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Diversity, Access, and Equity

The USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy is committed to preparing diverse leaders with a strong identity and understanding of occupation and its power to transform people and society. One of our primary strategies for obtaining this goal is expanding diversity in the occupational science and occupational therapy workforce. This involves accountability and transparency, as well as consistent engagement to ensure that we create and maintain an inclusive environment.

At USC Chan, we have adopted the definitions of diversity and inclusion referenced in the USC Office of Research Strategic Plan 2018:

Workforce diversity is defined as a collection of individual attributes that together help agencies pursue organizational objectives efficiently and effectively. These include, but are not limited to, characteristics such as national origin, language, race, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, age religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, veteran status, educational background, and family structures. The concept also encompasses differences among people concerning where they are from and where they have lived and their differences of thought and life experiences.

Inclusion is defined as a culture that connects each employee to the organization; encourages collaboration, flexibility, and fairness; and leverages diversity throughout the organization so that all individuals are able to participate and contribute to their full potential.

Diversity-focused student organizations

While all student clubs and organizations offer the opportunity to engage with diverse populations, the primary aims of the organizations listed here are diversity-focused.

Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (COTAD)
chan.usc.edu/people/student-groups/cotad
The goal of USC’s Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (COTAD) chapter is to build diversity and inclusion within the Chan Division by increasing the profession’s visibility and accessibility to underrepresented groups and increasing cultural humility by sharing and learning about different lived experiences.

Asociación Hispanohablante de Terapia Ocupacional (AHTO)
chan.usc.edu/people/student-groups/cotad
Asociación Hispanohablante de Terapia Ocupacional (Spanish-speaking Occupational Therapy Association) is a flourishing student organization dedicated to improving the educational experience of Latinx and/or Hispanic-identifying occupational therapy students, serving as a resource for community members to support one another and advancing clinical care for Spanish-speaking/Latin American populations.

OTs for OuTreach
chan.usc.edu/people/student-groups/ots-for-outreach
OTs for OuTreach aims to build and strengthen the sense of community for LGBTQ students and allies by providing opportunities for social engagement and professional development.

Other resources

Diversity mentorship program
The USC Chan Diversity Mentorship Program supports current and prospective USC Chan students who are first-generation college students and/or who identify as belonging to underrepresented groups.

General resources
General DAE resources, including information about scholarships, and USC-wide resources.

Resources for racial justice
Resources specific to anti-racism and racial justice.

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 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) is accredited 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.

Professional program graduates are eligible to apply for the national certification examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.® (NBCOT®), nbcot.org. All states require licensure to practice; a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT® OTR certification examination or attain state licensure. Program results from the NBCOT® can be found online at www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance.