Post Professional Occupational Therapy, O.T.D.

The mission of this unique, fully online, post-professional OTD program is to create exceptionally qualified academic leaders in the occupational therapy education space. The program will provide occupational therapists with the necessary clinical expertise, who are interested in pursuing a career in academia, the knowledge and the skills to be a highly skilled academic leader or faculty member. This degree will provide them a professional edge and to contribute to the occupational therapy profession in a unique way. The OT program director qualifications include a terminal degree and eight years of experience as an OT. However, the position responsibilities, as per the ACOTE Standards (A.2.1) are: “The program director must be responsible for the management and administration of the program, including planning, evaluation, budgeting, selection of faculty and staff, maintenance of accreditation, and commitment to strategies for professional development.” Post-professional OTD programs are generally designed for an advanced degree with emphasis in clinical expertise or research, not academic leadership. The development of a post professional OTD at North Central College would provide the education necessary to obtain the focused skills and knowledge necessary to work in an academic setting. The program has been developed to address two areas of academic responsibility: curriculum design and assessment and academic administration, culminating in an integrated capstone project. The program is designed to be completed in five full time continuous semesters, but can be completed part time by one class a semester by first completing the administrative responsibilities of a program director courses and followed by the courses that focus on curriculum development and assessment. Attending part time would require eight semesters of only seven weeks per semester and the second fall semester being full time along with the final semester being the capstone semester which is a full semester.