Doctor of Occupational Therapy (O.T.D.)
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Doctor of Occupational Therapy (O.T.D.)
Join a network of professionals who work together to care for patients, serve communities and change lives. The Alaska distance pathway of the University of Alaska Anchorage-Creighton University innovative Doctor of Occupational Therapy program offers more than career training.
Explore the occupational therapy doctoral degree program at the University of Alaska Anchorage
Addressing Alaska’s growing need for health care service providers, the collaborative
University of Alaska Anchorage/Creighton University occupational therapy program allows
you to earn a clinical O.T.D. while residing in Anchorage. Employers value the clinical
training, interpersonal skills and professionalism of UAA/CU O.T.D. alumni.
O.T.D. scholarships and financial aid
Apply for financial aid through Creighton University, as well as academic and research
scholarships from private funders such as the American Occupational Therapy Foundation, Mat-Su Health Foundation, Office
of Children’s Services Early Intervention Infant Learning Program, and AfterCollege
and Renown Health.
Creighton University
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.
Distance education and online classes
The occupational therapy program’s hybrid format offers flexibility and options to
complete coursework at times and locations that fit your needs. Students participate
in online lectures taught by faculty at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. Live,
in-person lab experiences are taught on the UAA campus by expert OT clinicians from
the Anchorage community.
Student advising and support
An academic program director, dedicated faculty and additional academic resources
support you on your path to successfully earn your clinical doctorate.
Did you know..
The partnership between UAA and Creighton University created the first hybrid, clinical occupational therapy doctorate program in the country. What started in 2008 as a pilot program is now a model of OT distance education.
What can you do with an occupational therapy doctoral degree from UAA?
As an entry-level occupational therapist, you could work in a variety of settings,
from private therapy clinics to infant learning programs to public healthcare systems.
O.T.D. careers
UAA/Creighton alumni from the Alaska distance pathway are employed across Alaska at
facilities, clinics and organizations such as these:
- Providence Health Care system
- Alaska Native Medical Center
- Alaska Regional Hospital
- Anchorage School District
By the numbers..
Occupational therapy doctoral degree program highlights
With a focus on patient care, values-centered teaching and community service, the UAA/Creighton collaborative graduate program in occupational therapy prepares emerging practitioners and clinicians with hands-on experience in the field.
- Complete two, three-month clinical internship rotations. Arranged through the Creighton University Office of Clinical Education, 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.
- Gain a new perspective by working with health care professionals from a different culture. Cross-cultural experiences are available with the Occupational Therapy Institute for Latin American Concern program in the Dominican Republic, which focuses on providing occupational therapy education and treatment, and the China Honors Immersion Program, which promotes international collaboration in health science and medicine.
- Conduct substantial research on a topic you’re interested in with guidance from a faculty mentor. Graduate students in the Alaska Pathway of the UAA/CU clinical doctorate program often lead research projects specific to Alaska populations and the health care needs of local community partners.
- 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.
- Learn from nationally and internationally known clinicians and researchers in the field. Their specialties include mental health, pediatric occupational therapy, hand/orthopedic rehabilitation, acute care occupational therapy, inpatient rehabilitation and outpatient rehabilitation. Faculty have authored academic textbooks and journal articles, presented at national and international conferences and served in the American Occupational Therapy Association and other professional organizations.
Amazing stories from occupational therapy alumni
The UAA/Creighton clinical doctorate program really pushed me to think creatively for interventions and gave me a great foundation of skills that will benefit me in any setting. The program has fieldwork contracts around the country and offers opportunities to work abroad. Additionally, I was able to meet some non-traditional students who were on a second career like me, so it was comforting to know I wouldn’t be alone in that category. The students at UAA/Creighton are of a very high caliber and are well-respected in the field. I love studying at UAA/Creighton
You'll learn to provide treatment using state-of-the-art equipment in the O.T.D. program's dedicated lab space, and in other specialized facilities such as the UAA Anatomy Lab.
UAA hosts a chapter of the Creighton Occupational Therapy Student Association, which organizes service projects, invites professional OTs to campus for networking, and participates in local events such as the Special Olympics.
Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree program curriculum
With an interprofessional approach to health care, the UAA/Creighton Doctor of Occupational Therapy program combines online classes, on-campus lab clinics, field
experiences and service learning.
You will use a variety of technologies to enhance the online classroom learning experience
and have opportunities to connect with the Anchorage community.
Top classes in the Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree program
- Gain knowledge and skills in assessment and intervention, including orthotic selection and fabrication, with an emphasis on occupational engagement and continuum of care in Upper Extremity Evaluation and Intervention.
- Learn how anatomy is related to and influences occupational performance and how to better assess and design effective treatment interventions by dissecting human cadavers in the Clinical Anatomy Laboratory.
- Critically examine economic, political and professional forces, as well as cultural and social values, and apply advocacy skills to promote the profession and the just treatment of people with disabilities in Disability and Health Care Policy.
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