Occupational Therapy - Starting May 2025

Doctorate

Occupational Therapy

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Occupational therapy is where science and knowledge of the human body meets individuals where it means the most: everyday life.

As a Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) graduate from Trine University, you will be equipped to enable clients to develop, regain or adapt the skills to perform the activities needed to maximize functional independence. Occupational therapists work in clinics, acute care including intensive care unit (ICU) settings, post-acute rehabilitation, school-based settings, or even in technology fields.

Trine University offers a premier opportunity to engage in an interdisciplinary environment that enhances students’ personal and professional journeys.

OT at Trine

Occupational TherapyAs part of Trine’s Doctor of Occupational Therapy program, you’ll be immersed in our state-of-the-art Brooks College of Health Professions facility and master clinical skills and technology advances that reflect current and emerging practice. You will spend time growing in knowledge both inside and outside the classroom to develop professional skills in practical healthcare settings. Examples include the wet lab/cadaver lab, dry lab, hospital simulation center, virtual rehabilitation suite and specialized technology lab/makerspace.

Our curriculum includes five integrated clinical experiences, giving you extensive exposure to real-life occupational therapy practice before starting your 24-week full-time rotation. Our program is built for students and incorporates content at multiple intervals, increasing in complexity, to ensure graduates are prepared for the workforce.

Your occupational therapy career

Occupational TherapyOnce you complete your OTD degree at Trine, you will be prepared to sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) examination.

You will have the training and clinical exposure to complete occupational therapy evaluations and design and implement treatment interventions for patients of all ages.

Your diverse experiences and interactions with Trine students in other health professions programs will equip you to effectively communicate among interdisciplinary healthcare teams, and you will be prepared to advocate for persons, groups and populations.

According to the Bureau of Labor Services, occupational therapists make an average of $93,180 per year, with the number of jobs in the field expected to grow 12% over the next decade.

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We accept applications through the OTCAS System

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Accreditation

HLC
Trine University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. 

ACOTE
The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program has applied for accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Ave, Suite 510E, Bethesda MD, 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. 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 in order 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. Students must complete 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork as well as an individual 14-week capstone experience following the completion of the didactic portion of the program

Additional Information

For information, visit the Cost and Investment page.

Trine University OTD Program 

Trine University's Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program focuses on providing equal opportunities to all undergraduate students seeking a career that offers a wide range of practice settings. A few examples of where occupational therapists (OTs) can specialize include school-based services, behavioral health, intensive care units, and beyond. The OTD program was specifically designed to recruit a diverse population of students and provide a curriculum that will create equitable learning for all students. The curriculum uses a spiral model and provides opportunities for students to gain exposure to content, explore the implications of real-world practice, and demonstrate mastery. Faculty will offer learner-based instruction and provide hands-on multimodal educational experiences. Trine University's OTD program does not offer credit for previous work experience, experiential learning, coursework, or advanced placement. This policy ensures that all students complete the full scope of the OTD curriculum to meet program standards and achieve the competencies necessary for the degree.

College Graduate Path

Using OTCAS, please review and submit the following items below to complete the application process for Trine University’s OTD Program.

  1. Applicants must graduate with a bachelor's degree from an accredited school with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale).
    • Due to grading changes made by schools in response to the COVID-19 situation, grades of satisfactory (S), pass (PA), and the like will be accepted for courses submitted for evidence of preparation for OTD admission (completed from January through August 2020).
    • Optional submission of GRE scores through the OTCAS System. The GRE code for Trine University is 1811.
  2. Two letters of recommendation
  3. Personal Essay- Candidates must complete a personal essay explaining why they desire to pursue an occupational therapy career. The submission should summarize lessons learned from personal life experiences or interactions/observations with healthcare professionals.
  4. Evidence of Preparation: Reflect on undergraduate courses to rate readiness in 4 category areas to ensure preparation for an entry-level OTD program. Applicants must select and submit at least one course from their transcript that applies to each category below. For submitted courses, the applicant will rate their understanding of each area using a 5-point Likert scale and provide a description addressing how the selected courses relate to occupational therapy and career goals. Submitted courses must have a 3.0 or higher course grade.
    • Professional writing
    • Human nature
    • Research, statistics, medical terminology
    • Behavioral sciences
  5. Participate in a program interview, virtual or onsite

Application Procedures 

  • Submit a completed application in the OTCAS system. 
  • Optional submission of GRE scores through the OTCAS System. The GRE code for Trine University is 1811.
  • Participate in a program interview, virtual or onsite.

Direct Entry Path

Before applying to the OTD Direct Entry Program, students must first be admitted to Trine University. Once admitted, you will receive a direct entry application via email specifically for the OTD Direct Entry Program. To proceed with the OTD Direct Entry application, students must meet the program’s direct entry requirements. To align with students interests four pathways are offered. Available pathways include Exercise Science, Applied Health Science, Educational Studies, or Psychology.

  1. High school transcript showing a minimum of a 3.0 GPA (4.0 scale)
  2. Two letters of recommendation
  3. Personal Essay- Candidates must complete a personal essay explaining why they desire to pursue an occupational therapy career. The submission should summarize lessons learned from personal life experiences or interactions/observations with healthcare professionals.
  4. Evidence of Preparation: At the end of the candidate’s sophomore year at Trine, the candidate will submit evidence of preparation to the OTD program. Candidates will reflect on completed undergraduate courses to rate readiness in 4 category areas. Submitted courses must have a 3.0 or higher course grade. Applicants should reflect on undergraduate courses to rate readiness in 4 category areas to ensure preparation for an entry-level OTD program. Applicants must select and submit at least one course from their transcript that applies to each category below. For submitted courses, the applicant will rate their understanding of each area using a 5-point Likert scale and provide a description addressing how the selected courses relate to occupational therapy and career goals.
    • Professional writing 
    • Human nature 
    • Research, statistics, medical terminology
    • Behavioral sciences
  5. Participate in a program interview, virtual or onsite.

Once accepted as an undergraduate student at Trine University, a candidate will complete the application for Direct Entry into the OTD program and agree to technical standards. A direct entry student must maintain a 3.0 GPA during their undergraduate studies. 

The OTD Program cannot accept students until notified by ACOTE in December 2024/ January 2025. If admission approval is granted by ACOTE, the applicant will receive a packet with a formal letter of admission and a letter of intent. After signing and dating the letter of intent, the applicant will return it to Trine with the enrollment deposit.

Ongoing advising will be completed with a member of the OTD faculty each semester to ensure continued progress towards direct entry admission.

Early Admission Path

Existing students must complete an application for early admission for one of the three existing pathways (Exercise Science, Applied Health Science, or Psychology).  Using Trine's online application portal, please review and submit the following items below to complete the application process for Trine University’s OTD Program.

  1. Trine University transcript (sophomores and juniors) showing a minimum of a 3.0 GPA (4.0 scale)
  2. Two letters of recommendation
  3. Personal Essay- Candidates must complete a personal essay explaining why they desire to pursue an occupational therapy career. The submission should summarize lessons learned from personal life experiences or interactions/observations with healthcare professionals.
  4. Evidence of Preparation: At the end of the candidate’s sophomore year at Trine, the candidate will submit evidence of preparation to the OTD program. Candidates will reflect on completed undergraduate courses to rate readiness in 4 category areas. Submitted courses must have a 3.0 or higher course grade. Applicants must select and submit at least one course from their transcript that applies to each category below. For submitted courses, the applicant will rate their understanding of each area using a 5-point Likert scale and provide a description addressing how the selected courses relate to occupational therapy and career goals. Submitted courses must have a 3.0 or higher course grade.
    • Professional writing 
    • Human nature 
    • Research, statistics, medical terminology
    • Behavioral sciences
  5. Participate in a program interview, virtual or onsite.

The OTD Program cannot accept students until notified by ACOTE in December 2024/ January 2025. Once an admission decision is communicated, the applicant will receive a packet with a formal letter of admission and a letter of intent. After signing and dating the letter of intent, please return it to Trine with the enrollment deposit.

By signing the letter of intent, the candidate acknowledges the agreement to adhere to the technical standards of the pathway. An early admission student must maintain a 3.0 GPA during their undergraduate studies. 

Ongoing advising will be completed with a member of the OTD faculty each semester to ensure continued progress towards early admission. 

Trine University OTD students are required to maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA (64 credits). Per the course catalog, a 2.0 is an average score and is the lowest passing grade for graduate courses. OTD students are allowed up to 8 course credits with a grade of C, however the cumulative GPA of 3.0 must still be maintained. Following the successful completion of didactic coursework, students must pass 24 weeks of Level II Fieldwork rotations, the 14-week Doctoral Capstone Experience, and 1 credit Doctoral Capstone Presentation. Trine University completes a degree audit for all students to ensure graduation requirements are met before a degree is conferred.

Refunds of tuition, room, and board due to withdrawal/drop are determined by the schedule on the Business Office website. Refunds of tuition and room and board follow the schedule below. The international fee and enrollment fee are not refundable.

Tuition Fall and Spring Semester

  • Week One—100%
  • Weeks Two & Three—50%
  • Week Four—0%

Tuition Summer Semester

  • Week One—100%
  • Week Two—0%

In the rare case an “exception” to the refund policy is granted, a $50 administration fee may be assessed. Please note: If a student receiving financial aid withdraws during the semester, that aid is subject to the federal refund calculation. Any student who is dismissed or suspended for misconduct shall not be entitled to any refund. No refund is provided at any time on fees, books and supplies, or personal expenses.
Withdrawal from the University

If a student decides to drop or withdraw after registering for classes:

  • The student is responsible for completing the proper paperwork and filing it with the Office of the Registrar or the Educational Center Director. By failing to do so, the student accepts financial responsibility for all charges incurred on their account.
  • The student may be eligible for a full or partial refund of tuition and room and board, depending on when the official withdrawal takes place.
  • It may result in a change in the total amount due for the semester.
  • It may result in a loss of financial aid from a federal, state or institutional source.
  • Failure to attend classes does not constitute a drop/withdrawal.

Refer to Trine University’s Withdrawal policy. The policy is outlined in the Withdrawal from the University section of the Trine University Course Catalog. Additional policies related to withdrawal, including Withdrawal/ Drop Schedule, Credit Balances/Refunds, and 1098-T Tax Information, are outlined in Section 2.15 Student Accounts. The policy includes information regarding Administrative Withdrawal from the University.

Program Information

Degree

Doctor of Occupational Therapy

Duration

103 Hours

Level

Graduate

Campus Location

Fort Wayne, IN