Occupational Therapy (OTD)

Department Website

Program Description

NYU Steinhardt’s 94-credit, three-year Entry-Level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (EL-OTD) degree provides students looking to begin their careers in OT with a strong curriculum taught by leading occupational therapy educators. It offers a diverse range of fieldwork and research opportunities strengthened by its dynamic New York City location. NYU is ranked #7 among occupational therapy programs according to U.S. News & World Report.

Accreditation

The entry-level professional Doctorate in Occupational Therapy program has been granted Candidacy Status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) located at:

c/o Accreditation Department
American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200

North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929

Tel: 301-652-AOTA

Fax: 301-652-7711

accred@aota.org | acoteonline.org

The program must have a pre-accreditation review, complete on 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 the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR).

Admissions

Admission to graduate programs in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development requires the following minimum components:

• Résumé/CV
• Statement of Purpose
• Letters of Recommendation
• Transcripts
• Proficiency in English

See NYU Steinhardt's Graduate Admissions website for additional information on school-wide admission. Some programs may require additional components for admissions.

See How to Apply for admission requirements and instructions specific to this program.

Program Requirements

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
Required Courses
OT-GE 2000	New Student Sem in Ot	0
OT-GE 2002	Human Anatomy	3
OT-GE 2010	Neuroscience	3
OT-GE 2701	Foundations of Occupational Therapy	4
OT-GE 2707	Activity Group Process Lab	3
OT-GE 2709	Performance/Development Across The Life Span	3
OT-GE 2739	Survey of Mental Health Conditions	2
OT-GE 2003	Human Anatomy Lab	2
OT-GE 2025	Research Methods for Occupational Therapy	3
OT-GE 2030	Theoretical Bases for The Scope of Practice	3
OT-GE 2039	Survey of Medical Conditions	2
OT-GE 2040	Professional Issues I	.5
OT-GE 2710	Kinesiology	3
OT-GE 2750	Health Advocacy and Administration	3
OT-GE 2745	Mental Health Evaluation and Intervention	3
OT-GE 3302	Introduction to Evidence-Informed Practice	3
OT-GE 3811	Capstone I: Needs Assessment in Healthcare and Community Practice	2
OT-GE 2721	Fieldwork I-Psychosocial Development	1
OT-GE 2725	Research Interpretation of Occupational Therapy	2
OT-GE 2738	Emerging Occupational Therapy Practice Areas Across the Lifespan	1
OT-GE 2741	Orthopedic Evaluation and Intervention	3
OT-GE 2743	Neurological Evaluation and Intervention	3
OT-GE 2748	Pediatric Evaluation and Intervention	3
OT-GE 3812	Capstone II: Program Development and Evaluation	2
OT-GE 3305	Emerging Leaders in the Occupational Therapy Profession	3
OT-GE 2041	Professional Issues II	.5
OT-GE 2722	Fieldwork I-Physical Dysfunction	1
OT-GE 2726	Research Seminar II	2
OT-GE 2736	Analysis/Human Activity Occupational Perform II	2
OT-GE 2742	Rehab Evaluation and Intervention	3
OT-GE 2744	Cognitive Evaluation and Intervention	3
OT-GE 2749	Geriatrics Evaluation & Intervention	3
OT-GE 3813	Capstone III: Doctoral Capstone Project Proposal	2
OT-GE 2703	Fieldwork II in OT (taken twice, for a total of 6 credits)	3
OT-GE 2803	Level II Fieldwork: Second Placement	3
OT-GE 3810	Doctoral Capstone Experience	3
OT-GE 3814	Capstone IV: Doctoral Capstone Project	2
Electives by advisement		6
Total Credits		94

Sample Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid

1st Semester/Term		Credits
OT-GE 2000	New Student Sem in Ot	0
OT-GE 2002	Human Anatomy	3
OT-GE 2010	Neuroscience	3
OT-GE 2701	Foundations of Occupational Therapy	4
OT-GE 2707	Activity Group Process Lab	3
OT-GE 2709	Performance/Development Across The Life Span	3
OT-GE 2739	Survey of Mental Health Conditions	2
	Credits	18
2nd Semester/Term
OT-GE 2003	Human Anatomy Lab	2
OT-GE 2025	Research Methods for Occupational Therapy	3
OT-GE 2030	Theoretical Bases for The Scope of Practice	3
OT-GE 2039	Survey of Medical Conditions	2
OT-GE 2040	Professional Issues I	.5
OT-GE 2710	Kinesiology	3
OT-GE 2750	Health Advocacy and Administration	3
	Credits	16.5
3rd Semester/Term
OT-GE 2745	Mental Health Evaluation and Intervention	3
OT-GE 3302	Introduction to Evidence-Informed Practice	3
OT-GE 3811	Capstone I: Needs Assessment in Healthcare and Community Practice	2
	Credits	8
4th Semester/Term
OT-GE 2721	Fieldwork I-Psychosocial Development	1
OT-GE 2725	Research Interpretation of Occupational Therapy	2
OT-GE 2738	Emerging Occupational Therapy Practice Areas Across the Lifespan	1
OT-GE 2741	Orthopedic Evaluation and Intervention	3
OT-GE 2743	Neurological Evaluation and Intervention	3
OT-GE 2748	Pediatric Evaluation and Intervention	3
OT-GE 3812	Capstone II: Program Development and Evaluation	2
	Credits	15
5th Semester/Term
OT-GE 3305	Emerging Leaders in the Occupational Therapy Profession	3
	Credits	3
6th Semester/Term
OT-GE 2041	Professional Issues II	.5
OT-GE 2722	Fieldwork I-Physical Dysfunction	1
OT-GE 2726	Research Seminar II	2
OT-GE 2736	Analysis/Human Activity Occupational Perform II	2
OT-GE 2742	Rehab Evaluation and Intervention	3
OT-GE 2744	Cognitive Evaluation and Intervention	3
OT-GE 2749	Geriatrics Evaluation & Intervention	3
OT-GE 3813	Capstone III: Doctoral Capstone Project Proposal	2
	Credits	16.5
7th Semester/Term
Other Elective Credits by advisement to be completed prior to OT-GE 2703		6
	Credits	6
8th Semester/Term
OT-GE 2703	Fieldwork II in OT	3
	Credits	3
9th Semester/Term
OT-GE 2803	Level II Fieldwork: Second Placement	3
	Credits	3
10th Semester/Term
OT-GE 3810	Doctoral Capstone Experience	3
OT-GE 3814	Capstone IV: Doctoral Capstone Project	2
	Credits	5
	Total Credits	94

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will:

1. Understand and identify how knowledge of body functions and structure, desired activities, cultural influences and social participation within personal and environmental contexts contribute to the provision of occupational therapy.
2. Value and integrate philosophical beliefs and theoretical assumptions that guide occupational therapy practice.
3. Plan and apply occupational therapy best practices that are grounded in ethical principles, theory and best available research findings.
4. Analyze and perform clinical observations and assessments of human performance to construct contextually relevant occupational therapy interventions in order to establish, restore, maintain function, to reduce or prevent disability, and to promote health & wellness in everyday life activities.
5. Define and promote the unique contribution of occupational therapy to the public and other stakeholders.

Policies

Program Policies 

Fieldwork Placement

Be advised that fieldwork placement facilities that provide training required for your program degree, and agencies that issue licenses for practice in your field of study, each may require you to undergo general and criminal background checks, the results of which the facility or agency must find acceptable before it will allow you to train at its facility or issue you a license. You should inform yourself of offenses or other facts that may prevent obtaining a license to practice in your field of study. NYU Steinhardt will not be responsible if you are unable to complete program requirements or cannot obtain a license to practice in your field because of the results of such background. 

NYU Policies

University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages.

Steinhardt Academic Policies

Additional academic policies can be found the Steinhardt academic policies page.