Capstone Experiences & Projects
Doctorate Capstone
Students pursuing a doctoral degree (OTD) are required to complete one fourteen-week Doctoral Capstone Experience (DCE) following level II FW. The purpose of the Doctoral Capstone is for students to demonstrate their ability to apply theory to practice and to demonstrate the synthesis of advanced knowledge. The goal of the DCE is to develop occupational therapists with in-depth knowledge and skills in a focused area of study and to acquiring deeper practice-scholar competencies as reflected in the program’s curriculum design. The DCE directly connects clinical practice with scholarship via the implementation of a doctoral capstone project during the DCE.
An integral part of the program curriculum, the Doctoral Capstone (DC) provides in-depth exposure to one or more of the following areas:
- administration and leadership,
- program development,
- education,
- clinical practice skills,
- research skills,
- advocacy,
- theory development.
Given the curriculum philosophy and design, each Capstone project will intersect with the didactic portions of the curriculum, including the course series on the (themes):
- Continuum of health care (public health/community-based)
- Inquiry and research on occupation and health (research)
- Foundation of occupation (administration, education, theory development) and human conditions (clinical skills & treatment)
- Influence of culture on care and practice (culture)
- Professionalism, interprofessionalism, and leadership (advocacy & services)
Through the interaction of the curriculum’s themes and service region, students can implement a scholarly project that will allow them to experience the role of being culturally fluent, reflective, and transformative leaders.
Student Capstone Project & Experiences