Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) with Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) Exit Option

Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) with Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) Exit Option

Program Description

Students enter a professional curriculum and may exit with the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) after 5 semesters (61 credits) to pursue licensure and practice as entry-level generalists, or continue through the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) path (91 credits, 8 semesters) for advanced study in implementation science, human-centered innovation, policy and advocacy, and a 14-week doctoral capstone experience. The MSOT ensures readiness for the NBCOT examination and clinical practice. The entry-level OTD also ensures readiness for the NBCOT examination and clinical practice as a generalist while adding doctoral-level rigor and depth in preparing graduates to bridge research and practice, design and scale innovative solutions, and lead systems-level change within organizations and communities. With guidance from faculty advisors, students select their path after the third semester, aligning their choice with personal and professional goals. Both the MSOT and entry-level OTD are designed to align with the ACOTE standards for occupational therapy education.

Entry-Level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)

The entry-level OTD prepares graduates as both generalist clinicians and change leaders equipped to translate evidence into action. In addition to meeting all MSOT competencies, OTD students complete advanced coursework in implementation science, human-centered design, and can further individualize their learning through doctoral-level electives that support concentration attainment in emerging areas such as policy and advocacy, digital health and informatics, leadership, or program development. These concentrations provide formal recognition of advanced skills that align with workforce and societal needs. The program culminates in a 14-week doctoral capstone, where students integrate and apply these competencies to develop sustainable, systems-level solutions in collaboration with organizations and communities. The OTD represents an intentional expansion of knowledge and rigor, developing practitioners who not only use evidence in practice but also create the systems and innovations that enable evidence-based care to flourish.

Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT)

The MSOT provides comprehensive, entry-level preparation for generalist occupational therapy practice. Graduates are qualified to deliver client-centered, evidence-based care across diverse settings. They are eligible to sit for the NBCOT examination upon completion of academic coursework and Level II fieldwork. The MSOT offers a timely on-ramp to licensure and professional practice, while maintaining a seamless pathway for students who wish to pursue additional doctoral-level study through the entry-level OTD. Upon successful completion of academic and fieldwork requirements, graduates of both paths are eligible to sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) examination.

Open All | Close All

  • 听

    Accreditation

    The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program and the masters of occupational therapy program have applied for accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is acoteonline.org.

    The program is scheduled to launch in May 2027. The 黑料在线 Entry-Level OTD Program has applied for accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). Pending approval, the inaugural cohort would graduate in Fall 2029.

    The program must be granted Candidacy Status, have a preaccreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
  • 听

    Admissions Requirements

    Individuals will apply via OTCAS. The application will include transcripts, references, and a personal statement. The 黑料在线 OT program will use a holistic admission process considering factors such:

    • A bachelor’s degree with an overall cumulative “B” average (3.0 or higher) from an accredited institution
    • GPA
    • Volunteer/work experience
    • Leadership/teamwork experience
    • Diversity experience Prerequisite courses include:
    • Human Anatomy - with lab
    • Human Physiology - lab optional
    • Neuropsychology or Neuroanatomy
    • Developmental Psychology
    • Statistics
    • Sociology
    • Medical Terminology
    After faculty have completed a thorough review of the above criteria, they will invite applicants for interviews with program faculty to determine a final rank order of the applicants. For non‐native speakers of English, a minimum TOEFL score of 550 is required on the paper‐based examination, and a minimum TOEFL score of 213 is required on the computer‐based examination.
  • 听

    Academic Policies & Requirements

    Students in the Occupational Therapy program must attain a minimum grade of “B-” or higher in all OCT courses. In addition, students must maintain a cumulative 3.0 grade point average. The academic policies in the student handbook provided additional detail on academic conduct, progression, withdrawal and dismissal.

  • 听

    Degree Requirements - Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (61 credits)

    • OCT 5130 Applied Human Anatomy w/lab (3 credits)
    • OCT 5131 Foundations of Occupational Therapy (3 credits)
    • OCT 5132 Thriving in Practice Seminar (1 credits)
    • OCT 5133 Occupation as Core (1 credits)
    • OCT 5134 Functional Movement Analysis (2 credits)
    • OCT 5135 Evidence Based Practice I (1 credit)
    • OCT 5210 Applied Neuroscience Across the Lifespan (3 credits)
    • OCT 5211 Occupational Analysis & Adaptation (1 credits)
    • OCT 5212 Occupational Performance in Physical Rehabilitation I (2 credits)
    • OCT 5213 Disease Prevention & Health Promotion (3 credits)
    • OCT 5214 Occupational Performance in Physical Rehabilitation II (3 credits)
    • OCT 5215 Practice Immersion I & Seminar (3 credits)
    • OCT 5216 Evidence Based Practice II (1 credit)
    • OCT 5320 Evidence Based Practice III (3 credits)
    • OCT 5321 Occupational Performance in Mental Health (2 credits)
    • OCT 5322 Professional Leadership & Management (3 credits)
    • OCT 5323 Practice Immersion II & Seminar (3 credits)
    • OCT 5324 Occupational Performance in Community (3 credits)
    • OCT 6430 Evidence-Based Practice II (2 credits)
    • OCT 6431 Practice Immersion III & Seminar (3 credits)
    • OCT 6432 Occupational Performance with Children & Adolescents (4 credits)
    • OCT 6433 Level II FW A1 (3 credits)
    • OCT 6510 Level II FW A2 (3 credits)
    • OCT 6511 Level II FW B (6 credits)

    Total credits required: 61 credits

    At the completion of OCT 6511 Level II FW B, students have completed all requirements for the MSOT degree are eligible to sit for the NBCOT Board examination.

  • 听

    Degree Requirements - Doctor of Occupational Therapy (91 credits)

    • OCT 5130 Applied Human Anatomy w/lab (3 credits)
    • OCT 5131 Foundations of Occupational Therapy (3 credits)
    • OCT 5132 Thriving in Practice Seminar (1 credit)
    • OCT 5133 Occupation as Core (1 credit)
    • OCT 5134 Functional Movement Analysis & Assessment (2 credits)
    • OCT 5135 Evidence Based Practice I (1 credit)
    • OCT 5210 Applied Neuroscience Across the Lifespan (3 credits)
    • OCT 5211 Occupational Analysis & Adaptation (1 credit)
    • OCT 5212 Occupational Performance in Physical Rehabilitation I (2 credits)
    • OCT 5213 Disease Prevention & Health Promotion (3 credits)
    • OCT 5214 Occupational Performance in Physical Rehabilitation II (3 credits)
    • OCT 5215 Practice Immersion I & Seminar (3 credits)
    • OCT 5216 Evidence Based Practice II (1 credit)
    • OCT 5320 Evidence Based Practice III (3 credits)
    • OCT 5321 Occupational Performance in Mental Health (2 credits)
    • OCT 5322 Professional Leadership & Management (3 credits)
    • OCT 5323 Practice Immersion II & Seminar (3 credits)
    • OCT 5324 Occupational Performance in Community (3 credits)
    • OCT 6430 Evidence-Based Practice II (2 credits)
    • OCT 6431 Practice Immersion III & Seminar (3 credits)
    • OCT 6432 Occupational Performance with Children & Adolescents (4 credits)
    • OCT 6433 Level II FW A1 (3 credits)
    • OCT 6510 Level II FW A2 (3 credits)
    • OCT 6511 Level II FW B (6 credits)
    • OCT 6620 Human-Centered Innovation I: Understanding Populations (2 credits)
    • OCT 6621 Implementation Science in OT Practice (2 credits)
    • OCT 6622 Doctoral Capstone Preparation Seminar I (1 credit)
    • OCT 6623 Advanced Policy & Advocacy (3 credits)
    • OCT 7730 Human-Centered Innovation II: From Co-Creation to Impact (3 credits)
    • OCT 7731: Implementation Science in Action: From Design to Dissemination (3 credits)
    • OCT 7732: Doctoral Capstone Preparation Seminar II (1 credit)
    • OCT 7810 Doctoral Capstone Experience (6 credits)
    • Electives (9 credits)

    Total credits required: 91 credits

  • 听

    2026-2027 Program Policy Manual

    Student-Faculty Handbook

  • 听

    Program Contact Information

    Amy Lamb, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA, NBC-HWC
    Department Chair & Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy
    School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences
    College of Health Professions, A236
    McNichols Campus
    Email: lambaj@udmercy.edu

    Melissa Todd, MOT, OTRL, HWC
    Academic Fieldwork Coordinator & Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy
    School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences
    College of Health Professions, A236
    McNichols Campus
    Email: toddme@udmercy.edu

Detroit Mercy Catalogs


Graduate Catalog
2026-2027