Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)

Prepare to become an occupational therapist who helps people regain independence, improve daily function, and live more meaningful lives.

Located in the Kansas City metro area, The University of Saint Mary Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program prepares future occupational therapists through immersive clinical education, hands-on laboratory experiences, doctoral-level scholarship, and leadership development rooted in USM's Catholic and Vincentian tradition of service.

Located just outside Kansas City, USM's entry-level OTD is ACOTE-accredited and combines classroom learning, simulation, fieldwork, and a 14-week doctoral capstone to prepare graduates for contemporary occupational therapy practice across diverse healthcare settings.

Apply to USM Request Info

Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program Snapshot

OTD Classroom Setting

Degree: Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)
Institution: University of Saint Mary
Location: Leavenworth, Kansas (Kansas City Metropolitan Area)
Program Length: 33 months (8 semesters)
Total Credits: 107 credit hours
Learning Experiences: Classroom instruction, laboratories, simulation, fieldwork, and doctoral capstone
Fieldwork: Four Level I experiences plus two 12-week Level II fieldwork rotations
Doctoral Capstone: 14-week individualized experience
Application Process: Apply through OTCAS; Priority deadline: Dec. 31, Rolling Deadline through Aug. 1
GRE: Not required
Mission: Ethical leadership, service, and whole-person care
Accreditation: ACOTE-accredited

Why Choose the University of Saint Mary OTD Program?

The University of Saint Mary prepares occupational therapists who combine clinical excellence with ethical leadership, compassion, and service. Students benefit from personalized instruction, extensive experiential learning, and faculty who are committed to developing confident, evidence-based practitioners.

Hands-On Learning From Day One

Students move beyond traditional lectures through laboratories, simulation experiences, community engagement, fieldwork, standardized patients, and clinical reasoning exercises that build confidence before entering practice.

Purpose-Built Clinical Learning Spaces

USM's Occupational Therapy program features specialized instructional environments including the Bedside Manor apartment laboratory, human anatomy laboratory, pediatric learning environments, and simulation experiences that mirror real-world occupational therapy practice.

Extensive Fieldwork Experiences

Students complete four Level I fieldwork experiences, two 12-week Level II fieldwork rotations, and a 14-week doctoral capstone designed to integrate classroom learning with advanced clinical practice.

Doctoral Capstone Experience

Every student completes an individualized doctoral capstone that allows them to pursue an area of professional interest through advanced clinical practice, leadership, education, research, advocacy, program development, or community engagement.

Small Classes. Personal Faculty Mentorship.

Faculty members know their students and provide individualized mentoring throughout the program, helping students develop as clinicians, scholars, and future leaders in occupational therapy.

Education Rooted in Mission

Grounded in the University's Catholic Vincentian tradition, the OTD program prepares graduates who recognize the inherent dignity of every individual and seek to improve health, participation, and quality of life through compassionate service.

Hear from a student

“I feel like our professors are genuinely there. My cohort is really close with one another. So even in moments where you feel you’re at your weakest, we are all still there for each other.”

– Elijah Gardner, Class of 2025

Why Become an Occupational Therapist?

Occupational therapists help people of all ages participate more fully in the activities—or occupations—that give life meaning.

Whether helping a child develop motor skills, assisting an adult recovering from injury, or supporting an older adult in maintaining independence, occupational therapists use evidence-based interventions to improve health, function, and quality of life.

Professor demonstrating with a wheelchair

Occupational therapists work with individuals experiencing physical injuries, neurological conditions, developmental disabilities, mental health challenges, chronic illnesses, and age-related changes. Their work combines science, creativity, compassion, and problem-solving to help people achieve greater independence in everyday life.

The profession continues to experience strong demand as healthcare systems increasingly recognize the importance of rehabilitation, aging-in-place initiatives, behavioral health integration, and community-based care.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of occupational therapists is projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations over the next decade. Learn more about OT careers.

Your Journey to Becoming an Occupational Therapist

USM's Doctor of Occupational Therapy curriculum is intentionally sequenced to help students build knowledge, clinical reasoning, professional behaviors, and leadership skills over three years of doctoral study. Through classroom instruction, laboratory experiences, fieldwork, and a doctoral capstone, students graduate prepared to enter contemporary occupational therapy practice with confidence.

What are the Admissions Requirements?

USM seeks students who demonstrate academic ability, compassion, professionalism, leadership potential, and a commitment to serving others through occupational therapy.

The admissions process uses a holistic review that considers applicants' academic preparation, experiences, service, leadership, and readiness for doctoral study.

Applicants should expect to submit:

Official transcripts showing an earned bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, and at least a 3.0 GPA
Letters of recommendation
Personal statement
Interview (by invitation)
Application submitted via OTCAS system

No GRE is required.

Detailed admissions requirements, prerequisite information, application deadlines, and admissions policies are available on the prospective student page.

View complete admissions requirements

Tuition and Financial Aid

The University of Saint Mary is committed to providing a high-quality doctoral education that delivers long-term value for students entering one of the nation's fastest-growing healthcare professions.

Current tuition and fees are published annually by the University. Financial aid opportunities may include federal financial aid, scholarships, graduate loans, and other assistance for qualified students.

View current tuition and fees

Curriculum Designed for Contemporary Occupational Therapy Practice

The University of Saint Mary Doctor of Occupational Therapy curriculum combines foundational science, clinical reasoning, evidence-based practice, leadership development, research, and extensive experiential learning to prepare graduates for today's evolving healthcare environment.

Students progressively integrate classroom knowledge with laboratory instruction, simulation, community experiences, fieldwork, and doctoral scholarship. This approach helps students build confidence while developing the professional judgment required of entry-level occupational therapists.

Throughout the program, students study topics including:

Human anatomy and neuroscience
Occupational science and occupational therapy theory
Assessment and evaluation
Therapeutic intervention across the lifespan
Mental and behavioral health
Pediatrics
Adult rehabilitation
Assistive technology
Leadership and healthcare management
Research and evidence-based practice
Professional ethics and advocacy

The curriculum is intentionally sequenced so that each semester builds upon previous learning while preparing students for increasingly complex clinical experiences.

View the complete OTD curriculum

Experiential Learning and Fieldwork

Clinical education is at the heart of occupational therapy education. Throughout the OTD program, students apply classroom learning through progressively more advanced fieldwork experiences that expose them to diverse patient populations, healthcare environments, and occupational therapy practice settings.

USM students complete:

Four Level I Fieldwork Experiences integrated throughout the curriculum
Two full-time 12-week Level II Fieldwork Experiences
A 14-week Doctoral Capstone Experience

These experiences allow students to work alongside experienced occupational therapists while developing clinical reasoning, professional communication, documentation skills, ethical decision-making, and patient-centered care.

Students may gain experience in settings such as:

Hospitals
Inpatient rehabilitation
Outpatient rehabilitation clinics
Schools
Pediatric therapy
Mental and behavioral health
Skilled nursing facilities
Community-based organizations
Home health

Experiential learning is further enhanced through simulation activities, anatomy laboratory experiences, standardized patient interactions, and the program's Bedside Manor apartment laboratory.

Doctoral Capstone Experience

The doctoral capstone distinguishes the OTD from entry-level master's degree programs. At USM, every student completes an individualized 14-week capstone experience that allows them to pursue advanced learning in an area of professional interest.

Working closely with faculty mentors and community partners, students develop projects that may focus on:

Clinical practice
Leadership
Program development
Research
Education
Advocacy
Administration
Community health initiatives

The capstone gives students an opportunity to demonstrate doctoral-level clinical reasoning, leadership, scholarship, and innovation while making meaningful contributions to the organizations and communities they serve.

What Can You Do with a Doctor of Occupational Therapy Degree?

Occupational therapists serve individuals throughout the lifespan in a wide variety of healthcare, educational, and community settings. Graduates of USM's OTD program are prepared for careers that promote health, independence, participation, and improved quality of life.

Common Practice Settings

Hospitals and medical centers
Inpatient rehabilitation hospitals
Outpatient rehabilitation clinics
Schools and early intervention programs
Pediatric hospitals and therapy clinics
Behavioral and mental health settings
Skilled nursing facilities
Home health agencies
Community health organizations
Veterans Affairs facilities
Private practice
Research and academia

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupational therapists earned a median annual salary of approximately $98,340 in 2024, and employment is projected to grow faster than average through 2034 as demand increases for rehabilitation and community-based healthcare services.

Note: Salaries above are calculated based on combination of all relevant occupations tied to the career, using the 50th percentile of workers (50% of employees make this salary or less), and is not limited to entry-level employees.

Begin the Application Process

Request Info

An Occupational Therapy Education Rooted in Service

The University of Saint Mary Doctor of Occupational Therapy program reflects the University's Catholic Vincentian heritage by preparing occupational therapists who combine clinical excellence with compassion, ethical leadership, and a commitment to serving others.

Program Mission

To provide exemplary education to develop our students’ God-given potential as they become occupational therapy professionals ready to meet the occupational needs of the global society.

Philosophy & Values

The program embraces the core values of the university, as well as the profession of occupational therapy. Saint Mary works to develop each of the following core values in OTD students:

Community
Justice
Respect
Dignity
Equality
Freedom
Excellence
Altruism
Truth
Prudence

These values will ultimately shape our students' professional lives as practitioners, helping them meet the needs of their patients in the fullest ways possible.

Learn from Occupational Therapy Faculty Who Know You

USM's Doctor of Occupational Therapy faculty bring clinical experience, academic expertise, and a commitment to student formation. Small class sizes allow faculty to know students personally, provide individualized support, and mentor students as they grow into confident, ethical occupational therapy practitioners.

Faculty guide students through classroom learning, laboratory experiences, fieldwork preparation, research, doctoral capstone development, and professional identity formation.

Donald Kallembach, OTD, MA, MS, OTR/L

Professor & Program Director
Don.Kallembach@stmary.edu
913-758-6188
Berchmans Hall 204
Read Bio

Michelle Colletti, PhD, OTR/L

Assistant Professor and Doctoral Capstone Coordinator
micelle.colletti@stmary.edu
213-820-5623
Berchmans 205
Read Bio

Sudhagar Gangatharam, OTD, OTR/L, CHT

Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy
Sudhagar.Gangatharam@stmary.edu

Berchmans Hall 202C
Read Bio

Rachel Reindl, OTD, OTR/L

Assistant Professor and Academic Fieldwork Coordinator
Rachel.Reindl@stmary.edu
913-758-6235
Berchmans Hall 207
Read Bio

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Doctor of Occupational Therapy?

A Doctor of Occupational Therapy, or OTD, is an entry-level doctoral degree that prepares students to become occupational therapists. The degree includes classroom learning, laboratory instruction, fieldwork, and a doctoral capstone experience.

How long is the USM OTD program?

The University of Saint Mary Doctor of Occupational Therapy program is designed to be completed in 33 months across eight semesters.

How many credits are required?

The OTD program requires 107 total credit hours.

Is the GRE required?

No. The GRE is not required for admission to the University of Saint Mary Doctor of Occupational Therapy program.

How do I apply to the OTD program?

Students apply through OTCAS, the centralized application service for occupational therapy programs.

What fieldwork experiences are included?

USM OTD students complete four Level I fieldwork experiences, two full-time 12-week Level II fieldwork rotations, and a 14-week doctoral capstone experience.

What is the doctoral capstone?

The doctoral capstone is an individualized 14-week experience that allows OTD students to pursue advanced learning in an area such as clinical practice, leadership, research, advocacy, education, program development, or community health.

Is the USM OTD program accredited?

Yes. The University of Saint Mary entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE).

What can you do with an OTD degree?

Graduates of an OTD program may pursue careers as occupational therapists in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, outpatient clinics, schools, pediatric settings, skilled nursing facilities, home health, mental health settings, community organizations, and other practice environments.

Why choose USM for occupational therapy?

USM combines hands-on learning, fieldwork, doctoral capstone preparation, small classes, faculty mentorship, and a Catholic/Vincentian mission focused on service, dignity, and ethical leadership.

What are USM's OTD Program Outcomes?

See how past USM OTD students and graduates performed.

Take the Next Step Toward Occupational Therapy

If you are ready to prepare for a meaningful healthcare career helping people participate more fully in daily life, the University of Saint Mary's Doctor of Occupational Therapy program can help you take the next step.

Apply to USM Request Info

Review Program Outcomes

View NBCOT national program data

Occupational Therapy Program Accreditation

The entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program at the University of Saint Mary is accredited 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 (2682) or (301) 652-6611, and its web address is www.acoteonline.org (http://www.acoteonline.org).