CATALOG - University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences

TRANSITIONAL DOCTOR OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY (OTD)Mission StatementThe mission of the transitional Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program is to graduate studentswith advanced knowledge in practice excellence who have the leadership, and clinical skills necessary topromote the profession of occupational therapy. High priority is placed on active inquiry, criticalthinking and reflective practice.Program ObjectivesThrough completion of this program, students will: Think logically, critically, creatively, and independently in a manner that will promote advancedpractice of occupational therapy. Develop leadership in an area of clinical practice that will promote the profession of OT and thepatients who receive care. Display depth of knowledge and advanced competence in at least one major area of clinicaltheory and practice. Develop effective communication skills in the presentation of occupational therapy theories andconcepts in order to advance professional goals. Advance competence in the interpretation and application of professional literature promotingevidence based practice. Develop a systematic approach to solving problems in patient care, either through clinicalresearch, product or program development as part of the culminating Capstone Project.Admission RequirementsApplication to the transitional OTD program is open to all occupational therapists who entered theprofession with a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in occupational therapy from an accreditedinstitution. It is expected that all applicants are licensed or eligible for licensure in the United States.Applicants must be currently employed as an occupational therapist or have a minimum of one year’sexperience as an occupational therapist. For more details on admission, see the Admissions to theUniversity section of this Catalog.Official transcripts from all previous institutions of higher learning must be submitted directly to theUniversity in accordance with the Application for Admission instructions.International Students Applying for AdmissionForeign-trained candidates who do not require a student visa to participate in University courses and/ordegrees can be considered for admission. To enter the transitional OTD program, the following criteriawill apply: Be a graduate of a program in a country that is a member of the World Federation ofOccupational Therapists. Submit transcripts and a credentialing evaluation from an agency recognized by the NationalAssociation of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) that provide evidence of training at alevel equivalent to that of a bachelor’s degree in the United States.Candidate must submit an official TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score report iftheir education was completed in a language other than English or they reside in a non-Englishspeaking country. A minimum score of 550 (paper-based testing), 210 (computer-based testing) or 83 (IBT –Internet based testing) is required on the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language).54