The Hybrid Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTDh) at MUSC

MUSC’s OTDh program uses a unique coaching model to support student success and learning. Starting from the moment a student secures their spot, they are paired with a faculty coach who will provide an intimate, supportive, and collaborative community throughout the program. The matching process is intentional, not only creating a personal relationship between the student and their faculty coach but also with fellow students who are paired with the same faculty coach. Faculty coaches meet with their students individually and in groups, formally and informally throughout the program.

This coaching model is an essential part of the MUSC program as it ensures that our students feel connected and have a sense of belonging with their faculty and peers. Students are encouraged to be open with their faculty coaches not just to celebrate successes, but to overcome challenges – both personal and academic.

Using our cutting-edge MUSC learning platform, our passionate professors engage students in lively discussions through interactive presentations, videos, and real-world case studies, fostering a collaborative learning environment despite the physical distance. With real-time interaction and small group activities, students will feel connected to their faculty and classmates, making the most of every learning opportunity.

Beyond the classroom, we encourage students to engage in extracurricular and community outreach initiatives within their local communities. Whether students volunteer at local clinics, participate in faculty-led research projects, or participate in advocacy efforts, they'll have ample opportunities to enrich their educational experience and make a meaningful impact.

As the semesters progress, students will seamlessly transition between virtual and in-person components of the program, leveraging the flexibility of our hybrid model to balance academic rigor with personal commitments. For the first two years, students travel to Charleston, SC, twice a semester for 6-12 days (depending on the courses that semester) for an immersive learning experience. During these engaging onsite clinical immersive lab experiences, under the guidance of our expert faculty and skilled lab instructors, you'll dive into hands-on activities, practicing assessment techniques, learning therapeutic exercises, and honing your problem-solving skills through simulated cases and patient encounters. Our clinical hybrid lab space is over 21,000 square feet, designed to accommodate hybrid students, providing a spacious, beautiful, and conducive learning environment.

Our state-of-the-art clinical lab spaces enhance lab activities, and access to three modern buildings, equipped with classrooms, clinical skill laboratories, an anatomy lab, and a simulation center within the library, enrich the educational experience at MUSC. The college’s research facilities include biomechanics/motion analysis labs, an exercise physiology lab, a neuromuscular performance lab, and a transcranial stimulation lab.

The hybrid-lab campus is in downtown Charleston, close to The Citadel and College of Charleston campuses. MUSC provides an ideal setting for academic medical education and personal growth. Charleston, a rapidly growing port city on the Atlantic coast, consistently ranks among the best small cities in America. The location's favorable climate and numerous cultural, sporting, and entertainment events make it attractive for people of all ages and backgrounds, offering a perfect blend of historical charm, architecture, arts, beautiful beaches, and fine dining when traveling to lab immersions.

The entry-level occupational therapy doctoral degree program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814. ACOTE’s telephone number c/o AOTA is (301)652-AOTA and its web address is www.acoteonline.org.

The MUSC Hybrid OTD Program is awaiting substantive change approval from ACOTE, which is expected in August 2024.