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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 501 | Foundations of Interprofessional Practice | 1 |
| OCCT 580 | Introduction to the Profession of Occupational Therapy | 2 |
| OCCT 589 | Advanced Functional Anatomy | 5 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| OCCT 692 | Assistive Technologies for Occupational Engagement | 2 |
| OCCT 693 | Occupational Synthesis and Adaptations | 2 |
| 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 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 760 | Level II Fieldwork in Occupational Therapy | 9 |
| OCCT 761 | Level II Fieldwork in Occupational Therapy | 9 |
| OCCT 780 | OTD Leadership Seminar | 3 |
| OCCT 782 | Professional Development Seminar | 2 |
| OCCT 781 | Program Development and Evaluation | 3 |
| OCCT 783 | Doctoral Capstone (three credits satisfy certificate elective) | 10 |
| OCCT 784 | Practicum Evaluation and Dissemination | 1 |
| Certificate requirements | ||
| GRTY 601 | Biological and Physiological Aging | 3 |
| GRTY 602 | Psychology of Aging | 3 |
| GRTY 603 | Social Gerontology | 3 |
| GRTY 606 | Aging and Human Values | 3 |
| Restricted elective (satisfied by three credits of OCCT 783) | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 116 | |
The minimum number of graduate credit hours required for this dual program is 116.
Sample plan of study
| Year one | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summer semester | Hours | |
| 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