About

Baylor University’s Entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program integrates innovative technologies and hybrid learning strategies to prepare practice scholars, educational innovators, and professional leaders who utilize clinically meaningful research in the implementation of best practice and meet the changing demands of the occupational therapy profession.

Hybrid Learning Environments

In designing the Entry-level OTD curriculum, our faculty embraced a student-centered approach to develop a cohort of learners with a focus on critical thinking, values, and social responsibility, learning goals, and experiential learning. The curriculum provides the best education in a condensed timeframe through a blend of online and on-campus education. The student learns through pre-recorded didactic instruction, daily engagement with faculty, hands-on lab immersions, fieldwork experiences, and the doctoral capstone project. The academic rigor of the program is designed to be equivalent to that of traditional site-based programs.

Career Outlook & Opportunities

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projected an 18% job growth for the occupational therapy profession between 2018 and 2028. The need for occupational therapy will come in part from older adults who desire to remain active later in life and children needing to build independence in daily task performance. Recommendations for activities of daily living and home modifications along with rehabilitative treatment strategies are beneficial for people who have life altering situations such as arthritis, brain injury, and dementia. In addition, children diagnosed with conditions that keep them from engaging with their environment benefit from occupational therapy. Occupational therapists often work with children who have Autism to improve their social skills and daily task independence. 

According to Projections Central, the demand for occupational therapists in Texas is projected to grow 30% between 2016-2026. During this same period, it is estimated that there will be 850 annual openings for occupational therapists across Texas.

Outcomes