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The College of St. Scholastica

Promote Independence for Your Clients

The entry-level Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program at The College of St. Scholastica prepares you for a fulfilling career providing clients the best care. With a curriculum that emphasizes hands-on learning and evidence-based occupational therapy, our OTD program equips you with deepened knowledge and skills you need to make a lasting difference in your practice.

Engage in interprofessional collaboration and innovative practice experiences that position you as a leader in the field. In less than three years, you’ll be prepared not only to practice as an occupational therapist, but to shape the future of occupational therapy. Our curriculum is grounded in innovative leadership, so you’ll graduate ready to step into influential roles.

Program Details

  • Study in Duluth at the Health Science Center
  • 91 program credits
  • Complete in eight semesters, or just under three years

Hands-On Training

  • Get experiential learning through electives and fieldwork
  • Complete your capstone experience at a community practice site
  • 1:4 faculty-to-student ratio for capstone experience

Focused on Outcomes

Reasons to Enroll at The College of St. Scholastica

A legacy of impact.

We’ve been preparing students for a life of purpose — and economic gain — since 1912.

Your success is our purpose.

We want you to succeed. We’ll do everything within our power to help you reach your goals.

Grounded in Benedictine values.

Our program emphasizes lifelong learning and advocacy for the underserved.

The College of St. Scholastica has been granted Applicant Status and is seeking accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. The telephone number is 301-652-AOTA (2682) and the web address is www.acoteonline.org for an entry-level Occupational Therapy Doctoral (OTD) program.

The program must be granted Candidacy Status, have a pre-accreditation review, complete an on-site evaluation, and then be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates are eligible to sit for the national certification examination for occupational therapist credentials, which is 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 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 and an individual 14-week capstone experience within 18 months following 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 for the capstone project defined in 2023 ACOTE OTD Standard D.1.3.

The College of St. Scholastica

Nondiscrimination Notice: The College of St. Scholastica is committed to fostering an inclusive and respectful environment free from discrimination and harassment. We prohibit discrimination based on race, color, national origin and other protected statuses. View full statement.