Occupational Therapy (PP-OTD)

Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate

The Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate degree at New England Institute of Technology allows registered occupational therapists to expand on their academic and clinical experience to become global citizens promoting health, wellness and participation in diverse populations. This program is designed to elevate professionals to a higher level of responsibility as leaders in the profession. The curriculum assumes enrolled students enter the program as practicing occupational therapists who are interested in pursuing an advanced degree in the field.

The design of the proposed PP-OTD program is forward-thinking and focused on the completion of the student individualized doctoral project. Students of this program represent individuals already practicing within the profession who aspire to be leaders within their focused area of practice. The PP-OTD program will provide students with a comprehensive program that is supportive and individualized and that utilizes their unique background and experience as well as the collective experience of their classmates, instructors and mentors.

The program is offered fully online. Students participate in an engaging online learning environment throughout a ten-week academic term. This model provides the flexibility required by working professionals who may study at their convenience in an asynchronous learning environment.

Plan of Study Grid
Term I		Quarter Credit Hours
OT 902	Quantitative Analysis	4
OT 903	Reflective Practice	4
	Quarter Credit Hours	8
Term II
OT 901	Post Prof Doctoral Project I	4
OT 905	Qualitative Analysis	4
	Quarter Credit Hours	8
Term III
OT 904	Doctoral Project II: Project Design and Proposal	4
OT 906	Wellness, Participation and Health Promotion	4
	Quarter Credit Hours	8
Term IV
OT 907	Doctoral Project III: Project Implementation	4
OT 908	Entrepreneurship	3
	Quarter Credit Hours	7
Term V
OT 909	Issues with Contemporary and Future Practice	3
OT 910	Doctoral Project IV: Doctoral Project Completion and Defense	4
	Quarter Credit Hours	7
	Total Quarter Credit Hours	38

If Needed

Course List
Course	Title	Quarter Credit Hours
OT 990	Doctoral Project Continuation	1

Legend

C = Number of lecture hours per week
L = Number of laboratory hours per week
T = Total Quarter Credit Hours where each lecture hour per week is one credit, every 2-4 laboratory hours are one credit depending on the expected amount of pre- or post-lab work.

Subject to change.

Mission

The mission of the post-professional doctoral degree program in occupational therapy is to allow registered occupational therapists to expand their academic and clinical experience to become advanced practitioners promoting health, wellness and participation across many populations and groups, and to become advanced leaders in their profession.

Student Outcomes

Successful graduates of the PP-OTD program will be able to successfully demonstrate each of the following learning outcomes.

Graduates will become:

global citizens specializing in the promotion of health, wellness and participation across the lifespan.
innovators of contemporary practice both in emerging and traditional settings.
engaged in scholarship in any area of practice or in a leadership role.
leaders in occupational therapy practice through entrepreneurship.

Questions & Answers

1. For whom is the Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate degree program designed?
The PP-OTD courses are offered completely online. There are no times when students are required to meet in a traditional on-campus classroom. Faculty may schedule (at their discretion) online discussions or other activities through the online learning software that may require you to attend a synchronous virtual class at a specific time. These sessions may be recorded for students to access at a later time. However, most online work is expected to be completed based on the student's schedule within the context of the course requirements.

2. Do I need to be a registered occupational therapist to enter the PP-OTD program?
Yes, this program is tailored only to practicing occupational therapists, who have achieved certification status to practice as an occupational therapist by the NBCOT. In addition, candidates for this program must have an earned master’s degree in occupational therapy to begin the program. For specific information regarding admissions, please contact the admissions department. Special note: International students do not need to be NBCOT-certified unless their goal is to practice in the United States. Those candidates should first obtain national certification as a registered therapist by NBCOT before applying for this program. If the international candidate does not intend to practice as a registered occupational therapist in the United States, they may enter the program without meeting the requirement of NBCOT exam completion.

3. What are the entrance requirements for the PP OTD program?
Mindful of the increased rigor of a Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate, admission to the program is selective and focuses on identifying and selecting prospective students who academically prepared for success.

Acceptance Criteria:
A candidate for admission to the PP OTD program must have or submit the following:

• Admissions essay defining the focused topic for doctoral work (see guidelines in Appendix I)
• CV that demonstrates work experience in the field of occupational therapy
• Transcripts from an ACOTE-accredited MSOT program
• Minimal GPA of 3.0 in an ACOTE-accredited MSOT program.
• Submit a copy of current certification as an occupational therapist from the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy to the Admissions Officer.
• Submit an official transcript showing completion of a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from an ACOTE-accredited educational institution.

4. How do online courses work?
Online courses at New England Institute of Technology are developed by a faculty-led team of management, construction, learning, and technology experts. The courses are designed to be interesting, relevant and engaging, and to have a real impact on students in their lives and on their careers. In an online delivery system, there are no formal or scheduled times when students are required to meet. The majority of the course work is expected to be completed based on the student's personal and professional schedule within the context of the course requirements. Faculty post weekly lectures and assignments online along with associated due dates. Faculty may also schedule online discussions or other class activities through the Canvas learning management system that may require you to be available to participate at a specific time.

5. How is taking an online course different from an on-campus course?
Online courses offer you flexibility in the scheduling of your class and study time. However, online courses also require self-discipline and self-motivation to do the work that is expected of the course. Since there will be no “lecture” time and no class time to attend, you will need to dedicate an appropriate amount of time to review the course content on the Canvas learning management system, complete the readings, participate in the online discussion forums, and complete other assignments. Instead of meeting at a fixed time and location, your online course will run on a weekly schedule starting on a Monday and ending on a Sunday evening. Generally, there are no set meeting times during which the entire class meets. Despite this flexibility, you are required to login to your course regularly as described in the course syllabus. Additionally, there may be some assignments when specific due dates must be met.

6. Do online courses take more time than on-campus courses?
No. Online courses require the same amount of work as an on-campus course. However, the time you spend in an online course will be different than in an on-campus course. For example, more time may be spent on reading and completing the assignments and responding to electronic posts from both the instructor and other students and less time will be spent on driving to and from campus and no time will be spent in class.

7. Do I need special computer skills in order to take an online course?
You’ll need basic familiarity with your computer, for example: emailing, using the Web, and downloading and attaching documents. No special equipment is required: just a modern Windows-based computer, an office suite such as Microsoft Office, and a broadband internet connection.

8. What are the hardware and software requirements for the program?

Minimum Computer Requirements
Type	Recommended Minimum
Operating System	Windows 10 or Macintosh OS X (10.14)
Processor	2+ GHz
Memory	4GB
Plug-ins	Adobe PDF Reader, Flash Adobe PDF Reader, Flash and others as required by specific courses
Players	QuickTime, Java Player, QuickTime, Java
Browser	Chrome, IE, Safari, Edge, Firefox (all latest versions)
Display	1024x768
Software	Office 365 (2016)
Internet Connection	FiOS/DSL/CABLE DSL/CABLE
Email Account	New England Tech student email account
Sound Card	Required

Online students must be capable of installing and maintaining their own computer’s hardware and software. New England Tech does not assist students with the setup of their computers. Information about obtaining the software (if any) will be made available to you at the start of each course.

Note: Tablets and smartphones can be convenient for reading course materials and email but will not be sufficient for doing all of your course work.

9. How do I get assistance with technical issues?
New England Institute of Technology’s online courses are designed to help acclimate you to technology and build your skills and your confidence as you go. We provide 24x7 support via phone, email or chat to help you with computer or online system issues in the learning management system. NEIT is unable to help students with computer problems. Tablet computers can be useful for doing course readings, watching course videos, and catching up on course discussions, but a tablet will not be sufficient for doing all your course work. Be sure you have regular access to a traditional laptop or desktop computer with appropriate capacity to support online assignments.

10. How large will my classes be?
Classes will average between 10 and 15 students per course.

11. How long is an academic term?
Academic terms at New England Institute of Technology are 10-weeks long, with four terms offered per year, starting in January, April, July, and October.

12. How long should it take me to complete my program?
The shortest time to complete the program is 5 academic terms or 15 months. Most students find that taking 2 course per term is manageable with a full time job.

13. How many courses do I have to take each term?
You can take one or both courses per term to complete the program in 15 months. It’s entirely up to your own needs and schedule. Note that if your employer offers tuition benefits, there may be a limit on how much they will reimburse. If you’re planning to apply for federal financial aid, a typical course load is 4 credits. Some courses are 3 credits so careful planning is encouraged.

14. Are there participation requirements?
Yes. Depending upon the course, each week you may be required to participate in various activities such as discussion boards or other similar assignments. All course activities will be counted towards your final grade. Required student participation will be identified in the course syllabus.

15. How will I submit my course assignments and take exams?
You will receive information from your professor regarding how to submit your assignments through the Canvas learning management system. Exams and test will be administered via the Canvas learning management system. In some cases, your professor may require a proctored exam. If a proctored exam is required, you will be required to submit a proctor form to your professor prior to gaining access to the exam. All tests, exams, and assignment requirements will be identified in the course syllabus at the beginning of each term.

16. Will my course be assigned to a faculty member?
Faculty are essential to the online learning experience at the New England Institute of Technology. All online courses in the PP OTD program are taught by faculty with appropriate academic and professional credentials, as well as extensive practical experience. Additionally, all NEIT faculty teaching online courses receive specific training in online delivery methods.

17. How can I access specific course-related help when I need it?
Your professor will be available to you via email, Canvas discussion boards, and by phone. Responses to a question will generally be delivered within 24 hours. Preferred methods of contact as well as contact information will be identified at the beginning of each course in the course syllabus.

18. Will I be assigned an advisor?
Yes. Students in the PP OTD program will be assigned a Student Success Coach from the Student Success Office in the College of Graduate and Professional Studies. The New England Tech Student Success Coach provides guidance, encouragement and support to students and is the primary point of contact for all student concerns and information about New England Tech policies and procedures.

19. Do I have access to other college services?
Online students have access to all college services including the Academic Skills Center, the Bookstore, the Career Services Office, the Financial Aid Office, the Registrar’s Office, the Office of Student Support Services, Library, Student Accounts, the Office of Teaching and Learning and the Response Desk.

20. Do I need to maintain a specific grade point average?
Yes. A GPA of 3.0 will be required for all terms.

21. What happens if I do not earn a B in one of the courses?
All student will be required to earn a grade of a B or better in all coursework. Any student unable to attain a B in a course will be required to repeat the course. Students may only retake one course in the program, before being dismissed from program. Re-entry to the program will only be considered if done within one year of voluntary withdrawal from the program. A guide for re-entry is provided in the PP-OTD Student Manual.

22. Is a doctoral thesis required to complete the program?
No. Students are required to complete an Individualized Doctoral Project and will be required to defend the project to a doctoral committee.

23. Is NEIT accredited?
NEIT is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education. Accreditation by NECHE is recognized by the federal government and entitles NEIT to participate in federal financial aid programs. Some academic departments have specialized professional accreditations in addition to accreditation by NEASC. For more information on accreditation, see NEIT’s catalog.

24. Can I transfer the credits that I earn at NEIT to another college or university?
The transferability of course credit is always up to the institution to which the student is transferring. Students interested in the transferability of their credits should contact the Office of Teaching and Learning for further information.

25. Can I transfer credits earned at another college to NEIT?
No. All credits must be taken at NEIT to comply with residency policies.

26. How many credits do I need to qualify for Financial Aid?
Many financial aid options are available. Our Financial Aid Office is dedicated to providing students with all the information and guidance necessary for them to take full advantage of the financial resources available to them from various federal, state, and private programs.

27. How much does my program cost?
New England Tech’s Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate program is competitively priced. Please see the tuition and fees page for detail.

28. How do I purchase textbooks and other required materials?
Students may purchase their textbooks either through the Bookstore or through online merchants. Textbooks and other required materials will be identified by the professor in the course syllabus at the beginning of each term.

Technical Standards

In addition to the acquisition of the appropriate knowledge in the sciences and humanities, the faculty of the New England Institute of Technology Occupational Therapy Program are committed to the education of all qualified individuals. The essential requirements for the successful completion of a Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy are described below. The student needs to demonstrate the following skills and abilities, with or without reasonable accommodation. When a student’s ability to perform is compromised, the student must demonstrate alternative means and/or abilities to perform the essential functions of the occupational therapy student described below.
Frequency Key: O = Occasionally (1-33%); F = Frequently (34-66%); C = Constantly (67-100%)

Technical Standards
Ability	Description	F	C
Cognitive	Process, synthesize, organize and learn new material in order to plan and implement a variety of activities.		X
New Row
	Identify cause-and-effect relationships in clinical situations; synthesize data and draw sound conclusions.		X
	Problem solve independently using several variables at once		X
	Utilize basic math concepts for measurement and construction tasks.	X
	Imitate role modeling of professional skills and behaviors		X
	Perceive events realistically, think rationally and clearly to function in routine and emergency situations		X
	Follow written or verbal instructions in English.	X