Program Requirements
The Doctor of Clinical Science (CScD) Program in Occupational Therapy requires 72 post-baccalaureate credits. Students with an entry-level master’s degree in occupational therapy or a baccalaureate degree in occupational therapy and an advanced level master’s degree in occupational therapy or another field may be eligible to transfer 30 credits from their master’s degree, leaving a remaining 42 credits, thus being able to complete the program in 4 terms or 13 months. Students without a master’s degree will be required to take all 72 credits, culminating in a longer program of study.
Curriculum and Course Descriptions
The program requires the completion of 72 credits (up to 30 credits may be transferred from a master’s degree, potentially leaving a remaining 42 credits in the CScD program). Each student will be advised and evaluated by a doctoral committee who will oversee the development, implementation and grading of Preliminary and Comprehensive Examinations necessary to complete the program. The plan of study will be customized to each student based on his or her preferred area of concentration, and will be comprised of core courses and cognate courses. Required courses are held in the summer, fall, and spring terms.
Clinical Science Doctoral Committee
Each student will be supervised by a doctoral committee that will be formed by the end of the first term in the program. The doctoral committee will be comprised of 3 faculty, and at least 2 faculty must be appointed in the Department of Occupational Therapy. This committee will oversee the development, implementation and grading of the preliminary and comprehensive examinations.
Preliminary Examination
The preliminary examination is a written examination posed by members of the doctoral committee. Questions will address assessment concepts, intervention/education concepts, and evidence in the student’s chosen area of concentration. Students must successfully pass the preliminary examination before they can propose and receive approval for their capstone project.
Comprehensive Examination
A capstone project will be developed and implemented by the student in collaboration with the doctoral committee. The comprehensive examination is the culminating written summary and oral defense of the capstone project. Students must successfully pass both the written and oral components of the comprehensive examination to complete the CScD program.
Plan of Study
Core Courses
All students will take the following eight core courses:
Cognate Courses
Cognate courses are specific to the student’s chosen area of concentration or track.
Area of Concentration: Master Practitioner (Geriatrics, Pediatrics, Musculoskeletal, Neurological)
Area of Concentration: Clinical Educator
Area of Concentration: Professional Leadership
Academic Standards
In addition to following University-wide academic rules and regulations as detailed in the General Academic Regulations section of this Catalog, the CScD program is regulated by the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Academic Standards, as well as the departmental Student Handbook on Academic and Clinical Requirements.
