Online Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate

What can a PPOTD do for you?

At MUSC, we specialize in teaching you how to teach. 

Unlock your potential with MUSC’s Post Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate—designed for OTs ready to pursue academic teaching or leadership roles. Springboard into a career in higher education, create impact with research, and benefit from elite mentorship from nationally recognized, award-winning OT leaders. Our faculty are experts in the development of OT education and the scholarship of teaching and learning.

 

Distinguished Educator Award Winner

The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) named MUSC PPOTD faculty member Amanda Giles, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA, the 2025 recipient of the Distinguished Educator Award, a national honor recognizing her excellence in teaching, dedication to evidence-based practice, and the profound impact she makes on students and the communities she serves.

Is this program right for me?

Our part-time, 100% online format is designed for working OTRs (with a master’s degree) who may be juggling family, volunteerism, or other commitments in addition to their jobs. Students and alumni of the program consistently share that the program is not only manageable with a busy schedule but also that our faculty is flexible and accommodating when life happens.

Program Overview

Our 30-credit program is completed over 5 semesters (1.5 years), with students taking two online courses each semester. Students complete most of their coursework asynchronously and at their own pace, while still experiencing collaboration and support from peers all over the country through our cohort model. Coursework includes visionary leadership, academic teaching skills, population-based health, and advanced clinical outcomes in addition to a capstone project.

Program Highlights

• Designed with working OTRs in mind
• A 100% online program completed over 5 semesters
• Part-time to fit into your busy schedule
• Cohort model to foster community and shared learning
• Expert-mentored capstone project

Teach, lead, dream: CHP’s Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate (PPOTD) program creates career pathways into academic teaching and leadership for practicing OTs

As a working professional, Jesse Ausec, OTR/L, was drawn to MUSC’s Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Doctorate (PPOTD) program not only for its interactive online curriculum but also its dedicated pathways designed for licensed OTs looking to enter academia and assume teaching and leadership roles.

“As a self-proclaimed ‘OT nerd,’ I had contemplated enrolling in a post-professional doctoral program for years but struggled to decide on the right path and justify the cost as a clinician,” Ausec shared. “Transitioning from a full-time clinician to academia, I realized that gaining advanced knowledge and skills would enhance my effectiveness as an educator. It felt like a fresh start in my OT career.”

Housed in MUSC’s College of Health Professions (CHP), the PPOTD program offers elite mentorship from award-winning OT leaders. These faculty members are not only practicing OT experts in their own specialties but also nationally recognized for their teaching and ability to produce outstanding future academic educators.

As one example, the American Occupational Therapy Association named PPOTD faculty member Amanda Giles, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA, the 2025 recipient of the Distinguished Educator Award, a national honor recognizing excellence in teaching, dedication to evidence-based practice, and the profound impact made on students and communities.

This dedication to the profession of teaching and leadership education is evident within the program’s structure, which emphasizes collaboration. “The program faculty are intentional about providing opportunities for us to become a cohesive group through various interactive and experiential teaching and learning mediums,” said Ausec. “The nature of an online PPOTD program tends to bring together OT professionals with many different personal and professional lived experiences who are passionate lifelong learners, which creates a vibrant learning community.”

During the course of the five-semester program, Ausec discovered new interests, such as a passion for research, and crediting the program for transforming his career trajectory as an OT professional. After graduation, he will join CHP as an official faculty member in its new hybrid OTD program. For Ausec, it is both the culmination of a professional journey and a dream come true.

“In addition to acquiring substantial knowledge and skills, I have gained confidence as an educator by learning to emphasize my unique strengths and develop my own personal teaching style, rather than trying to emulate others,” he emphasized. “This program has significantly advanced my career and has been a blessing to be a part of.”

Tell me more about the program!