Rocky Mountain College
Rocky Mountain College in Billings, seen in a much nicer time of year.
The Northwest Commission of Colleges and Universities has approved and accredited what will be Rocky Mountain College’s first doctoral program.
In a press release from Rocky, Stephen Germic, the school’s provost and academic vice president, said the commission approved and accredited the college’s plan to begin a doctor of occupational therapy degree program, effective January 2019.
“The OTD program will not only meet a rising need for occupational therapy professionals in our region,” Germic said. “It will also be the first doctoral program offered in the long and distinguished history of Rocky Mountain College.”
RMC President Dr. Robert Wilmouth added that the establishment of the OTD program is “a great step forward in Rocky’s efforts to improve the human condition in Billings and the surrounding area.”
The OTD curriculum will require 115 credit hours to be completed over three academic years. This spring, RMC will start enrolling students for the term beginning next January.
Twylla Kirchen has been appointed founding director of the OTD program. She received her Ph.D. in occupational therapy from Texas Women’s University and also holds a master of science degree in the field from University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. She joins Rocky Mountain College after serving as director of the occupational therapy program at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va.
The program will be headquartered on the top floor of RMC’s new Charles Morledge Science Building.
