demonstrate the ability to synthesize in-depth knowledge in a practice area through the development and completion of a doctoral capstone (OTD)

Servant Leadership, Advocacy and Occupational Justice

  • Engage in servant leadership opportunities within the, school, and local community with a commitment to equity, inclusion, and a culture of wellbeing (MSOT)
  • Organize and lead service opportunities for the student, school, and local community with a commitment to equity, inclusion, and a culture of wellbeing (OTD)

Occupational Therapy Curriculum

Professional Phase

Spring of 3rd Year - 14 Credits
• Neuroscience (HLTS 503) 4 cr.
• Occupational Performance Evaluation (OCCT 535) 3 cr.
• Human Motion & Movement (OCCT 537) 4 cr.
• Evidence Based Practice (OCCT 541W) 3 cr.

Summer of 3rd Year - 9 Credits
• Humans, Groups & Occupations (OCCT 518) 3 cr.
• Occupational Performance Perspectives (OCCT 545) 3 cr.
• Medical Conditions in OT (OCCT 548) 3 cr.

Fall of 4th Year - 16/17 Credits
• Clinical Reasoning & Fieldwork I & II (OCCT 511/511W) 3 cr.
• Neurological & Sensorimotor Function (OCCT 519) 4 cr.
• Biomechanical Function (OCCT 530) 4 cr.
• Scholarship of Practice I (OCCT 531) 3 cr.
• Community and Population Health (OCCT 560) 2 cr.
• *Research Project I (Prospectus) (OCCT 610W) 1 cr. (optional)

Spring of 4th Year - 16/17 Credits
• OT Administration and Leadership & Fieldwork III (OCCT 561) 3 cr.
• Neurological & Sensorimotor Function II (OCCT 520) 4 cr.
• Psychosocial Function & Fieldwork II (OCCT 525) 4 cr.
• Scholarship of Practice II (OCCT 532W) 2 cr.
• Environmental Adaptations & Rehabilitation Technology (OCCT 550) 3 cr.
• *Research Project II (Engagement) (OCCT 611W) 1 cr. (optional)
• *Optional/Approval Required

Summer of 4th Year - 15/16 Credits
• Intervention Seminar (OCCT 522) 3 cr.
• Fieldwork IV (OCCT 555) 6 cr.
• Clinical Reasoning II (OCCT 512W) 3 cr.
• Community & World Healthcare Issues (OCCT 565) 3 cr.
• Doctoral Capstone Seminar (OCCT 602) 1 cr. (OTD track only)

Fall of 5th Year- 9/10 Credits
• Professional Seminar II (OCCT 575) 3 cr.
• Fieldwork V (OCCT 556) 6 cr.
• Research Project III- Dissemination (612W) 1 cr. (optional)

Advanced Professional Phase

Spring of 5th Year - 9 Credits
• Applying Evidence to Practice I (OCCT 620) 2 cr.
• Designing Effective Programs (OCCT 625) 3 cr.
• Practice Scholar Capstone Project I (OCCT 635) 2 cr.
• Doctoral Capstone Experience I (OCCT 640) 2 cr.

Summer of 5th Year - 9 Credits
• Applying Evidence to Practice II (OCCT 261) 1 cr.
• Doctoral Capstone Experience II (OCCT 642) 6 cr.
• Practice Scholar Capstone Project II (OCCT 645) 1 cr.
• Instructions Learning Theory/Technology (OCCT 650) 1 cr.

Fall of 5th Year - 9 Credits
• Doctoral Capstone Experience III (OCCT 644) 2 cr. 
• Practice Scholar Project III (OCCT 655) 2 cr.
• Transformative Leadership (OCCT 660) 3 cr.
• Instructional Learning/Theory/Technology II (OCCT 661) 2 cr.

Graduation Requirements

Master of Science in Occupational Therapy

A student who has completed all requirements with a minimum 3.0 cumulative professional phase GPA and successfully completed all clinical education requirements will receive a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy degree. 

Occupational Therapy Doctorate

A student who has completed all requirements with a minimum 3.0 cumulative professional phase GPA, successfully completed all clinical education requirements and all doctoral coursework and a doctoral capstone project will receive an Occupational Therapy Doctorate degree.

Certification & Licensure

In order to practice, occupational therapists must first be certified on a national level, and then may apply for licensure on the state level. To be eligible for the certification examination and licensure, a candidate must be of good moral character and not abuse substances. An individual who has committed a felony or abused substances may not be eligible to sit for the national certification examination and/or licensure. Application for the NBCOT exam includes a background check. Upon graduation from the occupational therapy program, students will be eligible to sit for the certification examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). The approximate cost is $550.00. The NBCOT accepts applications for the examination and maintains the roster of certified occupational therapists. Presently, the test is available at most Pearson VUE testing center. More information is available on the NBCOT website.

Licensure requirements and costs vary state-to-state and graduates must contact their state agency to identify specific requirements for licensure in that state. The national certification exam is used nationwide as the primary factor for determining eligibility for professional state licensure. Some State licensing boards offer temporary licenses, once a candidate has been registered for the national exam.  Students are responsible for understanding the regulations per the state in which they are seeking licensure.  After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be initially certified as an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). Occupational therapy practice is regulated in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Typically, state licensure is based on the results from the NBCOT certification examination. A felony conviction may affect a student’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. Failure to inform NBCOT of a felony conviction may result in NBCOT disciplinary action. A student may complete a character review to evaluate eligibility to take the NBCOT certification examination by requesting an Early Determination Review. The student is responsible for costs related to this review which are estimated to be $225.00.