Entry-Level Program (O.T.D.)

Fort Sam Houston, Texas

Program Director: COL Enrique V. Smith-Forbes

Through an affiliation with Baylor University, students enrolled in the U.S. Army-Baylor University O.T.D. Program at the Army Medical Center of Excellence (MEDCoE) may qualify for a Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree. The program is located at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas and is 30 months in length and includes 18 months of didactic coursework, and 12 months of two level II fieldwork clinical affiliations and a doctoral capstone experience and project. The Army-Baylor Occupational Therapy Department offers two distinct program tracks, entry-level and post-professional.

Mission

The mission of the Army-Baylor Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program is to produce active duty, commissioned occupational therapists who are clinician scientists and leaders prepared for worldwide military, VA, and civilian health system practice. The program focuses on academic and clinical excellence to prepare the students for public servant service with entry level knowledge, skills, clinical reasoning abilities, duties, responsibilities, and ethics to deliver high quality occupational therapy services based on scientific research. This mission is consistent with that of Baylor University, Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, and the U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence (MEDCoE) and describes the unique role of the program in preparing graduates to be responsible military citizens, educated leaders, dedicated scholars and skilled professionals who meet the workforce and healthcare needs of the U.S. Army.

General Information for the Army-Baylor Entry-Level OTD Program Description

The Entry-Level Army-Baylor Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) program provides an accelerated, learner-centered, occupation based, educational program that emphasizes academic excellence, life-long-scholarship, and servant leadership. This 30 month, educational program prepares doctoral-level, U.S. Army commissioned Occupational Therapy practitioners with the requisite clinical reasoning skills and professional values to be responsive to the occupational needs of persons, organizations and populations within the military they serve. Graduates are employed as U.S. Army Occupational Therapists in such settings as hospitals, mental health facilities, combat stress control units, operational field units, rehabilitation hospitals, out-patient settings, administrative and leadership positions within the Army community. The Entry-Level Army-Baylor OTD program was granted CANDIDACY status and preaccreditation by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Blvd., Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301) 652-AOTA and its Web address is https://acoteonline.org/. We are working to acquire approved accreditation prior to the first cohort graduation in 2024. For the graduate to sit for the national certification examination for the Occupational Therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). The following must occur:

• The program must hold ACOTE Candidacy Status,
• Have an ACOTE pre-accreditation review,
• Complete an ACOTE on-site evaluation,
• Be granted ACOTE Accreditation Status and,
• Students must complete all academic and fieldwork requirements of the OTD Program.

After successful completion of this examination, 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. Information about NBCOT and the certification examination can be found at https://www.nbcot.org/.

Note: A felony conviction may affect a graduate's ability to sit for the NBCOT certification examination or attain state licensure. An individual, who has a felony background and is considering entering an occupational therapy program, can have his or her background reviewed prior to applying for the exam by requesting an Early Determination Review: https://www.nbcot.org/en/Students/Services#EarlyDetermination

For more information about the programs, please contact: usarmy.jbsa.medical-coe.mbx.otd-support@mail.mil

Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences

The Entry-Level Army-Baylor OTD Program is sponsored by Baylor University through the Robbins College of Health and Human Services (RCHHS).

U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence

The Entry-Level Army-Baylor OTD program is an in-residence program, housed at the U.S. Army Medical Center of Excellence at Fort Sam Houston, TX. Students are commissioned officers in the U.S. Army. Due to the students’ active duty obligations and association with the uniformed services, certain policies and procedures governing students are unique to this program and may be found in the current OTD Program Manual or the Individual Student Assessment Plan (ISAP) published by this graduate program.

The Army-Baylor Entry-Level OTD Program Admission Requirements

The following requirements apply to the Entry-Level Army-Baylor OTD program and must be met by every applicant to be considered for admission. All applications must be submitted through the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS) accessible via the following website: https://otcas.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login

Program Admission Requirements

Admission to the Entry-Level Army-Baylor OTD program closely follows the admission criteria for all health science programs in the Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences with differences reflecting the need for prerequisite courses unique to, and in support of the OTD curriculum. Students applying to the Army-Baylor OTD program should have the requisite skills and demonstrated potential to navigate the academic rigors of an accelerated military based OTD education.

Prerequisites for Admission

All applicants must hold a Baccalaureate Degree in Arts or Sciences from an accredited university or be in the last semester of coursework at the time of the board. Minimum 3.0 overall GPA is required. The following prerequisites (or their approved transfer equivalents) are required for admission:

• Biological Science with Lab (3 semester hours)
• Human Anatomy and Physiology I with laboratory (4 semester hours)
• Human Anatomy and Physiology II with laboratory (4 semester hours)
• Kinesiology, Biomechanics, or Physics (3 semester hours)
• Human Development (lifespan) (3 semester hours)
• Social Sciences (200-level) (6 semester hours)
• Abnormal Psychology (3 semester hours)
• Statistics (3 semester hours)

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) must be completed within the past five years of the board. Minimum 300 overall GRE score; Minimum 145 Verbal Score; Minimum 149 Quantitative Score; Minimum 3.5 Analytical Writing Score.

Applicants must also complete a minimum of 24 observation hours in Occupational Therapy as a volunteer or employee. It is recommended that the applicant complete these hours in a variety of clinical practice settings. Observational experience in a military OT practice or Veteran's Affairs OT practice is highly recommended.

Three Letters of Recommendation (LOR) are required: LORs must be sent directly to the Army Healthcare Recruiter. LORs must be signed by the author, dated, and on official letterhead. LORs should be addressed to the “Army-Baylor Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program Selection Board.

• LOR 1 – From a Professor or Faculty Advisor. This LOR is separate from Dean’s Letter stating applicant’s projected graduation date.
• LOR 2 – From a current or previous Supervisor
• LOR 3 – From anyone of the applicant’s choosing (employer, professor, faculty member, occupational therapist, peer, etc.).
• LOR 4 (Only for applicants currently serving in the military) – Endorsement from the Commander
• Personal Essay/Statement of Motivation (SOM) is required: Must be one page, 11-or-12-point Arial font, and bear the applicant’s signature and date.

SOM should clearly state why the applicant seeks Army-Baylor OTD training and motivation for desire to commission as an occupational therapist in the U.S. Army.

SOM should include information on professional, leadership, and volunteer activities, research involvement, and military experience as applicable.

Application

Admission to the Army-Baylor OTD program is conducted by a formal application and recruitment process. All selected applicants must be motivated and capable of becoming a military Army officer undergoing rigorous academic and clinical preparation and developing into a military occupational therapist consistent with the program mission and goals. Qualified students will be admitted regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin, or gender. A recruiter ensures the applicant meets military eligibility and confers with a selected OTD program faculty to ensure the candidate meets academic eligibility. The Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences and the Baylor University Graduate School works with the Army-Baylor OTD Program Director to review student candidates for the OTD program to ensure that students who are considered for the program meet admission standards for the Army-Baylor OTD program, Robbins College, and the Baylor University Graduate School.

Application Review

The Army-Baylor OTD Admissions Committee and faculty will review all completed applications (i.e., application and all supporting materials received) in the order of receipt. Applicants are evaluated based on the following items: Applicants are evaluated based on the following items:

• Cumulative GPA
• Pre-requisite GPA
• GRE verbal percentile rank
• GRE quantitative percentile rank
• Observation hours
• Letters of Recommendation
• Personal Essay
• Telephonic/Virtual Interview Score

Other factors considered, but not required:

• Relevant work experience
• Prior military experience

The Army-Baylor OTD admissions committee uses this evaluative process to ensure nondiscrimination and equal opportunity for all applicants. The Army-Baylor OTD admissions committee will grant admission interviews by invitation only. The Army-Baylor OTD program does not offer credit for previous work experience, coursework or experiential learning, nor is advanced placement credit available for this program.

Interview Process

The Army-Baylor OTD Program Director or designee will contact selected applicants and provide further instructions for completing the interview process.

Application Deadlines

The Army-Baylor OTD Application deadline is 30 of September of each year calendar year. The Army-Baylor OTD Selection Board convenes March of each calendar year. Applicants will be notified of board results by their Army Healthcare Recruiter in accordance with current policies and procedures. The Army-Baylor OTD Program will provide an official OTD Welcome Letter to board selected applicants after individuals have been notified of selection by their Army Healthcare Recruiter.

How to Apply

All applications must be submitted through the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS) accessible via the following website: OTCAS | Applicant Login Page Section (liaisoncas.com)

Academic Eligibility

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution prior to Army-Baylor OTD classes beginning. Provisional admission may be granted pending completion of the undergraduate degree. Students are required to successfully complete and document a minimum of four (4) FTE academic years of pre-professional preparation.
• Must complete all prerequisite courses with a prerequisite coursework as listed above
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) completed within the last 5 years, including the analytical writing portion.
• Must NOT be a graduate of an entry-level occupational therapy program (U.S. or foreign), regardless of the level of degree conferred. Note: this requirement does not restrict pre-occupational therapy degrees, or those with COTA certification from applying. Only graduates of entry-level OT programs from any degree level are NOT eligible for admission to the entry-level Army-Baylor OTD program.
• Must NOT have ever matriculated into another OTD program.

Military Eligibility

• Applicants must be U.S. Citizens.
• Applicants must be between 21 and 42 years old.
• Applicants must be eligible for a ‘Secret’ security clearance and achieve a favorable security background screening.
• Applicants must meet the medical screening standards for commissioning. Applicants will complete a physical examination where the Department of Defense screens for certain conditions that may be disqualifying for military service. All applicants must meet height and weight standards to be deemed eligible for commissioning.
• Applicants must meet U.S. Army physical fitness standards. For more information, please visit: https://www.army.mil/acft/.
• ***Students incur a 90 months service obligation (30 months training + 60 months Active Duty obligation) if selected for the program. ***

Special Circumstances:

• Current Service Members must obtain a Conditional Letter of Release from their current branch prior to the application deadline.
• Current military officers with greater than eight years Active Federal Commissioned Services (AFCS) by 01 November of the year the applicant is boarding are ineligible to apply. AFCS waivers may be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Army Medical Specialist Corps.
• ROTC Cadets are eligible to apply prior to graduation and do not require an approved Education Delay since the OTD is an Active Duty Program. ROTC Cadets will work with their local Army Health Care Recruiter to apply.

Minimum Technology Specifications Computer Requirements

The student is required to have a laptop computer and a mobile device that can support the technology programs and resources used by the Army-Baylor OTD program. The student is required to have the laptop computer (with a full version of Chrome browser), and mobile device in possession at the time of the Army-Baylor OTD Program Orientation.

Laptop:

• The minimum system requirements for a PC or Mac laptop computer are listed below.
• System performance (processing speed and available RAM) will vary based upon installed software, actively running software/applications, and internet speed.
• Laptop computer with Windows or iOS operating system, is acceptable with the minimum requirements below.
• Each student should ensure a laptop, internet speed/capacity, a working microphone, and webcam that can support the technology programs and resources used throughout the Army-Baylor OTD Program.

Additional Requirements Once Accepted into the Program

Once accepted into the Army-Baylor Occupational Therapy Program, and prior to beginning classes, the student must:

• Attend Army Medical Department (AMEDD) Direct Commissioning Course (DCC) and Basic Officer Leader Course (BOLC) prior to the OTD program start date.
• Attend the mandatory Army-Baylor OTD Program Orientation.
• Purchase all required OTD textbooks, manuals and laboratory supplies.
• Assume all responsibility for transportation to and from all facilities used for educational experiences, including clinical agencies assigned.
• Adhere to the Army-Baylor OTD Program Dress Code (i.e. military appropriate uniform, scrubs, graduate school research uniform)

Army-Baylor OTD Program Curriculum

The professional curriculum leading to the Doctor of Occupational Therapy degree requires students to complete 120 semester credit hours of coursework in 8 continuous academic semesters over a 30- month period. Students are enrolled into the Army-Baylor OTD program as a cohort and complete required courses in a prescribed, sequential manner. Course sequencing within the curriculum is designed to optimize the student’s ability to learn and integrate course material into future didactic and clinical education experiences, culminating in the doctoral capstone. The curriculum is dynamic to keep abreast with best evidence in both clinical and educational practice.

The Army-Baylor OTD faculty believe that student-centered teaching promotes discovery and clinical reasoning based client-centered service delivery characterized by ethical treatment decisions. This approach challenges students to expand their understandings of the relevance of occupational therapy to include considerations about the dynamic interaction of occupational performance, social participation and Army values. The Army-Baylor OTD curriculum design is comprised of the OTD Practice Sequence developed to prepare students for Fieldwork II and the OTD Scholarship Sequence developed for doctoral-level preparation for research and for application of in-depth knowledge required for the Doctoral Capstone. Stemming from the program’s five curricular threads the faculty have established the following curricular learning outcomes.

At the time of graduation from the program, the student will be able to:

1. Utilize clinical reasoning in the occupational therapy process based on critical analysis, reflection and a dedication to excellence;
2. Articulate the positive relationship between occupation and health and appreciate the occupational nature of humans as a core philosophical assumption of the profession;
3. Provide client-centered care based on the principles, beliefs, and values of occupational therapy and a steadfast commitment to Army values and identity;
4. Demonstrate servant-leadership roles leading to an in-depth understanding of a specialized competency in the profession that contributes to solving problems facing people and communities worldwide;
5. Demonstrate a commitment to scholarly practice and research through lifelong learning and critical inquiry.

Occupational Therapy (Doctorate) (OTD)