Advanced study in occupational therapy and aging studies is available through a dual degree program co-sponsored by the Department of Occupational Therapy and the Department of Gerontology in the College of Health Professions.

The program allows students to earn an Occupational Therapy Doctorate and Certificate in Aging Studies with a minimum of 116 credits rather than the 119 credits necessary if the two degrees were pursued separately. This efficiency lowers the overall cost of tuition while also reducing time to earning both degrees.

Program goals

The objectives of this dual degree and certificate program are to:

  • Prepare graduates to address the complex needs of a diverse aging population using holistic knowledge of biopsychosocial aging process
  • Provide graduates with an understanding of empirically and theoretically based components contributing to optimal aging using evidence-based, best-practice approaches
  • Prepare graduates to apply current knowledge, theory and professional judgment, while considering the perspectives of older adult clients/patients  
  • Prepare graduates to develop skills in comprehensive geriatric care to promote well-being among older adults

Among the many benefits offered by participation in the dual degree program is the following:

  • Enhance O.T.D.  graduates’ knowledge and skills in caring for older adults, who represent an increasing segment of occupational therapy practice
  • Increase O.T.D.graduates’ competitiveness in the job market
  • Offer O.T.D. students an opportunity for career advancement by specializing in geriatrics

The diplomas for this dual degree program may be awarded simultaneously. Students must complete separate graduation check out for each program.

Student learning outcomes

See the individual program pages for student learning outcomes.

Other information

Advising

The student is assigned an adviser from each program to develop a coordinated plan of study. Advisers coordinate program curriculum as appropriate. Primarily, the coordination occurs to ensure that O.T.D. students complete all required credits and their doctoral capstone project aligns with requirements of the Certificate of Aging Studies. Advisers share curriculum sequencing documents for advising students in registration for course work to ensure consistency and uniformity in their guidance.

Once accepted into the dual degree program, the student meets with the advisers in both programs to develop a plan of study. The student would begin taking classes in the aging studies program during the fall semester of their first year while enrolled in the O.T.D. program.

Admission requirements

Students must meet the admission requirements for each program. Admission into one program does not guarantee admission into the other.

The Certificate in Aging Studies program is open to qualified students who have earned a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university or the equivalent and who have met all general admission requirements of the VCU Graduate School.

The admission requirements for the O.T.D. can be found on the program page.

Application procedure

Admission to the dual degree program is a two-step process. The first step is admission to the O.T.D. program. After the first summer semester of the O.T.D. program, the student completes the second step by applying for admission to the aging studies program.

Students may contact VCU Graduate Admissions to have their transcripts and letters of recommendation from the O.T.D. application attached to their certificate application. A new personal statement is required.

Dual degree and certificate requirements

As standalone programs, the O.T.D. comprises 104 credits while the certificate requires 15 credits. The dual degree and certificate program allows students to share three credits, therefore decreasing total credits to completion from 119 to 116.

Based on the equivalent knowledge acquired by successfully completing OCCT 783, three credits of electives are satisfied in the certificate curriculum.

Curriculum requirements

Course Title Hours
O.T.D. requirements
IPEC 501Foundations of Interprofessional Practice1
OCCT 580Introduction to the Profession of Occupational Therapy2
OCCT 589Advanced Functional Anatomy5
OCCT 590Functional Movement Analysis in Occupational Therapy3
OCCT 591Neuroscience Applications to Occupational Therapy4
OCCT 592Introduction to Injury, Illness and Disability3
OCCT 593Analysis of Human Occupation1
OCCT 594Theoretical Foundations of Occupational Therapy4
OCCT 613Adult Occupational Performance I3
OCCT 614Pediatric Occupational Performance I4
OCCT 615Level I Fieldwork in Occupational Therapy1
OCCT 616Research Process in Occupational Therapy3
OCCT 617Therapeutic Process in Occupational Therapy3
OCCT 689Occupational Therapy Assessment and Evaluation3
OCCT 692Assistive Technologies for Occupational Engagement2
OCCT 693Occupational Synthesis and Adaptations2
OCCT 713Adult Occupational Performance II4
OCCT 714Pediatric Occupational Performance II4
OCCT 715Level I Fieldwork in Occupational Therapy1
OCCT 716Evidence-based Practice in Occupational Therapy3
OCCT 717Level I Fieldwork in Psychosocial Occupational Therapy3
OCCT 720Policy, Advocacy and Management for Occupational Therapy Practice3
OCCT 721Clinical Reasoning in Occupational Therapy3
OCCT 759Fieldwork Education Seminar2
OCCT 760Level II Fieldwork in Occupational Therapy9
OCCT 761Level II Fieldwork in Occupational Therapy9
OCCT 780OTD Leadership Seminar3
OCCT 782Professional Development Seminar2
OCCT 781Program Development and Evaluation3
OCCT 783Doctoral Capstone (three credits satisfy certificate elective)10
OCCT 784Practicum Evaluation and Dissemination1
Certificate requirements
GRTY 601Biological and Physiological Aging3
GRTY 602Psychology of Aging3
GRTY 603Social Gerontology3
GRTY 606Aging and Human Values3
Restricted elective (satisfied by three credits of OCCT 783)3
Total Hours116

The minimum number of graduate credit hours required for this dual program is 116.

Sample plan of study

Year one
Summer semesterHours
OCCT 580 Introduction to the Profession of Occupational Therapy 2
OCCT 589 Advanced Functional Anatomy 5
 Term Hours: 7
Fall semester
GRTY 603 Social Gerontology 3
IPEC 501 Foundations of Interprofessional Practice 1
OCCT 590 Functional Movement Analysis in Occupational Therapy 3
OCCT 591 Neuroscience Applications to Occupational Therapy 4
OCCT 592 Introduction to Injury, Illness and Disability 3
OCCT 593 Analysis of Human Occupation 1
OCCT 594 Theoretical Foundations of Occupational Therapy 4
 Term Hours: 19
Spring semester
GRTY 601 Biological and Physiological Aging 3
OCCT 613 Adult Occupational Performance I 3
OCCT 614 Pediatric Occupational Performance I 4
OCCT 615 Level I Fieldwork in Occupational Therapy 1
OCCT 616 Research Process in Occupational Therapy 3
OCCT 617 Therapeutic Process in Occupational Therapy 3
OCCT 689 Occupational Therapy Assessment and Evaluation 3
 Term Hours: 20
Year two
Summer semester
OCCT 693 Occupational Synthesis and Adaptations 2
OCCT 780 OTD Leadership Seminar 3
 Term Hours: 5
Fall semester
GRTY 602 Psychology of Aging 3
OCCT 713 Adult Occupational Performance II 4
OCCT 714 Pediatric Occupational Performance II 4
OCCT 715 Level I Fieldwork in Occupational Therapy 1
OCCT 716 Evidence-based Practice in Occupational Therapy 3
OCCT 781 Program Development and Evaluation 3
 Term Hours: 18
Spring semester
GRTY 606 Aging and Human Values 3
OCCT 692 Assistive Technologies for Occupational Engagement 2
OCCT 717 Level I Fieldwork in Psychosocial Occupational Therapy 3
OCCT 720 Policy, Advocacy and Management for Occupational Therapy Practice 3
OCCT 721 Clinical Reasoning in Occupational Therapy 3
OCCT 759 Fieldwork Education Seminar 2
OCCT 782 Professional Development Seminar 2
 Term Hours: 18
Year three
Summer semester
OCCT 760 Level II Fieldwork in Occupational Therapy 9
 Term Hours: 9
Fall semester
OCCT 761 Level II Fieldwork in Occupational Therapy 9
 Term Hours: 9
Spring semester
OCCT 783 Doctoral Capstone (focused on aging studies; satisfies three credits of restricted electives for certificate) 10
OCCT 784 Practicum Evaluation and Dissemination 1
 Term Hours: 11
 Total Hours: 116

The minimum number of graduate credit hours required for this dual program is 116.

Contact
Jennifer Pryor
Program director, Department of Gerontology
pryorjm@vcu.edu
(804) 828-1565

Additional contact
Jodi M. Winship, Ph.D., OTR/L 
Assistant professor, Department of Occupational Therapy
winshipjm@vcu.edu