Occupational Therapy Doctorate
OTD

In order to graduate with an Occupational Therapy Doctorate degree from KGI, a student must:

1. Successfully complete all required OTD coursework. The curriculum will be 126.5 credit hours total with required didactic coursework of 84.5 credits, the choice of at least one elective at 1.5 credits each, fieldwork level I at 4.0 credits, fieldwork level II at 24 credits, and the doctoral capstone experience at 14 credits.
2. Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 at the end of each trimester and at the completion of the program.
3. Demonstrate competency in professional skills within the OTD program.
4. Successfully pass two fieldwork level II experiences (24 credits for a total of 960).
5. Successfully pass the doctoral capstone experience (14 credits for a total of 560 hours).
6. A minimum of 100 Professional Development points before graduation.
7. Complete the KGI graduation application process prior to the established due date.
8. Meet all KGI financial requirements and obligations, which include ensuring there are no outstanding tuition payments, program fees, graduation fees, library charges, or other institutional fees.
9. Complete the OTD program within the maximum time-to-completion, which is defined as 150% of the program length (i.e., 3.375 years). Deceleration and remediation must also be completed within this timeframe. Delays due to approved personal or medical leaves of absence are excluded from the maximum time-to-completion requirement. Please refer to the “Leave of Absence” section in this handbook and the KGI Academic Policies and Procedures Handbook for further details.

Once all graduation requirements are met, 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 NBCOT certification examination. A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

All students in the OTD program will be required to successfully complete courses each trimester to progress through the program. The OTD Student Progression Committee (SPC) will serve to review each student’s academic performance and progress through didactic courses, fieldwork, and capstone. The OTD SPC will make recommendations to the Dean on plans for remediation, placement on probation, or withdrawal from the program. To successfully progress through the OTD program, students will:

1. Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. If a student’s GPA drops below 3.0, they will be placed on academic probation and be given one semester to raise their GPA to 3.0 or above. Failure to meet this GPA requirement in the extended time period may result in dismissal from the program.
2. Pass all courses at a C or above (74% or greater). Earning one final course grade of F (below 74%) during didactic courses, fieldwork, or capstone after remediation efforts have been exhausted will result in academic dismissal from the program.
3. Successfully complete course remediation, if applicable. If a student is failing a course in the semester, they will have the opportunity to remediate prior to the beginning of the next semester pending recommendation by the OTD SPC. Students may only remediate two courses total in the program.
4. Meet the time-to-completion requirement of 150% of the allocated time for the program. There may be exceptions for students who are delayed due to approved personal or medical leaves of absence.
5. Follow the KGI Honor Code and demonstrate professionalism in didactic, fieldwork, and capstone contexts.

Retention of students will be supported on several levels from program leadership, faculty, and Student Affairs staff. All parties will provide opportunities to promote student success. Each OTD student will be assigned an OTD Faculty Advisor that will meet with advisees throughout the program. Course coordinators will utilize the SHS early warning system to help alert students who are academically at-risk where a plan will be established to assist students to successfully pass courses.

Dates and Deadlines

KGI’s utilizes the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS) for all applications. All application materials are submitted directly into OTCAS. Be sure that your status is marked verified on OTCAS for a successful application.

• Application opens: Friday, July 19, 2024
• Priority Deadline: Friday, December 6, 2024
• Final Deadline to apply: Friday, June 6, 2025

*Applications will continue to be accepted and reviewed by the admissions team until the class is full.

Prerequisites

The following prerequisites were chosen to prepare you in foundational knowledge that will best serve your transformation into future occupational therapists. The prerequisites include perspectives from the basic, social, and health sciences. The courses will help springboard you into holistic and diverse explorations of engagement in occupation and the scholarly support of such work.

The prerequisites include:

• Human Anatomy: 4 semester credit hours / 6 quarter credit hours / Lab
• Human Physiology: 4 semester credit hours / 6 quarter credit hours / Lab
• Human Lifespan Development or Development Psychology: 3 semester credit hours / 4 quarter credit hours
• Abnormal Psychology: 3 semester credit hours / 4 quarter credit hours
• Introduction to Sociology or Cultural Anthropology: 3 semester credit hours / 4 quarter credit hours
• Statistics: 3 semester credit hours / 4 quarter credit hours
• Medical Terminology*: 1 semester credit hours / 1 quarter credit hours
  * A certificate of completion for a medical terminology course is also acceptable

Applications will be accepted even if some of your prerequisite courses are in progress; however, prerequisites must be completed prior to starting the OTD program. All prerequisite courses must be taken at accredited institutions and need to have been completed in the last seven years. A GPA of 3.0 and above is preferred for prerequisite courses, but lower GPAs will be considered alongside other admissions factors.

Official Transcripts for Completion of Baccalaureate Degree

There are many undergraduate degrees that prove a good fit for occupational therapy. We welcome the diversity of perspectives that a variety of disciplines will bring to any given OTD cohort. You will have the opportunity to share your voice as informed by your undergraduate training in many discussions and projects across the curriculum.

If you have not yet completed your baccalaureate degree, you can still apply to KGI. Please submit an intention to complete your baccalaureate degree with your official transcript. Your degree must be completed prior to starting the OTD program. An overall GPA of 3.0 and above makes for a more competitive application, but other admission factors will be considered alongside a lower GPA and does not preclude applying at KGI.

Graduate Record Exam (GRE)

KGI does not require the GRE and submitted scores will not be considered in the admissions process.

Three Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation help us get to know you better and should demonstrate your character, strengths, and professionalism. The sharing of specific examples where your abilities and work ethic are evidenced are of particular value.

Letters of recommendation should be written by people who know you well enough to write a detailed narrative. Letters can be written by a professor, therapist, or other professional or supervisor that can speak to your ability to experience success in an occupational therapy graduate program and as a future occupational therapist.

Recommended Occupational Therapy Observation

KGI does not require a specified amount of occupational therapy observation time as we know that sometimes it can be difficult to find shadowing opportunities. We understand how valuable it is to see occupational therapy in action in a variety of settings and highly recommend applicants seek out those experiences to make a more informed decision. Observation experiences might happen in a school, hospital, outpatient clinic, community-based site, long term care facility, or any other place occupational therapy professionals might be providing services. Mostly shadowing ends up being motivating and inspiring to see occupational therapy in action!

International Applicants

KGI welcomes applicants from outside of the United States. If English is not your first language, then we ask that you take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam.

Duolingo English Test: The Duolingo English Test is an online English proficiency test that can be taken online, on-demand, in under an hour for only $59. The test is taken via a computer with a camera and includes a proficiency score, video interview, and writing sample which are shared with Keck Graduate Institute when you send your results. Certified results are available within 48 hours of the test session.

Immunization

All students admitted to the KGI OTD program are required to have a proof of the MMR, DTaP, Hepatitis B, TB test, and Meningococcal vaccinations before they are placed for their fieldwork rotations and capstone sites.

In addition, KGI is requiring influenza and COVID-19 vaccination for all staff, faculty, and students. Exemptions may be provided for medical or religious reasons. Students must understand that an exemption from the influenza or COVID-19 vaccination only applies to time spent on-campus at KGI. While on experiential learning, students will be required to follow the vaccination guidelines set forth by the site and/or the state. Exemption from influenza or COVID-19 vaccination may impact the ability to place a student at a fieldwork site which can influence the student’s ability to successfully matriculate through the program.

Also, please note that the policy for immunizations and tests for KGI OTD students is to follow the current guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for healthcare workers. It is the sole responsibility of the student to complete and submit all of the correct requirements/documentation before the due date(s) and to never let any of those requirements/documentation expire. Failure to be compliant at any time can result in failure of the course, delay in graduation, and financial implications for the student.

Interviews and Getting to Know You

At KGI, we care about finding students that will thrive and maximize their professional and personal growth in our OTD program. We want to get to know you so we can make an informed choice about mutual fit with our mission, vision, and unique offerings. Interviews are by invitation and will be offered virtually and on-ground at KGI and also give you the chance to get to know us as well. We look forward to meeting you!

Application Review

The Admissions Committee is made up of faculty and senior administrators who will thoroughly and conscientiously review each application. Applications will be considered in the context of the total applicant pool, as well as in relationship to our general admissions standards.

All admissions decisions are final for the academic year in which they are rendered.

Admitted Students

Admitted students are required to submit a non-refundable enrollment fee to hold their spot in the program. Additionally, counselors maintain contact with admitted students to ensure all official documents are received.

Admitted students also receive regular communication for the Admissions Office with important information about preparing for study, student life, housing, orientation, and other topics of interest.

Advanced Placement

Transfer credits for didactic and experiential courses are not accepted. All KGI OTD program courses within the curriculum are required for graduation. No credit or advanced placement is granted for prior experiential learning, coursework, degrees, certifications, or advanced training.