Occupational Therapy Doctorate

Facilitating participation in everyday living

The Occupational Therapy Doctorate program at CUAA will prepare you to serve people across the lifespan to improve their lives through the therapeutic use of everyday activities. You will take part in a variety of clinical and community-based experiences which include individual and group treatment sessions in pediatric and adult populations. At CUAA, we prepare uncommon OTs who are ready to serve their communities and clients.

Credits

109

CUAA Continues

CUAA will continue to offer this program in 2025 and beyond

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Hybrid

Online and in-person format allows flexibility for busy students.

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Program Overview

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Mission

The Concordia University Ann Arbor Occupational Therapy Program prepares clinicians who are passionately committed to recognizing the dignity of all human beings through participation in valued occupations, resilient and creative problem solvers prepared to rise to the challenges of a changing world.

Vision

Graduates of the Concordia University Ann Arbor Occupational Therapy Program will be consistently recognized as highly compassionate professionals with the skills to empower effective change in individuals, communities, and in health care.

Highlights

The CUAA OT program is designed to prepare graduates to excel within the complexities of both traditional and emerging practice areas.

- 28 students per cohort
- 109 credits/3 years of study for post-baccalaureate applicants
- Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Science (BSRS) to OTD format for incoming freshman allows completion of bachelor’s and doctorate degrees in 4.75 years total
- Program threads include occupation as a centering concept, spirituality as a lens through which we view the client, professional identity as the foundation of who we are as practitioners, deliberate practice and advocacy as primary tools for addressing occupational performance, and an innovative, engaged, and transformative curriculum design
- Hybrid program delivery combines structured online learning with hands-on practice both in the classroom and in the community
- State-of-the-art classrooms, laboratories, and simulation center
- Twenty-four weeks of full time fieldwork experiences are designed to ensure students achieve the entry-level generalist competencies of the occupational therapy profession
- Fourteen week individualized capstone project and experience allow students to gain an in-depth exposure to one or more areas of practice

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What to Expect

Graduates of the CUAA OT Program will:

Recognize the unique spiritual aspect of every individual’s occupational roles, routines, and activities
Extend Christian empathy, compassion and dignity based on a reverent view of the unique occupational nature of all human beings
Cultivate the professional identity of an occupational therapist based on reflection and positive self-management skills, consistently responding with sound ethical decision making
Provide culturally responsive and individualized occupational therapy services
Address health and participation disparities among diverse communities and populations
Effectively combine principles of science & medicine, interpersonal interaction, teaching & learning, environmental/technology studies, and occupational science to meet the holistic needs of individuals, groups, and communities
Apply advanced clinical reasoning and creative problem solving to empower others to overcome occupational barriers
Demonstrate a desire for inquiry and a commitment to lifelong learning
Articulate and advocate for the distinct value of occupational therapy when working as part of an interdisciplinary team
Complete thorough and timely documentation of occupational therapy services to communicate treatment plan/results and facilitate reimbursement of services
Select, analyze, and utilize evidence-based practice as an integral part of clinical decision making
Contribute to the body of knowledge of occupational therapy through completion of a relevant research study and capstone project

Accreditation Info

Graduation Rates

Cost to Attend

Applying

All applicants to the Concordia University Ann Arbor Occupational Therapy Program will utilize the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS). The application process will open mid-July of the year prior to admission and close June 1.

Concordia University Ann Arbor utilizes a rolling admissions process. Qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the interview process, which take place virtually approximately every other month. Applicants are encouraged to apply and interview early and will be notified of their admission status within two weeks after the interview.

The Concordia University Ann Arbor Occupational Therapy Program (CUAA OTD) will accept a maximum of 28 students annually.

Scholarships for Occupational Therapy students:

Admission Requirements

All students applying for admission to the program must have:

Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA recommended.
C or higher in the following prerequisites:
1. Minimum 6 total credits (8 preferred) of Anatomy & Physiology with a lab component
2. 1 credit of Medical Terminology
3. 3 credits Statistics
4. 3 credits Lifespan/Development course
5. 3 credits Abnormal Psychology
6. 3 credits Multicultural/Diversity themed course
CUAA BSRS-OTD students will apply during the Fall of their sophomore year. For others, at least four of the six prerequisite courses must be complete at time of application with a documented plan for completion of all prerequisites. Post baccalaureate students must have a bachelor’s degree completed from an accredited institution prior to the start of the OTD program.
Three letters of recommendation addressing potential for success both academically and as an occupational therapist, giving specific details about the applicant.
Shadowing of an occupational therapy professional is encouraged but not required. Students should be familiar with the profession of occupational therapy and the types of populations that OT serves. This can be completed through online research, readings, an Introduction to OT course at another university, or personal experience. Volunteer or work experience with diverse populations representative of those who may receive OT services (i.e., pediatric, geriatric, homeless, disabled, underserved, etc.) assists with development of leadership and service skills and will strengthen a candidate’s application.
To assure the health and safety of the student and clients with whom they work, applicants must have the ability to perform essential functions of an occupational therapy graduate student.
Pre-requisite coursework must have been completed at a regionally accredited institution.
International applicants who would attend on a student visa and whose native language is not English must demonstrate competent user status via Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT; minimum total score of 89) or Cambridge Assessment English (Cambridge English Scale; minimum overall score of 185).
Once accepted to the program, applicants must successfully pass a background check, provide immunization and health screening, and complete CPR training.

Note: the program does not accept occupational therapy transfer students or credits.

The University reserves the right to delay or cancel the matriculation of cohorts, classes, or programs. Decisions regarding program matriculation are made by the University. Candidates for enrollment in accredited healthcare programs should contact the program director for detailed information and refer to their acceptance letter for any updates about delays or cancellations. Once a student is matriculated into an accredited program, the University is committed to completing the program.

Accreditation

The Concordia University Ann Arbor entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program is fully accredited 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) 652-6611 and its Web address is www.acoteonline.org.

Licensure/Certifications

Graduates are 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 within 24 months following the completion of the didactic portion of the program. The doctoral capstone experience must be started after completion of all coursework and Level II fieldwork as well as completion of preparatory activities defined in 2018 ACOTE OTD Standard D.1.3.

Hybrid Design

The Concordia University Ann Arbor OT Program is designed as a hybrid program with a goal of a minimum of 51% of total instruction delivered through distance education. This design was deliberately chosen in order to allow flexibility for students and attract a more diverse cohort. The planned schedule is for students to be on campus for two full days per week with a third day reserved as potentially on campus or in the community in order to accommodate Level I fieldwork activities and interprofessional learning experiences. Students should be aware, however, that the program is full-time with an expected weekly workload of approximately 40 hours between class attendance, preparation, and assignment completion. Many students find they need to make adjustments in their employment, social, and community obligations in order to accommodate their educational commitment.

The majority of courses are designated as Blended-Face-to-face formats with 65% of content provided face-to-face and the balance of instruction asynchronous in the Learning Management System (LMS), which is Canvas. Each term, a minimum of one course is designated as either a Blended Videoconferencing or Blended Online format. Blended Videoconferencing means that 51% or more of instruction is real-time live through videoconference with the remainder of instruction asynchronous in the LMS. Blended Online format provides a minimum of 51% of instruction online asynchronous with the balance of instruction either Face-to-face (in person) or Videoconference (virtual). Each course syllabus clearly designates the format of the course as well as a breakdown of the face-to-face, videoconferencing (synchronous), online (asynchronous), and expected homework hours of instruction.

All capstone preparation courses are currently designed as 100% Online asynchronous. This allows students to work independently on preparing for the capstone project and experience. The Doctoral Capstone Coordinator has the option to schedule additional full cohort or individual student meetings as needed when students are on campus to support these courses and student activities.

As students progress through the program, instructional content shifts more heavily towards Videoconference and Online formats. This is true for all courses that take place following Level II fieldwork, in order to eliminate the need for students to return to campus in the event they live out of the area or are completing Level II fieldwork or the Capstone experience in another state.

Because of the hybrid nature of the program, students are required to ensure access to a personal computer with camera and internet access at their own expense throughout the course of the program. View minimum recommended technology requirements here.

Hybrid learning requires specific competencies, and it is important for each student to evaluate their individual learning styles and strategies to determine if it is the best format for them. According to Hoppes, Geiger, & Fleisher (2021), ten characteristics important for successful online learning include:

Ability to work independently
Strong time management skills
Ability to self-reflect
Being a thorough and comprehensive reader
Commitment
Knowing when to take breaks
Willingness to take advantage of available support services
Willingness to ask questions
A self-motivated personality
Willingness to actively participate

Note: Due to the hybrid and accelerated nature of the program, students in the Occupational Therapy Program do not participate in the Fall/Spring 6th Friday break.

Student Fieldwork

Students participate in learning experiences in the community and in various clinical settings throughout the program. In occupational therapy, we call these experiences “fieldwork.” The purpose of fieldwork education is to:

Enrich the educational experience through application of learned skills and knowledge to occupational therapy practice. This process is essential to progress from the role of student to that of practitioner competence.
Provide opportunity for the student to learn to apply the occupational therapy process and evidence-based interventions to meet the occupational needs of a diverse client population.
Assist student development in competency to assess client occupational performance needs, identify supports or barriers affecting health and participation, and document interventions provided.
Provide opportunities for the student to develop advocacy, leadership, and managerial skills in a variety of practice settings.
Support student development of a professional identity as an occupational therapy practitioner, aligning his or her professional judgments and decisions with the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Standards of Practice (AOTA, 2015) and the Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics (AOTA, 2020).

Level I Fieldwork

Level I fieldwork experiences are an introduction to occupational therapy practice and are completed concurrently within the didactic curricula each semester of the first two years of the program through courses titled “Integration and Practice.” These courses aim to introduce students to fieldwork, assist with developing an understanding of client needs, identify strengths and learning/growth needs, and introductory application of knowledge to practice. Concordia University Ann Arbor will utilize a wide variety of activities towards Level I fieldwork each semester, including but not limited to:

Simulated environments
Standardized patients
Faculty practice
Faculty-led site visits
Interprofessional learning activities
Community volunteer activities
Supervision by a fieldwork educator in a practice environment

Level I fieldwork experiences may take place through community organizations, hospitals, clinics, schools, or through simulation. Supervisors may include but are not limited to practicing occupational therapy clinicians, psychologists, teachers, physician assistants, social workers, nurses, and physical therapists.

On Level I fieldwork, students observe and engage in the treatment process to varying degrees and largely depends on the site. This experience builds a foundation for the skills and knowledge that are required for Level II fieldwork engagement including professional behaviors, developing therapeutic communication, and understanding the clinical reasoning process.

Level II Fieldwork

Level II fieldwork is designed to provide an immersive clinical experience to prepare students for entry-level competency and for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) examination by building skills through observation, analysis and clinical reasoning; demonstrate safe, ethical practice and professional behaviors; and develop therapeutic use of self. Level II fieldwork takes place within two full-time, 12-week clinical placements. These placements occur during the Summer and Fall Semesters during the third year of the program and provides the student with the opportunity to practice occupational therapy under supervision in order to integrate academic knowledge with application skills and attitudes for entry-level practice. Supervision must be provided by an occupational therapist who is currently licensed and has at least 1 year of experience.

The Level II experience is an integral part of the educational process with in-depth experience in delivering occupational therapy services to clients, focusing on the application of purposeful and meaningful occupation and/or research, administration, and management of occupational therapy services. On Level II fieldwork a student will be expected to act as a practicing occupational therapist and is considered an OT intern who engages in the evaluation, intervention planning, intervention implementation, ongoing assessment for effectiveness of intervention, and discharge planning phases of treatment.

Upon successful completion of the Level II fieldwork experiences, the student will perform as a competent, entry-level, generalist occupational therapist. Entry-level performance is defined within each practice environment based on the roles and responsibilities of the occupational therapist in that setting. Level II fieldwork is a full-time, unpaid commitment. Students are considered to be enrolled “full-time” while completing Level II fieldwork and therefore qualify for financial aid. Transportation to and from Level I and II Fieldwork and housing are the responsibility of the student. Concordia University student malpractice insurance is included with tuition.

Additional fieldwork requirements:

All students will be required to provide proof of immunizations, get a physical examination to determine ability to engage in activities required of occupational therapists, and complete a background check prior to Level I or Level II placement confirmation.
Some agencies/sites may require additional information including but not limited to drug testing, additional background checks, and additional immunizations.
Proof of health insurance is required for all students prior to confirming a fieldwork placement.
Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from fieldwork sites and housing.
Some sites may require specific clothing such as scrubs.

Doctoral Capstone Experience

Students also complete a doctoral capstone, which includes both a project and an experience. The goal of the doctoral capstone is to provide an in-depth exposure to one or more of the following:

Clinical practice skills
Research skills
Administration
Leadership
Program and policy development
Advocacy
Education
Theory development

Students begin identifying capstone interests in the first semester, and develop their idea and plan throughout the program. Capstone experiences are 14 weeks, full-time, and occur at the end of the program. Similar to fieldwork, students may have additional background checks, drug screens, etc. required by their capstone site and are responsible for housing and transportation during their capstone experience.

Criteria for Successful Completion

To maintain good standing in the program and graduate on time, students must obtain a grade of C+ or better in each course and maintain an overall cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0. Students must complete 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork as well as an individual 14-week capstone experience within 24 months following the completion of the didactic portion of the program. The doctoral capstone experience must be started after completion of all coursework and Level II fieldwork as well as completion of preparatory activities defined in 2018 ACOTE OTD Standard D.1.3.

Concordia University confers the doctoral occupational therapy degree on a student of good character who has met the following requirements:

Accumulated a cumulative minimum grade point average of 3.00 for all academic credit earned at Concordia University.
Satisfied all program-specific requirements including:
- All didactic coursework
- 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork
- 14-week doctoral capstone experience culminating in dissemination of the capstone project
Met all financial obligations to the University.
Each candidate for graduation must complete a Graduation Application online by the assigned deadline, prior to commencement; a fee is assessed for all graduates, whether or not they attend commencement.

View our Full Program Progression Policies here.

National Certification Exam Rates

The first cohort of students graduated in May 2025. The NBCOT Certification Exam first-year pass rates will become available in 2025 and can be found by selecting "Michigan" and "OT Doctoral-Level Programs" on the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy School Performance Data page.

Graduation Rates

Graduation Year	Students Entering	Students Graduating	Graduation Rate
2027	11	TBD	TBD
2026	15	TBD	TBD
2025	13	12	92%

3 year graduate rate: TBD

Estimated Costs

Estimated program costs for the cohort admitted summer 2025 (university fees and nontuition costs outside of Concordia University subject to change).

	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Total
Deposit Nonrefundable, applied to first tuition payment	$500	$0	$0	$500
Tuition Billed at $15,770 each Fall/Spring (Prorated charges/ credits will be applied if student withdraws during summer term)	$31,540	$31,540	$31,540	$94,620
University Fees $144 consolidated fee/semester (includes program, technology, and graduation fees)	$288	$288	$288	$864
Parking fees	$200	$200	$0	$400
AOTA Annual Student Membership	$75	$75	$75	$225
MiOTA Annual Student Membership	$30	$30	$30	$90
Textbooks and materials	$1760	$600	$200	$2,560
EXXAT STEPS Access	$35	$35	$35	$105
CPR/First Aid	$100	$0	$100	$200
Background check	$75-100	Varies by clinical site	Varies by clinical site	$75-100 minimum
Immunizations, Health Exams, Drug Screens (varies by clinical site & student history/insurance)	Varies	Varies	Varies	Varies
Distance Education Fee	$0	$0	$0	$0
Graduation Regalia	$0	$0	$200	$200
Total Approximate Cost of Program				$99,364

Costs are the same for both resident and non-resident.
Tuition is locked upon admission if the student maintains progression through program with current cohort; voluntary or academic delays will result in tuition increases. Tuition typically increases approximately 3% per cohort.
Due to the hybrid nature of the curriculum, student requires a dedicated laptop computer and high-speed internet access throughout the duration of the program. Costs varied by equipment/location. View minimum recommended computer technology requirements.
Student housing, transportation, and food are not included, nor are costs for clothing required to comply with program dress code (business casual with scrubs and/or program logo apparel optional).
Student housing may be required at rural/out of state clinical sites; all housing and transportation costs are the responsibility of the student.
Fees for national certification examination and preparation and state licensing not included.

Overview

It is essential for occupational therapy students to learn through exposure to a wide variety of settings, clinicians, and emerging community roles of occupational therapists to develop passion and ideas for improving occupational engagement, health, and wellness of populations. To do this, we need your help!

ACOTE

ACOTE requires that fieldwork educators for Level II occupational therapy students must be a licensed occupational therapist with minimum 1-year experience. Level I and capstone students may be supervised by non-occupational therapy professionals including but not limited to physical therapists, social workers, nurses, physician assistants, psychologists, teachers, physicians, speech language pathologists, and occupational therapy assistants.

If there is limited OT staff at a site interested in partnering with Concordia University’s occupational therapy department, Concordia would potentially be interested in providing faculty-supervised, student-led programming to expand occupational therapy services.

MOTEC Membership

Concordia University Ann Arbor is a member of the Michigan Occupational Therapy Education Consortium (MOTEC). MOTEC is made up of all of the academic fieldwork coordinators for OT and OTA programs in the state of Michigan. Membership in MOTEC serves to provide all occupational therapy students in the state of Michigan with quality fieldwork and learning opportunities.

With the exception of the accreditation requirements for the candidacy application as outlined above, Concordia University will submit future requests for fieldwork reservations in accordance to the MOTEC policy (requests made in January for the following calendar year).

Benefits of Partnering with Concordia University OTD Program

Exposure to emerging interventions and evidence-based practice through collaboration with current OT students to keep clinicians’ skills current
Opportunity to instill passion for occupational therapy into students
Ability to enrich the learning process for future occupational therapy practitioners
Potential recruitment for occupational therapists at your institution
Energizes and refreshes current therapists on staff
Provides opportunity to fulfill desire to give back to the profession
Promotes the role of OT within the company/organization
Provides students opportunities to research and bring innovative ideas/creative treatment approaches to the organization
Potential to decrease workload once students are seeing patients with indirect supervision

Support for Fieldwork Educators

Clinicians may identify barriers to supervising a student despite the desire to be a fieldwork educator. The Academic Fieldwork Coordinator at Concordia University is available to provide education, resources, and support to assist in reducing barriers. Frequently cited barriers include but are not limited to:

Productivity pressures/lack of time
Part-time clinicians at the site
Too few clinicians at the site
Limited physical resources/space
Fieldwork educator role strain
Previous experiences with challenging students
Lack of confidence/experience in fieldwork educator role

Concordia University Faculty can help reduce these barriers and support you as a fieldwork educator through:

1:1 mentoring or facility in-service on fieldwork/education related topics
Assistance to develop fieldwork manual, site specific objectives, and other student materials
Best practice resources on fieldwork education role
Invitation to annual MOTEC fieldwork education events (free CEUs)

Students may benefit from a collaborative supervision model (one fieldwork educator paired with two or more Level II students, or an OT and OTA student concurrently) as students are accustomed to learning in groups and the ability to learn with and from a peer (within or outside of their OT program) can enhance learning and enrich the educational experience within a Level II fieldwork placement.

For any questions or request for support related to becoming a fieldwork educator or partnering with Concordia University, please contact Jennifer Engja at jennifer.engja@cuaa.edu or 734-995-7369.

Doctoral Capstone Experiences

We are also seeking potential partners for doctoral capstone experiences. Capstone experiences are 14 weeks, full-time, and occur at the end of the program. Students begin identifying capstone interests in the first semester, and develop their idea and plan throughout the program. Capstone mentors are not required to be occupational therapists.

The goal of the doctoral capstone is to provide an in-depth exposure to one or more of the following:

Clinical skills
Research skills
Administration
Program development and evaluation
Policy development
Advocacy
Education
Leadership

For any questions or request for support related to scheduling a doctoral capstone student or partnering with Concordia University, please contact Juliane Chreston at juliane.chreston@cuaa.eduu or 734-995-7596

Program/Lab Participation

It is highly beneficial to include practitioners within the educational aspects of the program. This provides the opportunity for students to begin developing professional networks, experience real world practice issues, and learn about specialty areas of practice. Activities can take place on campus, in the community, or virtually and may be in the form of:

Participation in admission interviews
Guest lectures
Assisting with lab checkouts
Playing the patient during simulation experiences
Hosting a class fieldtrip at your site
Serving on our advisory board
Adjunct teaching
Lab assistant

If you are interested please contact Program Director Juliane Chreston at juliane.chreston@cuaa.edu or 734-995-7596.