PhD in Occupational Therapy/Therapist (PhD)

At Kettering College, tuition is Tuition for the Doctor of Occupational Therapy programme is $850 per credit hour..

This programme prepares students for licensure as occupational therapists and leadership roles in clinical practice, research, and program development. Students complete a capstone project and experience focused on identifying and addressing unmet needs in community settings. The capstone is a student-directed, mentored experience that integrates knowledge from coursework and clinical training. It emphasizes practical application through a 560-hour on-site experience over 14 weeks.

Focus areas include Clinical practice skills, Research skills, Administration, Leadership, Program and policy development, Advocacy.

The programme includes didactic coursework, level II fieldwork clinicals, and a doctoral capstone experience. The capstone consists of a project and a 560-hour on-site experience completed in the final semester.

Graduates pursue roles as licensed occupational therapists in clinical, administrative, research, and policy development settings.

Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree with prerequisite courses in biology, psychology, and statistics. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required. Submission of transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement is required.

The programme totals about 108 credit hours. On-campus, full-time, typically completed in three years. For international students, tuition is well above the median for US programmes. The institution admits about 83% of applicants.

For more than 55 years, Kettering College has placed graduates in healthcare careers. The college’s academic offering covers seven healthcare specialty areas, including health sciences, nursing, radiologic sciences and imaging, respiratory care, sonography, physician assistant studies, and occupational therapy. Coursework is designed to provide early hands-on practical experience, while small classroom sizes support close connections with faculty and classmates. More than 800 students currently study at the college.

Nursing is a central area of study, with options including accelerated and standard Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs, an online RN-to-BSN track, a bachelor’s pathway for licensed practical nurses, and a Master of Science in Nursing. The MSN combines academic study, clinical experience, research opportunities, and preparation for advanced practice and healthcare leadership. Its goals include evidence-based decision-making, interprofessional communication, ethical practice, and strategies to reduce healthcare disparities.

Kettering College is located at 3737 Southern Blvd. in Kettering, Ohio. Students should expect a healthcare-focused learning environment shaped by Christian values, including an emphasis on Christian caring within nursing education. The college provides academic and professional pathways at associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels, as well as online degree completion options. International students can explore program-specific admissions requirements and available financial-aid information before applying.