The NAU Occupational Therapy Doctoral program prepares graduates to be transformative,
competent, doctoral-prepared, entry-level practice-scholars who innovatively and skillfully use
meaningful occupation as the mediator and facilitator of participation between the person and
environment to meet specific learning outcomes stated as professional competencies.
Occupational Therapy Overview*:
In its simplest terms, occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants help people across the lifespan participate
in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations) such as: self-care,
work, education, play or leisure, and rest/sleep. Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with
disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, helping people recovering from injury to regain skills, and
providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes; the goal is to improve the quality of life,
independence, accessibility, and balanced meaningful lifestyles.
Occupational therapy services may also include comprehensive evaluations of the client’s home and other environments
(e.g., workplace, school), recommendations for adaptive equipment and training in its use, and guidance and education for
family members and caregivers. Occupational therapy practitioners help individuals have meaningful productive lifestyles
by addressing every day activities, strengths and limitations through physical, emotional, social, cognitive and
environmental interventions in which the focus is on adapting the environment to fit the person, and the person is an
integral part of the therapy team.
Occupational Therapy practitioners are an integral member of the health care team. Occupational therapy is delivered in a
variety of settings; home, community, school, rehabilitation (engaging in intervention), advocacy, consultation, research,
administration and organizational leadership.
Earning a doctoral degree (OTD) in order to become an occupational therapist (OTR) prepares practice-focused leaders. The
NAU curriculum furthers this notion to create transformative practice scholars.
Career Outlook*:
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U.S. News & World Report, January 2014:
Ranking of the Best Health Care Jobs (OT is No. 9
out of 38)
TIME, January 2014:
These Are the 5 Most In-Demand Jobs Right Now
Career Cast, December 2013
The 12 Best Health Care Jobs of 2013 (OT is No. 3)
Reuters, December 2013
The Best Jobs in Health Care in 2014
CNN Money, November, 2013:
Best Jobs in America (OT is No. 34)
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*Adapted From: The American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.
Newsweek, October 2013:
Occupational Therapy: A Growing Health Care
Profession
CBS Chicago, February, 2013:
10 Jobs with a high starting salary
CNN Money, Jan, 2013:
A job with 2% unemployment
U.S. News & World Report, Dec, 2012:
Job market predictions for 2013 and beyond
Huffington Post, Nov, 2012:
Fast-growing jobs that don’t require a 4-year
college degree
See more at: http://www.aota.org/
Phoenix Biomedical Campus
435 N 5th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85004
OT.OTD@nau.edu
Phone: 602-827-2450
www.nau.edu/CHHS/OT
Program Highlights
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Unique in Arizona: The only entry-level
doctorate degree in Occupational Therapy at an
Arizona public university.
Location: The Doctorate of Occupational Therapy
program is offered at the Phoenix Biomedical
Campus (PBC), an extensive medical and bioscience
campus in downtown Phoenix.
Class Size: The inaugural class, which began Fall
2014, consists of 25 students with an eventual class
size of 45 students by 2016.
Cost: The lowest tuition and fees in the region.
Facilities: New state-of-the-art classrooms, learning
studios, and laboratories.
Interprofessional learning: NAU’s Physician
Assistant Studies and Physical Therapy, the UofA’s
College of Medicine & the ASU’s health science
programs.
Length: 33 month program (8 consecutive
semesters).
Supervised Fieldwork (7 months total).
Blended curriculum design and experiential as
well as service learning.
Residency: Individualized 16-week residency.
Mentored practice based scholarly project.
Admission Requirements
Open Application deadline for OTCAS and NAU Graduate
College applications is in January for the class entering each
August. Minimum requirements:
 Earned bachelors or master’s degree from a
regionally accredited institution.
 Completion of prerequisite course work (Please visit
website for list of pre-requisites.).
 Overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.
 GRE Scores: Quantitative – 146 (or 550): Verbal – 149
(440): Analytical Writing – 3.5.
 40 hours observing two occupational therapists –
each practicing in different settings with different
age groups (20 hours each setting).
 40 hours in at least two different community
settings (agencies, programs, camps, etc.) serving
vulnerable, disabled or disadvantages individuals or
populations that address health rehabilitation,
disability, quality of life, community issues, or
sustainability initiatives.
 Two letters of recommendation: one from a licensed
occupational therapist and one from a college
professor.
Curriculum Design
Occupational Performance Perspectives (7 credits)
Occupational Engagement & Participation across the Lifespan
Occupational Therapy Practice Theory & Models
Body Functions Supporting Occupational Performance (15
credits)
Functional Human Anatomy
Neuroscience Foundations for Practice
Conditions Impacting Occupational Performance
Human Movement for Occupation
Occupational Therapy Tool Kit (8 credits)
Occupational Performance Evaluation Process & Assessments
Client Communication & Engagement in the Therapeutic Process
Educational Strategies & Learning in Healthcare & Academic
Settings
Occupational Therapy Process (31 credits)
Biomechanical Function & Occupational Performance
Psychosocial Function, Behavioral Health & Occupational
Performance
Neurological & Sensory Function & Occupational Performance:
Child & Adult courses
Cognitive & Perceptual Function & Occupational Performance
Environmental Adaptation & Rehabilitation Technology
Community, Population & Sustainability Approaches
Upper Extremity Function and Occupational Performance
Integrate Seminar
Scholarship of Practice (17 credits)
Evidence-based Practice & Professional Communication
Scholarship of Practice Approaches and Design
Practice-Scholar Proposal Development Seminar
Practice-Scholar Apprenticeship I - IV
Practice Competence (32 credits)
Practice Competency I & III
Practice Competency II & Fieldwork Level 1
Residency Professional Development Plan
Fieldwork Level II
Practice-Scholar Leadership (8 credits)
Health Policies, Service Delivery Systems & Sustainability
Program Leadership & Administrative Processes
Inspired & Emerging Practice Through Visionary Leadership
Residency & Capstone (21 credits)
Residency Professional Development Planning
Residency Qualification
Practice Scholar Residency
Practice-Scholar OTD Capstone
OTD Total Credits
139 credits
Accreditation
The program has been recognized by the Accreditation
Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)
as receiving Candidacy Status. For more information
visit www.acoteonline.org.
ACOTE c/o of AOTA 4720 Montgomery Lane, Suite 200,
Bethesda MD 20814-3449
(301) 652-AOTA