Graduate Programs

Progression in the Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program

Students accepted into OTD are required to fulfill the immunization requirements of ULM Student Health Services.   Once accepted into the OTD Program, the student has two academic years to successfully complete the didactic coursework of the program followed by six months of full-time level II fieldwork and fourteen weeks of doctoral-level capstone project and experience.  A student who fails to do so will be required to appear before The University of Louisiana Monroe Occupational Therapy Appeals Committee for a hearing to determine continuation in the program.

To progress in the OTD Program, a student must complete all required didactic occupational therapy courses with a grade of “C” or better and a cumulative 3.000 on a 4.000 scale, and the student must not earn more than 2 courses/6 credit hours with a grade of “C”. The student must complete all courses in the sequence leading to an occupational therapy doctorate degree. All OTD professional program courses must be taken at ULM. 

Students who fail to successfully meet all requirements (due to not meeting competency or based on grades) will be dismissed from the program.  Students may request to appear before the Occupational Therapy Appeals Committee to determine continuation in the program.  Before going on Level II Fieldwork affiliations, students must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of at least 3.000 (uncorrected). 

The Occupational Therapy Appeals Committee has the right and responsibility to impose sanctions on a student who does not comply with ethical, professional behavior, or patient welfare guidelines of the program after following due process guidelines of the program.  Sanctions can include dismissal from a course with a grade of “F” and may result in permanent dismissal from the program.  The Occupational Therapy Appeals Committee will determine the re-application status of any student who does not successfully complete the program.  In lieu of comprehensive final examinations, the OTD degree requires a passing score on the Fieldwork Performance Evaluation.

A student who does not receive at least a grade of “C” on any Level II Fieldwork placement or the OTD Capstone experience shall be dismissed from the program.  A dismissal may be appealed before the Occupational Therapy Appeals Committee to determine if repeated or additional coursework could justify readmission.  All cases before the Occupational Therapy Appeals Committee will be reviewed on an individual basis. 

Students must complete 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork and an individual 14-week capstone experience within 24 months following the completion of the didactic portion of the program. The doctoral capstone experience must be started after completion of all coursework and Level II fieldwork as defined in 2023 ACOTE OTD Standard D.1.3.