Occupational Therapy

Why study Occupational Therapy at TWU?

You’ll be prepared to meet occupational demands.

We produce graduates who improve the lives of clients, serve in our communities and teach the next generation of practitioners. Our clinical doctor of occupational therapy degree (OTD) is accredited under the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE).

You’ll be part of a legacy.

There are more than 4,000 alumni from the TWU School of Occupational Therapy in Texas and around the world. Our alumni make significant contributions to the occupational therapy profession by providing leadership in practice, education and research. We are active in our communities and contribute in innovative ways, like training zookeepers and museum personnel on sensory friendly experiences, helping caregivers understand living with dementia, and empowering homeless individuals to have a voice.

You’ll make a difference.

Do you want to facilitate positive changes in the lives of clients, their families and caregivers? Would you like to serve in your community and advocate for client access to occupational therapy? Join us as we advance knowledge within the field and help people lead fulfilling lives.

Our academic programs

We offer two graduate occupational therapy programs at TWU. The entry-level graduate degree (OTD) is face-to-face, and the post-professional doctorate (PhD) is a hybrid program, primarily online with periodic seminars on campus.

Explore our degrees.

Entry-Level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD; for entry to the profession)
Doctor of Philosophy in Occupational Therapy (PhD; for registered/licensed occupational therapists)

The first OTD cohort graduated in May 2023.

Our events

Signature events

The School of Occupational Therapy hosts several signature events each year.

Alumni spotlight

"At TWU, I was able to learn my entry-level clinical skill set through my degree tracks, which was hugely important. But what may have been even more impactful were the opportunities to learn work-life balance, social personal interactions, public speaking and the leadership skills I gained through my college years.”

Maj. Katie Odom (BS ’07, MOT ’09)

Accreditation

The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. Graduates of the program 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.
Students must complete 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork as well as an individual 14-week capstone experience following the completion of the didactic portion of the program. The doctoral capstone experience must be started after completion of all coursework and Level II fieldwork as well as completion of preparatory activities defined in 2018 ACOTE OTD Standard D.1.3. The entire OTD program must be completed within a contiguous span of no more than 60 months (5 years).

One school, three locations

The location may differ from Denton to Dallas to Houston, but the academic excellence of our programs remains the same. There are three front doors to an entry-level education from TWU’s School of Occupational Therapy and a robust online presence for post-professional students across the United States and internationally.

Denton Campus | Dallas Center | Houston Center

Our faculty

Our faculty pioneer adaptation research with global impact, create inclusive communities for persons with disabilities and create solutions to help people adapt in place and participate in life.

They consistently make clients’ lives more comfortable, encourage accessibility within their communities and teach students how to engage with their clients in mindful ways that promote physical, mental and social well-being. They are committed, passionate professionals and fierce advocates of the profession.

Our faculty are recognized as leaders in occupational therapy education and research, publishing and presenting their findings around the world. They’ve spent countless hours as practicing professionals and countless more educating others to do the same.