The UTRGV Department of Occupational Therapy has transitioned its master’s program into a doctoral program.

As part of the university’s College of Health Professions, the OT program provides student-centered instruction. The curriculum prepares future practitioners for working with people who need physical, sensory or cognitive assistance.

This new program replaces UTRGV’s Master of Occupational Therapy in an effort to meet unique demands in healthcare. It will also create entry-level clinical doctoral practitioners in the field.

The first cohort of 14 students was admitted June 1, said Dr. Shirley Wells, professor, chairwoman of the Department of Occupational Therapy and OTD program coordinator. Enrollment gradually will increase to 32 students per cohort over five years.

The small class sizes make the program ideal for future practitioners looking for a more one-on-one learning environment, she said.

“Everything in OT has expanded the demands of what our practitioners need to do, and we need to make sure they’re ready for this environment,” Wells said.

Attracting A Broader Range Of Students

Most applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree can apply to the new program if they have the required prerequisites. These include Anatomy and Physiology I and II, Introduction to Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Life Span Development, Statistics and Biomechanics.

John Luna is an assistant professor and OTD program coordinator. He states the new program means students in the Valley and beyond will have access to an occupational therapy degree at the doctoral level.

“Graduates of the program bring opportunities for health, wellness and participation in different settings across the life span to the communities they return to serve,” Luna said. “We have a lot of graduates both from the Valley and elsewhere.

“It’s rewarding to see students return to their communities as occupational therapists and make an impact as leaders and agents of change,” he said. “They can make the differences that are so important to them and the people they serve.”

Although the program attracts students from all over the country, the curriculum heavily focuses on the unique needs of and services within the Valley.

“We will now be producing practitioners with this next, higher level of focus on the Hispanic population and the specific needs of the area,” Wells said. “We have everything here to produce quality practitioners who go into the community and provide clinical services, and also become leaders in developing new programs.”

For more information or to apply, contact the department at occtherapy@utrgv.edu.