The transformative curriculum of Marquette University’s entry-level occupational therapy doctoral program is designed to develop professional, practice competent, critically curious servant leaders. The diversity of the Milwaukee area will provide opportunities for students to interact with communities of people across the lifespan, with various physical and mental abilities, of different ethnicities, religions, socioeconomic backgrounds. As such, the justice-oriented and service-focused nature of a Jesuit institution certainly supports community outreach and working alongside others the spirit of occupational justice provides the ideal learning context for occupational therapy students. Guided by the Ignatian pedagogical method as a way of proceeding, the learner focuses on the meaning of new information as a way to organize knowledge. The acquisition of knowledge can be optimized through such opportunities as students prepare for meaningful application of in-depth learning in their 14-week doctoral capstone experience. 

ACOTE Requirements for Doctoral Capstone 

The completion of the doctoral capstone is an essential component of the occupational therapy terminal degree. The educational standards for accreditation (ACOTE, 2018) of a doctoral-degree-level educational program require that the doctoral capstone be an integral part of the program’s curriculum. The goal of the doctoral capstone is to provide an in-depth exposure to one or more of the following: clinical practice skills, research skills, administration, leadership, program and policy development, advocacy, education, and theory development. The doctoral capstone consists of two parts: Capstone project, and Capstone experience. Each OTD student will successfully complete an individual 14-week capstone experience and an individual capstone project. Preparatory components of the capstone project must be completed prior to progressing to the final phase of the capstone project and Doctoral Capstone Experience in the final semester of the program. 

Doctoral Capstone Experience and Doctoral Capstone Project Descriptions: 

Completion of the 2-part doctoral capstone provides an opportunity for the student to develop skills beyond that of a general practitioner. 

Doctoral Capstone Experience: The doctoral capstone experience (DCE) will consist of a customized 14-week (560-hour minimum) experiential component with a community partner to build upon entry-level competence as a generalist practitioner. Student-driven course objectives will be developed in collaboration with a faculty mentor in order to meet a community partner’s site-specific needs.  

Doctoral Capstone Project: Each student will implement a capstone project to demonstrate synthesis and application of knowledge gained during the capstone experience. This is a culminating project of all coursework throughout the entry-level doctoral program. Completion of the project will include data collection and analysis of data in collaboration with a faculty mentor and community partner. The capstone project will be presented in a forum of peers, faculty members and stakeholders.  

Curriculum Design of Doctoral Capstone: 

The curriculum course sequence supports the successful completion of the doctoral capstone. Curricular content and application from content areas throughout the entire course of study promote the development of students’ knowledge in an area of interest. Such an interest evolves into the focus of the capstone.

Components of the doctoral capstone will naturally align with the OTD program goals in developing graduates with sound Professional Identity, Foundational and Applied Practice Competence, commitment to Servant Leadership and a capacity for Critical Curiosity. The progression of coursework in the areas of clinical practice skills, research skills, administration, leadership, program and policy development, education or theory development allows the student to demonstrate synthesis and application of knowledge gained through the capstone project and DCE. Each component of the doctoral capstone will consist of individualized specific objectives developed collaboratively.