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Merit Scholarships Available for all Matriculated Post-Professional Students +  $895/credit (no application to complete)*

Optional volunteer Teaching Assistant (TA) experiences are available for selected courses. Learn more by contacting kjacobs@bu.edu

*If you have Boston University vouchers, you can use up to 6 credits of vouchers towards courses in the PP-OTD program. Check if your employer offers tuition assistance.

If you’re an occupational therapy practitioner who would like to assume a leadership role and help shape the future of your field, you may be ready for advanced study beyond the master’s level. The Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy (PP-OTD) program at Sargent College is designed to provide the highest level of quality education with a focus on flexibility and a strong mentorship model. Students in the PP-OTD program are paired in a one-on-one relationship with our faculty, who provide each student with personal guidance throughout the program.

“The BU PP-OTD program has been an amazing experience for me thus far. The program has provided excellent flexibility and adaptability to personal life circumstances. While being deployed to the Middle East, the staff and my classmates have been very supportive. The academic and peer mentorship has been very helpful to be able to provide psychological support throughout the program. I look forward to the continued mentorship and academic challenges the program presents to further my career in occupational therapy.” – Curtis Lubic, MOT, OTR/L

Our Mission

We aim to prepare occupational therapists to assume leadership roles in developing and evaluating innovative responses to practice needs related to occupational performance and societal participation through mentorship, discovery, service, advocacy, and knowledge translation.

Our Vision

Our graduates will be globally minded scholar-activists who seek to drive change and positively impact the health and occupations of people and their communities. 

A global community of OT leaders

With graduates from six continents, our PP-OTD program has been at the forefront of building a global Occupational Therapy workforce. Sargent has 20 years of experience in distance education with more than 200 graduates who have gone on to leadership careers in education and professional organizations. Most importantly, we’re here to compassionately support our students to help them earn their post-professional OTD degree in the way that works best for them.

Our post-professional doctoral degree program is designed for you.

Boston University’s PP-OTD program is offered exclusively in an on-line format. It is open to occupational therapists who have either a BS and MS in occupational therapy from an ACOTE or WFOT-accredited degree program or  who can provide a National Government Recognition document of their program in occupational therapy.

We matriculate students into the PP-OTD program in January, May, and September.

This innovative program allows students to earn their doctorate without disrupting their careers or relocating their families. Now a doctoral-level education is readily accessible to occupational therapist who wish to shape the future of our professional and health care.

Program Outcomes

After completing the program, graduates will:

  • Enhance professional opportunities to design, implement, evaluate and sustain innovative programs.
  • Advocate for occupationally just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive communities and societies
  • Raise awareness of the profession to discover and expand opportunities for occupational therapy professionals in practice, education, and scholarship
  • Contribute to occupational therapy literature and evidence-based educational material
  • Impact global health issues
  • Advance the professional reach beyond traditional walls, with a focus on community-based practice and emerging practice areas 

Want to learn more?

We invite you to introduce yourself by filling out the Request Information form. You can also contact us by email at sargrad@bu.edu.

The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, in its capacity as the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) portal entity for Massachusetts, reviews and evaluates student complaints regarding distance education activities offered by Boston University in accordance with 610 CMR 12.07. 

 If an issue regarding distance education cannot be resolved internally, please see the process.