The University of Cincinnati's new Doctor of Occupational Therapy provides students with the opportunity to earn the highest level of education for an entry-level occupational therapist. The program will allow you to sit for the board licensing exam, and once you pass the board exam, and meet additional requirements set forth by the state in which you seek licensure, you will be eligible to work as a licensed occupational therapist (OT).
The mission of the program is to educate students to become occupation-based clinicians capable of competently and independently evaluating, treating and/or consulting with clients of diverse cultural backgrounds in a variety of settings. In addition, it is the mission of the program to offer flexibility to students by offering courses through a mix of online learning technologies and face-to-face instruction. The program strives for excellence in teaching, service, scholarly activity, and leadership while supporting the professional growth of faculty and students, instilling a commitment to lifelong learning, and responding to the needs of the region that it serves.
Occupational Therapy is an allied health profession that promotes optimal health and function through facilitating successful and satisfying participation in the roles and everyday activities (occupations) that individuals want and need to do. OT's are client centered healthcare practitioners that use a holistic perspective, in which the focus is on adapting the environment to fit the person, and the person is an integral part of the therapy team. Consideration of an individual's physical, cognitive, psychological, social, and emotional abilities, as well as environmental impacts, are central to the occupational therapy evaluation and intervention process.
Occupational Therapy services typically include:
-
an individualized evaluation, during which the client/family and OT determine the person's goals
-
customized intervention to improve the person's ability to perform daily activities and reach stated goals
-
an outcomes evaluation to ensure that the goals are being met and/or to make changes to the intervention plan
This intensive program is designed to prepare students for all areas of OT practice including pediatrics, rehabilitation, gerontology, mental health, and more. UC's OTD program has partnerships with over 150 fieldwork sites including Cincinnati Children's Hospital, UC Health, Veterans Medical Center, TriHealth, and more.