Calendar

A 3.0 or higher GPA is required prior to beginning Level II Fieldwork courses, and must be maintained in all subsequent courses.
A student must maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher throughout the program. Students must earn a minimum of C (2.0) in a course. However if a student receives 3 course grades below a B during the academic portion of the program they will be dismissed from the program.

Year One

Fall (15 credits)

BIO 634 - Human Anatomy (6)
OTP 611 - Kinesiology and Applied Anatomy (4)
OTP 620 - Introduction to Occupational Therapy (2)
OTP 630 - Occupational Therapy Theory (3)

Winter (16 credits)

OTP 612 - Clinical Neuroscience (3)
OTP 635 - Therapeutic Relationships and Group Dynamics (1)
OTP 640 - Development Across the Life Course I (3)
OTP 650 - Conditions and Occupations I (4)
OTP 655 - Clinical Application I – Children and Adolescents (2)
OTP 670 - Assessments and Interventions I (3)

Spring (9 credits)

OTP 660 - Professional Ethics (1)
OTP 665 - Evidence Based Practice (3)
OTP 680 - Scientific Inquiry I:  Research Methods (3)
OTP 690 - Capstone Project Design I (2)

Year Two

Fall (16 credits)

OTP 735 - Therapeutic Relationships and Cultural Competency (1)
OTP 740 - Development Across the Life Course II (3)
OTP 750 - Conditions and Occupations II (4)
OTP 755 - Clinical Application II - Adults (2)
OTP 770 - Assessments and Interventions II (4)
OTP 780 - Scientific Inquiry II:  Research Design (2)

Winter (17 credits)

OTP 745 - Occupational Science (2)
OPT 757 - Clinical Application III - Older Adults (2)
OTP 759 - Conditions and Occupations III (4)
OTP 775 - Assessments and Interventions III (4)
OTP 785 - Innovations and Technology (3)
OTP 790 - Capstone Project Design II (2)

Spring (11 credits)

OTP 787 - Leadership and Management (3)
OTP 795 - Capstone Project Design III (2)
OTP 797 - Practice Integration (3)

One from:

OTP 695 – Independent Study in Occupational Therapy for OTD Students (3)
OTP 799 – Occupational Therapy in the Promotion of Health & Wellness (3)

Year Three

Fall (8 credits)

OTP 850 – Introduction to Level II Fieldwork (2)
OTP 855 - Level II Fieldwork I (6)

Winter (8 credits)

OTP 865 - Level II Fieldwork II (6)
OTP 870 – Doctoral Certification and Introduction to Residency (2)

Spring (10 credits)

OTP 875 - Doctoral Residency (8)
OTP 880 – Doctoral Capstone Project (2)

Additional details listed in the catalog.

*Students can gain conditional admission with courses in progress

The OTD admissions process uses the OTCAS centralized application service.  The most competitive applicants demonstrate knowledge of the depth and breadth of the profession, as well as consistent academic performance, maturity, and values associated with health care professionals.

Eligibility

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0 overall
• Completion of the following prerequisite courses at a regionally accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0 overall, minimum GPA of 2.75 in science courses, and no grade lower than a C (2.0):
• Prerequisite Courses
  • 4 credits in biology with laboratory, to exclude botany
  • 4 credits in physics with laboratory
  • 4 credits in human anatomy with laboratory**
  • 4 credits in human physiology with laboratory**
  • 3 credits in political science (American national government and politics)
  • 9 credits in psychology (Introduction to Pscyhology, Developmental Psychology and Abnormal Psychology)
  • 3 credits in Introduction to Sociology or Introduction to Anthropology (for those applying for fall 2022 admission and beyond)
  • 3 credits in statistics
  • 1 credit in medical terminology (in a letter-graded course)
  • 3 credits in biomechanics (some kinesiology courses will be considered if biomechanics was a component of it)
  • 1 credit introduction to health careers
    • The OTD prerequisite courses cannot be satisfied via experiential learning or advanced placement. 

**If a 5-6 credit combination of anatomy and physiology class is taken, the course content must be reviewed.

• Prerequisite courses should be completed within 7 years of applying to the program; prerequisite courses taken more than 7 years prior will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
• Updated First Aid and CPR certification: CPR certification must include infant, child, adult CPR with AED training for Healthcare Providers. In order to receive certification, actual hand on experience with mannequins is required (online coursework only is not accepted). This will need to be kept updated for each year in the program. Certification should be through the American Heart Association class “Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers” or through the American Red Cross class “CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and Health Care Providers."
• 60 or more hours of observation of occupational therapists in two or more types of clinical settings; 125 or more hours in four or more settings recommended.  Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the UM-Flint OTD program has decided to place a temporary moratorium on volunteer/observation hour requirements for this application cycle. While observation hours are still beneficial and we recommend including them on your application if you have them, they are not required for this year's application. Any supplemental virtual webinars, instructional videos, etc. are beneficial and can be included in your OTCAS application. 
  • Must be documented on facility letterhead. Signed by supervising therapist with their license number. 
• Demonstration of computer and word processing competency to include, but not limited to, internet navigation, utilization of software and learning management systems (i.e., Blackboard), e-correspondence, and database exploration.

Applicants admitted to the OTD program must demonstrate that they possess the attributes necessary to succeed in a challenging curriculum as well as perform in the practice of occupational therapy. Essential and technical standards are the cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and physical abilities required for satisfactory completion of the OTD curriculum and development of professional attributes required of all students at graduation. While an applicant is not required to disclose the specifics of any disability, it is the applicant's responsibility to request reasonable accommodation if they cannot demonstrate these Essential and Technical Standards without accommodation.

Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the national board for
certification in occupational therapy (NBCOT ®). After successful completion of this exam, the graduate will be an occupational therapist, registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NCBOT certification examination. A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT examination or attain licensure status. Students in good standing may be allowed to take the exam during their last semester. Students may also wait until after graduation to take the exam.

For the Fall 2021 admission period, the University of Michigan-Flint will use the Occupational Therapist Centralized Application Service (OTCAS).  The application will be available July 16, 2020 through March 1, 2021. 

• Up to forty students will be admitted once per year in the fall semester.
• The UM-Flint Occupational Therapy program operates on a rolling-admission basis; we encourage you to apply early.
• The deadline to submit all your documents to OTCAS is March 1 to ensure full consideration of your application.  It can take up to six weeks for OTCAS to send UM-Flint all of your documents after you have submitted them to OTCAS.
• If you do not submit all OTCAS materials to OTCAS by March 1, the materials may arrive to UM-Flint late and could take your application out of consideration.
• While March 1 is the application deadline, applicants have longer to be verified by OTCAS.

Submit the following to OTCAS by March 1, 2021:

• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended in the United States (foreign transcripts are to be sent to the Office of Graduate Programs, not OTCAS)
• Three letters of reference submitted to OTCAS
• Observation of Occupational Therapist Hours
  • 60 or more hours of observation of occupational therapists in two or more types of clinical settings are required.
  • 125 or more hours in four or more settings is recommended.
  • Observation hours must be verified by submitting a letter (on facility letterhead) from the supervising therapist indicating the hours and dates student observed. Signature and license number of therapist must be included.
  • Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the UM-Flint OTD program has decided to place a temporary moratorium on volunteer/observation hour requirements for this application cycle. While observation hours are still beneficial and we recommend including them on your application if you have them, they are not required for this year's application. Any supplemental virtual webinars, instructional videos, etc. are beneficial and can be included in your OTCAS application. 
    • Supplemental observation options available by emailing Dyanna Scott, OTD Admissions Specialist. 
• Essay question specific to the OTD program at the University of Michigan-Flint through OTCAS

Submit the following directly to UM-Flint by March 1, 2021:

• $55 UM-Flint Supplemental Application Fee (paid online)
• Transcripts and diplomas or certificates of graduation from any colleges and universities you have attended from outside the United States (do not send to OTCAS)
• Additional Documentation if your native language is not English or you are an international student seeking a student visa. Visit the International Students page for details.

The application process for the Fall 2021 cohort includes an interview with OT faculty and OT clinical practitioners. The qualifying applicants will receive an invitation for this interview to be conducted in person or via teleconference call.