Curriculum

Receiving the Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree will involve satisfactorily completing a minimum of 36 points beyond the Master’s degree (in occupational therapy). This includes the use of a clinical residency* towards evidence-based practice and the completion of two capstone projects: a publication-ready research paper and a clinical portfolio. This program is an evening program, and can be completed in two to three years of part-time study.

*Clinical Residency: Our program is heavily dependent on clinical experiences. All students are required to identify a clinical site that can serve as their “clinical residency”. This is typically one’s place of work. As long as one’s site provides approval, assignments including the research project can be carried out with one’s clients, and during one’s workday.

Individuals who already hold Master of Science degrees in Occupational Therapy from Columbia University will have met the requirement for Core I, and will need to complete an additional 36 points. Students with Master of Arts or Master of Science degrees in Occupational Therapy from another university, upon review and approval by the Program, can have their occupational therapy coursework count as Core 1 and credited toward the degree.

Core I: (up to 39 points)

The content of Core I is devoted to the basic study and practice of occupational therapy and to the beginning understanding and application of research methodologies. Courses within this core include those taken by our entry level Master of Science program, which are outlined in our bulletin.

Core II: (11 points)

The content of Core II is directed towards challenging existing knowledge, paradigms, and hypotheses in cognition and perception. Guided by course faculty and the doctoral mentor, the learner engages in critical reflection, discourse, and experiential learning as foundational courses in the program are taken.

Advanced Application of Theory to Practice (3 points)
Neuroscience of Cognition (3 points)
Methods of Teaching (3 points)
Professional Development (2 points)

Core III: (14 points)

The focus of Core III is directed towards transforming critical thinking and creating and implementing advanced knowledge and applications in cognition and perception. The student undergoes deeper level critical reflection, discourse, and experiential learning as courses geared towards advanced level assessments and intervention are taken.

Cognitive Assessment & Intervention (3 points)
Cognitive Basis of Function and Decision Making (4 points)
Advanced Evidence-Based Practice (3 points)
Theories of Measurement and Instrument Development (3 points)
Case-based Application (1 point)

Core IV: (11 points)

At Core IV, the student becomes an advanced-practioner who is an agent of change in clinical practice. The student works with the doctoral mentor to complete coursework, residency, and two capstone projects (Clinical Portfolio and Evidence-Based Research Paper).

Courses to support the capstone (5 points)

Writing for Publication (1 point)
Grantsmanship (2 points)
Ethics and Occupational Justice (2 points)

Capstone (6 points)

Residency
Clinical Portfolio (3 points)
Evidence-based Research Paper submitted (3 points)

Clinical Portfolio

All students will be expected to submit a clinical portfolio, in which the following will be represented:

Program Development
Education/Continuing Education/Professional Development
Evidence-based Practice
Reflection on the Doctoral Process
Evidence-Based Research Paper

Students will be responsible for carrying out a research project based on a clinically derived question (i.e., not theoretical, but evidence-based practice). A faculty sponsor plus an ongoing seminar will support students during this process. This research project will culminate in a paper submitted to faculty in publication ready format. In order to graduate, the paper must also be submitted for publication in a refereed journal.

Course Sequence

Year 1

Fall
Advanced Applications of Theory to Practice

Neuroscience of Cognition

Capstone I

Spring

Cognitive Basis of Function and Decision Making

Measurement and Instrument Development

Case-Based Application

Summer

Cognitive Assessment and Intervention

Methods of Teaching

Year 2

Fall

Advanced Evidenced Based Practice

Grantsmanship

Professional Development