CSU's entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy program is designed using subject- and learner-centered principles. Engaging in active learning and focusing on occupation, graduates become occupational therapy practitioners who can and will embrace collaboration and leadership in the field. The OTD program was granted 7-year accreditation in December 2024 by our accrediting agency (Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education of the American Occupational Therapy Association located at 7501 Wisconsin Ave, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814, (301) 652-6611; accred@aota.org). The program has entered four cohorts of students; to date, one cohort has completed the program
Please contact the Occupational Therapy Department for further details by calling (970) 491-1874 or emailing the department at otinfo@colostate.edu.
Students interested in graduate work should refer to the Graduate and Professional Bulletin and the Department of Occupational Therapy.
Program Learning Objectives
Objective 1: Occupation and OT Process
Definition: OTD students are proficient in collaborative occupational therapy services guided by clinical reasoning given a rich understanding of occupation and its use in occupation-centered practice.
1.1 Conduct (i.e., select, implement, monitor, modify, and document) and justify contextually sensitive occupational therapy evaluations and interventions based upon theory, practice models, and evidence across settings, populations, and roles.
1.2 Champion occupation as a health-promoting factor.
1.3 Advocate for occupation-centered practice to the client constellation across settings, populations, and roles.
Objective 2: Change and Learning Process
Definition: OTD students understand and apply dynamic mechanisms known to foster change and learning that enables occupation in individuals, organizations, and societies.
2.1 Analyze and synthesize ideas about change and learning embedded within contemporary occupational therapy and interdisciplinary theories.
2.2 Demonstrate and justify how to assess and influence change and learning in occupation.
2.3 Recognize and respond effectively to affective (emotional) dimensions of change and learning in self and others when implementing an occupation-centered program at individual, group, and community populations.
Objective 3: Intentional Learning and Professional Development
Definition: OTD Students are intentional learners and active members in the profession.
3.1 Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses in one’s own approaches to learning in classroom, community and practice contexts and create strategies that improve one’s effectiveness as an intentional learner.
3.2 Create strategies and transfer knowledge from the classroom to occupation-centered, reflective, evidence-based practices and professional leadership.
3.3 Actively advance the OT profession through awareness, advocacy, education, research, and service, as evidenced by regularly updated professional development plans.
Objective 4: Professional Reasoning
Definition: OTD students integrate multiple types of reasoning, evidence-based knowledge, and skills to plan, direct, perform, assess, modify, and reflect on occupational therapy practice and research.
4.1 Apply and justify multiple types of reasoning, published and practice-based evidence to prioritize occupational needs and solutions in a variety of case formats involving individuals, groups, and populations.
4.2 Design, conduct, and disseminate research and/or scholarly activities that contribute to the body of knowledge of occupational therapy.
4.3 Demonstrate a commitment to conscientious reasoning, evidence-based practice, and practice-based evidence as demonstrated by reflective writing and oral examination.
Objective 5: Practice Settings, Populations, and Roles
Definition: OTD students appreciate and analyze the impact that the practice setting, client population, and therapist roles have on occupational therapy and use their analyses to improve occupation-centered practice.
5.1 Evaluate and appreciate similarities and differences in occupational therapy practices according to transactions among setting, population, and roles (both currently and historically).
5.2 Create new, or improve upon, existing occupation-centered practices by considering transactions among settings, populations, and roles.
Objective 6: Professional and Therapeutic Collaborations
Definition: OTD students engage in dynamic, goal-directed collaborations with the client constellation (individual, group, community) and other professionals to maximize occupational performance.
6.1 Use and justify enablement skills that support the client constellation in creating and realizing contextually sensitive occupation-centered outcomes.
6.2 Recognize the need to and shift approaches (e.g., communication style, interpersonal modes) to maximize relationships across multiple professional contexts.
6.3 Effectively work with (collaborate, communicate, and act in ways that reflect sensitivity to diversity and inclusion) an interprofessional team while contributing an occupational perspective.
Effective Summer 2025
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| First Year: Summer | ||
| OT 720 | Occupation and Occupational Therapy Process | 3 |
| OT 722 | Foundations for Professional Development | 1 |
| OT 731 | Impacts on Occupation--Psychosoc & Context | 3 |
| First Year: Fall | ||
| OT 721 | Impacts on Occupation--Biomech & Neuro | 3 |
| OT 730 | Professional Reasoning and Relationships | 2 |
| OT 732 | Adult and Older Adult I | 2 |
| OT 733 | Adult and Older Adult I Lab | 2 |
| OT 735 | Occupational Therapy Research Process I | 3 |
| OT 786B | Practicum: Integrative Experiential Learning I | 1 |
| First Year: Spring | ||
| OT 740 | Occupation, Learning, and Change | 3 |
| OT 742 | Adult and Older Adult II | 2 |
| OT 743 | Adult and Older Adult II Lab | 2 |
| OT 745 | Occupational Therapy Research Process II | 3 |
| OT 749 | Capstone Overview | 1 |
| OT 786C | Practicum: Integrative Experiential Learning II | 2 |
| Second Year: Summer | ||
| OT 787 | Level IIA Fieldwork - Adults and Older Adults | 12 |
| Second Year: Fall | ||
| OT 750 | Programmatic Interventions | 3 |
| OT 752 | Infancy Through Early Childhood | 2 |
| OT 753 | Infancy Through Early Childhood Lab | 1 |
| OT 755 | Occupational Therapy Research Process III | 3 |
| OT 759 | Capstone Planning | 1 |
| OT 761 | Inclusive Technology | 2 |
| OT 786D | Practicum: Integrated Experiential Learning III | 1 |
| Second Year: Spring | ||
| OT 760 | Leadership Skills of Change Agents | 2 |
| OT 762 | Early Through Middle Childhood | 2 |
| OT 763 | Early Through Middle Childhood Lab | 1 |
| OT 764 | Adolescent and Young Adult | 2 |
| OT 769 | Capstone Project and Experience Development | 3 |
| OT 772 | Innovative Practice in Occupational Therapy | 3 |
| OT 786E | Practicum: Integrated Experiential Learning IV | 1 |
| Third Year | ||
| OT 779 | Capstone Project 1 | 1 |
| OT 788 | Level IIB Fieldwork - Lifespan Experience 2 | 12 |
| OT 789 | Capstone Experience 1 | 1-14 |
| Program Total Credits: | 86-99 | |
A minimum of 99 credits are required to complete this program.
For more information, please visit Requirements for All Graduate Degrees in the Graduate and Professional Bulletin.
Summary of Procedures for the Master's and Doctoral Degrees
NOTE: Each semester the Graduate School publishes a schedule of deadlines. Deadlines are available on the Graduate School website. Students should consult this schedule whenever they approach important steps in their careers.
Forms are available online.
| Step | Due Date |
|---|---|
| 1. Application for admission (online) | Six months before first registration |
| 2. Diagnostic examination when required | Before first registration |
| 3. Appointment of advisor | Before first registration |
| 4. Selection of graduate committee | Before the time of fourth regular semester registration |
| 5. Filing of program of study (GS Form 6) | Before the time of fourth regular semester registration |
| 6. Preliminary examination (Ph.D. and PD) | Two terms prior to final examination |
| 7. Report of preliminary examination (GS Form 16) - (Ph.D. and PD) | Within two working days after results are known |
| 8. Changes in committee (GS Form 9A) | When change is made |
| 9. Application for Graduation (GS Form 25) | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School Website |
| 9a. Reapplication for Graduation (online) | Failure to graduate requires Reapplication for Graduation (online) for the next time term for which you are applying |
| 10. Submit thesis or dissertation to committee | At least two weeks prior to the examination or at the discretion of the graduate committee |
| 11. Final examination | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School Website |
| 12. Report of final examination (GS Form 24) | Within two working days after results are known; refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website |
| 13. Submit a signed Thesis/Dissertation Submission Form (GS Form 30) to the Graduate School and Submit the Survey of Earned Doctorates (Ph.D. only) prior to submitting the electronic thesis/dissertation | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website. |
| 14. Submit the thesis/dissertation electronically | Refer to published deadlines from the Graduate School website |
| 15. Graduation | Ceremony information is available from the Graduate School website |