Department of Occupational Therapy

Carole K. Ivey, Ph.D.
Associate professor and chair

The program in occupational therapy was initiated at Richmond Professional Institute in 1942 and evolved with changes in the university, joining VCU in 1968 when Richmond Professional Institute merged with the Medical College of Virginia. In keeping with the needs of clients and changes in the profession, the Department of Occupational Therapy has moved from offering a bachelor’s degree to a master’s degree to now a doctoral degree in occupational therapy. 

The mission of the Department of Occupational Therapy at VCU is to advance occupation-focused scholarship and practice through integrated education, research and service.

This happens through:

• Preparing outstanding, evidence-based, client-centered occupational therapists to serve the state and nation
• Developing innovative and influential leaders who change policy, practice and systems
• Responding to the occupational needs of the community
• Creating new knowledge and promoting translational applications
• Fostering cultural sensitivity, diversity and inclusion of faculty, students and staff

Facilities

The educational facilities of the Department of Occupational Therapy are located in the College of Health Professions building at 900 E. Leigh St. Fieldwork assignments are made for students in a wide range of clinics and agencies in the Richmond metropolitan area. An extended fieldwork requirement will be arranged in approved clinical education facilities throughout the United States.

Academic regulations

Students are admitted to the occupational therapy programs with the expectation that they will direct maximum time and effort to the learning process. Outside activities must be scheduled by students for such dates and hours as permit full compliance with the time requirements for course work. Tardiness, lack of regular attendance or failure to meet deadlines for course assignments will not be excused because of employment or other outside activities.

It is the responsibility of all graduate students, both on- and off-campus, to be familiar with the VCU Graduate Bulletin as well as the Graduate School website and academic regulations in individual school and department publications and on program websites. However, in all cases, the official policies and procedures of the University Graduate Council, as published on the VCU Graduate Bulletin and Graduate School websites, take precedence over individual program policies and guidelines.

• As courses usually are offered only once a year and because early courses serve as prerequisites for later courses, students retaking a course or taking a reduced course load will have to continue under an adjusted curriculum plan. This will result in extending the student’s time in the program.
• If a student withdraws or is terminated by the clinical faculty before the completion of the Level II fieldwork course, the student will receive an F grade for the course.
  If the student withdraws, is terminated or fails a fieldwork experience, the course may be repeated only upon approval by the Committee on Academic Standing and Student Progress in consultation with the department chair and the fieldwork coordinator. Students may be dismissed from the program or be allowed to continue contingent upon fulfilling remedial activities based on a plan prepared by the fieldwork coordinator and ratified by the committee. No more than one additional fieldwork experience will be rescheduled. The opportunity to re-register and repeat the fieldwork course is contingent upon the fieldwork coordinator’s ability to locate another facility willing to offer a fieldwork experience to the student and upon the support of the committee. Level II fieldwork must be completed no later than 24 months subsequent to the completion of the academic phase.
• To continue in good standing, students also are expected to:
  • Pay all fees
  • Maintain personal attributes and ethical behaviors consistent with professional practice as defined in the Occupational Therapy Department Student Handbook
  • Complete fieldwork requirements to the satisfaction of clinical and academic faculty
• Although arrangements are made in advance, each student is reviewed prior to placement in the Level II Fieldwork education. Students must have satisfactorily completed courses prerequisite to that fieldwork experience and be recommended by the faculty. They must demonstrate professional behavior as specified in the ethical behaviors listed in the Occupational Therapy Department Student Handbook. Medical problems may delay or prevent fieldwork placement.

Students who complete the requirements for this degree will receive an Occupational Therapy Doctorate.

• Occupational Therapy Doctorate (O.T.D.)