SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCES
Occupational Therapy Doctorate
OTD
Program Details
Start Term
Fall
Deadline
final deadline: June 7
Whole Person Care and Lifestyle Medicine
Students will learn to achieve therapeutic outcomes by addressing the complex interplay of whole person factors that influence occupational engagement, including both physical and mental health, family systems, social factors, and the environment. An emphasis on lifestyle medicine will teach students to integrate health management strategies in all practice settings.
Occupational Therapy in Higher Education
KGI offers occupational therapy services to students to help them navigate the complexities of 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 advance this important emerging practice.
Community-based Practice
KGI OTD students will learn the process of determining the needs of a community, identifying grant and funding sources, and developing programs in a variety of areas. 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
Students will learn about occupational therapy using an occupational justice lens to understand inequities related to poor health outcomes and access to services. Students will apply this knowledge, at the practice and policy levels, in order to advocate for issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion while also developing lifelong skills to be culturally responsive practitioners.
Innovative Curriculum
KGI’s innovative OTD curriculum is based on an integrative and systems approach that utilizes active learning experiences, in teams and labs, with occupation as the core subject to prepare students for the future of practice. Inter-professional experiences will enhance student learning and professional growth.
Innovations in Practice
KGI OTD students will be trained on the use of innovative practices therapeutically utilizing occupation and technologies to promote health and well-being for clients in a way that pushes occupational therapy forward in traditional and emerging areas of practice.
KGI's Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program prepares graduates to be leaders within the occupational therapy field. This degree program showcases active-learning, hands-on lab and fieldwork experiences, and team collaboration that will prepare you to become resourceful, ethical, and agile problem solvers.
About the Program
The OTD program envisions the innovative potential for therapeutically utilizing occupation to promote and sustain health, well-being, participation, and inclusion to meet a wide range of ever-changing, real-world needs.
Through a transformative and dynamic educational process, graduates become innovative occupational therapists who utilize the therapeutic potential of occupation to promote and sustain health, well-being, participation, and inclusion with individuals, group, and populations to meet a wide range of ever-changing, real world needs. Students will learn to work with people of all ages and ability levels in client-centered, culturally responsive ways.
Students benefit dynamic teaching, active learning, and collaboration with occupational therapy classmates and students from other professional programs and disciplines. The program provides a solid foundation in the scholarship of practice where professional thinking is built upon evidence and theory to meet clients’ needs.
OTD students consider innovative possibilities for the future of practice by pioneering new approaches to occupational therapy care
Where Can Your OTD Degree Take You?
The demand for occupational therapy services has risen in recent years, and projections include a predicted 17 percent growth of the profession from 2020-2030. Occupational therapists work with people of all ages, with varying levels of abilities and conditions.
Occupational therapists work in hospitals, long-term care facilities, schools, clinics, behavioral health settings, and community-based settings, allowing graduates to find new ways to make a difference in others’ lives.
Fieldwork
Students take the theoretical and hands-on skills that they’ve learned in the classroom and apply them to real clients in the context of authentic practice environments.
Fieldwork opportunities provide students with the ability to:
- Discover the client’s occupational performance needs through evaluation and assessment
- Plan, develop, and execute occupation-based interventions
- Identify opportunities for innovation, advocacy, and leadership development in practice
Level I Fieldwork
- Aligns with the material being taught in the respective trimester
- Serves as an opportunity for students to experience selected portions of occupational therapy process
- Placements include hospitals, schools, skilled nursing facilities, outpatient clinics, community-based programs, and simulation
Level II Fieldwork
- Students master skills needed to transition from the role of a student to that of an entry-level practitioner
Students learn foundational therapeutic skills in traditional settings while also exploring opportunities in non-traditional, role-emerging, and innovative practice areas. students are challenged to explore ways to bridge innovation with traditional therapeutic settings through the infusion of whole-person care, lifestyle medicine principles, and innovative practice skills.
Capstone
The 14-week doctoral capstone is an in-depth experiential learning opportunity that develops advanced skills in:
- Clinical practice skills
- Research
- Program or policy development
- Leadership
- Advocacy
- Administration
- Education
- Theory development
Students identify capstone areas of interest that align with their professional goals, and are paired with a faculty mentor and a community site to collaboratively develop a plan for their doctoral capstone.
Students complete their culminating doctoral capstone in the final trimester of the program, which consists of two components:
- The capstone project
- The 14-week doctoral capstone experience (DCE)
Student's application of occupational therapy knowledge is showcased through program curriculum, clinical pathways, innovative technologies, and research studies.
Accreditation Status Read more
This entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program has received candidacy status from 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 is able to enroll students and is approved by the Western Association of Schools & Colleges (WASC).
This degree 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.
Program Faculty and Staff
Vikas Sharma, OTD, OTR/L
Program Director, Occupational Therapy Program and Professor of Practice
Leylani Wandell, PP-OTD, MOT, OTR/L
Academic Fieldwork Coordinator and Assistant Professor
Jennifer Yan Jiang
Administrative Support Specialist
Prerequisites
Courses in:
- Human anatomy
- Human physiology or developmental psychology
- Human lifespan development
- Abnormal psychology
- Introduction to sociology or cultural anthropology
- Statistics
- Medical terminology*
*A certificate of completion for medical terminology course is also acceptable
How to Apply
- Completed application through OCTAS
- Personal statement
- Resume
- Letter of recommendation
- Transcripts
- English language proficiency (TOEFL, PTE, IELTS, iTEP)
- Admission interview
Admitted students are required to submit a $500 non-refundable enrollment fee to hold their spot in the program.
Vikas Sharma, OTD, OTR/L
Program Director, Occupational Therapy Program and Professor of Practice
Vikas Sharma, is the Program Director for the Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program here at KGI. He has been an occupational therapist for 30 years now.
After moving to the U.S. in 1996, Sharma primarily worked as an occupational therapist and as a director of rehabilitation in skilled nursing facilities. The majority of his work experience is from skilled nursing facilities, adult day care centers, and an integrated school setting.
In 2013, he enrolled in Pennsylvania’s Chatham University, receiving his doctorate in occupational therapy. His motive was to pursue teaching to give back to the profession. He soon moved into academia, becoming a full-time professor in December 2015, and then later became the program director for the occupational therapy program at the same university. In September 2022, he joined the KGI family. He is very excited to educate our new generation of future occupational therapists and see them grow both personally and professionally in the field of occupational therapy.
Nicolaas van den Heever, OTD, OTR/L
Professor, Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program
Nicolaas van den Heever, born in South Africa, obtained his Occupational Therapy degree from the University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town as the first male OT in South Africa. He decided early on in his career to develop professionally as a generalist and gained experience in a variety of settings – the military, rural communities in Africa and China (for the WHO), large psychiatric hospitals and industrial units, orphanages, substance abuse rehabilitation, out-patient rehabilitation, and in private practice – specializing in adult and pediatric neuro-rehabilitation.
He spent the last 40 years in the health care field as a clinician, consultant, rehabilitation director, hospital administrator, in business development and marketing, and as a university professor, department chair, founding program director of both master and doctoral programs, and dean. Besides his international engagements, he has practiced for the last 18 years here in the United States, mostly in leadership positions as director of rehab departments, multi-site hospital-based clinics, and hospital educator. During this time, he obtained his post-professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate from the University of St. Augustine. He has been an international, national, and local speaker on the topics of rehabilitation both for the adults and pediatric population, stroke prevention, stroke, and brain injury rehabilitation, which includes functional vision and cognitive rehabilitation, and return-to-driving rehabilitation for the disabled.
Besides his work as a consultant in the areas of quality improvement and licensing, accreditation, and survey preparation, he developed a lucrative practice in leadership development, customer service training, and developing high-functioning teams. In 2014, Dr. van den Heever was awarded the Occupational Therapy Practice Award by the Occupational Therapy Association of California (OTAC) “in recognition of significant contributions to the advancement of the practice of occupational therapy.”
Kelly Auld-Wright, OTD, OTR/L
Assistant Professor
Dr. Kelly Auld-Wright joined the KGI team in July 2023 and brings to us a breadth of knowledge based on her experience in pediatric practice. She received an Occupational Therapy (OT) Masters degree from the University of Southern California (USC) in 2007 and received an OT Doctorate degree from Thomas Jefferson University (TJU) in 2018. Kelly has advanced training in Ayres Sensory Integration ® (ASI), holding certificates from USC’s OT 610 program and the Collaborative for Leadership in Ayres Sensory Integration (CLASI)’s, Certificate in Ayres Sensory Integration (CASI). Additionally, she holds advanced practice certificate in neuroscience from TJU.
Kelly’s doctoral capstone focused on the validity of the Evaluation of Ayres Sensory Integration (EASI), tactile tests. Her doctoral work is published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy (AJOT). She works as a research associate and instructor for the Collaborative for Leadership in Ayres Sensory Integration (CLASI), and has taught advanced training courses in ASI nationally and internationally. Kelly currently serves as the co-research chair for the American Occupational Therapy Association’s (AOTA’s) Sensory Integration and Processing Special Interest Section.
Kelly is a wife and mother of three (two children and one dog). Her favorite occupations include walking the dog, swimming, and spending time with family and friends. As a practitioner, she has primarily worked with children and families in early intervention, school settings, and clinic-based settings. Kelly is excited to continue her journey in academia, and looks forward to sharing her passion for OT with her students.
Ann McDonald, PhD, OTR/L, MA, SWC, ALC
Professor
Dr. McDonald has served as an occupational therapy practitioner, educator, and researcher throughout her 30+ year career. She received her PhD, in Occupational Science and MA in Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern California (USC) as well as a BA in Education (Special Education) from Arizona State University (ASU). As a lifelong learner, she also holds an MA in Bioethics and Health Policy from Loyola University, Chicago, and is an alumna of Harvard’s Global Clinical Scholars Research Training (GCSRT) Program.
As a practitioner, Dr. McDonald has focused her work with children and families from diverse backgrounds across a wide range of service settings inclusive of Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles (CHLA), UCLA’s Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) as well as homeless shelters, private practice clinics, in-home early intervention, and overseas for the Exceptional Family Member Program (Department of Defense Schools) in Germany.
Dr. McDonald has presented locally, nationally, and internationally on pediatrics, play, and narrative ethics. She is a past Chair of AOTA’s Ethics Commission and presently serves on the editorial board of the American Journal of Occupational Therapy. She received an AOTA service award for her work on the Standards and Ethics Review Committee and is a past recipient of OTAC’s Tea with a Scholar. Her research is published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy, Occupational Therapy in Health Care Journal as well as the Open Access Journal of Occupational Therapy.
In her spare time, Dr. McDonald enjoys traveling and spending time with her family and many pets.
Ana Sanchez, OTD, OTR/LC
Professor
Dr. Ana Sanchez received her Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Southern California (USC) in 2019; she then continued to complete a post-professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) in 2020. As part of her doctoral program, Ana established occupational therapy services at Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) within the Student Health Services department. Since the start of her program in Fall 2019, Ana has worked to expand existing programs on Mt. SAC’s campus, including the NUANCE Program (formerly Puzzle Project), and ultimately joined the Student Health Services’ Mental Health Team in the Fall of 2020. In addition to providing OT services for students through Mt. SAC’s Student Health Services and the NUANCE program, Ana has also advocated to promote mental health services and occupational therapy for college students by partnering with other existing programs on campus, including Mt. SAC’s Accessibility Resource Center (ACCESS) and the REACH program. Ana became a PEERS® Certified Provider and a Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist in 2022.
In addition to her work in college student mental health and wellness, Ana has also worked in pediatric settings, with her experience primarily focusing on early intervention. During her experience as a Pediatric Occupational Therapist, Ana has provided services in a variety of settings, including clinic-based early intervention, home and community-based settings, and non-public schools.
Ana’s areas of interest include Autism Spectrum Disorder, mental health, early intervention, and disability advocacy. Ana continues to work at Mt. SAC within the NUANCE program providing Occupational Therapy services to promote students’ mental health and access to higher education.
Leylani Wandell, PP-OTD, MOT, OTR/L
Academic Fieldwork Coordinator and Assistant Professor
Dr. Lani Wandell earned a Masters degree in Occupational Therapy from The University of Texas Health (UT Health). Driven by a commitment to continuous learning, she pursued a Post-Professional Doctoral degree at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC). Notably, during her doctoral studies, Dr. Wandell initiated a pain management program, demonstrating her dedication to raising awareness about alternative modalities within the field. Her exceptional dedication in this area was acknowledged with an awarded TTUHSC SHP CH Foundation Pain Science Scholarship, recognizing Dr. Wandell’s contributions to advancing pain management techniques.
Dr. Wandell’s commitment to providing holistic care is evident. As a bilingual Spanish speaker, she actively collaborates with students and healthcare teams, fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion, while addressing the unique needs of populations.
Prior to her academic career, Dr. Wandell garnered extensive experience as an inpatient and acute care therapist in broad scope working with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), stroke (CVAs), spinal cord injuries (SCIs), orthopedic conditions and many more. Her exposure to the medical field inspired her transition to her current role as a professor at KGI. Dr. Wandell’s goal is to apply her experiences to have a positive impact on Occupational Therapy education.
During her spare time, Lani enjoys taking walks with her husband, Adam, exploring new travel destinations, and creating memories with family.
Ana Sanchez, OTD, OTR/L
Assistant Professor, Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program
Bio coming soon.
Hanalynn Hunt, OTD, OTR/L, CBIS
Assistant Professor & Capstone Coordinator
Dr. Hanalynn Hunt received her Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy from California State University, Dominguez Hills in 2017 and then attended the University of Southern California receiving her Occupational Therapy Clinical Doctorate in 2018. During her doctoral program she conducted her residency at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Hospital, working with the outpatient brain injury team. Hanalynn became a Certified Brain Injury Specialist in 2021.
Hanalynn’s work experience is primarily in the adult population in outpatient and inpatient physical rehabilitation settings. While she worked at various acute rehabilitation units including Casa Colina, Providence Little Company of Mary, San Pedro and Hoag Hospital, most of her occupational therapy career has been at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, where she was hired after her doctoral residency. At Rancho, she provided occupational therapy services in a wide variety of programs including the outpatient General program, Acquired Brain Injury Day Rehab Center, Neuro-Optometry Clinic, Center for Applied Rehabilitation Technology, and Emerging Technology Lab.
Hanalynn continues to work at Rancho Los Amigos in the Center for Applied Rehab Technology and Emerging Technology Lab where she identifies assistive technology solutions to increase client’s independence in meaningful occupations. She has presented on 3D printing and adaptive gaming in occupational therapy at various conferences in California.
OTD Accreditation
This entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program has received candidacy status from 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 is able to enroll students and is approved by the Western Association of Schools & Colleges (WASC).
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). The web address is www.nbcot.org. 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.
If you are a prospective student, please read this linked letter from ACOTE.
KGI’s OTD program is approved by the Western Association of Schools & Colleges.
Program Requirements
In order to graduate with an Occupational Therapy Doctorate degree from KGI, a student must:
- Successfully complete all required OTD coursework. The curriculum will be 126.5 credit hours total with required didactic coursework of 84.5 credits, the choice of at least one elective at 1.5 credits each, fieldwork level I at 4.0 credits, fieldwork level II at 24 credits, and the doctoral capstone experience at 14 credits.
- Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 at the end of each trimester and at the completion of the program.
- Demonstrate competency in professional skills within the OTD program.
- Successfully pass two fieldwork level II experiences (24 credits for a total of 960).
- Successfully pass the doctoral capstone experience (14 credits for a total of 560 hours).
- A minimum of 100 Professional Development points before graduation.
- Complete the KGI graduation application process prior to the established due date.
- Meet all KGI financial requirements and obligations, which include ensuring there are no outstanding tuition payments, program fees, graduation fees, library charges, or other institutional fees.
- Complete the OTD program within the maximum time-to-completion, which is defined as 150% of the program length (i.e., 3.375 years). Deceleration and remediation must also be completed within this timeframe. Delays due to approved personal or medical leaves of absence are excluded from the maximum time-to-completion requirement. Please refer to the “Leave of Absence” section in this handbook and the KGI Academic Policies and Procedures Handbook for further details.
Once all graduation requirements are met, graduates of the program 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 graduate 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. A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.
All students in the OTD program will be required to successfully complete courses each trimester to progress through the program. The OTD Student Progression Committee (SPC) will serve to review each student’s academic performance and progress through didactic courses, fieldwork, and capstone. The OTD SPC will make recommendations to the Dean on plans for remediation, placement on probation, or withdrawal from the program. To successfully progress through the OTD program, students will:
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. If a student’s GPA drops below 3.0, they will be placed on academic probation and be given one semester to raise their GPA to 3.0 or above. Failure to meet this GPA requirement in the extended time period may result in dismissal from the program.
- Pass all courses at a C or above (74% or greater). Earning one final course grade of F (below 74%) during didactic courses, fieldwork, or capstone after remediation efforts have been exhausted will result in academic dismissal from the program.
- Successfully complete course remediation, if applicable. If a student is failing a course in the semester, they will have the opportunity to remediate prior to the beginning of the next semester pending recommendation by the OTD SPC. Students may only remediate two courses total in the program.
- Meet the time-to-completion requirement of 150% of the allocated time for the program. There may be exceptions for students who are delayed due to approved personal or medical leaves of absence.
- Follow the KGI Honor Code and demonstrate professionalism in didactic, fieldwork, and capstone contexts.
Retention of students will be supported on several levels from program leadership, faculty, and Student Affairs staff. All parties will provide opportunities to promote student success. Each OTD student will be assigned an OTD Faculty Advisor that will meet with advisees throughout the program. Course coordinators will utilize the SHS early warning system to help alert students who are academically at-risk where a plan will be established to assist students to successfully pass courses.
Admissions Procedures & Requirements
Holistic Approach
KGI’s OTD program engages in a holistic admissions process. Access and diversity matters and we understand the importance of an anti-biased, equitable process for admissions into our program. We recognize that life has its ups and downs, and challenging times do not necessarily define your potential for professional excellence and growth in the future. Our multifaceted admissions process aims to understand each applicant from a whole perspective where a fit with our department’s mission, vision, and values plays a major role.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
KGI’s OTD program welcomes diversity in all of its forms and celebrates people as individuals. We recognize that a diversity of perspectives, identities, and life experiences makes for a stronger learning community and fosters meaningful growth. We aim to intentionally create a program culture where everyone feels a freedom to be and express who they are. We are committed to utilizing resources for faculty and staff education on diversity, equity, and inclusion to help foster conversations and engagement to confront racism and integrate meaningful dialogue and education on these vital topics into our department culture and curriculum.
Dates and Deadlines
KGI’s utilizes the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS) for all applications. All application materials are submitted directly into OTCAS. Be sure that your status is marked verified on OTCAS for a successful application.
- Application opens: Friday, July 19, 2024
- Priority Deadline: Friday, December 6, 2024
- Final Deadline to apply: Friday, June 6, 2025
*Applications will continue to be accepted and reviewed by the admissions team until the class is full.
Prerequisites
The following prerequisites were chosen to prepare you in foundational knowledge that will best serve your transformation into future occupational therapists. The prerequisites include perspectives from the basic, social, and health sciences. The courses will help springboard you into holistic and diverse explorations of engagement in occupation and the scholarly support of such work.
The prerequisites include:
- Human Anatomy: 4 semester credit hours / 6 quarter credit hours / Lab
- Human Physiology: 4 semester credit hours / 6 quarter credit hours / Lab
- Human Lifespan Development or Development Psychology: 3 semester credit hours / 4 quarter credit hours
- Abnormal Psychology: 3 semester credit hours / 4 quarter credit hours
- Introduction to Sociology or Cultural Anthropology: 3 semester credit hours / 4 quarter credit hours
- Statistics: 3 semester credit hours / 4 quarter credit hours
- Medical Terminology*: 1 semester credit hours / 1 quarter credit hours
* A certificate of completion for a medical terminology course is also acceptable
Applications will be accepted even if some of your prerequisite courses are in progress; however, prerequisites must be completed prior to starting the OTD program. All prerequisite courses must be taken at accredited institutions and need to have been completed in the last seven years. A GPA of 3.0 and above is preferred for prerequisite courses, but lower GPAs will be considered alongside other admissions factors.
Official Transcripts for Completion of Baccalaureate Degree
There are many undergraduate degrees that prove a good fit for occupational therapy. We welcome the diversity of perspectives that a variety of disciplines will bring to any given OTD cohort. You will have the opportunity to share your voice as informed by your undergraduate training in many discussions and projects across the curriculum.
If you have not yet completed your baccalaureate degree, you can still apply to KGI. Please submit an intention to complete your baccalaureate degree with your official transcript. Your degree must be completed prior to starting the OTD program. An overall GPA of 3.0 and above makes for a more competitive application, but other admission factors will be considered alongside a lower GPA and does not preclude applying at KGI.
Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
KGI does not require the GRE and submitted scores will not be considered in the admissions process.
Three Letters of Recommendation
Three letters of recommendation help us get to know you better and should demonstrate your character, strengths, and professionalism. The sharing of specific examples where your abilities and work ethic are evidenced are of particular value.
Letters of recommendation should be written by people who know you well enough to write a detailed narrative. Letters can be written by a professor, therapist, or other professional or supervisor that can speak to your ability to experience success in an occupational therapy graduate program and as a future occupational therapist.
Recommended Occupational Therapy Observation
KGI does not require a specified amount of occupational therapy observation time as we know that sometimes it can be difficult to find shadowing opportunities. We understand how valuable it is to see occupational therapy in action in a variety of settings and highly recommend applicants seek out those experiences to make a more informed decision. Observation experiences might happen in a school, hospital, outpatient clinic, community-based site, long term care facility, or any other place occupational therapy professionals might be providing services. Mostly shadowing ends up being motivating and inspiring to see occupational therapy in action!
International Applicants
KGI welcomes applicants from outside of the United States. If English is not your first language, then we ask that you take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam.
Duolingo English Test: The Duolingo English Test is an online English proficiency test that can be taken online, on-demand, in under an hour for only $59. The test is taken via a computer with a camera and includes a proficiency score, video interview, and writing sample which are shared with Keck Graduate Institute when you send your results. Certified results are available within 48 hours of the test session.
Immunization
All students admitted to the KGI OTD program are required to have a proof of the MMR, DTaP, Hepatitis B, TB test, and Meningococcal vaccinations before they are placed for their fieldwork rotations and capstone sites.
In addition, KGI is requiring influenza and COVID-19 vaccination for all staff, faculty, and students. Exemptions may be provided for medical or religious reasons. Students must understand that an exemption from the influenza or COVID-19 vaccination only applies to time spent on-campus at KGI. While on experiential learning, students will be required to follow the vaccination guidelines set forth by the site and/or the state. Exemption from influenza or COVID-19 vaccination may impact the ability to place a student at a fieldwork site which can influence the student’s ability to successfully matriculate through the program.
Also, please note that the policy for immunizations and tests for KGI OTD students is to follow the current guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for healthcare workers. It is the sole responsibility of the student to complete and submit all of the correct requirements/documentation before the due date(s) and to never let any of those requirements/documentation expire. Failure to be compliant at any time can result in failure of the course, delay in graduation, and financial implications for the student.
Interviews and Getting to Know You
At KGI, we care about finding students that will thrive and maximize their professional and personal growth in our OTD program. We want to get to know you so we can make an informed choice about mutual fit with our mission, vision, and unique offerings. Interviews are by invitation and will be offered virtually and on-ground at KGI and also give you the chance to get to know us as well. We look forward to meeting you!
Application Review
The Admissions Committee is made up of faculty and senior administrators who will thoroughly and conscientiously review each application. Applications will be considered in the context of the total applicant pool, as well as in relationship to our general admissions standards.
All admissions decisions are final for the academic year in which they are rendered.
Admitted Students
Admitted students are required to submit a non-refundable enrollment fee to hold their spot in the program. Additionally, counselors maintain contact with admitted students to ensure all official documents are received.
Admitted students also receive regular communication for the Admissions Office with important information about preparing for study, student life, housing, orientation, and other topics of interest.
Advanced Placement
Transfer credits for didactic and experiential courses are not accepted. All KGI OTD program courses within the curriculum are required for graduation. No credit or advanced placement is granted for prior experiential learning, coursework, degrees, certifications, or advanced training.
Tuition & Cost of Attendance
The estimated tuition for KGI’s OTD program can be found on the link below and is inclusive of several valuable features including:
- Telehealth services through KGI and The Claremont Colleges Services
- Professional memberships in AOTA and OTAC
- OTD white coats, scrubs, etc.
- Lab fees
- Variety of student activities
- Graduation fees
Tuition and fees for the OTD program are determined by KGI’s Board of Trustees and are subject to change on an annual basis.
For tuition rates and financial aid cost of attendance of the OTD program, please visit Cost of Attendance page.
For Student Health Insurance information of the OTD program, please visit Student Health Insurance page.