Core Courses
Students pursuing the Post-professional OTD degree must complete all core courses listed below.
OTD 6310 Advances in OT Practice
Critical analysis of the AOTA Occupational Therapy Practice Framework and other professional documents serve as a resource for addressing contemporary OT practice issues. Focus is directed on analyzing current professional trends including those representing advances in global, national, state, and local organizations.
OTD 6210 Evidence-based Practice
Exploration of the knowledge and tools critical to locate, select, analyze and apply scholarly literature to support evidence-based clinical decisions. Research, knowledge, and skills to assess existing research evidence in occupational therapy are used as a foundation for applying evidence-based knowledge to everyday clinical practice.
OTD 6240 Program Evaluation and Development
Concepts and strategies for assessment of practice outcomes and program evaluation including grant-writing. Students access and analyze data to examine the needs of a community that warrants occupational therapy interventions. Topics include the development of outcome tools, basis of outcomes research, selection and availability of outcome tools, and challenges for implementation.
OTD 6320 Occupational Therapy Conceptual Foundations
Study of the complexity of human occupation, occupational science, and the impact of historical and contemporary advances in occupational therapy theory. The validity and reliability of occupation-based assessment instruments and the efficacy of evidence-based treatment interventions are studied particularly as they relate to meeting the occupational needs of society.
HHS 6220 Professional Development and Leadership
In-depth analysis of criteria for professional excellence, advanced credentialing, and leadership in hybrid healthcare academic settings; development of a professional portfolio emphasizing competency in an evidence-based practice specialty or for preparation for teaching in a hybrid or online health sciences program. Exploration of leadership and power.
OTD 6330 Clinical Reasoning: Forms of Inquiry in Advanced Practice
Advanced topics in clinical reasoning with an emphasis on narrative inquiry and occupational science. An examination of the individual and personal meaning of illness and health. Exploration of biomedical and phenomenological approaches.
HHS 6230 Teaching and Learning Theory in Health Sciences
An overview of contemporary research and theory related to teaching and learning in health sciences education. Emphasis is placed on adult learning theory, learner-centered pedagogies, and evidence-based instructional approaches that support active and collaborative learning in higher education. Students examine foundational concepts that inform the design and delivery of instruction in hybrid and online academic environments, with attention to application across health professions programs.