Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion

What you'll study

Coursework and learning experiences progress from foundational understanding to applied practice and creation. Topics and learning settings highlighted by the program include:

• Use of meaningful occupation as the primary therapeutic medium and occupation-based practice.
• Holistic, culturally responsive assessment and intervention addressing mind, body, and spirit.
• Evidence-based practice, ethical reasoning, advocacy, interprofessional teamwork, and respect for diversity.
• Hands-on lab experiences in specialized spaces such as a sensory-based pediatric lab and an anatomy and neuroanatomy cadaver lab with media-based technologies.
• Clinical skill practice in a fully furnished 3-bedroom home on campus for transfers, home assessment, and modification training.
• A student-focused fieldwork model placing learners in five different fieldwork settings, coordinated by an Academic Fieldwork Coordinator to align placements with clinical and geographic interests.
• An embedded, week-long cross-cultural experience with global partners to broaden perspectives on occupational justice and service.
• A doctoral capstone project designed for in-depth exploration and demonstration of advanced-practice competency in the student’s chosen area.

Entry requirements

Applications are submitted through the Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS). There are three entry paths:

• Accelerated entry (for students entering the OTD directly): 90 undergraduate credits in any area; overall GPA 3.5; prerequisite GPA 3.5; and 10 hours of observation of an OTR. Applicants may apply after completing 60–75 undergraduate credits; admission is provisional pending completion of requirements. Only 6 credits may be completed in the summer prior to matriculation.
• Post-baccalaureate entry: bachelor’s degree in any field; overall GPA 3.0; preferred prerequisite GPA 3.2; and 10 hours of observation of an OTR.
• IWU OTD in 6 (for incoming freshmen only): a pathway for freshmen; applicants demonstrating progress toward either pathway may be invited to an on-campus interview for further consideration.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared to sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam and pursue state licensure. Alumni enter traditional occupational therapy practice, create roles in emerging practice areas, and pursue advanced apprenticeships such as hand therapy and neonatal intensive care (NICU). Employer feedback cited in program materials indicates strong satisfaction with graduates’ client-centered practice, advocacy, ethical reasoning, and teamwork.

Scholarships & funding angle

The program page does not list specific scholarships. Prospective students should consult Indiana Wesleyan University’s financial aid office and the university websites for information on institutional scholarships, grants, and other funding options; also consider external occupational therapy scholarships and employer-based tuition support for clinical placements or post-graduate apprenticeships.