Go Beyond the Possibilities You’ve Imagined
Doctor of Occupational Therapy at SCU Phoenix Metro Campus
Empower your community and enable change
Empower your community and enable change with a Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) degree from Southern California University of Health Sciences. This full-time online-hybrid accelerated program at our Phoenix Metro Campus is designed to enhance your bachelor’s degree and equip you to begin a new and rewarding career in OT from wherever you are in two years.
Take the next step
Why Occupational Therapy?
Life is made up of occupations—or what we consider meaningful everyday tasks. These occupations can include many roles and the activities that come with them, such as being a parent, a spouse, a student, an artist, or a cook. We typically don’t think about our daily occupations until life makes doing them difficult. Occupational therapists are skilled healthcare professionals who use creativity, research and scientific evidence to effectively solve problems that get in the way of these occupations and empower clients to live life to their fullest ability.
Unlike other healthcare professions, Occupational Therapy is holistic in its approach to improving patient-centered care. With strong knowledge of a person’s psychological, physical, emotional, and social makeup, occupational therapy practitioners can evaluate how a condition is affecting the body, mind and spirit. Career opportunities are vast and varied, ranging across many different types of settings. You’ll work with newborns, seniors and everyone in between!
Your future as a healthcare leader starts here!
All You need is your Bachelor's
There’s no one-size-fits all degree required to succeed in OT. Occupational therapists come from a variety of backgrounds, experiences and interests. Your Unique Perspective Brings a Fresh Outlook. Whether you studied psychology, art, education, or even business, an OTD from SCU – Phoenix Metro will allow you to use your imagination to help people conquer life’s challenges.
Our Hybrid Accelerated OTD Program is for you if:
- You have a helping heart and find joy in positively impacting others
- You are searching for a career that empowers you to drive change in your community
- You face challenges to traditional on-campus learning and prefer hybrid online learning
- You seek a career that encourages growth, financial stability and meaningful work
- You are interested in advancing patient-centered care with an emphasis on health equity
*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Occupational Therapists, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/occupational-therapists.htm (visited October 30, 2023).
More Than Education The Highest Level of Health for All
As a premier health sciences university, SCU prepares today’s students for the healthcare system of tomorrow through education, services, scholarship, and clinical experiences centered around what we believe. Our values include occupation and evidence-based focus, integrative health and interprofessional collaboration, health equity, professionalism and leadership. When you enroll in the Doctorate of Occupational Therapy program at our Phoenix Metro Campus you’ll benefit from our interprofessional education model learning with, from, and about multiple healthcare professions. Earning your OTD alongside a diverse population of healthcare students supports a future of socially responsible professionals who attain the highest level of healthcare for all. Are you ready to become a competent, caring, and successful Occupational Therapist at SCU?
Program Start:
- January 6, 2025 or
- September 2, 2025
70% Online Coursework with 30% in-person Lab Immersions at SCU’s Phoenix Metro Campus in Year 1 and 100% experiential in Year 2 with Capstone & Fieldwork placement
Our focus is to connect passionate individuals from diverse backgrounds across the nation seeking a meaningful career in occupational therapy. The online learning component allows you the flexibility to access educational materials from anywhere with an internet connection while the the In-person lab immersion experiences allow you to bridge the gap between theory and real-world application with the opportunity to practice and refine your clinical skills under the guidance of our experienced faculty.
No GRE, Observation Hours, or Letters of Recommendation required
Admissions Requirements:
- U.S. bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Completion of General and Core Science Prerequisites
- Completion of personal statement through OTCAS
- Completion of supplemental essays in application
- Admissions Committee interview
Take the Next Step toward Your New Career LEARN MORE
Accreditation Statement
The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program has applied for accreditation 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 its web address is www.acoteonline.org.
The program must be granted Candidacy Status, have a preaccreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates will be 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.
