Occupational Therapy Doctorate
A Growing Field — A Way to Improve Lives
The occupational therapy doctorate (OTD) program at College of Saint Mary prepares you to deliver services that help people improve their lives. As an occupational therapist, you will be able to help patients develop and maintain vital living and working skills. Occupational therapists evaluate physical and mental abilities, track progress and design therapy programs.
CSM’s new doctoral degree focuses on the development of clinical practice skills, research skills, administration, leadership, program and policy development, advocacy, education and theory development. In addition, students must complete two 12-week field work experiences along with a 14-week doctoral experience that culminates in a scholarly project.
Choose from 2 Admissions Pathways
Accelerated Entry (Undergraduate)
Click here if you need to complete your undergraduate degree.
- 6 years – receive your bachelors and doctoral degrees.
- You can choose any undergraduate major - such as Psychology or Kinesiology.
- While meeting progression benchmarks after each year at CSM, you’ll be able to earn and retain your spot into the OTD program.
- A professional academic advisor will guide you in meeting yearly benchmarks.
Graduate Entry
Click here if you have completed three years of college coursework.
- 3 years – receive your doctoral degree.
- Assigned an occupational therapy advisor.
- GRE and a master's degree are NOT required.
Degrees Offered
Occupational Therapy Doctorate (Accelerated)
Occupational Therapy Doctorate (Graduate)
Career Outlook
The U.S. Department of Labor projects the employment of occupational therapists is projected to grow 17 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. With a median annual salary of $86,280, occupational therapy is a high-demand career. After graduating from our program, you will be prepared with the knowledge and skills to establish a higher quality of living for your patients. Many of our students are offered jobs at the completion of their Level II fieldwork, or upon graduation.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration
Graduation Rates
Graduation Year |
Students Entering/Graduating |
Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 28/X | X% |
| 2023 | 38/X | X% |
| 2024 | 35/X | X% |
Board Pass Rates
The total number of College of Saint Mary Master of Occupational Therapy graduates who passed the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certificate exam in 2019 was 42 out of 42 graduates for an overall pass rate of 100 percent. As of 2014, the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy only posts the overall pass rate of a program regardless of the number of attempts for a student to pass the exam. Program results from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) can be found online at https://secure.nbcot.org/data/schoolstats.aspx.
