Department of Occupational Therapy and Occupational Science

Combined Master's Doctoral Program in Occupational Therapy/Occupational Science

The program is designed to prepare graduates to promote the health, well-being, and life participation of individuals of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds through the use of occupation.  Graduates will enhance healthful human occupation by:

• Providing high-quality, culturally appropriate, preventive, habilitative, and rehabilitative services to individuals, families, groups, communities, and society;

• Contributing to the development of theory and knowledge about the benefits of occupation and occupational therapy;

• Advocating for practice-based policy and occupational justice; and

• Contributing to the health, social, and education systems

Program Description

The Combined Master’s/Doctoral degree requires the completion of at least 90 units beyond a bachelor’s degree.  The Combined Master’s/Doctoral degree may be completed on either a full- or part-time basis.

A program of study, with a concentration in an aspect of occupation, will be developed by the student in consultation with his or her advisor.  This program of study is to include all planned electives.  One elective must be an additional quantitative statistics course and another must be an additional education course.  A minimum of two electives must be at the 700 level. 

The Combined Master’s/Doctoral degree includes passing a comprehensive assessment.  The comprehensive assessment requires students to reflect upon prior course work and integrate a broad range of theory and research. The student will write a document that examines and critiques theories and related research relevant to current practice trends. 

The Combined Master’s/Doctoral degree requires successful defense of a dissertation (minimum of 12 units) involving applied research in occupational science.  The student must register for at least one academic semester of full-time dissertation research (9 units).  Continuous registration for dissertation units is required once the dissertation proposal has been successfully defended, until the completion of the dissertation.  The program, including course work and dissertation, must be completed within 10 years.

For application information and due dates, contact the department.

Department of Occupational Therapy and Occupational Science
Enrollment Services, Room 245

Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5 p.m.

Phone: 410-704-2762
Fax: 410-704-2322