BANGOR — Husson University is launching a new pathway to allow students to accelerate toward an advanced professional degree in occupational therapy. The doctorate in occupational therapy will be enrolling its first class in September.
The new degree pathway will allow students to complete both a bachelor’s degree and an occupational therapy doctorate, or OTD, over the course of six years. The OTD program starts with three years in either the health sciences or psychology bachelor’s degree program. That’s followed by three years of professional-level classes including field work and a capstone experience.
“The overarching goal of the capstone, and doctoral degree in occupational therapy, is to cultivate confident, forward thinking practitioners and leaders in an evolving healthcare landscape,” said Dr. Katey Howland, the doctoral capstone coordinator for the OTD program.
Husson will continue to offer the master’s degree program, or MSOT, as well. The MSOT program is a 3+2 program that allows students to graduate with an advanced degree and begin practicing in five years. The MSOT is appropriate for students who want to be OT practitioners who would like to get out into the workforce sooner.
The OTD program includes more specialized experiential opportunities, including a capstone research project.
“Students will be able to really focus on one area of occupational therapy and hone their skills in it before moving on to the next and building on those skills,” said Lauren Fysh, an instructor in the occupational therapy program at Husson.
The OTD program is best for students who would like to practice OT but also want to conduct research and potentially teach in higher education in the future.
“Husson is proud to be at the forefront of credentialing in occupational therapy that will help our students succeed and thrive in tomorrow’s workforce whether they want to begin working with clients sooner or earn a doctorate to work in adjacent fields in the future,” said Dr. Kimberly Davis, director of the School of Occupational Therapy.
