Occupational Therapy (OTD)
Occupational Therapy (OTD)
The entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program will prepare highly qualified entry-level occupational therapists to support the health and well-being needs of the south Texas region. Through exemplary education in research, service, clinical skills, ethical leadership, and interprofessional engagement, graduates will be grounded in the core values of occupational therapy, evidence-based practice, and active learning. Didactic and experiential learning will create reflective and holistic practitioners who understand the complexity of occupational engagement and systems across a variety of settings, populations, and geography. The OTD program will focus on developing occupational therapists with advanced skills in clinical practice, administration, clinical research, leadership, program and policy development, advocacy, education, and theory development. Graduates will be prepared to practice in clinical, research, and academic environments. Graduates will be leaders in health management, maintenance, and promotion. They will be able to address social determinants of health individually as well as part of an interprofessional environment. They will be able to identify and advocate for the role of occupation across the lifespan. The UTRGV OTD degree program courses are based on the ACOTE Standards for an entry-level doctoral program.
The OTD Occupational Therapy program has been granted Candidacy Status
through the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE®)
For more information contact:
ACOTE, c/o Accreditation Department
6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200
North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929
(301) 652-6611 (Tel.) (301) 652-7711 (Fax)
email: accred@aota.org
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- #4 for Awarding Master’s Degrees to Hispanic Latino Students -Hispanic Outlook on Education Magazine, 2022
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For more information on UTRGV’s notable achievements and recognitions visit our Reputation site.
Step #1: Submit a UTRGV Graduate Application at www.utrgv.edu/gradapply. The university application fee of $50 ($100 for International Applicants) can be paid online by credit card or electronic check (in the online application). All application fees are nonrefundable.
Step #2: Request your official transcripts to be sent electronically to gradapps@utrgv.edu or mailed to:
Step #3: Apply to Occupational Therapist Centralized Application Service (OTCAS)
The UTRGV Occupational Therapy program uses the Centralized Application Service of Occupational Therapy Schools (OTCAS) for students applying to the program. All applicants to the OTD program are required to submit their application to OTCAS with all required materials by the June 11th application deadline. Please refer to the OTCAS website for instructions on submission of the OTCAS application materials. Materials to be submitted to OTCAS include application, official transcripts, letters to the reference, and personal statement. The official GRE scores are sent to the UTRGV Graduate College but are self-reported on OTCAS.
Review and Submit all Program Requirements:
Click here to view the program’s admission requirements and courses from the current graduate catalog.
Additional requirements for domestic applicants who attended foreign universities:
- For additional information, visit the Additional Documents for Domestic Applicants who Attend Foreign Universities section of our website.
Additional requirements for international applicants:
- For additional information, visit the International Admission page of our website.
Important Information
In keeping with the University of TexasRio Grande Valley policy, the Department of Occupational Therapy Admission Committee does not discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, previous major, or college attended.
Applicants who have a felony conviction are advised that the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) may bar persons with a felony record from taking the certification examination and the Texas Board of Occupation Therapy Examiners may deny person with a felony record a state license to practice. Please contact the National Aboard for Certification in Occupational Therapy and the Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners regarding their requirements for certification following graduation.
In signing your admission application to the Graduate College, please ensure that all information given on your applications Is complete and correct and that misrepresentation or omission of information on this application and/or credentials is cause for denial of admission to the program, and that you have read and understand the following statement: “Persons convicted of felonies may be unable to sit for the occupational therapy certification examination” (NBCOT).
To view a list of application deadlines and program contacts for our traditional programs, click here.
For estimated costs visit Tuition and Fees.
About O*NET
The Occupational Information Network (O*NET) Database was developed under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor. The database contains information about almost 1,000 occupations covering the entire U.S. economy. The database is free and continually updated with detailed information about jobs in each state and industry.
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