Home ⟩About Us

A Shared Purpose

For more than 80 years, the University of Southern California has been working to ensure that people of every age and from every circumstance can live life to the fullest. Today, the USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy continues to advance the profession of occupational therapy and the research discipline of occupational science.

USC established the first graduate programs in occupational therapy and occupational science, and is consistently ranked among the nation’s top educational institutions. Our scientists currently hold more than $28.7 million of federal grant funding. Our faculty clinicians deliver nearly 50,000 patient encounters every year. We have more than 100 full-time faculty members engaged in research, education and patient care.

To see how USC Chan is helping define the present and shape the future of occupational therapy, download our “A Shared Purpose” Lookbook (PDF).

USC Chan graduates are uniquely prepared to tackle the ordinary and extraordinary challenges that impact people’s health and well-being. If you are a prospective student, please use our online Program Information Request form to receive more information about our academic programs.

Together, we have a shared purpose: our researchers, educators, clinicians, students and alumni are dedicated to optimizing the engagement of people — especially those with disability, injury, illness, lifestyle issues and/or chronic conditions — in the ordinary and extraordinary activities of life.

Fight On!

Grace Baranek PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
Associate Dean, Chair and Mrs. T.H. Chan Professor of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy

View / Download our “A Shared Purpose” Lookbook

USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
1540 Alcazar Street, CHP 133, Los Angeles, CA 90089-9003

ACOTE accreditation | NBCOT certification

The USC entry-level master’s degree program (cost of attendance) is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education® (ACOTE®) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). The USC entry-level doctorate in occupational therapy (OTD) degree program (cost of attendance) has applied for accreditation and has been granted Preaccreditation Status by ACOTE®. View our program’s ACOTE® standards public data. ACOTE® c/o the American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.®, 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814, (301) 652-AOTA, www.acoteonline.org. The program must complete an on-site evaluation and be granted Accreditation Status before its graduates will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.® (NBCOT®).

Professional program graduates are eligible to apply for certification by National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.® (NBCOT®), nbcot.org. Program results from the NBCOT® can be found online at www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance.