Meeting room

Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate

Featuring the nation's first combined PP-OTD and MBA Program

The World Health Organization launched a call to action in 2023 to reignite the need for health-care workers and leaders to address societal well-being and health equity. In ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½â€™s new Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate (PP-OTD) program, you will gain the knowledge and skills to do just that. As a licensed occupational therapist, our program – guided by health policy and social equity – will offer you the opportunity to advance your professional excellence as a catalyst for change. You will have the opportunity to take core courses that prepare you for roles in leadership, health promotion, and teaching at higher education institutions. What’s more, you can attend the nation’s first combined Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate and Master of Business Administration program 100% online/asynchronous.

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At a Glance

  • Modality: Online, asynchronous 
  • Completion: 12 months
  • Duration: 30 credit minimum
  • Total Cost: $24,000

* 10% discount for LVHN, SLUHN GSRN

* ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ MSOT graduates:
24 credits; $19,200

 

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. ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ 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.
  • ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ 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

As a Post-Professional Occupational Therapy student, you will advance your professional excellence as a catalyst for change with advanced training in leadership, research, global health policy, health promotion, entrepreneurship, and teaching in higher education and adult learning settings.

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).

ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ 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.

Program Costs

  • $24,000 total cost for 30-credit minimum program (no additional fees)
  • $19,200 for 24-credit program available to ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ MSOT graduates

Partnerships

  • LVHN, SLUHN, GSRN = 10% discount

Admission Cycles

Semester Start Dates Application Deadlines
March 10, 2025Spring BFebruary 24, 2025
May 5, 2025Summer AApril 5, 2025
June 30, 2025Summer BJune 16, 2025
August 25, 2025Fall AAugust 1, 2025
October 20, 2025Fall BOctober 1, 2025

International Graduate students living outside of the United States may enroll in a full-time online program. These students will not receive an I-20 to go toward an F-1 Visa in order to study in the US.

International applicants must have an equivalent Board of Certification (BOC) certification/credential. Students must also submit current TOEFL or IELTS scores. Minimum scores for the TOEFL: 90 (internet-based); 233 (computer-based); 577 (paper-based); IELTS: 6.5. 

Additionally, International Graduate Students studying at ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½ must submit a transcript that has been verified by one of our approved verification services. 

The report will come directly from the verification service to Moravain University for review. 

  • (discount available)

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

These courses are offered in a 100% online/asynchronous format.

PP-OTD
Course Code		Course TitlePre/Co-RequisiteCredits
Students choose 2 additional Leadership courses offered in the School of Professional Studies & Innovation
BGMT 509Developing Leadership Expertise 3
BGMT 510Leading Human Capital in Organizations 3
   12 Credits

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

Our Mission

The Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate program is founded on ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½â€™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.

Contact

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

Brian Martin
Executive Director of Admissions
martinb@moravian.edu
(610) 625-7130

PP-OTD Doctoral Research Symposium

Photos from ÐÔÊÀ½ç´«Ã½'s DPT/PP-OTD Ceremony on December 8, 2024.