Pictured above is our campus that is adjacent to ASU Downtown.  Our building is a collaborative space shared with the UA College of Medicine -Phoenix.  In addition to the Occupational Therapy Program, the building houses NAU's Physician Assistant, Doctor of Physical Therapy and the Masters of Athletic Training programs. The combination of these programs creates amazing inter professional education opportunities> the Phoenix Biomedical campus is growing with a new science research building and Dignity Health's Cancer Hospital nearby.  Thus, collegiate and health environments merge here for great learning!   

Below are the OTD dedicated life span movement/splinting lab, our activities of daily living apartment simulation and therapeutic activities lab.  Instructional Learning Centers are very much liked by our students for small group and problem-based learning with state-of-the-art technology.

This is the anatomy lab that is accompanied by a major simulation center, e-library with dedicated NAU librarian and clinical suites with standard patients to support learning and practice skills.  All have state-of-the art technology in the building that is state of the art.

An amazing group of 9 OT faculty all passionate about OT education and practice-scholarship have come together to create transformative OTD  practice-scholars--- Would you be excited to be on the front-edge of  a new role in practice....if so, let's talk!  You are looking at the just-right program for this!

We are so pleased that you have expressed interest in the NAU Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program!  One of the first 15 approved in the US!

The NAU OTD program received professional accreditation in April 2016 for seven years! The onsite team said that one of our greatest instructional assets was our attention to providing practical instructional experiences in natural health care and home settings instead of relying on laboratory simulations!  Further, we engaged in a variety of competency testing activities to develop student confidence in their skills and readiness for fieldwork.  Our third year students commented how dynamic and empowered they felt in designing their residency after fieldwork.

Our faculty represent a wide array of practice expertise, leadership background and scholarly activities!  In addition, the program has partnership relationships with 7 local practitioners supervising practice-based research with students!.  All faculty engage in practice-based research as we want our graduates to be practice-scholars by graduation!

Be bold and seek out a doctoral degree in OT.  For one semester more than a master’s degree, you can earn your entry-level doctoral degree (OTD).  Our program is more affordable than most schools because we are a state not private university.   Also, students that excel academically and are recognized by the University as having financial need, are eligible to apply  for annual scholarships awarded to defray their loans.

Intrigued to learn more, we are excited to share our program with you!

Looking forward to you moving ahead on your NAU OTD admissions application. 

Dr. Patricia Crist, Founding Chair

Admissions Information:

We admit 45 students each fall. Our admissions information and prerequisites are stated on our website.  You must apply though OTCAS and complete the NAU Graduate College application to be reviewed.  Interested applicants are encouraged to apply early as the department will hold an early interview in December, with the opportunity to secure one of the 45 slots.  The application will close in early January with interviews for the remaining slots later in January and February. Persons interested in the program do not have to have all of their prerequisites, including a degree, secured by the time of application or interview.  However, the degree, prerequisites and volunteer/observation hours must be completed in June prior to matriculation.

Regretfully, we do not have a externally-required international student office on campus.  So we cannot accept international students at this time.

Reservations encouraged for campus visit and tour.

Location information:

Downtown venues are accessible and we have both light rail and rapid transit bus services as well as campus parking to allow students to live nearby campus or afar ---even suburbs.  The Arizona Center has AMC Theater, Starbucks, Subway, etc.  On the other side of the center is ASU's downtown campus with multiple health programs, journalism and new law school.