Masters to Doctorate: Impact of the Transition on One Occupational Therapy Program

Within the field of occupational therapy, the issue of transitioning from an entry-level master's degree to an entry-level doctorate degree is under debate. As such, it is important to investigate the impact of the transition in order to help make educated decisions about the potential future of the profession.This study analyzed retrospective data collected from six cohorts at one Midwestern university to analyze the impact of the transition to an entry-level doctorate on diversity, admission and matriculation rates, and fieldwork reservations. No statistical difference in diversity between masters and doctorate level cohorts was found but it is of note that it approached significance (χ2 (1) = 3.32, p = 0.07). There was a slight decrease in number of total students that applied to the program (7.75%) and the number of fieldwork reservations (5.23%), however this was accounted for by a 60% increase in occupational therapy programs in the state the study took place. Results of this study provide preliminary data of how one university has succeeded in the transition to an entry-level doctorate and can be used to inform other programs as they consider this transition.