Occupational Therapy, OTD

Chairperson: Christine O'Neill, OTD, MHMS, OTR/L, CBIS
Department of Occupational Therapy website

Vision

The Department of Occupational Therapy at Marquette University will cultivate ethical, visionary leaders in health care and human services who will transform occupational therapy practice.   

Mission

Consistent with the missions of Marquette University and the College of Health Sciences, the mission of the Department of Occupational Therapy is, to provide a transformational education within the Jesuit tradition designed to prepare future leaders of a collaborative and culturally responsive workforce. In doing so, we seek to develop occupational therapists who are grounded in faith and service for and with others and committed to the utility of meaningful and purposeful occupation in the promotion of justice. Marquette occupational therapy graduates will be competent and conscientious practitioner-scholars dedicated to the human community through care for the whole person. To accomplish this mission, we embrace Ignatian values as a way to promote a culture of learning and respect, which is integral to the tradition we serve.

Philosophy

It is the philosophy of Marquette Occupational Therapy that human beings are occupational beings, interconnected with the context of their environments and transformed through engagement in chosen occupations, or everyday life activities. The diverse nature of the human lived experience and the ability to engage in ongoing occupation, as a determinant of health, empowers individuals, communities and societies. As such, equal opportunities to pursue participation in a variety of valued and meaningful occupations, as an innate need, is a fundamental human right. To this end, we embrace the Jesuit value of Men and Women for and with Others as the embodiment of service for and with the under-served, the marginalized and those in need, in pursuit of occupational justice on behalf of all persons. Given this philosophy, and led by the Marquette Guiding Values and Jesuit values, we commit to Academic Excellence in the education of occupational therapists through the delivery of a curriculum that embraces occupational justice and the science of occupation as fundamental, promotes a spirit and culture of ethical and critical curiosity to espouse cura personalis and Contemplatives in Action, commits to Unity of Heart and Mind in fostering an appreciation for engaged, whole-person education for future whole-person practice and instills the habit of discernment of the greater good in a given situation. We strive for this to better serve God, and ultimately, others.

Expected Student Outcomes

Marquette Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) graduates will have:

Practice Competence

  • the knowledge, skills, attitudes and abilities necessary for valued occupational therapy practice; 

Professional Identity

  • a solid understanding of self as a professional.

Marquette OTD graduates will be:

Servant Leaders

  • committed to lifelong self-development in the service of others; 

Critically Curious

  • imaginative, with the capacity to reflect on and process information for sound critical thinking toward action.

Admissions

The OTD program will admit two cohorts in the 2025-2026 academic year. One cohort will be admitted in the fall of 2025. This will be the last cohort with a fall start date. All future cohorts will begin the program in the summer beginning with the summer of 2026 start date. Please refer to the information and curriculum plan for your respective cohort. Admission to the OTD program is on a competitive basis through one of three pathways:

Direct Admission Pathway

The direct admit pathway allows high school seniors applying to Marquette as an incoming freshman to also apply for direct admission into the OTD program. Applications to the direct admit program include a review of transcripts and the additional essay outlining your desire to become an occupational therapist. Accepted students who maintain program requirements complete their Bachelor's degree and the OTD degree in just six short years. 

3+3 Transfer Admission Pathway

The 3+3 transfer admission pathway is for current Marquette students to apply to enter the OTD program in their senior year, prior to completion of their bachelor's degree. The 3+3 pathway provides an opportunity for current MU students who may have been undecided upon admission to MU to still be able to take advantage of this accelerated degree program. Applications are received and reviewed in the student's junior year as long as all other major and prerequisite requirements are complete by the end of the student's junior year. This allows entrance into the OTD program after the student's junior year.

ELIGIBILITY

  • The 3+3 early admission program is not restricted to specific majors at Marquette University. Within the College of Health Sciences, the majors of Exercise Physiology (EXPH) and Biomedical Sciences (BISC) have defined pathways to allow for application and admission to the 3+3 program for senior year, please consult with your adviser and/or the EXPH or BISC major section of this bulletin. Undergraduate students in any other major at Marquette University may be eligible to apply if they are on track to complete all Marquette Core Curriculum (MCC) and college/major/minor requirements, such that no greater than 34 total elective credits remain to complete the undergraduate degree upon entering the OTD program in the senior year.

  • The human anatomy and human physiology prerequisites must be completed at Marquette University. 

  • Undergraduates who transfer to Marquette University from another institution must have a minimum of 30 total credit hours (2 terms) completed at Marquette University and meet all other 3+3 eligibility requirements listed above.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Please refer to the OTD website for specific admission requirements.

Traditional Pathway

The traditional pathway is for students who will have a completed bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution prior to matriculation to the OTD program (includes current seniors). 

ELIGIBILITY 

  • Completed baccalaureate degree from a regionally-accredited institution (any major) prior to matriculation to the OTD program (includes current college seniors)

  • A maximum of two outstanding prerequisites, except for anatomy and physiology (A&P), are allowed at time of application submission  

  • Prerequisite and cumulative minimum GPA of 3.000 (4.000 scale) as calculated by OTCAS

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

​Please refer to the OTD website for specific admission requirements.

Application and Acceptance

  • All applications are reviewed on a competitive basis. Qualified applicants are invited to an interview consisting of a series of program interactions, individual interviews and a writing sample.

  • International applicants and those who graduated from a non-US college or university may have additional requirements.

  • In addition to academic requirements, accepted students must be able to carry out the basic duties and essential functions of a generalist occupational therapist with or without reasonable accommodation(s). Accepted students must complete additional requisites for admission prior to matriculation, including:

    • Health and immunization records, screens, forms completed

    • Drug test

    • Caregiver Background and Criminal History Check 

      • The State of Wisconsin, Department of Health and Family Services mandates that all persons who seek to be employed and/or licensed in the caregiver industry must fulfill the Caregiver and Background Check. Occupational therapy students are required to complete a background and criminal history check prior to matriculation and must abide by the university and state regulations pertaining to the findings. Background results may not prevent admission to the OTD program; however, some findings may limit options for placement in fieldwork rotations and/or restrict options for other experiential learning. Failure to complete this state-mandated requirement renders the student unable to fulfill requirements for graduation from the OTD program.

    • Technical standards

Technical Standards

Marquette University’s Department of Occupational Therapy prepares students to be competent and professional general practitioners. The technical standards identified herein are functional abilities fundamental to the provision of safe and effective care. Therefore, preparation for a professional role as an Occupational Therapist includes the expectation that an applicant/ student must independently demonstrate competence in such abilities, with or without reasonable accommodation and must meet and maintain such technical standards in order to progress in the program.

Sensorimotor Skills

A student is expected to have functional use of sensory systems (tactile, visual, auditory, olfactory, proprioception and vestibular) in order to accurately observe, perceive, perceive, synthesize and exchange sensory information within their environment. A student must be able to recognize pressure, temperature, position in space, vibration, pain and movement in order to discriminate between safe and unsafe environments and between therapeutic and non-therapeutic contexts.

Psychomotor Skills

A student is expected to demonstrate adequate fine and gross motor movements, neuromuscular control, motor planning, strength, eye-hand/foot coordination and endurance necessary for the safe learning and practice of Occupational Therapy. Examples of examination and treatment interventions using psychomotor skills include, but are not limited to: obtaining and monitoring client vitals, assessing range of motion, manual muscle testing, functional mobility and transfers, work hardening, client and caregiver education, splint fabrication, use of adaptive equipment, manipulation of objects/materials, computer usage, environmental modification, application of physical agent modalities and performing CPR when necessary. A student must be able to appropriately navigate the environment which may require periods of physical and mental exertion needed to move, balance, stand, sit, bend, squat, kneel and reach in the provision of safe client care. A student is expected to lift up to 50 pounds, including loads from the floor and overhead. A student should be able to maintain equilibrium and move consciously and satisfactorily in urgent situations.

Communication Skills

A student must be able to effectively and professionally communicate with clients, patients, caregivers, clinical supervisors, faculty members and other health care team members. Such communication ability includes verbal, non-verbal, written, using sign language and/or using communication devices to obtain factual information and relay factual information to others. Each student is expected to have the ability to hear, comprehend, speak and write the English language when facilitating and producing accurate communication including written information related to education, professional documentation, record maintenance, instruction and presentation of information.

Cognitive Skills

A student must be able to demonstrate problem solving and critical thinking abilities in order to effectively and safely perform observations, administer evaluations, carry out interventions and develop programming for clients and other stakeholders. The critical skill of problem solving includes the capability to identify the problem, comprehend, measure, analyze, reason, synthesize and conduct outcome evaluation that is timely and clinically sound. Higher-level cognitive functions, including sound judgement, flexibility and shift are essential to Occupational Therapy practice. A student is expected to retain, retrieve, apply and integrate previously learned information with new knowledge in order to make appropriate decisions in classroom, laboratory, fieldwork settings, practice and scholarship.

Behavioral and Social Skills

A student must demonstrate self-awareness, be emotionally stable and able to effectively utilize intellectual capacity in attending to all responsibilities associated with the safe and effective practice of Occupational Therapy. A student must manage internal and external stressors and balance commitments. A student is expected to adapt to dynamic practice environments and demonstrate flexibility in managing change. A student must be an effectual member of a team that may include patients, clients, caregivers, clinical supervisors, health care team members, faculty and fellow students and must be able to develop effective collaborative, working relationships with such team members as appropriate. A student must be able to provide, accept and integrate constructive feedback. A student must utilize intellectual skills to successfully complete classroom and clinical responsibilities within given timelines. A student is expected to dress appropriately per context and maintain acceptable personal hygiene. Compassion, maturity, cultural, sensitivity, motivation, integrity and respect in interactions with others are abilities expected of a care provider and are assessed during the admissions process and throughout the course of study.

Evaluation

An applicant/candidate with a disability shall not, on the basis of their disability, except those which would preclude the essential skills outlined above, be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, nor be subjected to discrimination in the program. Marquette University, in accordance with its Jesuit tradition and Guiding Values, is committed to fostering a diverse community of outstanding faculty, staff and students, as well as ensuring equal educational opportunity, employment and access to services, programs and activities, without regard to an individual’s race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristic or military status.

All OTD students must be able to perform the essential functions of a student occupational therapist. Reasonable accommodations are afforded to students with disabilities as required under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Sec. 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and applicable state laws. Marquette University may require that the applicant/student undergo a physical examination and/or an occupational skills evaluation. A student who can no longer perform the essential functions of a student occupational therapist must report this to their program chairperson. If reasonable accommodations cannot be made, the student is not able to remain in the OTD program.

These standards are expected to be adequately met in the classroom, lab, community and fieldwork settings. Inability to meet these standards could result in dismissal from the program. 

Technical Standards and Progression in the OTD Program 

Successful participation in the Occupational Therapy Doctoral Program requires that a student must independently, with or without reasonable accommodation, meet and maintain the technical standards for progression throughout the program. Students unable to meet these technical standards are not able to complete the program.  

If a student has a change in health status while enrolled in the program, the student is required to inform the department chairperson and their program adviser and provide an updated technical standards form. Where applicable, the program may require submission of supporting documentation from appropriate providers qualified to judge the student’s ability to meet or exceed the aforementioned requirements. Significant health status changes may include surgery, time missed greater than two days, or decreased ability to perform critical functional demands associated with courses, including clinical education.  

Any evidence of a possible violation of the safety and technical standards may be cause for further evaluation at the university’s discretion and/or dismissal from the OTD program. Evidence of possible violation may be obtained from the application materials, interviews or visual observations. Further evaluation may entail an interview or a physical examination by a physician or other provider of the university’s choice.

Admission Policies: Credits for Previous Study and/or Work Experience

It is the policy of the College of Heath Sciences that transfer credits for students in Health Sciences Professional programs are considered only for fulfillment of basic science requirements. Transfer credits are not accepted for any required 7000-level courses. Therefore, transfer credits for course work completed outside of that content matching OTD admissions-required, prerequisite course content is not accepted for credit for any required courses in the OTD program. Students accepted into the program must satisfactorily complete all required occupational therapy courses. Advanced placement in the OTD program is not granted for any reason, including prior academic studies or professional experience.

Ability to Benefit

The OTD program does not admit students based on the ability to benefit.

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