Building and using evidence-based skills in occupations spanning all life stages

OT Program Plan

Overview of Course Sequence

The University of Minnesota’s Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) courses prepare students to understand, analyze, synthesize and apply content about occupational therapy within a variety of contexts including classroom, home, community, and authentic practice settings. Students learn foundational concepts about how occupations impact the health and wellbeing of persons, communities and populations by first analyzing their occupational selves.

maddie-schlossmacher-with-patient.jpg
"We are going to water the plants because Lisa likes to take care of something living. It makes her feel happy, so we incorporate that into the activity that we're working on.
- Maddie Schlossmacher, UMN OT Student

Students register for 15-17 credits per semester aligned to themes of lifespan occupations, understanding foundations, becoming an innovative leader, understanding and building evidence, and learning through experience.

Students also develop OT practice skills through nine courses (21 credits) about occupations spanning child, youth, adult, and older adult life stages and provide a foundation in occupations-based assessment and intervention.

During four one-week Level I fieldwork courses, students simultaneously learn the OT role in specific practice areas such as children and youth, adult, older adult, and mental health OT. Students also participate in two 12-week Level II fieldwork courses that occur after the spring semester of their second year and before they start a final Capstone experience and project.

All OTD students conduct a final Capstone experience and project within one of the following areas of advanced practice:

  • clinical practice
  • research
  • administration
  • leadership
  • program & policy development
  • advocacy
  • education
  • theory development

Many of our program graduates ascend to leadership roles, and our OTD courses aim to develop their innovative leadership potential.  Our curriculum includes a series of four professional development courses and six elective credits that prepare them for roles of manager, educator, program developer and practice analyst, supporting individualized learning in their selected area of focused practice.

Students learn to build and use evidence-based skills and knowledge in a series of three research courses focused on:  the importance of research; types and ethics of research; and, quantitative and qualitative approaches. Students additionally experience quantitative and qualitative research in separate courses, followed by a course on professional and grant writing.

The course sequence below is one example of a student’s pathway to attaining the University of Minnesota’s Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree. Students complete semesters 1-5 as a single cohort, then vary their course completion based on individualized enrollment in Level II fieldwork options.

Example Schedules

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Year One

Fall - Semester One

Course Credits 
OT 7111 Professional Development in OT I2
OT 7121 Foundations of OT8
OT 7122 Mind & Body: Aspects of OT Practice2
OT 7141 Body Structure & Function I3
OT 7175 Level I Fieldwork: Child & Youth or OT 7176 Level I Fieldwork: Adults or OT 7177 Level I Fieldwork: Older Adults or OT 7271 Level I Fieldwork: Mental Health1
Total Credits16

 

Spring - Semester Two

CourseCredits
OT 7211 Professional Development in OT II2
OT 7221 OT Process: Child & Youth I3
OT 7222 OT Process: Adults I3
OT 7223 OT Process: Older Adults I3
OT 7231 Critical Inquiry in OT2
OT 7242 Body Structure & Function II2
OT 7175 Level I Fieldwork: Child & Youth or OT 7176 Level I Fieldwork: Adults or OT 7177 Level I Fieldwork: Older Adults or OT 7271 Level I Fieldwork: Mental Health1
Total Credits16

 

Summer - Semester Three 

Course Credits 
OT 7332 Quantitative Research in OT2
OT 7343 Body Structure & Function III4
Electives (options: OT 7851 and OT 7852) 0-2
Total Credits6

Year Two

Fall - Semester Four

CourseCredits
 OT 7411 Professional Development in OT III 2
 OT 7421 OT Process: Child & Youth II 3
 OT 7422 OT Process: Adults II 3
 OT 7423 OT Process: Older Adults II 3
 OT 7431 Qualitative Inquiry in OT 2
 OT 7451 OT Capstone Preparation I 1
OT 7175 Level I Fieldwork: Child & Youth or OT 7176 Level I Fieldwork: Adults or OT 7177 Level I Fieldwork: Older Adults or OT 7271 Level I Fieldwork: Mental Health1
Electives (options: OT 7851 and OT 7852)  0-2
Total Credits15

 

Spring - Semester Five

CourseCredits
 OT 7511 Professional Development in OT IV 2
 OT 7521 OT Process: Child & Youth III 3
 OT 7522 OT Process: Adults III 3
 OT 7523 OT Process: Older Adults III 3
 OT 7541 Assistive Technology & Orthotics in OT Practice 4
 OT 7552 OT Capstone Preparation II 1
OT 7175 Level I Fieldwork: Child & Youth or OT 7176 Level I Fieldwork: Adults or OT 7177 Level I Fieldwork: Older Adults or OT 7271 Level I Fieldwork: Mental Health1
 Electives (can be Independent Study or approved course outside the department) 0-3
Total Credits (recommended maximum credits)17 

 

Summer - Semester Six 

CourseCredits
 OT 7653 OT Capstone Preparation III 1
 OT 7821 Systems of OT Practice 2
 OT 7831 Professional & Grant Writing for Occupational Therapists 2
 OT 7841 Program Development for Occupational Therapists 1
 OT 7842 Teaching & learning in Occupational Therapy 1
 OT 7695 Level II Fieldwork I 9
Electives (can be Independent Study) 0-3
Total Credits (recommended maximum credits)12 

Year Three

Fall - Semester Seven

CourseCredits
 OT 7641 Management of OT Practice (taken concurrently with Level II FW II) 2
 OT 7754 OT Capstone Preparation IV 1
 OT 7821 Systems of OT Practice 2
 OT 7831 Professional & Grant Writing for Occupational Therapists 2
 OT 7841 Program Development for Occupational Therapists 2
 OT 7842 Teaching & Learning in Occupational Therapy 1
 OT 7695 Level II Fieldwork I or OT 7695 Level II Fieldwork II9
Electives (can be Independent Study) 0-3
Total Credits (recommended maximum credits)17 

 

Spring - Semester Eight

CourseCredits
 OT 7641 Management of OT Practice (taken concurrently with Level II FW II) 2
 OT 7855 Seminar in Current OT Practice Issues 1
 OT 7821 Systems of OT Practice 2
 OT 7831 Professional & Grant Writing for Occupational Therapists 2
 OT 7841 Program Development for Occupational Therapists 2
 OT 7842 Teaching & Learning in Occupational Therapy 1
 OT 7695 Level II Fieldwork II 9
 Electives (can be Independent Study) 0-3
Total Credits (recommended maximum credits)17 

 

Summer - Semester Nine

CourseCredits
 OT 8995 OTD Advanced Practice Capstone Experience & Project 10
Total Credits 10
Total Curriculum Credits
116
 

Degree Program Plans

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Plan A

Degree Program Plan A

This plan is for OT students placed in OT 7695 level II fieldwork during Semester 6 (Summer) and Semester 7 (Fall). Review degree requirements in the student handbook and work with your academic and capstone advisor to ensure your plan fulfills program requirements.  

Plan B

Degree Program Plan B

This plan is for OT students placed in OT 7695 level II fieldwork during Semester 7 (Fall) and Semester 8 (Spring). Review degree requirements in the student handbook and work with your academic and capstone advisor to ensure your plan fulfills program requirements.  

Plan C

Degree Program Plan C

This plan is for OT students placed in OT 7695 level II fieldwork during the Semester 6 (Summer) and Semester 8 (Spring). Review degree requirements in the student handbook and work with your academic and capstone advisor to ensure your plan fulfills program requirements.