Occupational Therapy Doctorate (Entry-Level)

Gannon’s Occupational Therapy Program at the Erie campus was founded in 1992 and has successfully cultivated decades of occupational therapists. The program has admited its last cohort of master's level students into the 5-year accelerated program in the fall of 2023. Click here to view the current master’s program. The program is transitioning to the doctoral level via the new Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctoral program. The doctoral program seeks to admit its first student cohort in the fall of 2024 to continue the tradition of creating therapists who demonstrate excellence in all areas of the occupational therapy process.  

Our Entry-Level OTD Program will continue to offer students clinically based, grant funded, community learning programs that originated in our MSOT program. View this short video to learn about these exciting opportunities.

Prepare for a Rewarding Career with an Occupational Therapy Degree from Gannon University 

Occupational therapists help others achieve optimal participation in life’s occupations after experiencing disruption due to illness, injury or disability. Occupational therapists adapt to ever-changing environments, work collaboratively with our global community, serve as leaders in society, and contribute to the knowledge base of the profession. Gannon’s occupational therapy program will engage you in learning aspects of the evaluation, intervention and entire therapy process to secure your own purposeful career in occupational therapy.

Mission

Through leadership, service, and collaboration, the Gannon University Occupational Therapy Program will develop altruistic lifelong learners who promote participation in occupation to support the well-being of all clients, groups, and populations.  

Vision

We envision that the Gannon Occupational Therapy Program will be widely recognized for leadership, scholarship, service, and training globally connected and diverse students who adapt to and address society’s ever changing occupational needs.

Goals

The program is designed to foster life-long learners who:

1. adapt to ever-changing professional environments,
2. contribute to the knowledge base, advancement, and sustainability of the profession,
3. provide leadership in the profession and society,
4. acknowledge the importance of holism in their own lives and in the lives of their clients,
5. work collaboratively,
6. value engagement and advocacy within the community, and
7. demonstrate excellence in all aspects of the evaluation and intervention process in an equitable manner across diverse populations.

Occupational Therapy Tuition

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY TUITION for Erie OTD Program (Based on AY 23-24)*

	Undergraduate Tuition	Graduate Tuition	Program Fees	Books**	University Fees/Loans***
Year 1 Fall and Spring	Per semester Flat Rate 12-18 Credits: $19,070		$0	$500	$400/$0	$39,040
Year 2 Fall and Spring	Per semester Flat Rate 12-18 Credits: $19,070		$46	$500	$400/$0	$39,086
Year 3 Fall and Spring	Per semester Flat Rate 12-18 Credits: $19,070		$128	$500	$400/$0	$39,168
Year 4 Fall and Spring	Per semester Flat Rate 12-18 Credits: $19,070		$187	$500	$400/$0	$39,227
Year 5 Summer Semester†		8 credits x $1100 Per credit = $8,800	$0	$0	$400/$0	$9,200
Year 5 Fall Semester†		Per semester flat rate: $11,880	$0	$0	$0/$0	$11,880
Year 5 Spring Semester†		Per semester flat rate: $11,880	$75	$0	$0/$0	$11,955
Year 6 Summer Semester†		Per semester flat rate: $11,880	$355	$150	$400/$0	$12,785
Year 6 Fall Semester†		Per semester flat rate: $11,880	$0	$0	$0/$0	$11,880
TOTAL						$214,221

^†Discounted Graduate Level Tuition for all Erie Entry Level OTD Students

*tuition and fees are subject to change

**The Gannon Library has a copy of every OT textbook for students to use at no cost while in the library. This book amount is an estimate and is subject to change depending on Liberal Studies and Pre-requisite course instructor book recommendations.

***Gannon University does not charge additional loan fees however loan originators may assess a % fee to borrowers.

For more information on tuition and fees please visit the tuition web page.

Planned Curriculum

Click here to download the curriculum.

DOCTORAL-DEGREE-LEVEL OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PROGRAM (CANDIDACY STATUS)

The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program has applied for accreditation and has been granted Candidacy Status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org. The program must have a preaccreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation, and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR). In addition, all states require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NBCOT Certification Examination. Note that a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure.

Students must complete 24 weeks of Level II fieldwork as well as 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 well as completion of preparatory activities defined in 2018 ACOTE OTD Standard D.1.3.