Admissions

Please consult the table below for key information about this degree program’s admissions requirements. The program may have more detailed admissions requirements, which can be found below the table or on the program’s website.

Graduate admissions is a two-step process between academic programs and the Graduate School. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School as well as the program(s). Once you have researched the graduate program(s) you are interested in, apply online.

Graduate Admissions Requirements

Requirements	Detail
Fall Deadline	The program does not admit in the fall.
Spring Deadline	The program does not admit in the spring.
Summer Deadline	November 1
GRE (Graduate Record Examinations)	Not required.
English Proficiency Test	Every applicant whose native language is not English, or whose undergraduate instruction was not exclusively in English, must provide an English proficiency test score earned within two years of the anticipated term of enrollment. Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Requirements for Admission policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1241.
Other Test(s) (e.g., GMAT, MCAT)	n/a
Letters of Recommendation Required	3

Admission to the Occupational Therapy Doctorate program requires:

• Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) from a regionally accredited school of higher education by the start of the program
• Unofficial transcripts from all previous postsecondary studies are required. International academic records must be submitted in the original language and accompanied by an English translation. If an applicant is recommended for admission, the Graduate School will ask applicants to request official transcripts sent to the Graduate School from the undergraduate institution.
• Documentation of paid or volunteer experience in at least two different settings serving persons across the lifespan with physical, behavioral or mental health disabilities
• Direct observation of Registered Occupational Therapists, or Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants, providing services is highly recommended
• Personal statement responding to prompts provided on the graduate application 
• At least a "C" or better in the following prerequisite courses or their equivalent:
  • Lifespan Development (6 credits)
  • Abnormal Psychology (3 credits)
  • Statistics (3 credits)
  • Human Physiology (3-5 credits WITH LAB)
  • Human Anatomy (3-5 credits)
  • Human Anatomy Lab (1-3 credits)

Funding

Graduate School Resources

The Bursar’s Office provides information about tuition and fees associated with being a graduate student. Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid. Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.

Program Information

Students enrolled in this program are not eligible to receive tuition remission from graduate assistantship appointments at this institution.

Minimum Graduate School Requirements

Review the Graduate School minimum degree requirements and policies, in addition to the program requirements listed below.

Major Requirements

Mode of Instruction

Mode of Instruction

Face to Face	Evening/Weekend	Online	Hybrid	Accelerated
No	No	No	Yes	No

Mode of Instruction Definitions

Accelerated: Accelerated programs are offered at a fast pace that condenses the time to completion. Students typically take enough credits aimed at completing the program in a year or two.

Evening/Weekend: ​Courses meet on the UW–Madison campus only in evenings and/or on weekends to accommodate typical business schedules.  Students have the advantages of face-to-face courses with the flexibility to keep work and other life commitments.

Face-to-Face: Courses typically meet during weekdays on the UW-Madison Campus.

Hybrid: These programs combine face-to-face and online learning formats.  Contact the program for more specific information.

Online: These programs are offered 100% online.  Some programs may require an on-campus orientation or residency experience, but the courses will be facilitated in an online format.

Curricular Requirements

University General Education Requirements

Requirements	Detail
Minimum Credit Requirement	97 credits
Minimum Residence Credit Requirement	85 credits
Minimum Graduate Coursework Requirement	All credits must be graduate-level coursework. Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Graduate Coursework (50%) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1244.
Overall Graduate GPA Requirement	3.00 GPA required. Refer to the Graduate School: Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1203.
Other Grade Requirements	Students must earn a grade of C or better for all required professional courses.
Assessments and Examinations	Capstone project proposal and final product must be reviewed and approved by a capstone committee per Graduate School policy.
Language Requirements	No language requirements.
Graduate School Breadth Requirements	Breadth is provided via interprofessional training (doctoral minor or graduate/professional certificate are not required).

Required Courses

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Occupational-Centered Practice Thread
OCC THER 630	Clinical and Functional Anatomy for Occupational Therapists	6
OCC THER 640	Applied Neuroanatomy for Allied Health Professionals	3
OCC THER 650	Enabling Occupations: Introduction	2
OCC THER 651	Clinical Conditions I	1
OCC THER 652	Clinical Conditions II	1
OCC THER 662	Level II Fieldwork A	6
OCC THER 664	Level II Fieldwork B	6
OCC THER 722	Enabling Occupations 1: Adult Focus	4
OCC THER 723	Enabling Occupations 2: Adult Focus	4
OCC THER 724	Enabling Occupations 3: Mental Health Across the Life Span	3
OCC THER 725	Enabling Occupations 4: Pediatrics	5
OCC THER 726	Level 1 Fieldwork A: Adult Physical Disabilities	1
OCC THER 727	Level 1 Fieldwork B: Community-Based Mental Health	1
OCC THER 728	Level 1 Fieldwork C: Pediatrics	1
OCC THER 821	Case Synthesis 1	1
Evidence-Based Research Thread
OCC THER 770	Evidence Based Practice Lab Practicum	2
OCC THER 770	Evidence Based Practice Lab Practicum	2
OCC THER 770	Evidence Based Practice Lab Practicum	2
OCC THER 771	Evidence Based Practice 1: Basics	3
OCC THER 772	Evidence Based Practice 2: Research Design, Methods, and Analysis	3
OCC THER 773	Evidence Based Practice 3: Research Translation	3
OCC THER 880	Introduction to Capstone	1
OCC THER 881	Capstone Project 1	3
OCC THER 882	Capstone Project II	3
Leadership and Professional Skills Thread
OCC THER 710	Professional and Leadership Skills 1: Foundations	2
OCC THER 711	Professional and Leadership Skills 2: Effective Interprofessional Relationships	2
OCC THER 712	Professional and Leadership Skills 3: Management	2
OCC THER 811	Applied Leadership and Management in OT	3
OCC THER 814	Communicating OT to Interprofessional Audiences	2
OCC THER 822	Case Synthesis 2	2
OCC THER 883	Doctoral Experiential Component	6
Wellness Thread
OCC THER 731	Living Well: Wellness Promotion for Graduate Students	1
OCC THER 732	Living Well: Designing Occupation-based Wellness Promotion	2
OCC THER 733	Promoting Health and Wellness for Populations	3
OCC THER 734	Living Well: Occupation-Based Interventions Promoting Health and Wellness	2
OCC THER 812	Current Trends Shaping Occupational Therapy Practice	3
Total Credits		97

Sample 3-Year Schedule

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Summer 1
Students must complete 9 credits from following courses.
OCC THER 630	Clinical and Functional Anatomy for Occupational Therapists	6
OCC THER 650	Enabling Occupations: Introduction	2
OCC THER 731	Living Well: Wellness Promotion for Graduate Students	1
Fall 1
Students must complete 15 credits from the following courses.
OCC THER 640	Applied Neuroanatomy for Allied Health Professionals	3
OCC THER 651	Clinical Conditions I	1
OCC THER 710	Professional and Leadership Skills 1: Foundations	2
OCC THER 722	Enabling Occupations 1: Adult Focus	4
OCC THER 770	Evidence Based Practice Lab Practicum	2
OCC THER 771	Evidence Based Practice 1: Basics	3
Spring 1
Students must complete 14 credits from the following courses.
OCC THER 711	Professional and Leadership Skills 2: Effective Interprofessional Relationships	2
OCC THER 723	Enabling Occupations 2: Adult Focus	4
OCC THER 726	Level 1 Fieldwork A: Adult Physical Disabilities	1
OCC THER 732	Living Well: Designing Occupation-based Wellness Promotion	2
OCC THER 770	Evidence Based Practice Lab Practicum	2
OCC THER 772	Evidence Based Practice 2: Research Design, Methods, and Analysis	3
Summer 2
Students must complete 10 credits from the following courses.
OCC THER 652	Clinical Conditions II	1
OCC THER 724	Enabling Occupations 3: Mental Health Across the Life Span	3
OCC THER 727	Level 1 Fieldwork B: Community-Based Mental Health	1
OCC THER 733	Promoting Health and Wellness for Populations	3
OCC THER 814	Communicating OT to Interprofessional Audiences	2
Fall 2
Students must complete 15 credits from the following courses.
OCC THER 725	Enabling Occupations 4: Pediatrics	5
OCC THER 728	Level 1 Fieldwork C: Pediatrics	1
OCC THER 770	Evidence Based Practice Lab Practicum	2
OCC THER 773	Evidence Based Practice 3: Research Translation	3
OCC THER 811	Applied Leadership and Management in OT	3
OCC THER 821	Case Synthesis 1	1
Spring 2
Students must complete 6 credits from the following course.
OCC THER 662	Level II Fieldwork A	6
Summer 3
Students must complete 7 credits from the following courses. Students have the option to complete 2 optional elective credits.
OCC THER 664	Level II Fieldwork B	6
OCC THER 880	Introduction to Capstone	1
Fall 3
Students must complete 12 credits from courses below.
OCC THER 734	Living Well: Occupation-Based Interventions Promoting Health and Wellness	2
or KINES 785	Human Occupation and Health
OCC THER 712	Professional and Leadership Skills 3: Management	2
OCC THER 812	Current Trends Shaping Occupational Therapy Practice	3
OCC THER 822	Case Synthesis 2	2
OCC THER 881	Capstone Project 1	3
Spring 3
Students must complete 9 credits from the following courses.
OCC THER 882	Capstone Project II	3
OCC THER 883	Doctoral Experiential Component	6
Total Credits		97

 Other Policy

Students in this program may not take courses outside the prescribed curriculum without faculty advisor and program director approval. Students in this program cannot enroll concurrently in other undergraduate or graduate degree programs.

Policies

Graduate School Policies

The Graduate School’s Academic Policies and Procedures serve as the official document of record for Graduate School academic and administrative policies and procedures and are updated continuously. Note some policies redirect to entries in the official UW-Madison Policy Library. Programs may set more stringent policies than the Graduate School. Policies set by the academic degree program can be found below.

Major-Specific Policies

Prior Coursework

Graduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions

With program approval, students may transfer up to 12 credits of graduate coursework from other institutions. Coursework should be less than five years old to be considered, additional justification and/or documentation are needed for coursework taken between five and ten years. Coursework more than ten years old will not be considered.

Undergraduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions or UW-Madison

No undergraduate coursework may transfer for Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) requirements.

Credits Earned as a Professional Student at UW-Madison (Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, and Veterinary careers)

Refer to the Graduate School: Transfer Credits for Prior Coursework policy.

Credits Earned as a University Special Student at UW–Madison

With program approval, students may transfer no more than 9 credits of coursework numbered 300 or above taken as a UW–Madison University Special student. These credits are considered part of the total allowable credits available for a student to transfer. Coursework should be less than five years old to be considered; additional justification and/or documentation is needed for work taken between five and ten years. Coursework more than ten years old will not be considered.

Probation

Refer to the Graduate School: Probation policy.

Advisor / Committee

Every graduate student is required to have an advisor to meet UW information management needs, and accordingly, and of its own volition, the department assigns an advisor to each student. The advisor is a graduate or clinical faculty member.

To ensure that students are making satisfactory progress toward a degree, the Graduate School expects them to meet with their advisor on a regular basis. The Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program Coordinator will advise students in the early stages of their studies until a permanent advisor is assigned. The advisor may also serve on the student's capstone project committee.

Credits Per Term Allowed

15 credit maximum. Refer to the Graduate School: Maximum Credit Loads and Overload Requests policy.

Time Limits

Refer to the Graduate School: Time Limits policy.

Grievances and Appeals

These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:

• Bias or Hate Reporting  
• Graduate Assistantship Policies and Procedures
• Hostile and Intimidating Behavior Policies and Procedures
  • Office of the Provost for Faculty and Staff Affairs
• Employee Assistance (for personal counseling and workplace consultation around communication and conflict involving graduate assistants and other employees, post-doctoral students, faculty and staff)
• Employee Disability Resource Office (for qualified employees or applicants with disabilities to have equal employment opportunities)
• Graduate School (for informal advice at any level of review and for official appeals of program/departmental or school/college grievance decisions)
• Office of Compliance (for class harassment and discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual violence)
• Office Student Assistance and Support (OSAS) (for all students to seek grievance assistance and support)
• Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (for conflicts involving students)
• Ombuds Office for Faculty and Staff (for employed graduate students and post-docs, as well as faculty and staff)
• Title IX (for concerns about discrimination)

School of Education Grievance Policy and Procedures

The following School of Education Student Grievance Policy and associated procedures are designed for use in response to individual student grievances regarding faculty or staff in the School of Education.

Any individual student who feels they have been treated unfairly by a School of Education faculty or staff member has the right to file a grievance about the treatment and receive a timely response addressing their concerns. Any student, undergraduate or graduate, may use these grievance procedures, except employees whose complaints are covered under other campus policies. The grievance may concern classroom treatment, mentoring or advising, program admission or continuation, course grades (study abroad grade complaints are handled through International Academic Programs), or issues not covered by other campus policies or grievance procedures. 

For grievances regarding discrimination based on protected bases (i.e., race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, etc.), contact the Office of Compliance (https://compliance.wisc.edu/eo-complaint/).

For grievances or concerns regarding sexual harassment or sexual violence (including sexual assault, dating/domestic violence, stalking, and sexual exploitation), contact the Sexual Misconduct Resource and Response Program within the Office of Compliance.

For grievances that involve the behavior of a student, contact the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards in the Dean of Students Office at https://conduct.students.wisc.edu/).

For grievances about, or directed at, faculty or staff in a School of Education department, unit, or program, students should follow these steps:

1. Students are strongly encouraged to first talk with the person against whom the concern is directed. Many issues can be settled informally at this level. If students are unable to resolve concerns directly or without additional support, step 2 or 3 should be pursued.
2. If unresolved after taking or considering step 1:
   1. If the concern is directed against a teaching assistant (TA), and the student is not satisfied, the student should contact the TA's supervisor, who is usually the course professor. The course professor will attempt to resolve the concern informally.
   2. If the concern involves a non-TA instructor, staff member, professor, academic department, or School of Education office or unit, the student should contact the chair of the department or the director of the office or unit, or their designee. The chair or director, or their designee, will attempt to resolve the concern informally. If the concern is about the department chair or office/unit director, the student should consult the School of Education Senior Associate Dean for guidance.
3. If the concern remains unresolved after step 2, the student may submit a formal grievance to the chair or director in writing within 30 business days¹ of the alleged unfair treatment. To the fullest extent possible, a formal written grievance shall contain a clear and concise statement of the issue(s) involved and the relief sought.  
4. On receipt of a written grievance, the chair or director will notify the person at whom the grievance is directed with a copy of the written grievance. The person at whom the complaint is directed may submit a written response, which would be shared with the student.
5. On receipt of a written grievance, the chair or director will refer the matter to a department, office, or unit committee comprised of at least two members. The committee may be an existing committee or one constituted for this purpose. The committee, or delegates from the committee, may meet with the parties involved and/or review any material either party shares with the committee.  
6. The committee will provide a written description of the facts of the grievance and communicate recommendations to the department chair or office/unit head regarding how the grievance should be handled.
7. The chair or director will offer to meet with the student who made the grievance and also will provide a written decision to the student, including a description of any related action taken by the committee, within 30 business days of receiving the formal grievance.

¹

For the purpose of this policy, business days refers to those days when the University Offices are open and shall not include weekends, university holidays, spring recess, or the period from the last day of exams of fall semester instruction to the first day of spring semester instruction. All time limits may be modified by mutual consent of the parties involved.

If the grievance concerns an undergraduate course grade, the decision of the department chair after reviewing the committee’s recommendations is final. 

Other types of grievances may be appealed using the following procedures:

1. Both the student who filed the grievance or the person at whom the grievance was directed, if unsatisfied with the decision of the department, office or unit, have five (5) business days from receipt of the decision to contact the Senior Associate Dean, indicating the intention to appeal.   
2. A written appeal must be filed with the Senior Associate Dean within 10 business days of the time the appealing party was notified of the initial resolution of the complaint.
3. On receipt of a written appeal, the Senior Associate Dean will convene a sub-committee of the School of Education’s Academic Planning Council. This subcommittee may ask for additional information from the parties involved and/or may hold a meeting at which both parties will be asked to speak separately (i.e., not in the room at the same time).
4. The subcommittee will then make a written recommendation to the Dean of the School of Education, or their designee, who will render a decision. The dean or designee’s written decision shall be made within 30 business days from the date when the written appeal was filed with the Senior Associate Dean.  For undergraduate students, the dean or designee’s decision is final.

Further appealing a School of Education decision – graduate students only

Graduate students have the option to appeal decisions by the School of Education dean or designee by using the process detailed on the Graduate School’s website.

Questions about these procedures can be directed to the School of Education Dean's Office, 377 Education Building, 1000 Bascom Mall, 608-262-1763.

Resources

• Office of Compliance (for discrimination based on protected classes, including misconduct) 179A Bascom Hall, 608-262-2378
• Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (for conflicts between students, or academic integrity violations) 70 Bascom Hall, 608-263-5700
• Bias or Hate Reporting (for students who experience or observe bias or hate incidents)  70 Bascom Hall, 608-263-5700
• Graduate School (for graduate students who need informal advice at any level of review; for official appeals of program/departmental or school/college grievance decisions, see Graduate Assistant Policies and Procedures) 217 Bascom Hall, 608-262-2433
• Ombuds Office for Faculty and Staff (for UW–Madison employees, including graduate students) 523-524 Lowell Center, 608-265-9992
• Employee Assistance (for conflicts involving graduate assistants and other employees) 256 Lowell Hall, 608-263-2987
• Office of Human Resources for policies and procedures to address workplace conflict) 21 N Park Street Suite 5101, 608-265-2257
• Office of Student Assistance and Support (OSAS) (for any students needing advice or support) 70 Bascom Hall, 608-263-5700
• School of Education, Office of Student Services (for students, particularly undergraduates, in the School of Education) 139 Education Building, 608-262-1651
• School of Education, Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (OEDI) 145 Education Building, 608-262-8427

Other

n/a

Professional Development

Graduate School Resources

Take advantage of the Graduate School's professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career. 

Learning Outcomes

1. Articulate and apply underlying occupation-based theories, concepts and techniques of occupational therapy intervention for a variety of contexts.
2. Formulate systems to gather, analyze and interpret data and present to a professional audience.
3. Demonstrate active involvement in professional development, leadership, and advocacy for the benefit of constituents and the profession.
4. Synthesize current knowledge, available evidence and responses to interventions to inform new approaches to practice problems.
5. Demonstrate commitment to healthy long-term professional growth through the creation, implementation, and monitoring of a career development plan including application of wellness and prevention strategies.

Accreditation

Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE)

Accreditation Status: Accredited. Next accreditation review: 2030.

Certification/Licensure

National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy

To look up NBCOT pass rates for Occupational Therapy Programs:   https://www.nbcot.org/en/Educators/Home#SchoolPerformance

Licenses are awarded at the state level.  Students in the program will become eligible for the licensure exam.

Professional Certification/Licensure Disclosure (NC-SARA)

The United States Department of Education (via 34 CFR Part 668) requires institutions that provide distance education to disclose information for programs leading to professional certification or licensure. The expectation is that institutions will determine whether each applicable academic program meets state professional licensure requirements and provide a general disclosure of such on an official university website.

Professional licensure requirements vary from state-to-state and can change year-to-year; they are established in a variety of state statutes, regulations, rules, and policies; and they center on a range of educational requirements, including degree type, specialized accreditation, total credits, specific courses, and examinations.  

UW-Madison has taken reasonable efforts to determine whether this program satisfies the educational requirements for certification/licensure in states where prospective and enrolled students are located and is disclosing that information as follows.

Disclaimer: This information is based on the most recent annual review of state agency certification/licensure data and is subject to change. All students are strongly encouraged to consult with the individual/office listed in the Contact Information box on this page and with the applicable state agency for specific information.

The requirements of this program meet certification/licensure requirements in the following states:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, District of Columbia; American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands

The requirements of this program do not meet certification/licensure requirements in the following states:

Not applicable

Updated: 1 June 2025