Part of our mission at UW-Madison is to train up the next generation of occupational therapy researchers. The OTD/PhD double degree program allows students to earn an entry-level OTD and an Occupational Science PhD in Kinesiology in a six year period. Students who choose this double degree path will be trained in clinical, leadership and research skills which will prepare them for a successful career in the future as a funded researcher/scholar and world changer. An OTD/PhD double degree would be uniquely suited to translational research in academic, industry, political or clinical settings.
How we do it
1-4 students accepted annually. Students may be accepted into the OTD/PhD double degree at two primary time points:
Option 1: Students accepted prior to entering the double degree pathway
*The 30 credits received in the MS in Kinesiology: Occupational Science named option would count toward their PhD in Kinesiology coursework |
Option 2: students accepted after their first summer in the OTD program and enter the pathway fall of their first years
* Students on this pathway would enter the OTD/PhD pathway in the fall of their first year. |
Students will focus on coursework related to the primary enrollment at the time. While in the OTD program, students must commit to aligning the OTD curriculum with their PhD goals while continuing to have the OTD coursework be a priority
- Focus their 772/773 research paper on an agreed upon topic with their PhD mentor. Commit to doing the research paper independently or in a pair as determined by your research mentor.
- Commit to a research focused Capstone Project and Experience (OTD 881-883) that aligns with your dissertation topic.
- Agree to participate in research lab activities to develop skills and knowledge-base throughout the OTD curriculum to prepare for the expedited doctoral phase of the degree.
- During Level II FWs, students may have decreased participation in research lab activities due to FW time commitments and/or being outside of Madison.
Minimum time to completion is 6 years including summers. However, students may take additional time as needed and agreed upon by their research mentor with no penalty.
Students will have the same research faculty advisor for both their OTD and PhD coursework. If entering the OTD coursework first, students may request one within the first year to change research mentors.
Credit Overlap – 25% of the 51 required PhD credits would count toward both the OTD/PhD double degree