Doctoral Program in Occupational Therapy

Why Study Occupational Therapy at Huntington University?

Huntington University emphasizes a Christ-centered approach to academics, and our first doctoral program reflects that heritage. Our Occupational Therapy Program (OTD) is positioned at the cutting edge of healthcare; our vision when so few other schools were offering doctoral programs in occupational therapy has made us a leader in OT education from the beginning.

We are an established program with a track record of quality graduates who are highly qualifed and competitively placed in the field. Our renowned faculty have professional experience in the field – many are still practicing occupational therapists as well as educators – and our customed-designed facilities in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Peoria, Arizona are top-of-the-line.

Huntington University's doctoral program in occupational therapy (OTD) is a continuous three-year, full-time degree program. Classes take place in person at our two locations.

We will promote your development in:

  • Clinical Expertise
  • Occupation-based Assessment and Intervention Strategies
  • Leadership Skills
  • Program Development
  • Research
  • International Service Learning
  • Advanced Practice:
    • Assistive Technology
    • Pediatrics/NICU
    • Hand Therapy
    • Mental Health

Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) Examination. 

Locations

Fort Wayne Location
1819 Carew St.
Fort Wayne, IN 46805
(260) 702-9621

Fall (August) and Spring (January) Cohorts

Arizona Location
8385 W Mariners Way
Peoria, AZ 85382
(480) 939-5074

Spring (January) Cohort

Admission Requirements and Prerequisite Courses

1. Bachelor's degree from a regionally-accredited college or university or a plan to complete one prior to enrollment. While we do not require any specific discipline, undergraduate students often major in areas such as health science, exercise science, or psychology in preparation for a doctorate program in occupational therapy.

2. Minimum 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA (on a 4.0 scale).

3. B- or better in all prerequisite courses:

   - Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab >> 4 credits
   - Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab >> 4 credits
   - Lab Science (Biology, Physics or Chemistry) >> 3–4 credits
   - Introduction to Psychology >> 3 credits
   - Abnormal Psychology >> 3 credits
   - Social Science >> 3 credits
   - Statistics or Research >> 3 credits
   - Medical Terminology >> 1–3 credits

Candidates must have completed the above prerequisites within the last ten years. We accept applications with prerequisites still in progress as long as we receive official transcripts showing successful completion (B- or better) prior to program matriculation. For prerequisites taken during the Spring 2020 semester affected by COVID-19, a grade of Satisfactory or Pass will be accepted.

If you are missing any of the above requirements, please contact us to discuss ways to meet the requirements.

4. Minimum of 50 hours of observational, volunteer, and/or work experience in occupational therapy completed before the start of classes. Candidates do not have to complete all 50 hours prior to application. We recommended having more than one observation site and experience with ages across the lifespan. Alternative options are available for those unable to gain access to onsite observation hours. Please contact graduate@huntington.edu to review alternatives.

5. Completed OTCAS application.

6. Three letters of recommendation submitted via OTCAS. At least one of these must be from a healthcare provider, preferably a licensed occupational therapist.

7. Candidates who are invited to the interview phase of the admission process will be required to complete a writing sample based on a short reading assignment. The student will be given up to 50 minutes to complete the essay.

Successful participation and completion of the doctoral program in occupational therapy will require students to be competent in using computer and internet technology. Learn more about required technology

Successful participation and completion of the doctoral program in occupational therapy will require students to be competent in using computer and internet technology. Specifics about required technology can be found on the Computer Recommendation webpage.

More information can be found on the Admissions Requirements page

Tuition and Fees

Tuition per credit hour is $946 (106 total hours) and a three-year program completion plan with fees can be viewed here.

Curriculum

The 106 credit-hour curriculum is completed in a 3-year continous schedule of full-time academic work which includes required fieldwork credit hours.  The first two years of didactic course work is between 40-47 credit hours per year. The final year requires 24 credit hours of fieldwork and doctoral capstone research.

Accreditation

Indiana Accreditation

Huntington University’s Doctoral in Occupational Therapy Program in Indiana is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number, c/o AOTA, is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. ACOTE's email address is accred@aota.org

Indiana Location
1819 Carew St.
Fort Wayne, IN 46805

Arizona Accreditation

Huntington University’s Doctoral in Occupational Therapy Program in Arizona is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number, c/o AOTA, is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. ACOTE's email address is accred@aota.org

Arizona Location
8385 W Mariners Way
Peoria, AZ 85382

OT Happenings

Check out what our department has been up to!
Drs. Henton and Vilensky co-authored an article on the false belief that newborns can breathe and swallow at the same time.
The Spring 2023 Cohort doing their first Splinting Lab!
OT Faculty Publish Anatomy Textbooks
The ASHT First-Time Researcher Award, a rare honor for experienced clinicians and OT students, went to Kaily Francetic and Clayton Lange.
HU OTD Arizona students assisted the St. Joseph Workforce Villages Program in putting together furniture. A partnership was also announced between The Workforce Villages team and HU OTD AZ students.
Fabricating custom orthotics to facilitate hand function is a unique aspect of occupational therapy practice.
OTD Grad Fellowship: Tekola
OTD Grad Fellowship: Thompson

Upcoming OTD Preview Days

Preview Days will be held at both the Fort Wayne location (1819 Carew St, Fort Wayne, IN) and at the Arizona location (8385 W Mariners Way, Peoria, AZ). For questions regarding Preview Day dates and locations, please contact graduate@huntington.edu or call (800) 600-4888.

You have questions. We have answers.

If you have any questions, please contact graduate@huntington.edu or (800) 600-4888

For questions about a specific prerequisite, complete this form

Visit Our FAQ Page

The perfect idea for your capstone project — and exciting, unexpected opportunities — might be closer than you think. Check out this story of how OT students used their skills to help their fellow Foresters by serving as health and safety managers on film shoots.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you have any questions regarding the application process, please contact us at graduate@huntington.edu or (800) 600-4888.

Application Process