The College of Graduate Studies and College of Sciences and Health Professions is pleased to announce two new degree programs newly approved by the Ohio Department of Higher Education Chancellor's Council on Graduate Studies (CCGS), and the Cleveland State University Board of Trustees.
Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) degree
Cleveland State University's College of Sciences and Health Professions, School of Health Sciences, and College of Graduate Studies will offer the Occupational Therapy Doctorate program. This degree program will replace the current Master of Occupational Therapy program. The transition to the OTD is in response to a mandate by the American Council for Occupational Therapy Education. The CSU Occupational Therapy Program's goal is to transition to the OTD in Fall 2020
Dr. Beth Ekelman, Program Director, is committed to providing students with high quality educational and engaged learning experiences. She described, “Graduates will be well-prepared to enter the complex health and human services system and work force. They will be able to optimize the quality of life of diverse individuals, communities, and populations in the region through culturally responsive and customized occupation-centered practice, research, creative activities, and services that enable participation in occupations of daily living.”
The Occupational Therapy Program is one of 7 programs in the School of Health Sciences within the College of Sciences and Health Professions. The Occupational Therapy Program accepted its first class in 1974 and in 2002 converted to a Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) degree.
Click here for information about Occupational Therapy at Cleveland State University program.
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree
The School of Nursing will offer the DNP, a new terminal practice degree in nursing. Applications are being accepted for Fall 2019 admission. The DNP has been proposed as the near future entry point for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, inclusive of nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nurse midwives, and nurse anesthetists. Nurse administrators in health care systems and academe are often required to hold a doctoral degree. The DNP option as a post-Master’s is being offer at CSU. The DNP prepared nurse is vital to meeting the changing demands of the nation’s complex healthcare environment.
The CSU DNP program will have two entry points: a post-baccalaureate in nursing (BS/BA/BSN) for the Family Nurse Practitioner and Pysch-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner options and a post-master’s degree in Nursing (MS/MA/MSN) for the Health Systems Nursing Leadership option. The program is planned to offer a blended method learning environment with both on-campus and online classes. The curriculum places a strong emphasis on the understanding of population health, systems management, the development and use of evidence based strategies for practice, and an opportunity for extensive advanced clinical practice experience.
Graduate nursing education is responding to meet the demands of the nation’s ever changing healthcare environment by preparing nurses serving in advanced specialty positions to have the highest level of scientific knowledge and practice expertise possible. The nurses who hold a DNP degree in health systems leadership are well prepared to assume a leadership role in multiple healthcare settings. Dean Timothy Gaspar stated, “the DNP graduates translate existing research into practice. CSU is a Cleveland anchor institution that intends to improve the human condition and well-being of our urban community and state educating practice leaders for its future.”
Click here for more information about the School of Nursing at Cleveland State University.
