This new interdisciplinary, advanced training program prepares students to support children with high intensity social-emotional needs.
Occupational Therapy Program
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Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)
The entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy program, offered through a partnership between UAA and Creighton University, offers more than career training. Join a network of professionals who work together to care for patients, serve communities and change lives.
The OTD program is a partnership between the University of Alaska Anchorage and Creighton University. This unique hybrid program includes synchronous and asynchronous learning opportunities. Lectures are delivered online via Creighton's learning management system. Lab courses occur on the UAA campus and are taught by expert OT clinicians from the Anchorage community.
Employers value the clinical training, interpersonal skills and professionalism of UAA/Creighton University O.T.D. alumni. Graduates pursue a wide range of careers, such as:
- Outpatient clinics
- Hospitals
- Skilled nursing facilities
- Public health care systems
- Infant learning programs
- Schools
The UAA/Creighton Alaska pathway is 3.5 years in length and includes two years of didactic coursework and 1.5 years of clinical rotations. For the final semester of the program, students complete a Doctoral Capstone Experience (DCE) and design their own curriculum and learning goals with the assistance of a faculty mentor. After successful completion of the program, students will receive an OTD (Occupational Therapy Doctorate) from Creighton University and be eligible to sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) examination.
The UAA/Creighton University Occupational Therapy program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. (AOTA).
Why choose the UAA/Creighton University Occupational Therapy Program?
The Creighton University O.T.D. graduate program was ranked #15 in the country by U.S. News and World Report in 2020. In partnership with Creighton, UAA offers the same high-quality education and materials in Anchorage. Benefits of the Alaska distance pathway are studying in a dynamic environment with diverse communities, unique learning experiences and exciting outdoor activities.
Learn from nationally and internationally known clinicians and researchers whose specialties include mental health, pediatric occupational therapy, hand/orthopedic rehabilitation, acute care occupational therapy, inpatient rehabilitation and outpatient rehabilitation.
Design your own Doctoral Experiential Component (DEC). Guided by a faculty mentor, the DEC is a self-directed learning and research opportunity to explore clinical areas you’re interested in or to gain additional expertise in a clinical practice setting. Students often lead research projects specific to Alaska populations and the health care needs of local community partners.
Complete two three-month clinical internship rotations. Clinical opportunities include over 800 sites across the U.S. and in countries such as in China, Dominican Republic, Italy, United Kingdom, Chile, South Korea, Uganda, Japan, India, Vietnam and Costa Rica.
Program Information
Ready to learn more about the UAA/Creighton OTD program? Want to explore program costs, application details, and tuition and financial aid? Visit the Creighton website to learn more:
Creighton University Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program
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Message from the Director
Hello and thank you for your interest in the UAA/Creighton University OTD program. We are a unique hybrid program that prepares students to enter the dynamic and rewarding field of occupational therapy. Students in the Alaska Pathway complete lectures online and attend lab experiences on the UAA campus. These lab experiences are taught by expert clinicians from the Anchorage community and offer a unique opportunity for small group learning and instruction. The UAA/Creighton OTD program educates students in the areas of professionalism, leadership, service, and interprofessional healthcare delivery. Additionally, students in the Alaska pathway are eligible for Alaska specific fellowships, training programs, and experiences that compliment the occupational therapy curriculum. The aim of our program is to train exceptional occupational therapists who are prepared to meet the unique healthcare needs of Alaska. Best wishes on your application process and please don't hesitate to reach out if I can be of further assistance.
-Cary C. Moore, PhD, OTR/L
Opportunities
Students in the Alaska pathway benefit from small group instruction through lab experiences and unique opportunities through UAA. Creighton students in the Alaska pathway are eligible for grant funded experiences in behavioral health, early childhood training, rural healthcare delivery and leadership in neurodevelopmental and related disabilities. These experiences enhance the occupational therapy curriculum and prepare students to meet the unique healthcare needs of underserved populations. The support of these two institutions allows students in the Alaska pathway to forge a unique and valuable professional identity as an occupational therapist.
Receive advanced training to support children with high intensity social-emotional needs.
AHEC Scholars is a two-year program designed to supplement and broaden a student’s healthcare training.
The Alaska Interprofessional Distance Learning Consortium (AK-IDLC) aims to train grad students in culturally responsive behavioral health care.
The Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities (LEND) program provides grad level interdisciplinary leadership training.
Contact Us
Program Contacts
Cary C. Moore, PhD, OTR/L
OTD Academic Program Director
Phone: (907) 786-7682
Fax: (907) 786-0901
Email: ccmoore2@alaska.edu
Maddie Torline
Senior Admission Counselor
madalyntorline@creighton.edu
(402) 280-3049
Physical Address
UAA Professional Studies Building
2533 Providence Drive, Suite 146
Anchorage, Alaska, 99508
Mailing Address
UAA/Creighton University Occupational Therapy Program
3211 Providence Drive, PSB Suite 146
Anchorage, Alaska, 99508
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