Patricia Laverdure, Graduate Program Director
The Doctor of Occupational Therapy program is a 105 credit, capstone-based, cohort-designed professional degree program culminating in student eligibility to sit for the national certification examination to obtain state licensure.
We provide an active learning, professional curriculum with didactic, clinical education (fieldwork), service-learning and capstone components designed to meet the accreditation standards of the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education.
Our goal
Our goal is to meet the needs of diverse individuals, communities, and populations and lead teams in health management, maintenance, and promotion and illness, injury and disability prevention.
The Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program is designed to graduate diverse, intellectually inquisitive, and innovative occupational therapy practice leaders, advocates, and scholars, who, through their understanding of the relationship of occupation, health, and wellbeing gained through rigorous didactic and clinical academic pursuit, find scientifically grounded practical solutions to the everyday occupational needs of society.
This rigorous academic program teaches effective clinical decision-making skills to prepare healthcare providers capable of treating diverse clients across the lifespan. Through its collaborative network of strategic partnerships involving regional healthcare, educational, and community-based infrastructure, the program leverages in-class didactic learning with service learning (civic engagement) and practicum experience to improve the health and wellbeing of the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the nation, and the world.
Accreditation statement