Program Overview
Occupational therapy is in high demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 18% job growth through 2028.
Be at the forefront of this rewarding and rapidly evolving field through JWU’s Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD), a pathway for bachelor’s degree recipients.
YEAR-ROUND
FULL TIME FOR 36 MONTHS
COHORT MODEL
JUNE START
Our program’s holistic approach addresses the vital importance of acknowledging people’s physical, psychological and emotional needs.
Learn how to assist and inspire people to maximize their health, well-being and quality of life while increasing their independence, self-confidence and self-worth. Devise adaptive ways for clients to connect with their environment and complete the work, recreational and self-care tasks they need to succeed through our new Occupations Lab and Action Lab.
What is unique about JWU’s entry-level OTD program?
- A focus on examining the needs of individuals and populations within the community and emphasizes its valuable connections with the Physician Assistant, Culinary, Equine, Design and Engineering programs to best serve societal needs in an interprofessional manner.
- Level I Fieldwork and lab experiences directly in the community and within emerging practice areas.
- Experienced and nationally recognized faculty teaching in a state-of-the-art facility that creates a stimulating environment for student learning.
- Coursework and Doctoral Capstone components which are integrated into a curriculum that’s focused on interprofessional aspects of occupational therapy that bring the student outside the realm of healthcare and into a community rich with opportunity.
- Our Fieldwork program matches students with a variety of placements both within RI and throughout the nation. Each student is assessed individually and placed based on strengths, interests, and geographical choice. Fieldwork sites are NOT selected with a lottery system and students should expect to be placed in at least one setting of their choice.
You’ll learn to serve individuals, groups, communities and populations, while also developing programs that offer a preventative focus and influence a broader scope of the population. Then apply and practice what you learned in class through course fieldwork in mental health, adults, older adults, and pediatrics.
Through mentorship with our experienced faculty, you’ll set personal goals that influence your professional growth and complete a capstone project ready for presentation and implementation by the time you graduate.
In JWU’s OTD, you’ll gain the practical and research skills needed to become a highly competent occupational therapy practitioner.

News & Faculty Publications
- Classroom Cross-Pollination
- Healthcare for Prison Population (2nd story)
- Going Green: OTD Students Explore Dietetics
- Reaching Across the Barn: Equine-Assisted Therapy
- OT Faculty Publications
- Cancer-Work Management: Women’s Experiences Following a Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Catalog & Course Listing
Explore the full catalog course listing:
Explore curriculum, course descriptions and course credits: