Occupational Therapy (Entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy)
Looking to make a positive impact on the well-being of all you serve in a program that combines academics with experiential learning? Since launching the Occupational Therapy Program in 1985, Creighton University has set new standards in the profession.
We were the nation’s first entry-level OTD program and the first to offer innovative hybrid pathways. Today, you can choose to learn on campus in Omaha or opt for a hybrid pathway in Anchorage, Denver or Phoenix. Our interprofessional approach to health care focuses on patient care, values-centered teaching by an exceptional faculty and a deep commitment to service.
Program Details
Program Goals
As a Doctor of Occupational Therapy student, you’ll learn:
- To demonstrate entry-level occupational therapy clinical skills
- How to develop a new program or refine an existing one that enhances occupational therapy practice
- Ways to influence policy, practice and education by advocating for occupational therapy services for individuals and populations
- How to apply principles of ethics to individual, institutional and societal issues; articulate justifiable resolutions to these issues; and act in an ethical manner
Curriculum
Our curriculum encompasses three primary themes: occupation, professional practice and professional identity. The curriculum is built around the nesting of these themes so you begin engaging in them as soon as you enter the program and continue to build on them throughout the curriculum. Learn more about the curriculum.
Pathways
Creighton University offers four pathways within the OTD program:
- Omaha Pathway. Here, students earn their degree with innovative study in a full-time, traditional campus setting.
- Alaska Hybrid Pathway. In 2008, we began our University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) – Creighton University Distance Initiative. This entry-level program includes asynchronous and synchronous teaching and learning in a unique hybrid model.
- Regis Hybrid Pathway. In 2015, we began an exciting collaboration with Regis University in Denver, Colorado. This pathway follows the hybrid model.
- Phoenix Hybrid Pathway. In 2021, we welcomed the inaugural class of occupational therapy students at the Creighton University Health Sciences Campus – Phoenix. Students have the opportunity to learn in a new state-of-the-art, seven-story facility in the heart of Park Central in midtown Phoenix, AZ.
Admissions Requirements
Prerequisites
Entrance into the Doctor of Occupational Therapy program requires a minimum of 60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours of prerequisite coursework.
Prerequisite courses may be completed at any regionally accredited institution and must be completed with a grade of C or better (a C- grade is not acceptable). All prerequisite coursework must be completed by August 1 of the desired year of entry. Learn more about prerequisites.
Admissions Requirements
To apply, applicants must submit all of the following materials through OTCAS, the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service:
- An official transcript from each institution the applicant has attended and/or is currently attending
- Three letters of recommendation
- Observation in an OT setting by a licensed occupational therapist
- International applicants must submit a foreign transcript evaluation to OTCAS through an evaluation service such as World Education Services (WES) or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)
Personal interviews are required in the admissions process. Qualified applicants will be notified via email if they are selected for an interview. See full requirements.
Dates & Deadlines
The Creighton University Doctor of Occupational Therapy program operates on a rolling admission basis, meaning that qualified applicants are invited to interview and offered admission on a first-come, first-served basis. In the past three admission cycles, all available interview dates were full by early November. Applicants are encouraged to apply early. Learn more.
Tuition & Financial Aid
The Doctor of Occupational Therapy tuition and fees varies over the 3-years of the program and the Alaska pathway will have an altered amount agreed and set by the partner university. See a breakdown of tuition.
Financial Aid
All admired students are considered for scholarships, and scholarship award ranges up to $60,000 for the duration and is divided throughout the three years of the program. The Office of Admission awards the top 25% of the incoming class at minimum. Learn more about scholarships.
At Creighton University School of Pharmacy and Health Professions, you’ll have the opportunity to share your knowledge and experience in health care with individuals in international locations.
For more than 10 years, 200+ students have traveled outside of the United States to places such as China, Chile, Dominica Republic, and South Korea for clinical rotations. Explore international opportunities.
The entry-level program in occupational therapy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. (AOTA) located at:
6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200
North Bethesda, MD. 20852-4929
Email: accred@aota.org
Phone: 301.652.2682
More information on ACOTE can be found at www.acoteonline.org.
The Creighton entry-level program is accredited until the 2030-31 academic year. The next accreditation site visit is scheduled for 2030-2031.
Clinical Education
Clinical education is critical to professional development and competency in the discipline of occupational therapy. Creighton University’s occupational therapy program partners with practitioners from around the globe to provide a wide variety of learning experiences. We believe our clinical preceptors bring invaluable practice skills, support and guidance for our students, richly enhancing our program.
