The Baylor University Department of Occupational Therapy offers two doctoral (OTD) programs using innovative, learner-focused, elevated instructional technology—the Entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program and the Post-professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program.
Our mission is to prepare practice scholars, educational innovators, and professional leaders who use clinically meaningful research in the implementation of best practice to meet the changing demands of the Occupational Therapy profession.
Our faculty believe that learner-centered teaching promotes discovery and clinical reasoning based on scholarly inquiry and instills a sense of awareness of self and others resulting in scientifically-based, client-centered service delivery characterized by ethical treatment decisions.
This approach challenges the student to expand understandings of the relevance of occupational therapy to include considerations about the dynamic interaction of occupational performance, social participation, and Christian values.
Guided by institutional values and mission, faculty identified five curricular threads to unify the OTD curricular framework into a narrative discourse about the profession and its role in health care and the community. Together these five threads provide the basis for the program’s curricular learning outcomes.
Curricular Threads
- Clinical Reasoning Process
- Occupation-Focused View of Humanity
- Client-Centered Service Delivery
- Servant Leadership
- Scholarly Practice
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of our Doctor of Occupational Therapy Programs, graduates will be able to:
- Use clinical reasoning in the occupational therapy process based on critical analysis, reflection, and a dedication to excellence in all we do;
- Articulate the positive relationship between occupation and health and appreciate the occupational nature of humans as a core philosophical assumption of the profession;
- Provide client-centered care based on the principles, beliefs, and values of occupational therapy and a steadfast commitment to Christian values and identity;
- 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;
- Demonstrate a commitment to scholarly practice and professional growth through lifelong learning and critical inquiry.