Graduate Programs

Overview

The nationally recognized Occupational Therapy Doctorate (O.T.D.) program at The University of Toledo has a history of excellence: 

• In the top 25% of O.T.D. programs in the U.S. 
• The first accredited, entry-level, Occupational Therapy Doctorate program at a public institution in Ohio and the U.S. 

Full-time Occupational Therapy graduate students can complete UToledo’s intensive coursework and clinical training in less than three years to earn a doctorate and qualify for certification as an occupational therapist.  

We believe that a true Occupational Therapy graduate program builds knowledge, as well as imparts knowledge. Faculty members are committed to preparing occupational therapists who are: 

• Highly competent practitioners 
• Contributors to research 
• Leaders, future educators and advocates for the profession 

We hold regular virtual information sessions hosted by our admissions coordinator and graduate assistants. Register for an information session.

View accreditation information. Program results from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) can be found online.

Top Reasons to Study occupational therapy at UToledo

1. Nationally ranked program.

   U.S. News & World Report currently ranks The University of Toledo in the top 25% of 240+ occupational therapy programs in the U.S.  
2. Exceptional value.

   Our graduate students benefit from the tuition rates of a public university and O.T.D. program-specific scholarships. Learn more about our tuition and scholarships.
3. Individual attention.

   20 graduate students are admitted each fall. UToledo’s O.T.D. program offers: 

   • Small class sizes 
   • Easy access to faculty 
   • Opportunities to build personal, supportive relationships 
   • Individualized faculty mentorship in research and capstone projects 
4. Fully accredited.

   Fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education of the American Occupational Therapy Association. 
5. Research spaces and classrooms.

   UToledo’s O.T.D. graduate program is housed in the 160,000-square-foot Health and Human Services Building on Main Campus, which features a motion lab, casting/splinting lab and community clinics. 
6. Service learning.

   Get hands-on experience and help advance the study and profession of occupational therapy. Participate in: 

   • CommunityCare Clinics 
   • Knock Out Parkinson’s 
   • Toledo Sensory Room 

UToledo Occupational Therapy graduate students work on two in-depth projects — a research project and a capstone project. The projects are designed with a faculty mentor to answer important questions in occupational therapy. Many of our students and alumni have published their results in professional journals and presented results at conferences.

The O.T.D. faculty and staff are teachers, scholars and researchers who mentor a wide range of research and capstone projects. The completion of student research and capstone projects are celebrated the week before graduation. Students disseminate their findings to the University and Toledo community.

“I have been able to directly interact with patients at UTMC for my research regarding the benefits of custom-made versus prefabricated orthoses following thumb joint surgery. These were some great preliminary hands-on patient interactions that improved my comfort in working with patients and helped prepare me for my Level II fieldwork experiences.”

 

What jobs can I get with an occupational therapy degree?

Graduates of the UToledo occupational therapy doctorate program work as practicing occupational therapists in a variety of professional settings. They have become true leaders in clinical practice, administration, program development, advocacy and clinical education.  

UToledo O.T.D. alumni have worked for:  

• Brooke Army Medical (burn) Center, San Antonio, Texas 
• Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center 
• Cleveland Clinic 
• Toledo VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic 
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
• Wood Lane – Wood County Board of Developmental Disabilities

Sample Job Settings for Occupational Therapists 

• Acute-care and pediatric hospitals 
• Community-based and specialty clinics 
• Higher education institutions and school systems 
• Home-health companies 
• Inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation 
• Military settings 
• Skilled-nursing facilities 
• Behavioral health facilities 

Internship Opportunities For Occupational Therapy Doctorate

Starting the first semester, O.T.D. graduate students participate in fieldwork experiences. This work exposes them to a variety of practice areas in occupational therapy and helps them develop skills.  

The UToledo O.T.D. program offers more than 300 fieldwork partnerships across Ohio and the U.S. Students also find fieldwork opportunities on UToledo’s Health Science Campus and at the UT Medical Center. 

Fieldwork experiences occur in every semester of our program. This is quite unusual for OT programs.

“I really enjoyed my Level I Fieldwork experience. I was actually able to help create a visual cueing device with the direction of my fieldwork supervisor. The setting I was placed in was also something I had never really thought of before or knew of before entering this program. So it was very interesting to learn all the varying settings an OT practitioner can go into.”