Online Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy (PP-OTD)

The PP-OTD program prepares occupational therapists to assume leadership roles in developing and evaluating innovative responses to healthcare needs related to occupational performance and societal participation. The program uses a mentorship model where each student is paired in a one-on-one relationship with a faculty mentor, who provides the student with individualized guidance throughout the program.

Completion of the doctoral project is a central feature of the program. The project includes critically analyzing the theoretical and evidence base for current approaches, analyzing the social and cultural factors affecting the practice context, developing a scientifically grounded innovation to improve service outcomes, and designing methods to evaluate individual and program-level outcomes.

This innovative program is offered online with two one-day on-campus components at the beginning and end. Students take two consecutive, seven-week courses while concurrently working on the doctoral project each semester. The PP-OTD requires 33–36 credits, or 10 courses. Students may be required to complete six foundation courses, depending on their past educational experiences. These courses can be taken during their doctorate study.

We matriculate students into the PP-OTD program in January, May, and September. Applicants who have graduated from an ACOTE or WFOT-accredited degree program or who can provide a National Government Recognition document of their program in occupational therapy and who obtained the equivalent of a GPA of 3.0 or better on the US 4-point scale in that OT program are exempt from taking the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Merit-based scholarships are offered to all admitted applicants.

For more on the PP-OTD program (including program and course descriptions, admission requirements, and procedures), please visit our website; email program director Karen Jacobs; or call 617-353-7516.

Learning Outcomes

Program graduates will:

  • Enhance professional opportunities to design, implement, evaluate, and sustain innovative programs.
  • Advocate for occupationally just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive communities and societies.
  • Raise awareness of the profession to discover and expand opportunities for occupational therapy professionals in practice, education, and scholarship.
  • Contribute to occupational therapy literature and evidence-based educational material.
  • Impact global health issues.
  • Advance the professional reach beyond traditional walls, with a focus on community-based practice and emerging practice areas

Doctoral Program in Rehabilitation Sciences (PhD)

Occupational therapy faculty participate actively in the interdisciplinary Doctor of Philosophy Program in Rehabilitation Sciences. Occupational therapists interested in pursuing doctoral study to prepare for a career in research and teaching can find a detailed description of the PhD program under Rehabilitation Sciences.