Doctoral Degree in Occupational Therapy | Health Professions | SIU

Program Requirements

This full-time, three-year program requires 103 credit hours, presented in a hybrid format with online and on-campus lectures and labs. Students complete two12-week full-time (40 hour per week) supervised clinical fieldwork placements off-site, followed by a 14-week (40 hour per week) capstone experience and project. To sit for the NBCOT Certification Examination, the program must be accredited.

Graduates become OTRs and need licensure for practice, typically based on the exam results.

Check out the course sequence, which helps you outline what courses you would want to take each semester for all three years. View all related courses.

Application Process

The occupational therapy doctorate (OTD) program will utilize the Centralized Application Service for Occupational Therapy Programs (OTCAS) as part of our application process. The OTCAS Application, in addition to the SIU Graduate School Application, must be completed for consideration.

OTCAS Application Website

SIU Graduate School Application

Application Timelines

OTCAS application for Fall 2024 opens July 21, 2023.
Use the OTCAS Applicant Help Center for assistance with this application.

SIU application for fall 2024 opens September 4, 2023

For priority consideration, applications must be verified by OTCAS on or before November 15. The final application deadline is February 1.

Qualified applicants for the program will receive email notifications by December 15 for the initial round of interviews with the faculty, and by February 15 for the final round. Interviews will take place between January 15 and February 1, as well as between February 15 and March 1. Admission decisions will be made by March 15.

SIU application
Items needed to complete the Graduate School Application:

• Personal Data Information
• Program Information
• Previous Colleges
• Public Safety Questions
• Proof of Residency

OTCAS application
It is the responsibility of the applicant, without exception, to meet all application deadlines and maintain all updates to the applicant’s OTCAS application.

To ensure email delivery, add donotreply@webadmit.org to your address book. Also periodically check the “Messages” section of your application as any email that is sent from OTCAS can also be found there.

Letters of Recommendation should be submitted to OTCAS only

Technology Requirements

Students are required to have access to a computer and a mobile device for use while in the program, and have access to a reliable broadband internet connection. Available information on browser support for an optimal experience that offers better performance, accessibility and security for access to the D2L Learning Management System is available here.

Disability Support Services

We are committed to enabling students with differing abilities, access to completing the course of study within the occupational therapy doctorate program by means of reasonable accommodations consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

If accommodations are needed by a student to perform the essential skills and requisite abilities, he or she must notify Disability Support Services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible experience for all students with disabilities. Disability Support Services coordinates the implementation of accommodations, if you will need to seek support services on the basis of diagnosed disability, you will need to submit documentation to verify eligibility under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. For more information regarding disability support services at SIU, visit the Disability Support Services website.