Occupational Therapy Doctorate

OTD Program Details

• Why KGI's OTD Program

  We understand that for people to be happy and healthy they need to be seen and treated holistically. Through the lens of a systems approach, KGI OTD students will be trained to utilize a whole-person approach to occupational therapy. Students will learn to achieve therapeutic outcomes by addressing the complex interplay of factors that influence occupational engagement, including both physical and mental health, family systems, social factors, and the environment.

  We believe that occupational therapy is the answer for many of the problems people face in our world. KGI OTD students will understand the innovative potential of therapeutically utilizing occupation to promote health and well-being for clients, communities, and populations. Students will be trained on the use of innovative practices and technologies to evolve occupational therapy care in traditional settings as well as pave the way for occupational therapy in emerging areas of practice.

• OTD Curriculum and Electives

  KGI’s innovative OTD curriculum is based on an integrative and systems approach, with occupation as the core subject to prepare students for the future of practice. KGI specializes in active learning, and our OTD students will experience a wide range of hands-on, engaged teaching and learning strategies with ample time to work in labs and on teams.

  As a curricular thread, principles and practices of lifestyle medicine will be interwoven into courses across the OTD program preparing students to be champions for lifestyle changes to improve health and well-being. OTD students will also have the opportunity to learn basic design and engineering principles and work with students in KGI’s Master of Science in Medical Device Engineering program on creating device solutions to promote participation in daily life activities.

  We understand occupational therapy is a broad profession. KGI OTD students will have the ability to take elective courses in a range of topics to build knowledge and experience in a specific area of practice or clinical skill set.

  Learn more about the curriculum and electives.

• OTD Fieldwork

  OTD fieldwork helps students to bridge innovation with traditional therapeutic settings through the infusion of whole-person care, lifestyle medicine principles, and innovative practice skills. Learn more.

• OTD Capstone

  The OTD capstone provides an opportunity for students to develop as innovative leaders and scholars of practice by demonstrating in-depth synthesis and application of knowledge within an area of focus in a mentored setting. Learn more.

• Career Paths

  A career in occupational therapy is like many different jobs wrapped into one. Occupational therapists work in hospitals, long-term care facilities, schools, clinics, behavioral health settings, and community-based settings. The wide range of settings, ages, and conditions means that you can always keep growing, exploring, and finding new ways to make a difference in others’ lives.

• Community-Based Practice

  Our world is filled with needs that occupational therapy can fulfill. KGI’s OTD students will learn about the value of bringing an occupational therapy lens to providing community-based services. Our OTD students will learn the process of determining the needs of a community, identifying grant and funding sources, and developing programs in areas including older adult independent living settings, after-school programs, and family shelters, among others. Students will gain experience in providing therapeutic services to the community through experiential learning opportunities and collaborations with other disciplines in the KGI community.

• Health Equity and Occupational Justice

  The OTD program at KGI believes the profession is better and more effective when there is equitable and diverse representation of the communities and populations we serve. Students will begin their education learning about occupational therapy using an occupational justice lens and understand the inequities that lead to poor health outcomes and access to services. Students will apply this knowledge throughout the curriculum, learning to address and advocate for issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion at the practice and policy levels while also developing lifelong skills to be culturally responsive practitioners.

• Being an OTD Student in Grad School

  Attending graduate school can be a stressful experience where managing time and demands can prove challenging. At KGI, we have occupational therapy services available through Student Affairs for all students to help navigate the complexities of attending graduate school. KGI OTD students will learn how to provide occupational therapy services in higher education settings through coursework, electives, and the option of fieldwork to help move this important emerging practice area forward.