Why Study Occupational Therapy at SHP?

Our program developed a solid foundation for OT practice and scholarship over a chnaging health care environment. Our graduates qualify for leadership roles, advanced clinical positions, research positions, or academic positions in universities and colleges.

$96,370
* average salary of a Occupational Therapy graduate.

* U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Program Highlights

Our entry-level program prepares students as generalists to provide high quality occupational therapy services to; serve their patients, be responsive to changes in health care, expand care to underserved communities, and engage in scholarship/research in occupational science and occupational therapy.

• Our clinical doctorate program focuses on preparing practitioners with advanced clinical and leadership skills.
• This is a an entry-level clinical doctoral program, so no dissertation is required .
• Students can be involved in our community clinics.
• Students will complete their degree in 8 semesters.

Learning Beyond the Classroom

Our curriculum is purposefully designed to prepare students as generalists by providing broad exposure to contemporary practice settings such as schools, hospitals, community centers, and long-term care facilities. This exposure covers various practice areas, including emerging fields, ensuring that our students are equipped to work with diverse populations, from infants and children to adolescents, adults, and older adults, addressing both physical and mental health conditions.

We focus on emerging, innovative practices that align with New Jersey’s needs, our faculty’s expertise, the School of Health Professions, and Rutgers Health. Our program partners with organizations supporting underserved communities, including services for the homeless, day rehabilitation for those with developmental disabilities, senior centers, groups aiding life transitions for those with disabilities, and organizations assisting veterans. Students gain valuable experience through fieldwork, research, and capstone projects. Our goal is to expand practice to serve individuals where they live, work, and play.

Program Director
Amiya Waldman-Levi, Ph.D.

The occupational therapy doctoral degree (OTD) is a 109-credit, entry-level program that will prepare students as generalists to provide high quality occupational therapy services to serve their patients, to be responsive to changes in health care, to expand care to underserved communities, and to engage in scholarship/research in occupational science and occupational therapy.

The program will admit approximately 30 students each year, to complete 8 consecutive semesters, where summers are included as a separate semester (approximately 32 courses including 6 months of fieldwork). Fieldwork will be integrated throughout the curriculum (for a total of 28 weeks plus the doctoral experiential internship).

This is not a Ph.D. program; so, no dissertation is required, however students will engage in scholarship as part of their doctoral experiential internship which will be disseminated through publication or presentation. The purpose of a clinical doctorate program, and the 14-week doctoral experiential internship, is to focus on preparing practitioners with advanced clinical and leadership skills.

Students can be involved in our community clinics during graduate school:

The Head Injury Clinic is an interprofessional clinic comprised of Rutgers students and faculty from the OTD, DPT, and SLP programs. It is a pro bono clinic offered to the Newark community once a week during the summer and consists of both individual and group therapy sessions. Students have the opportunity to utilize an Electronic Medical Record, ClinicNote. Students can observe the Head Injury Clinic at the end of year one and apply for the Head Injury Clinic in year two.

The NEXUS Club is a community intervention/transitions club comprised of Rutgers students and faculty from the OTD program. It is a pro bono service offered to the community once a week throughout the year. During the club, students work collaboratively with autistic individuals to develop activities that foster transition skills. Students can join Nexus as early as their first semester in the Rutgers OTD program.

The OTD program admissions process uses a holistic approach to admissions valuing both cognitive and non-cognitive traits to evaluate the strength of applicants to ensure a balanced admissions decision. 

Non-cognitive traits are demonstrated through things such as, work experience, volunteerism, responses to written and video recorded questions, and statements given on OTCAS that show your skills as a communicator, collaborator, health advocate, and professional. Cognitive traits or academic elements include standardized test scores and your grades in prerequisite courses.

Student Fees:
OTD student Fee,School Fee,Campus Fee, Technology Fee, Health Insurance, Activity Fee

Illustration is based on 2024-2025 academic year.  In state tuition is 890/credit. Tuition and Fees are subject to change
https://finance.rutgers.edu/sites/default/files/2024-11/SHP_20Grad.pdf

According to FASFA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), the cost of attendance is defined as total amount of attending the program, which includes tuition and fees, books, supplies, transportation, loan fees as well as fees associated with distance education.

The OTD program is a full time in person program that meets on the Newark Health Sciences campus. All students must have basic computer skills and access to an internet enabled laptop or tablet for class assignments, exams and access to the learning management system.

Requirements for Graduation

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

In-Person Campus Tour
Hear from academic and clinical faculty, meet current students, and tour our classroom and clinical spaces.
We love to talk about our work and our graduates, so please come by!

New Dates to Come