University of Puget Sound

Doctor in Occupational Therapy Degree (DrOT)

Plan of Study

Purpose: The Post-professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy (DrOT) Program is designed to be student-centered to support students’ development of advanced practice skills that support their career goals. To that end, students in the Program are required to articulate one or two areas of concentration and related learning outcomes that will guide them in developing a doctoral thesis project, shaping course assignments, and selecting authentic learning experiences.

Examples include (but are not limited to):

·  Developing advanced practice skills in a specialty area. This might be related to:

o  A diagnostic group (e.g., autism, dementia, stroke)

o  Other populations whose circumstances impact occupational engagement (e.g., people who are homeless, refugees, people who have experienced domestic violence)

o  A specific treatment area (e.g., fall prevention, aquatic therapy, neuromuscular re-education)

·  Professional issues, such as:

o  Education of OT students (in academic and/or clinical settings)

o  Education of clients

o  Advocacy for the profession (e.g., legislative action)

o  Advocacy for a particular population or client group.

o  Leadership with in the profession (e.g., professional organizations or developing supervisory/administrative skills for job advancement)

Preamble: Students will enter the DrOT Program with a range of professional experience and interests. Defining an area of concentration will be easy for some students, particularly those with years of experience, and they may feel comfortable completing this Plan of Study (PoS) independently. For others, selecting or defining an area of concentration may be more challenging and they may wish to collaborate with their advisors or other colleagues/mentors in developing their PoS. All students should know that the initial PoS is a starting point. Plans can and will change as students progress through the Program. Students should review their PoS each semester, meeting with their advisor, as needed, to make changes that help them meet their career goals.

Instructions to Admitted Students:

  1. Complete the Plan of Study (PoS). You may begin the PoS as soon as you are accepted into the DrOT Program and no later than the third week of your first semester.
  2. Meet with your advisor to review the PoS. Modify, if needed. You and your advisor must date and sign the approved PoS.
  3. Submit the approved PoS to Lori Neumann, OT Administrative Assistant, in WEY 204 no later than one month after the start of your first semester.
  4. The DrOT Program Director will review each PoS. If there are questions or concerns, the student and advisor will be contacted so appropriate clarifications or amendments can be made. [Note: if the advisor is the DrOT Program Director, a designated faculty member will review the PoS].
  5. Review your PoS at the start of each semester. If revision is needed, complete a new PoS Form, meet with your advisor to review and sign, and submit as per Step #3 above.

Documenting Progress and Completion of the PoS: Completion of coursework will be documented through the student’s official transcript. Students must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, with no course grade lower than a B minus. Additionally, students must document progress toward learning goals in an electronic portfolio. The format and specifics will be introduced in OT712: Leadership & Management in Healthcare, and students are required to submit their final portfolios to their advisors for approval as a requirement for graduation.


University of Puget Sound

Doctor in Occupational Therapy Degree (DrOT)

Plan of Study

Date: ______c Original PoS c Revised PoS

Name: ______

Name:______

Primary Area of Concentration: Describe your area of concentration in occupational therapy practice.

Secondary Area of Concentration (optional): You may select a secondary focus if you have additional interests. You should be able to link a secondary focus to your area of concentration. For example, if your area of concentration is in low vision and you are also interested in developing advocacy skills, your PoS might include advocacy activities for people with blindness and low vision.

Learning Outcomes:

Develop three to five learning outcomes that will demonstrate advanced competency in your primary area of concentration by the completion of the DrOT Program.

Develop one to three learning outcomes that will demonstrate proficiency in your secondary focus (if applicable).

Coursework:

Courses are listed in the recommended order. Please indicate the year you plan to complete the course. Part-time students may need to revise the course sequence.

Course
Number / Course
Name / # of
Units / Year / Semester
OT700 / Professional Craft Knowledge & Expertise Development / 1.0 / Summer
OT712 / Leadership & Management in Healthcare / 1.0 / Summer
OTxxx / Residency Through Authentic Learning Experiences / 0.0 / Summer
OT740 / Doctoral Thesis I / 0.5 / Summer
OT720 / Teaching & Learning Across Contexts / 1.0 / Fall
OT724 / Occupational Therapy for Populations & Health Promotion / 1.0 / Fall
OTxxx / Management in Healthcare / 0.5 / Fall
OTxxx / Residency Through Authentic Learning Experiences / 0.0 / Fall
OT741 / Doctoral Thesis II / 0.5 / Fall
OT732 / Ethics in Healthcare / 0.5 / Fall
OT738 / Emerging Practice in Occupational Therapy / 0.5 / Fall
OT755 / Understanding the System: Policy & Advocacy / 1.0 / Spring
OTxxx / Residency Through Authentic Learning Experiences / 0.5 / Spring
OT742 / Doctoral Thesis III / 0.5 / Spring
TOTAL UNITS / 7.50

Authentic Learning Experiences: Evidence from educational research shows that learning and the development of expertise are enhanced when learners are engaged in “authentic contexts,” that is, they are applying knowledge and skills to real-life situations. Students in the DrOT Program are expected to identify and pursue authentic learning experiences that will link course objectives and content to their learning goals. Please list authentic experiences you currently plan to engage in and those you wish to add as you progress through program. The range of authentic experiences is endless. Examples include: clinical practice, supervising fieldwork students, volunteering with a professional association or community organization, lobbying at state or federal levels, teaching a college class or continuing education course, developing a new program, leading a support group, volunteering with an international aid group, etc.

Note: Specific course assignments will help you further shape authentic learning experiences. This part of the PoS is intended to help you think about interests and opportunities for you to engage in to support your learning outcomes. It is not intended to be a comprehensive list or to restrict opportunities that occur as you progress through the Program.

List activities you currently engage in that will relate to your learning outcomes:

List potential authentic learning experiences you would like to engage in to support your learning outcomes:

Thesis Topic: c Research Project c Research-based Program Development Project

Briefly describe your project idea. Note: First-semester students who are unsure may indicate “undecided” and complete this section at a later time.

Thesis Committee [To be completed in collaboration with the student’s advisor]:

Chair: ______

Member: ______

Member: ______

Plan of Study Approved By:

______

Student Date

______

Advisor Date

______

DrOT Program Director [or Designate] Date

DrOTProgram/January2015