Doctor of Occupational Therapy New Student Information

View the Summer 2023 Orientation Schedule - Coming Soon

A Message from the Division Director

Roxanna Bendixen headshot

Roxanna Bendixen, Ph.D., OTR/L, FAOTA

OT Division Director 

Welcome to our professional doctorate program in occupational therapy.

The faculty, staff, and students of the Division of Occupational Therapy are pleased to know that you will be joining the class of 2026 and we would like to offer you a warm welcome to our college and to the Medical University of South Carolina. Your acceptance into our program means that you are already an occupational therapist in the making and on your way to becoming a critical member of the health care team.

This website contains a series of links all of which contain information essential for your transition to our program. Please read the content carefully so you are prepared for a successful orientation experience and for the first semester of your course of study.

I look forward to seeing you at orientation on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, and Thursday, May 25, 2023.

Classes will begin on Friday, May 26, 2023. I congratulate you on admission to our graduate program in occupational therapy.

Yours sincerely,

Roxanna Bendixen, Ph.D., OTR
Associate Professor and Division Director

New Student Orientation

  • May 24 and 25, 2023 (schedule coming soon)
  • Business attire required

Helpful Links: 

OTD 2022-2023 Academic Calendar

OTD 2023-2024 Academic Calendar

OTD Student Handbook

Laptop Requirements

Minimum Abilities Requirements

Essential Functions of OT Students

Cost of Attendance

Program Curriculum

Summer 2022 In-Person Orientation Schedule (For Reference Only)

Goals for Orientation

  • To facilitate the transition to MUSC and student life at an academic health sciences center. 
  • To gain understanding of the support services available to students to enhance their educational experience. 
  • To ensure that students have complied with university policies & requirements. 
  • To build beginning connections and relationships with faculty and students from various health professions programs. 
  • To orient students to their respective academic programs: nurse anesthesia practice, occupational therapy, physical therapy, physician assistant studies.

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

8:45 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. // Check-in, Continental Breakfast, Scavenger Hunt, and Parking Registration (if applicable) - CHP Atrium, 151-A Rutledge Ave., 1st Floor

10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. // OTD Welcome & Program Session - CHP A106

11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. // Financial Aid & Parking Registration (if applicable); Grab-and-Go Lunch - CHP Atrium

Please sign up for parking if needed and/or chat with a representative from Financial Aid if needed. When you are ready to eat, please take your grab-and-go lunch outside or spread out in any room except CHP A205.

1:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. // College Orientation Session - Drug Discovery Auditorium, DD 110

2:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. // Break

2:30 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. // IT Session - CHP A106

Students are free to leave at 3:45 p.m. The 5:30 p.m. session is hosted on Zoom and can be accessed off-campus.

 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. // All Students - Financial Literacy: A Journey to Handling Debt While in College... and Beyond.

Join via Zoom: https://musc.zoom.us/j/99007176253
Hosted by Sam McBride from Commonwealth Financial Group

Thursday, May 26, 2022

10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. // OTD Program Session - CHP A105

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. // Lunch - Served from the CHP Atrium

Students are encouraged to grab a lunch and go eat outside or spread out in any CHP classroom.

12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. // Program Session - CHPA106

1:45 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. // Introduction to Human Anatomy - Drug Discovery Auditorium, DD 110

Students, the week following orientation, please look for an email from Dr. Karen Wager, Associate Dean for Student Affairs. She will provide a link to an orientation survey. We sincerely appreciate your feedback. Thank you and have a great first semester!

Tuesday, June 14, 2022

1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. // Appreciating Diversity & Inclusion - CHP A105