91¿´Æ¬

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Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate

Featuring the nation’s first PPOTD and MBA second-degree option

The Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate (PP-OTD) program at 91¿´Æ¬ is designed for licensed occupational therapists with a BSOT/MSOT degree seeking advanced training in leadership, teaching in higher education, research, health, and entrepreneurship. 

Our PPOTD program consists of 30 credits, completed in a 100%  online asynchronous format in 12 months, with 8-week semesters. Bring your unique ideas to life with an evidence-based doctoral project as you make a difference in the local, national and global community.

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At a Glance

  • Modality: Online, asynchronous
  • Completion: 12 months
    • Certificate completion in Inclusive Leadership or Healthy Lifestyle Coaching: 8 weeks
  • Duration: 30 credit minimum
  • Total Cost: $24,000

* 10% discount for LVHN, SLUHN GSRN
** Moravian MSOT graduates:
24 credits; $19,200

Our Mission

The Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate program is founded on 91¿´Æ¬â€™s vision of personalized student-centeredness, inclusion, equity, and community engagement. As a student of the PP-OTD program, you will gain advanced knowledge and skills to meet evolving global-societal needs. The program focuses on scholarly and creative inquiry, evidence-based practice, innovative teaching and learning, and transformative leadership with the goal of promoting the optimal health and well-being of individuals, families, communities, and organizations.

Earn Your Doctorate Degree Entirely Online 

In just 12 months, you can earn your degree in the PP-OTD program by completing 30 minimum credits across six eight-week sessions in a fully online, asynchronous format. You’ll receive ongoing support from experts in the profession as you navigate your course of study. 91¿´Æ¬ MSOT alumni will complete a 24-credit program. 

What Makes Us Stand Out?

  • You’ll be taught by world-class scholars and expert leaders in rehabilitation, health promotion, mental health, business, and education.
  • We strive to meet the evolving needs of the global community through interprofessional, client-centered practice, and civic engagement.
  • Moravian is the first academic institution in the country to offer an optional combined PP-OTD/MBA degree.

Want to go part-time?

Works for us. And with three admission cycles, you can start—or jump back in—at any of our three annual start dates.

28%

Projected job growth in the medical and health services managers professions from 2022-32, faster than the average for all occupations. (U.S. Bureau of Labor, 2023)
 

Program Overview

Earn your PPOTD degree in just one year as you advance your skills with a focus on evidence-based practices, innovation and emerging trends in leadership, health and wellness, teaching in higher education, research and entrepreneurship. While completing your PPOTD degree, self-design your concentration and earn a Certificate in Inclusive Leadership or Healthy Lifestyle Coaching. Bring your unique doctoral project idea to life as you choose your doctoral project mentor from our team of interprofessional experts. Each course in the PPOTD program enables you to engage your passion and ideas for developing new programs and services, geared toward making a meaningful impact in society.

Create a personalized plan with regard to course electives and specific tracks as you work to obtain your degree.

  • Leadership and Health Promotion tracks will be offered immediately with additional course selections to follow in 2025-26, such as advanced level occupational therapy clinical practice and interdisciplinary health course options.
  • Earn a Certificate: Healthy Life Skills Coaching & Consulting Certificate or Inclusive Leadership & Health Equity Certificate. Choose 12 credits from courses within the Concentration, Foundational Core Courses and/or Electives (minimum of 2 electives within each concentration).

91¿´Æ¬ is proud to offer the only combined PP-OTD/MBA program in the nation. Through research, evidence-based practice, and organizational leadership training, you’ll be equipped to meet the evolving health needs of local, national, and international global communities.

  • The 100% online/asynchronous MBA is offered as a second degree option, requiring only 6 additional courses - 18 additional credits beyond those needed for your initial PP-OTD degree.
  • This requires admission to both the PP-OTD and MBA programs.

Curriculum

Includes free online prep courses, foundational courses, doctoral project courses, and one of the two tracks. 

Our Free Online Prep Courses in Ethics in Health Professions and Introduction to Evidence-based Practice, Human Subjects Training & Doctoral Project are required brief review gateway courses that enable you to begin the PPOTD courses as you plan your Doctoral Project.

PP-OTD
Course Code		Course TitlePre/Co-RequisiteCredits
OT800Ethics in Leadership & Health ProfessionsComplete prior to starting the Foundational Core Courses0 Credits
OT801Introduction to Evidence-based Practice, Human Subjects Training & Doctoral Project
 		Complete prior to starting the Foundational Core Courses0 Credits

PP-OTD
Course Code		 Course Title Pre/Co-Requisite Credits
OT900 I-LEAD: Inclusive Leadership, Equity, Advocacy & Diversity

This core course is taken upon admission to the PP-OTD program.

Can be taken as a corequisite core

 3
OT910 Research & Evidence-based Outcomes in Clinical & Professional Decision Making Can be taken as a corequisite core 3
OT920 Global Health Policy Can be taken as a corequisite core 3
OT930 Health Promotion, Well-being & Prevention: LifeSteps 360 Can be taken as a corequisite core 3
OT940 The OT Educator: High Impact Teaching & Learning Practices in Higher Education & Adult Learning Settings Can be taken as a corequisite core 3
      15 Credits

PP-OTD
Course Code		Course TitlePre/Co-RequisiteCredits
OT931eHealth: Equitable Digital Practices & Innovation 3
OT932Lifestyle, Mindset & Behavior Change 3
OT933Holistic Wellness & Life Skills Coach for the Athlete & Artist (HWLSCAA): Traditional, eSports, Para Sport & Performing Artist 3
OT901Entrepreneurship: The Business, Social & Global Innovator 3
   12 Credits

12 credits

Students self-design their Certificate with courses offered in the PPOTD program and other 91¿´Æ¬ programs based on approval and availability. 

PP-OTD
Course Code		Course TitlePre/Co-Requisite
Leadership courses offered in the School of Professional Studies & Innovation
BGMT 508Developing Leadership Expertise*

*This course is offered in an online asynchronous format.		 

PP-OTD
Course Code		Course TitlePre/Co-RequisiteCredits
OT973Doctoral Project (required minimum of 3 times) 1 cr each
  
Total
3 credit minimum

Handbook

View PPOTD Program Handbook 

Technology Recommendations 
We recommend students use a laptop that runs the most current Apple or Windows operating system with at least 16GB of memory, a 512GB hard drive, and a webcam. Students should also have reliable internet access while enrolled in the program.

Contact

Dr. Melanie Austin, DOT, MPA, OTR/L
Program Director
austinm@moravian.edu
(610) 625-7227

Cailee Carmella '22, M.S., CCC-SLP
Student Experience Mentor Rehabilitation Sciences - Doctoral Programs
carmellac@moravian.edu
(610) 625-7134

PP-OTD Doctoral Research Symposium

Photos from 91¿´Æ¬'s DPT/PP-OTD Ceremony on December 8, 2024.