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We see you making a positive difference in the world as an occupational therapist.

The Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program at Cedar Crest College is built upon the foundation of a long history of excellence in healthcare training. Classwork, research, and fieldwork combine to provide the knowledge, skills, and experience to take you to the next level of your career.

  • Engage in the dynamic field of occupational therapy through community-based practice sites and innovative practice areas.
  • Explore concepts such as occupational justice, health care management, advocacy, leadership, and preventative health.
  • Expand your skillset in leading-edge facilities designed to champion the future of the OTD profession.

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Dive A Little Deeper

Required Curriculum (108 credits)

OTD500         Foundations of Occupational Therapy (3 credits)
OTD 506        Research I: Scholarship & Evidence-Based Practice (2 credits)
OTD 512         Anatomy, Movement, & Occupational Performance (4 credits)
OTD 518        Occupational Behavior & Clinical Reasoning (2 credits)
OTD 524        Leadership Development & Social Change (2 credits)
OTD 530        Group Dynamics & Contexts (2 credits)
Research II: Scholarly Project (2 credits)
OTD 550        Qualitative Research & Occupational Performance (2 credits) or
OTD 556        Quantitative Research & Occupational Performance (2 credits)
OTD 562        Children & Adolescents Development, Occupations, & Performance (4 credits)
OTD 568        Children & Adolescents Evaluation & Skills Lab (4 credits)
OTD 574        Level I Fieldwork: Children & Adolescents (1 credit)
OTD 580        Functional Neuroscience & Occupational Performance (3 credits)
OTD586         Doctoral Experience Milestone: Introduction & Exploration (1 credit)
OTD 600       Adult Development, Occupations, & Performance (4 credits)
OTD 606        Adult Evaluation & Skills Lab (4 credits)
OTD 612        Level I Fieldwork: Adults (1 credit)
OTD 618        Psychosocial Approach to Occupations (3 credits)
OTD 624        Level I Fieldwork: Psychosocial (1 credit)
OTD 630        Special Topics in Occupational Therapy (2 credits)
OTD 636        Doctoral Experience Milestone: Proposal (1 credit)
OTD 650        Older Adult Development, Occupations, & Performance (4 credits)
OTD 656        Older Adult Evaluation & Skills Lab (4 credits)
OTD 662        Level I Fieldwork: Older Adult (1 credit)
OTD 668        Practitioner as Education (3 credits)
OTD 674        Research III: Systematic Review (3 credits)
OTD 680       Doctoral Experience Milestone: Partnership (1 credit)
OTD 700        Fieldwork Level IIA (8 credits)
OTD 706        Management in Healthcare I (online) (1 credit)
OTD 701        Fieldwork Level IIB (8 credits)
OTD 707        Management in Healthcare II (online) (1 credit)
OTD 800       Integration of Learning in Occupational Therapy (3 credits)
OTD 806       Advanced Leadership & Advocacy in Occupational Therapy (3 credits)
OTD 812        Capstone Preparation I (3 credits)
OTD 850        Health and Well-being (3 credits)
OTD 856        Occupational Justice (3 credits)
OTD 862        Capstone Preparation II (3 credits)
OTD 900       Doctoral Capstone Experience (9 credits)
OTD 906        Doctoral Capstone Dissemination (1 credit)

2024/2025 Academic Year

Tentative OTD Program 2024 Fall SemesterTentative OTD Program 2025 Spring SemesterTentative OTD Program 2025 Summer SemesterTentative OTD Program 2024-2025 Academic Year
Credits151516
Tuition per Credit936936936
Total Tuition14040140401497643056
Activity and Technology Fee1451450290
Lab Fee1500001500
Total Institutional Expenses15685141851497644846
Loan Fees727272216
Books & Supplies2000200020006000
Total Related Expenses2072207220726216
Grand Total17757162571704851062

2025/2026 Academic Year (3% Tuition Increase)

Tentative OTD Program 2025 Fall SemesterTentative OTD Program 2026 Spring SemesterTentative OTD Program 2026 Summer SemesterTentative OTD Program 2025-2026 Academic Year
Credits16189
Tuition per Credit964964964
Total Tuition1542517352867641453
Activity and Technology Fee1451450290
Lab Fee1500001500
Total Institutional Expenses1707017497867643243
Loan Fees727272216
Books & Supplies2000200020006000
Total Related Expenses2072207220726216
Grand Total19142195691074849459

2026/2027 Academic Year (3% Tuition Increase)

Tentative OTD Program 2026 Fall SemesterTentative OTD Program 2027 Spring SemesterTentative OTD Program 2026-2027 Academic Year
Credits910
Tuition per Credit993993
Total Tuition8936993018866
Activity and Technology Fee145145290
Lab Fee150001500
Total Institutional Expenses105811007520656
Loan Fees7272144
Books & Supplies200020004000
Total Related Expenses207220724144
Grand Total126531214724800

Total Tentative Cost of Program (3 Year Program 2024-2027)

Total Tentative Cost of Program
Total Tuition103376
Activity and Technology Fee870
Lab Fee4500
Total Institutional Expenses108746
Loan Fees576
Books & Supplies16000
Total Related Expenses16576
Grand Total125322

How To Apply

Apply via OTCAS

Cedar Crest student smiling on campus

Additional Academic Resources

Hear from your peers

“Cedar Crest College’s OTD program was the only school I had interviewed with where I felt the faculty genuinely cared about me as an individual aside from a grade point average. Being part of the inaugural cohort, the culture and diversity that this program is founded on sets the tone for its successful future; it is simply like no other. The college itself makes me feel at home, and I couldn’t envision myself pursuing higher education anywhere else.”

Valerie Highley ’24

“The moment I finished my interview for the Occupational Therapy Doctorate program, I knew I wanted to pursue my graduate education at Cedar Crest. The faculty and staff made an impact on me right away. They care about each one of their students beyond the classroom, which has been meaningful to me as I moved over 1,000 miles away from home. I am also grateful for the community I have built with my peers, as we support each other through the good and bad days of graduate school. I am happy to be a part of the Cedar Crest OTD’s inaugural class!”

Daniela Enamorado ’24

“Cedar Crest was a hidden gem for me. I grew up in a big city, so somewhere smaller and calmer was just where I needed to be for graduate school. The faculty and students here are what really drew me in. I had the opportunity to interview for the OTD program and instantly fell in love with how the program was run, the student-teacher ratio, and the campus beauty. Cedar Crest is a home for women like me to excel and grow in an environment that allows me to express myself. The community here is very open, and I feel like I am able to ask anyone anything and they will be willing to help.”

Kawtar Latrech ’25

“I chose Cedar Crest College for my graduate program because, not only was it close to home, but it felt like another home. The community here makes it feel welcoming and a place that I can be me. What I like most about Cedar Crest is how small the class sizes are and how you can have more of a personal experience with the professors. For the Occupational Therapy program, I enjoy learning about a profession that is growing in the health care industry and how we can change the lives of others with simple tasks. The professors are down to earth, will support you in any way, and will help you strive to be the best you can be. The program has helped shape who I am and what I can do by bringing out the best of me.”

Jessica Badman ’24

“I chose Cedar Crest College because of its proximity to home and the diverse environment. My favorite things about Cedar Crest are the campus, the people, and the atmosphere. It does not feel like a competitive, envious, and strict learning environment but is open, welcoming, and inclusive. I love the professors in my program because of how invested they are in each of us. They have our best interests in mind and do not treat us like a number or as if our values and opinions do not matter. The OTD program has already helped me achieve professional goals as we start our second year. I am more confident, able to deal with conflicting values or opinions, and able to utilize different reasoning skills to problem solve. My anatomy teacher, Dr. Mirella Deisher, has been someone I look up to as she has piqued my interest in hand therapy and has guided me in a direction I think I will thoroughly enjoy. She has been available, welcoming, and enthusiastic about my journey, and I look forward to sharing my future experiences with her.”

Jah Page ’24

Accreditation

The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA, and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.

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 individual 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. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

Students must complete 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork as well as an individual 14-week capstone experience within 51 months of matriculation. The doctoral capstone experience must be started after completion of all coursework and Level II fieldwork as well as completion of preparatory activities defined in 2018 ACOTE OTD Standard D.1.3.

Faculty & Staff

Who’s teaching you is as important as the curriculum you choose.
Let’s put a face to some of the names you’ll be seeing on the course listings!

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