UToledo’s OTD Program: Fueling Tomorrows Through Occupation
Curriculum Design
A curriculum is both an artifact that transmits time honored values, beliefs, and
principles and a dynamic framework to meet contemporary and future societal and professional
needs. The faculty of the UToledo Occupational Therapy Doctoral (OTD) Program plan, implement, and systematically evaluate the OTD curriculum using four organizing
elements: Practice, Advocacy, Research, and Autonomous Decision Making (PARADM). The
curriculum prepares occupational therapists who are competent, ethical, and life-long
learners.
Scholarly Projects
The 2018 Standards for an accredited educational program for the Occupational Therapist, officially adopted by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education, require that graduates of OTD programs have the ability to design and implement a research study. In conducting an individualized research project, the OTD student learns to appreciate the process of scientific inquiry and gains valuable insight for evidence-informed practice. Working with their faculty advisors, OTD students conduct research that advances knowledge and practice in occupation-based therapeutic approaches. Scholarly project presentations represent the culmination of a 12-credit hour course series. Every project is presented during Spring Final’s week and written disseminations of each project are available through the catalog of Mulford Library.
Capstone Experience
Given dynamic patterns of occupational therapy practice, the future will require therapists to be autonomous decision-makers. The Capstone Experience prepares OTD students by allowing them to plan and pursue a highly individualized semester of study at a self-selected site. The student receives mentorship of an on-site mentor as well as an academic faculty mentor. The capstone experience is introduced and planned throughout the didactic curriculum. It occurs as a 12-credit-hour course load in curriculum’s final semester, after 24 weeks of full-time supervised fieldwork. It is a full-time, 15-week, on-site experience including practicum with a major project, mentored studies, and a written dissemination. Capstone project types reflect the PARADM curriculum design, including Case Study, Program Development Plan, Program Modification Plan, Course Development, Advocacy at the Organizational Level, Advocacy at the Journal Level, and Research. Every project is presented during Spring Final’s week and written disseminations of each project are available through the catalog of Mulford Library.