Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences
Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy
Develop as a leader in clinical or educational settings. Finish in 16 months, 100% online. No GRE/application fee.
- For Licensed OT Practitioners
- Master’s Required
- Become an Educator
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Telehealth. Hybrid Education. The Next Generation of Leadership.
Technology is shaping the future of the occupational therapy profession. You can develop the skills and experience to take you to the next step—wherever that may be.
Want to use virtual reality and voice-enabled devices in the clinic? Interested in teaching the next generation of occupational therapists as a full- or part-time faculty member?
Stay ahead. Stay relevant. And tap into your potential as a leader in clinical practice or academic settings. Do it all in a fully online learning environment.
597
annual job openings for occupational therapists with a doctorate degree
(Emsi Burning Glass)
70%
five-year increase in job postings for postsecondary teaching positions in occupational therapy
(Emsi Burning Glass)
Baylor has been named among the nation’s top 10 Most Trusted Universities by Morning Consult.
Your Future in Teaching
More flexibility. A change of scenery. Teaching represents a non-clinical opportunity that can meet your career goals and desire to impact the future of occupational therapy.
In this program, you’ll have the option to become an adjunct faculty member for onsite lab immersions in the Entry-Level OTD. Travel expenses are covered, and you’ll be paid as an adjunct while you gain real-world experience.
Gain a new skill for your career. Some graduates end up supplementing their income with a teaching role, and some pursue it full time. You’ll find PP-OTD graduates as faculty members at Baylor University, Indiana University South Bend, University of Texas San Antonio and Cox College.
Pursue Your Certificate in Hybrid Teaching
Baylor University’s Certificate in Hybrid Teaching is designed for occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants aiming to address the evolving needs of occupational therapy education.
This program not only supports current and future OT educators in developing the practical skills necessary for both online and in-person teaching but also culminates in an ePortfolio to enable them to pursue their professional goals.
The certificate program can be completed in 9 months, entirely online.
Additionally, eligible students can transition to the full PP-OTD program after obtaining their Certificate in Hybrid Teaching and earn their OTD degree in 25 months.
For one of my veterans, I helped obtain a complex rehabilitation technology, which is a motorized device, to allow him to walk his daughter down the aisle for her wedding. That was something he really wanted to do and one of his goals overall in therapy.”
Gerriod Sharp
Adjunct Faculty
Gerriod Sharp works for the Central Alabama Veterans Healthcare System and his primary duty station is located in Tuskegee, Alabama. He is also an adjunct faculty member for Baylor’s EL-OTD program.
“Obtaining my OTD through Baylor University prepared me, not just now, but for future endeavors—whether certifications or taking the lead and developing other programs within the scope of practice for myself and the department. Right now I’m assisting my supervisor in developing the acute rehab facility to establish being a competent and therapist-driven department that can accommodate veterans for skilled services. … This program has assisted me in developing my leadership abilities.”
The PP-OTD program rekindled that flame for my love of the profession and what I do daily. I am a better therapist because I was able to really dive deep into current literature and evidence-based practices and apply it to my school-based practice. It has made me a better clinician, number one, but I am also an educator now. Being able to help train the next generation of occupational therapists is a big part of why I wanted to do this.”
“If not for the online format, I would not have been able to complete my Post-Professional OTD degree. Geographically, I don’t have access to a brick-and-mortar program where I could complete a doctorate in OT…And then, as strange as it may sound, the relationships I developed through the program are just amazing! I now have colleagues from across the country who I can call to collaborate on OT issues.”
Jana Hickman
Clinical Instructor
Jana Hickman is an occupational therapist who works in rural northwest Oklahoma, in a proclaimed “OT desert” that lacks a lot of therapists. She developed her own company that privately contracts school-based OT services with five different school districts. Hickman is also an adjunct faculty member for Baylor’s EL-OTD program.
Five Curricular Threads of the OTD Program
There are five curricular threads that ground Baylor’s Doctor of Occupational Therapy.
- Clinical Reasoning Process: Utilize clinical reasoning in the occupational therapy process based on critical analysis, reflection and a dedication to excellence.
- Occupation-Focused View of Humanity: Articulate the positive relationship between occupation and health and appreciate the occupational nature of humans as a core philosophical assumption of the profession.
- Client-Centered Service Delivery: Provide client-centered care based on the principles, beliefs and values of occupational therapy and a steadfast commitment to Christian values and identity.
- Servant Leadership: Demonstrate servant-leadership roles leading to an in-depth understanding of a specialized competency in the profession that contributes to solving problems facing people and communities worldwide.
- Scholarly Practice and Research: Demonstrate a commitment to scholarly practice and research through lifelong learning and critical inquiry.
Program Details
Admissions & Application Process
No GRE is required for admission and you’ll only have to supply a few materials to go along with your application. Here’s the list of what you’ll need to apply to the Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy:
- Complete an online application with an essay/personal statement.
- Submit your official transcripts (an entry-level, accredited occupational therapy program at the master’s degree level is required).
- Provide a copy of a current and valid license to practice occupational therapy in one of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico or U.S. Virgin Islands. This license must be in good standing.
- Submit two or three letters of recommendation.
- Submit your CV/resume.
Applicants for whom English is not a primary language must take the TOEFL and submit the test scores along with their application.
Tuition & Financial Aid
Earning your Doctor of Occupational Therapy from a prestigious institution can provide a compelling return on investment. Of course, the first step in investing in your future is often the hardest.
Tuition for the Post-professional OTD is $1,050 per credit and $100 administrative fee per trimester. Beginning Fall 2024, tuition will change to $1,080 per credit and $100 administrative fee per trimester. The Student Financial Services department can assist you with student loans and financing your education.
Curriculum
Core Courses (17 credit hours):
- OTD 6310 – Advances in OT Practice [3 credit hours]
- OTD 6210 – Evidence-based Practice [2 credit hours]
- OTD 6240 – Program Evaluation and Development [2 credit hours]
- OTD 6320 – Conceptual Foundations [3 credit hours]
- OTD 6220 – Professional Development and Leadership [2 credit hours]
- OTD 6330 – Clinical Reasoning [3 credit hours]
- OTD 6230 – Teaching and Education Theory [2 credit hours]
Doctoral Capstone Courses (7 credit hours):
- OTD 6340 – Doctoral Capstone I [3 credit hours]
- OTD 6272 – Doctoral Capstone II [2 credit hours]
- OTD 6280 – Doctoral Capstone III [2 credit hours]
Hybrid Learning - (6 credit hours):
- OTD 6196 – Hybrid Learning in the Healthcare Clinic and Classroom [1 credit hour]
- OTD 6298 – Hybrid Teaching Strategies for the Healthcare Clinic and Classroom [2 credit hours]
- OTD 6396 – Developing Hybrid Teaching Skills for the Healthcare Clinic and Classroom [3 credit hours]
Take the Next Step
Call (254) 710-4400 or fill out the form to learn more about advancing your career with Baylor University.