Occupational Therapy Doctorate/Certificate in Aging Studies
The dual degree Occupational Therapy Doctorate and Certificate in Aging Studies program allows current OTD students to earn an occupational therapy doctorate degree with a Graduate Certificate of Aging Studies with a minimum of 116 credits rather than the 119 credits necessary if the two degrees were pursued separately.
The learning outcomes of this dual degree and certificate program are to:
- Connect Gerontological Theory to Practice: Students will demonstrate a holistic theoretical understanding of adult development and elderhood from a biological, psychological, and social perspective and the ability to apply this knowledge to aging, using a strengths-based lifespan orientation.
- Integrate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Gerontological Practice: Students will demonstrate knowledge of how discrimination, oppression and marginalization based on age and intersectional identities impacts health and longevity. Students will be equipped with the knowledge to shape positive attitudes about aging and elderhood.
- Develop Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: Students will demonstrate the ability to apply critical thinking and problem solving using gerontological research to evaluate best-practice approaches and the effectiveness of policies and services that support elders, their family members, and the community.
- Uphold Professional and Ethical Standards: Students will demonstrate the ability to engage in an on-going self-reflective process of their professional gerontological practice. Students will demonstrate the ability to uphold professional standards through individually and collaboratively applying ethical decision making processes.
- Identify and Respond to Community Need: Students will demonstrate knowledge of Older Adult Services and will be able to make contributions to community identified needs through the successful delivery of services and effective communication with elders, their families, the community, and the public. Community engagement will take the form of field work, research, grant writing, experiential learning opportunities, education and training.
Among the many benefits of participating in the dual degree program are the opportunities to:
- Enhance O.T.D. graduates’ knowledge and skills in caring for older adults, an increasingly significant population in occupational therapy practice
- Increase O.T.D. graduates’ competitiveness in the job market
- Support career advancement by enabling O.T.D. students to specialize in geriatrics
How we do it
- Students are first accepted into the OTD program, and can apply to the dual-degree program in the fall of their first year of the OTD program. Applications are due November 1.
- Students accepted into the dual OTD/Aging certificate program would complete all of the OTD courses in the order and sequence of their cohort.
- Accepted students would complete an additional 4 gerontology courses (one each semester) and complete their capstone on an aging-related topic. Since the Certificate of Aging courses are online, the majority of the “extra” coursework would be completed online during times that are convenient to the student.
For more information about the Graduate Certificate in Aging Studies, visit the Department of Gerontology.
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Occupational Therapy Doctorate/Certificate in Aging Studies Dual Degree Curriculum (116 credits) |
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9 Semester Course Sequence |
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Year 1 (45 credits) |
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Summer 1 (9 credits) |
Fall 1 (17 credits) |
Spring 1 (19 credits) |
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OCCT 589 Advanced Functional Anatomy (7) OCCT 580 Introduction to the Profession of Occupational Therapy (2) |
OCCT 590 Functional Movement Analysis in Occupational Therapy (3) OCCT 591 Neuroscience Applications to Occupational Therapy (4) OCCT 592 Introduction to Injury, Illness, and Disability (3) OCCT 593 Analysis of Human Occupation (1) OCCT 594 Theoretical Foundations of Occupational Therapy (3) OCCT 617 Therapeutic Process in Occupational Therapy (2) IPEC 501 Interprofessional Education (1) |
OCCT 613 Adult Occupational Performance I (3) OCCT 614 Pediatric Occupational Performance I (4) OCCT 615 Level I Fieldwork in Occupational Therapy (1) OCCT 616 Research Process in Occupational Therapy (3) OCCT 618 Systems, Policy, and Management (2) OCCT 689 Occupational Therapy Assessment and Evaluation (3) GRTY 601 Biological and Physiological Aging (3) |
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Year 2 (39 credits) |
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Summer 2 (5 credits) |
Fall 2 (20 credits) |
Spring 2 (14 credits) |
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OCCT 693 Occupational Synthesis and Adaptations (2) OCCT 780 Leadership Seminar (3) |
OCCT 713 Adult Occupational Performance II (4) OCCT 714 Pediatric Occupational Therapy II (4) OCCT 715 Level I Fieldwork in Occupational Therapy (1) OCCT 716 Evidence Based Practice in Occupational Therapy (3) OCCT 707 Psychosocial Mental Health course (3) OCCT 781 Program Development and Evaluation (2) GRTY 602 Psychology of Aging (3) |
OCCT 692 Assistive Technologies for Occupational Engagement (3) OCCT 717 Level I Fieldwork in Psychosocial Occupational Therapy (1) OCCT 721 Clinical Reasoning in Occupational Therapy (3) OCCT 759 Fieldwork Education Seminar (2) OCCT 782 Professional Development Portfolio (2) GRTY 606 Aging and Human Values (3) |
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Year 3 (32 credits) |
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Summer 3 (9 credits) |
Fall 3 (12 credits) |
Spring 3 (11 credits) |
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OCCT 760 Level II Fieldwork in Occupational Therapy (9) |
OCCT 761 Level II Fieldwork in Occupational Therapy (9) OCCT 603 Social Gerontology (3) |
OCCT 783 Doctoral Capstone (10) OCCT 784 Capstone Evaluation and Dissemination (1) |
The VCU Bulletin is the official source for academic course and program information.
How to apply
Students in the first year of the OTD program apply in the fall semester. Applications are due November 1. Existing OTD students can use transcripts from their OTCAS application and request a fee waiver from the Department of Gerontology. A new personal statement is needed. See the Application Process on the Gerontology website.
Contact
For more information about this program, contact Jennifer Pryor, Program Director, Department of Gerontology at pryorjm@vcu.edu or Kerry Mader, Department of Occupational Therapy, at maderka@vcu.edu.
