Mailing Address: 
Department of Occupational Therapy (MC 811) 
1919 West Taylor Street
Chicago, IL 60612-7250

Contact Information: 
Campus Location: 355 AHSB 
(312) 996-3513
OTDept@uic.edu 
ahs.uic.edu/occupational-therapy

Administration: 
Head of the Department: Susan Magasi
P-OTD Director of Graduate Studies: Joy Hammel

Program Codes: 
20GF5000OTD (degree-seeking students)
20GF5000DNEG (nondegree-seeking students)

The College of Applied Health Sciences offers the post-professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy (P-OTD) degree to OT practitioners who have already completed an entry-level OT degree. The P-OTD focuses on developing advanced professional skills for occupational therapy practice, leadership, management, scholarship, and education. The P-OTD program can be done completely online or as hybrid in person/online combination depending on the student's interests.  For the currently practicing occupational therapist, an OTD offers opportunities for career development and advancement, and for innovative program development and evaluation. In comparison to a PhD, the P-OTD focuses less on conducting original research and more on applying existing research and evidence to improve everyday OT practice and participation opportunities for diverse people and communities.

The P-OTD program emphasizes UIC’s scholarship of practice and mentoring model. Students work closely with a faculty mentor within their lines of inquiry, which assures that students have top-quality experiences doing mentored work that is relevant, forward-thinking, and that will make a difference in practice and in the lives of diverse occupational therapy clients. Students are admitted based on demonstrating a good match between student interest and faculty scholarship and expertise.

The P-OTD is composed of five major components, which can be done online:

1. Core courses (research, theory, proseminar)
2. Advanced practica (clinical, teaching/education, leadership/management, and scholarship of practice applied research)
3. Elective courses
4. Field exam
5. OTD Project (major work in advanced area of specialization)

The P-OTD degree at UIC is considered a professional clinical doctorate degree program, not a graduate program. Applications for this program are processed through the Department of Occupational Therapy. For more information on the P-OTD program, admission requirements, and the application process, please consult the Department of Occupational Therapy website.

Interdepartmental Concentration

Students earning the Doctor of Occupational Therapy at UIC may complement their courses by enrolling in select concentrations after consulting with their advisor. Interdepartmental concentrations available for this degree include:

• Gender and Women's Studies

Admission Requirements

• Prior Degrees The Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate (POTD) is a post-professional degree and therefore all students must have either an earned entry-level occupational therapy credential (bachelor’s or master’s level).
• Proof of certification or eligibility for certification in occupational therapy in the U.S., or have an occupational therapy degree from a WFOT approved program outside of the United States.
• Grade Point Average^a Minimum of 3.00/4.00 for all work beyond the baccalaureate level and at least 3.00^a for the final 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of undergraduate study.
• Test Required The POTD program does not require a test. However, applicants may opt to submit GRE scores, if previously taken.

• English Proficiency Additional information on the English proficiency test requirement for international students can be found on the UIC Admissions website. Minimum test scores for this program are:

  • Minimum English Competency Test Scores

    Exam	Score	Reading	Listening	Speaking	Writing
    TOEFL iBT (exams taken on or after 1/21/2026)	4.5	4	4	4.5	4.5
    TOEFL iBT (exams taken prior to 1/21/2026)	80	19	17	20	21
    IELTS Academic	6.5	6.0	6.0	6.0	6.0
    PTE Academic	54	51	47	53	56
    Duolingo English Test	130	125	125	125	125

• UIC Application and POTD Application Required.
• Transcripts Required. See OT Department website for specific requirements related to unofficial and official documents.
• Personal Statement Required. Three-to-four-page statement. See OT Department website for specific requirements.
• Letters of Recommendation Three required. See OT Department website for specific requirements.
• Curriculum Vitae Required. See OT Department website for specific requirements.
• Other Requirements for International Applicants
  • Financial Documents Required. See OT Department website for specific requirements.
  • Academic Translations Required. See OT Department website for specific requirements.

a

Applicants who do not meet the GPA or GRE expectations, but who demonstrate other strengths, may be considered.

Degree Requirements

• Minimum Semester Hours Required 68 semester hours beyond the baccalaureate. Credit may be awarded for other relevant graduate work completed at UIC or another accredited institution. Any credit will be determined on an individual basis by the OTD Admissions Committee. All students are required to earn a minimum of 36 semester hours in formal coursework in the program, or 32 semester hours minimum with transfer credit of 4 hours not applied to a previous degree.
• Coursework

• Fieldwork Advanced practica required. Students take a minimum of 4 and up to 12 hours of OT 530, OT 531, OT 532, or OT 533.
• Field Examination Required.
• Project Required. Students must complete at least 12 hours of OT 592.