Welcome to the Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program at Indiana Wesleyan University, a distinctive program where faith, learning, and service converge to prepare students to excel in the field of occupational therapy utilizing a holistic approach.
At IWU, we believe in nurturing students not only in academic excellence but also in leadership, scholarship, and character grounded in Christian principles. Our program is designed to equip future occupational therapists with the skills and knowledge to provide compassionate and transformative healthcare services around the globe.
Why Pursue My Occupational Therapy Doctorate at IWU?
Facilities. Faculty. Fieldwork. These three components work in tandem to create a personalized, state-of-the-art learning environment for OTD degree students at Indiana Wesleyan University.
At IWU, students learn in unique state-of-the-art facilities and lab spaces, including a well-equipped sensory-based pediatric lab, and an anatomy and neuroanatomy cadaver lab outfitted with media-based technologies. OTD degree students at IWU learn transfers, home assessment, and modifications in our fully furnished 3-bedroom home located on a quaint corner of campus.
The OTD program is blessed to feature a diverse faculty with doctoral degrees from some of the nation’s leading institutions of higher learning. The educational diversity of the faculty offers our students a view of occupational therapy from varying educational perspectives. Many of our faculty members continue to work in clinical settings, thereby allowing them to stay current with health care trends and practices. All our faculty members teach within their areas of clinical expertise and specializations and advise students in those areas, creating targeted support for student success.
The OTD program at IWU utilizes a uniquely student-focused fieldwork placement approach. The program places students in five different fieldwork settings during their time in the program. Our Academic Fieldwork Coordinator meets with students near the beginning of the program to help them identify areas of clinical interest as well as geographic areas of interest for Level II fieldwork.
What Will I Learn in This Onsite Occupational Therapy Program?
While pursuing their occupational therapy education, students will learn to harness the transformative potential of active engagement in meaningful occupations as a cornerstone of rehabilitation practice.
Students will also learn to view individuals, environments, and activities through a holistic, culturally responsive lens, embracing the power of collaboration to achieve rehabilitation goals, while pursuing their occupational therapy degree. An embedded, week-long cross-cultural experience helps students explore the world in a new way, learning while serving those we meet along the way.
Finally, students will discover and develop their personal strengths and interests, empowering them to thrive professionally and carve out their unique path within the diverse landscape of occupational therapy. The doctoral capstone experience encourages students to explore their chosen areas in depth, fostering growth and expertise.
In this program, students learn a variety of skills to achieve a holistic foundation for occupational therapy practice in any setting. Students will learn to deliver holistic care to address the needs of clients in mind, body, and spirit and advocate for global occupational justice. Graduates are equipped to:
Our courses contain the program-specific knowledge and upon completion, you should have the tools to conquer your new career with confidence. For a full list of courses required to complete your degree, please visit the course catalog.
After successful completion of the program, graduates often create positions in developing areas for occupational therapy, practicing in a wide range of traditional occupational therapy settings, and entering advanced apprenticeship positions in hand therapy and in the NICU. You will also be prepared to attain state licensure through the American Occupational Therapy Association by taking the National Certification Examination, administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).
By pursuing your doctorate degree at IWU, you will gain the benefits of a uniquely Christian environment not found in many other OT programs while also gaining the knowledge and experience to excel in the health sciences as a doctor of occupational therapy.
Surveys from employers indicate supervisors are very satisfied with IWU OTRs in the areas of:
*All credits leading to the OTD degree must be taken at IWU.
*Work experience may be considered toward observation hours with the signature of a licensed OTR.
The Occupational Therapy program annually admits a class of 30 students to the professional entry level Doctorate (OTD), who begin studies in September each year.
Prerequisite Courses
The following prerequisite courses or the equivalent must be completed with a grade of B- or better. Unless specified, the courses below should have at least 3 credits to be considered as a prerequisite course.
Students may complete up to two prerequisites in the summer session after acceptance into the program but before beginning the graduate level of study:
*Advanced placement credit allowed for General Psychology only.
Indiana Wesleyan University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC), www.hlcommission.org, 312-263-0456. Other accreditations and associations of Indiana Wesleyan University are available at www.indwes.edu/about/iwu-profile/accreditation.
The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and the web address is www.acoteonline.org.
Graduates of the program are 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 in order 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. https://www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance
|
Graduation Year |
Students Entering/Graduating |
Graduation Rate |
|
2020 |
17/17 |
100% |
|
2021 |
25/23 |
92% |
|
2022 |
15/15 |
100% |
|
2023 |
19/17 |
89% |
|
2024 |
13/11* |
85% |
|
*Students who changed cohorts will be counted in the year they graduate. |
||
|
5-Year Total |
89/83 |
93% |
|
Year |
Cohort Size |
Passing Percentage |
|
2021 |
21/21 |
100% |
|
2022 |
17/17 |
100% |
|
2023 |
14/14 |
100% |
|
3-Year Average |
52/52 |
100% |
| 2025-2026 Academic Year | OTD Program Fall Trimester | OTD Program Spring Trimester | OTD Program Summer Trimester | Total Cost of Program by Academic Year | Total Cost of Program (8 trimesters) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $12,142 | $12,142 | $12,142 | $36,426 | $97,136 |
| Tuition rates remain the same for the duration of the program unless the student withdraws and re-enters the program. | |||||
| Student Life Fee | $90 | $90 | $180 | $540 | |
| The Student Life Fee covers access to TimelyCare, a 24-hour/day, seven days/week, 365 days per year health service. Students can access mental health and medical care via an app on their phone that includes counseling, a Talk Now feature, and medical professionals. It also provides access to all campus facilities including the Recreation and Wellness Center, student pass to home athletic events, Center for Student Success and activities run by the Student Government Association and Student Activities Council. | |||||
| Parking Fee | $60 | $120 | |||
| Parking fee applies only to the 2 years on campus. | |||||
| Clinical Compliance Software Fee | $115 | $115 | $115 | ||
| This fee includes document tracking and software for fieldwork communication and compliance. | |||||
| Background Checks & Wellness | $60 - $80 / year | $210 | |||
| This fee includes background checks. Students are responsible for the costs of health insurance and services and fieldwork-required tests and immunizations, etc. Costs may vary based on insurance coverage. | |||||
| Books & Supplies | $2,000 | ||||
| Includes books, state association fee and learning software as reported by current students. Costs vary with student preference for e-book/print, new/used availability, etc. Faculty make efforts to keep book costs down while keeping content up to date with current practice and federal and state regulation changes. | |||||
| Loan Fees | $108 per term | $108 per term | $108 per term | $864 | |
| Standard loan fee for graduate loans per term. The OTD program at IWU includes 8 terms. | |||||
| Transportation | 150 estimated gas cost* | $150 | $150 | $450 | |
| * Fieldwork Level I locations range from 5-60 miles from IWU campus, depending on student interests and site availability. AFWC works to balance student travel near and far. Estimate based on a site 60 miles from campus, in a vehicle that gets 15 miles/gallon and gas prices of $4.00/gallon. As the spring fieldwork is completed in groups, students often share gas costs. | |||||
| Fieldwork Polo Shirt | Free | ||||
| The OTD program provides 1 free Fieldwork shirt. Others available for $30-$35 per shirt. Most students use only 1 for the duration of the program. | |||||
| Graduation Fee | $150 | ||||
| Total: $101,585* | |||||
*Tuition Rates freeze at the time of admission for the duration of the program. Fees are subject to change.
Join us at Indiana Wesleyan University, where faith and education come together to shape compassionate leaders in occupational therapy. Together, we aspire to empower our students to make a meaningful impact as they embark on careers dedicated to providing world-changing healthcare services with integrity and grace.
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