Department website: http://medicine.wvu.edu/ot/
Undergraduate Degree Offered
- Bachelor of Arts in Human Performance and Health, leading upon successful completion to the Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) program. Refer to the Undergraduate Catalog for more information.
Graduate Degrees Offered
- Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT)
- Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD)
Introduction
In the fall of 1993, the West Virginia University Board of Trustees approved the establishment of a new master’s degree program at WVU, leading to an entry-level master’s degree in occupational therapy. WVU accepted its first students into the professional program in the fall semester of 1996. In response to the rapidly changing environment in Occupational Therapy, the WVU Division of Occupational Therapy has added an OTD degree to their educational offerings. The Division of OT accepted their first class of doctoral students in May 2021.
Students entering WVU who want to pursue the OTD degree must complete a bachelor's degree, apply, and be accepted to the program before beginning classes in the OT program. Successful applicants to the OTD program come from a variety of undergraduate degree backgrounds, typically in (but not limited to) the social or biological sciences. The Exercise Physiology major at WVU has all the necessary prerequisite courses, and students with other degrees who have completed 75% of the prerequisite courses at the time of application will receive equal consideration in admission decisions.
Students will typically apply to the OTD at the beginning of their senior year prior to completion of the Bachelor’s degree. However, if accepted, all students must complete all remaining prerequisite courses with at least a “B” prior to the beginning of classes in the OTD program. The academic and fieldwork program requires 9 semesters to complete.
Students seeking the MOT degree are admitted to a combined Bachelor/Master program as undergraduates and transition to the graduate portion of the MOT program once they successfully complete the Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Human Performance and Health and have met all other Division of OT MOT academic requirements. Please refer to the OT Major section of the undergraduate catalog for specific information regarding academic requirements of the undergraduate portion of the MOT program.
The Profession of Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy is the only profession that helps people across the lifespan to do the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of meaningful daily activities (occupations). Occupational therapists use the "occupations" of self-care, work, and play/leisure activities to increase independence, enhance development, and/or prevent disability. To achieve these goals occupational therapists may also adapt the task or the environment. Occupational therapists enable people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them promote health, and prevent—or live better with—injury, illness, or disability. Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, helping people recovering from injury to regain skills, and providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes.
Occupational therapists work in a variety of settings. These could include hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing facilities, home health, outpatient clinics, private practice, school systems, private organizations, industry, and community agencies such as return to work programs, prisons, and community settings. The number of different places where therapists work is growing every year.
What to Expect
Like many professional programs, the curriculum in the MOT and OTD occupational therapy programs is fixed and intense. The first professional year begins in the summer with basic science coursework and theories and science relevant to the profession and practice of occupational therapy. Students are immersed in practice from the first fall semester onward through involvement in clinical activities, simulated scenarios and integrated Level I and Level II fieldwork experiences. Coursework includes hands-on learning and inter-professional experiences that are directly linked to academic content, theory, and research. The OTD program finishes with a Doctoral Experiential and Capstone, that allows the student to gain advanced knowledge and skill in an area of interest.
Students in the program are required to participate in community service activities and the School of Medicine's laptop computer purchase lease-to-own program, which provides each student with a state-of-the-art computer that contains course and program-relevant software.
Students in occupational therapy must obtain a grade of at least C or a Satisfactory (S) in all professional courses. In addition, occupational therapy students must maintain an OT coursework GPA of 3.0 or higher while in the OT Program. Since professional courses are offered once per year and are specifically sequenced, course failure may result in program dismissal or the delay of fieldwork and graduation.
Students in the OTD Program must complete all didactic coursework, all fieldwork, and the Doctoral Experiential within a period of six years after commencing the occupational therapy program. Students in the MOT program must complete all didactic coursework and all fieldwork within a period of five years after commencing the occupational therapy program. Furthermore, students in both programs must complete all Level II Fieldwork within eighteen months following completion of academic coursework while remaining within the six- or five-year time frame.
Housing and Travel for Clinical Fieldwork and Doctoral Experiential
The professional curriculum includes two off-campus, full-time clinical experiences known as Level II Fieldwork and the doctoral curriculum includes an additional 14-week full-time Doctoral Experiential. Clinical fieldwork and the Doctoral Experiential are an essential part of professional training. Students are assigned to Level I and Level II fieldwork sites locally, and at locations around the United States. Assignment to the Doctoral Experiential is done based on student interest and site availability. Students can expect that at least some of their placements will be at a distance from home. Students are responsible for any related fieldwork or experiential expenses (i.e., background checks, physicals, etc.) as well as transportation, housing, and meal expenses. Students are also responsible for making their own housing and travel arrangements for clinical fieldwork and the Doctoral Experiential. Information about housing options for affiliations is available from the academic fieldwork coordinator.
Background Checks
A felony conviction may impact a graduate’s ability to take the NBCOT (National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.) examination and/or obtain a state license. For further information on NBCOT’s Character Review Program, interested parties can obtain information from the Board on their web site at: http://www.nbcot.org.
Students enrolled in the WVU OT education program must complete drug testing and background checks to qualify for clinical and fieldwork experiences.
Administration
Chair
- Steven Wheeler - PhD, OTR/L (Virginia Commonwealth University)
Professor
Vice Chair and Program Director, OTD
- Diana Davis - PhD, OTR/L (West Virginia University)
Associate Professor
Program Director, MOT
- SueAnn Woods - PhD, MOT, OTR/L (West Virginia University)
Associate Professor
Academic Fieldwork Coordinator
- Brian Scaife - OTD, OTR/L (Chatham University)
Assistant Professor
Doctoral Capstone Coordinator
- Kayleigh Nolan - PhD, MOT, OTR/L (Towson University)
Assistant Professor
Faculty
Professor
- Steven Wheeler - PhD, OTR/L (Virginia Commonwealth University)
Chair
Associate Professors
- Amanda Acord-Vira - EdD, MOT, OTR/L (West Virginia University)
- Diana Davis - PhD, OTR/L (West Virginia University)
Vice Chair and Program Director, OTD - SueAnn Woods - PhD, MOT, OTR/L (West Virginia University)
MOT Program Director
Assistant Professors
- Breanna Adkins - EdD, MOT, OTR/L (A.T. Still Univesity)
- Richelle Gray - OTD, OTR/L, (University of Toledo)
- Jacob Tyler Greenfield - OTD, MOT, OTR/L (Chatham University)
- Heather Livengood - PhD, MOT (University of Pittsburgh)
- Kayleigh Nolan - PhD, MOT, OTR/L (Towson University)
OTD Doctoral Capstone Coordinator - Brandon "Seth" Powers - MOT, OTR/L, CHT (West Virginia University)
- Brian Scaife - OTD, OTR/L (Chatham University)
Academic Fieldwork Coordinator
Instructor
- Carrie Smith-Bell - MOT, OTR/L (West Virginia University)
Professor Emeritus
- Anne Cronin - PhD, OTR/L (University of Florida)
Associate Professor Emeritus
- Randy McCombie - PhD, OTR/L (Loyola University of Chicago)
Admissions for the 2025 MOT
Students typically spend the first two years of undergraduate study completing pre-requisite courses. Successful applicants to the MOT come from a variety of undergraduate degree backgrounds, including Exercise Physiology; Health and Well-Being; Psychology; Biology; Education; and others, or the equivalent major at the college or university where the student initially enrolled. Students may consult with an advisor or admissions specialist in the School of Medicine's Division of Professional and Undergraduate Programs to identify an appropriate entry major.
Current undergraduate students may apply to the MOT using the OTCAS application system. The application will be open from July 21 – February 15 each year and each class starts in May.
Course and program of study information for the undergraduate phase of the Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) degree can be found in the Undergraduate Catalog.
Admissions Requirements
Admission to the MOT program is competitive. In order to apply and be eligible for an interview for the MOT 2025 program, students must complete the following:
- MOT application through OTCAS between July 21-February 15
- Completion of 20 hours of observation with at least two different occupational therapists in at least two different sites
- Two recommendation letters (professional, academic or personal/non-relative) that speak to your skills, knowledge, aptitude related to becoming an occupational therapist
- Overall and pre-requisite GPA of 3.0
-
The following courses* must be completed prior to admission to the program. Course work will only be accepted from an accredited institution in the United States. Applicants must complete each course with a grade of “C” or higher (including any remaining GEF courses).
Students applying to the program may only be enrolled in a maximum of 3 pre-requisite courses in the Spring semester prior to the start of the program. This does not include any remaining GEF courses.
- English Composition - 6 credits
- Introductory Psychology - 3 credits
- Developmental Psychology - 3 credits
- Abnormal Psychology - 3 credits
- Introduction to Sociology or Anthropology - 3 credits
- Biology with lab - 8 credits
- Statistics - 3 credits
- Physiology - 3 or 4 credits
- Medical Terminology - 1 credit
- Completion of General Education Foundations (GEF)** - 9 to 12 credits
*Some of the courses may have their own departmental pre-requisite requirements. Please check with individual departments to ensure that you have completed all requirements.
**Applicants from another college or university should consult the WVU Office of the University Registrar for information on current General Education Foundations (GEF) courses and on how to transfer courses to WVU.
Admissions for the 2025 OTD
Students will apply using the OTCAS application system. The dates for OTCAS for OTD applications are July 21 - October 31 each year.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the OTD program is competitive. In order to apply and be eligible for an interview for the OTD 2025 program, students must complete the following:
The following courses* must be completed prior to admission to the program. Course work will only be accepted from an accredited institution in the United States. Applicants must complete each course with a grade of “C” or higher (including any remaining GEF courses).
Students applying to the program may only be enrolled in a maximum of 3 pre-requisite courses in the Spring semester prior to the start of the program. This does not include any remaining GEF courses.
- Completion of a baccalaureate degree scheduled to occur before the beginning of the OTD program
- Completion of 20 hours of observation with at least two different occupational therapists in at least two different sites
- Two recommendation letters (professional, academic or personal/non-relative) that speak to your skills, knowledge, aptitude related to becoming an occupational therapist
- An overall 2.75 grade point average on all college course work
- An overall pre-requisite course work grade point average of 3.00
-
The following courses must be completed with at least a "C" prior to the beginning of classes in the OTD program. Students applying to the program may only be enrolled in a maximum of 3 pre-requisite courses in the Spring semester prior to the start of the program.
- Introductory Psychology - 3 credits
- Developmental Psychology - 3 credits
- Abnormal Psychology - 3 credits
- Introduction to Sociology or Anthropology - 3 credits
- Biology with lab - 6-8 credits
- Statistics - 3 credits
- Physiology - 3 or 4 credits
- Medical Terminology - 1 credit
Major Codes: 8385 (MOT), 8386 (OTD)
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum grade of C required in all courses. * | ||
| Minimum GPA of 3.0 required. | ||
| OTH 518 | Interventions Across the Lifespan 4 | 4 |
| OTH 521 | Professional Development Seminar 1 Fieldwork Prep | 1 |
| OTH 522 | Professional Development Seminar 2 | 1 |
| OTH 523 | Professional Development Seminar 3 | 1 |
| OTH 533 | Clinical Reasoning for Populations | 3 |
| OTH 540 | Level 2 Fieldwork 1 | 6 |
| OTH 550 | Education in Occupational Therapy | 1 |
| OTH 586 | Level 1 Fieldwork 3 | 2 |
| OTH 607 | Management and Supervision in OT | 3 |
| OTH 640 | Level 2 Fieldwork 2 | 6 |
| OTH 697 | Research (Yr III Fall 2 credits, Spr 2 credits) | 4 |
| Total Hours | 32 | |
Program Time Frame
Students must complete all didactic coursework and Level II Fieldworks within a period of five years after commencing the occupational therapy program. Furthermore, all Level II Fieldwork must be completed within eighteen months following completion of academic coursework while remaining within the five-year time frame.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required. | ||
| OTH 502 | Foundations of OT Intervention | 3 |
| OTH 504 | Anatomic Foundations in OT | 4 |
| OTH 505 | Disruptions in Occupational Performance | 4 |
| OTH 506 | Functional Movement Across the Lifespan | 2 |
| OTH 507 | Functional Kinesiology in Occupational Therapy | 2 |
| OTH 508 | Developmental Life Tasks | 3 |
| OTH 509 | Neurobiologic Foundations | 4 |
| OTH 510 | Occupational Performance Evaluation 1 | 3 |
| OTH 511 | Occupational Performance Evaluation 2 | 4 |
| OTH 514 | Occupational Performance Eval 3 | 4 |
| OTH 515 | Interventions Across the Lifespan 1 | 4 |
| OTH 516 | Interventions Across the Lifespan 2 | 4 |
| OTH 517 | Interventions Across the Lifespan 3 | 4 |
| OTH 518 | Interventions Across the Lifespan 4 | 4 |
| OTH 521 | Professional Development Seminar 1 Fieldwork Prep | 1 |
| OTH 522 | Professional Development Seminar 2 | 1 |
| OTH 523 | Professional Development Seminar 3 | 1 |
| OTH 540 | Level 2 Fieldwork 1 | 6 |
| OTH 550 | Education in Occupational Therapy | 1 |
| OTH 584 | Level 1 Fieldwork 1 Clinical Skills | 2 |
| OTH 585 | Level 1 Fieldwork 2 | 2 |
| OTH 586 | Level 1 Fieldwork 3 | 2 |
| OTH 630 | Clinical Reasoning in OT 1 | 2 |
| OTH 631 | Clinical Reasoning in OT 2 | 2 |
| OTH 640 | Level 2 Fieldwork 2 | 6 |
| OTH 660 | Scientific Inquiry in OT 1 | 3 |
| OTH 661 | Scholarship & Inquiry in OT 2 | 3 |
| OTH 670 | Theories and Science of Occupation | 3 |
| OTH 697 | Research | 1 |
| OTH 708 | Leadership in Occupational Therapy | 2 |
| OTH 732 | Clinical Reasoning in OT 3 | 3 |
| OTH 733 | Clinical Reasoning in OT 4 | 3 |
| OTH 788 | Doctoral Capstone Planning 1 | 2 |
| OTH 789 | Doctoral Capstone Planning 2 | 2 |
| OTH 807 | Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Occupational Therapy | 3 |
| OTH 809 | Doctoral Thesis Capstone | 2 |
| OTH 810 | Doctoral Experiential | 7 |
| Total Hours | 109 | |
Major Learning Outcomes
MOT Occupational Therapy
Practice Outcomes
- Graduates will be reflective, competent, creative, flexible, and resourceful occupational therapists.
- Graduates will have an understanding of the distinct value of occupational therapy's unique role in promoting health, wellness, and quality of life at the individual, community, and population level.
- Graduates will be able to develop client-centered, evidence-based assessment plans and perform evaluations that reflect the Occupational Therapy Process and Domain.
- Graduates will be able to develop and implement client-centered, evidence-based, theory-driven interventions and discharge plans that reflect the Occupational Therapy Process and Domain.
- Graduates will be able to develop client-centered, evidence-based, theory-driven outcomes that reflect the Occupational Therapy Process and Domain.
Leadership & Advocacy
- Graduates will identify the leadership skills for engagement in professional advancement at the individual, group, and population level.
- Graduates will demonstrate skills to communicate about the distinct value/role of occupational therapy across all practice areas.
- Graduates will advocate for occupational therapy with policy makers, third-party payers, regulatory boards, consumers, and colleagues.
- Graduates will be able to identify the effects of health disparities and occupational injustice in the health and occupational performance of their clients.
Scholarship & Ethics
- Graduates will be active consumers of knowledge becoming lifelong occupational therapy learners.
- Graduates will be able to critically appraise the ethical and practical aspects of client care, program development, and research.
Major Learning Outcomes
OTD Occupational Therapy
Practice Outcomes
- Graduates will be able to critically reflect on and evaluate the environment, opportunities, and barriers to innovate methods to address unmet occupational therapy needs in society.
- Graduates will model the value of occupational therapy's unique role in promoting health, wellness, and quality of life at the individual, community, and population level.
- Graduates will be able to develop client-centered, evidence-based assessment plans and perform evaluations that reflect the Occupational Therapy Process and Domain.
- Graduates will be able to develop and implement client-centered, evidence-based, theory-driven interventions and discharge plans that reflect the Occupational Therapy Process and Domain and evaluate their effectiveness.
- Graduates will be able to develop client-centered, evidence-based, theory-driven outcomes that reflect the Occupational Therapy Process and Domain.
Leadership & Advocacy
- Graduates will demonstrate effective leadership skills, which include effective communication, to advocate for the importance of occupational engagement.
- Graduates will demonstrate skills to communicate about the distinct value/role of occupational therapy across all practice areas.
- Graduates will advocate for occupational therapy with policy makers, third-party payers, regulatory boards, consumers, and colleagues.
- Graduates will be able to evaluate the effects of health disparities and develop and implement a plan to address these to support occupational justice.
Scholarship & Ethics
- Graduates will be active consumers and inventors of knowledge becoming lifelong occupational therapy learners.
- Graduates will be able to critically appraise the ethical and practical aspects of client care, program development, and research.
Accreditation Status OTD
WVU’s Division of Occupational Therapy OTD program has been granted accreditation status 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 phone number, c/o AOTA, is (301) 652-AOTA. The OTD program at WVU was initially awarded accreditation in 2023. The next scheduled onsite visit for accreditation will be in 2031/2032. ACOTE information may be accessed at www.acoteonline.org.
Graduates of the program are able to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy Inc. (NBCOT). The address for NBCOT is: National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc., 1 Bank Street, Suite 300, Gaithersburg, MD 20878. For more information, NBCOT can be contacted at (301) 990-7979 or at http://www.nbcot.org/. After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an occupational therapist, registered (OTR). All states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note: A felony conviction may impact a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT examination and/or obtain a state license.
Prospective students, applicants, and interested parties can review WVU MOT program data results for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam at: https://www.nbcot.org/Educators-folders/SchoolPerformance.
Accreditation Status MOT
WVU’s Division of Occupational Therapy MOT Program has been granted accreditation status 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 phone number, c/o AOTA, is (301) 652-AOTA. The MOT program at WVU was initially awarded accreditation in 1998 and awarded re-accreditation in 2013. The next scheduled onsite visit for accreditation will be in 2023-2024. ACOTE information may be accessed at www.acoteonline.org.
Graduates of the program are able to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy Inc. (NBCOT). The address for NBCOT is: National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc., 1 Bank Street, Suite 300, Gaithersburg, MD 20878. For more information, NBCOT can be contacted at (301) 990-7979 or at http://www.nbcot.org/. After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an occupational therapist, registered (OTR). All states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note: A felony conviction may impact a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT examination and/or obtain a state license.
Prospective students, applicants, and interested parties can review WVU MOT program data results for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam at: https://www.nbcot.org/Educators-folders/SchoolPerformance.