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Accelerated Master’s to Professional Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (OTD) | Course Sequence

Fall Start

Most students begin the OTD experience in the Fall and progress through to the Summer of the following year. There are some circumstances which require the coursework to be taken beginning in the Spring semester or for it to be front loaded.

Fall Semester

Fall semester generally begins in late August and continues for 16 weeks.

• OT 620 (4 units): Current Issues in Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
• OT 686 (6 units/20 hours): Part-time Residency
• If you are coming from the USC MA program, you are required to pass your NBCOT exam and be fully licensed and registered by the end of this semester.

Spring Semester

Spring semester begins in January and continues for 16 weeks.

• OT 621 (4 units): Occupational Therapy Leadership: Contemporary Issues
• OT 686 (6 units/20 hours): Part-time Residency
• Elective Course(s) (4 units)

Summer Session

Summer session begins in mid-May and continues for 12 weeks.

• OT 686 (12 units/40 hours): Full-time Residency

Spring Start

If you are starting the OTD in the Spring, the order of your courses will look different.

Spring Semester

Spring semester begins in January and continues for 16 weeks.

• OT 620 (4 units): Current Issues in Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
• OT 686 (6 units/20 hours): Part-time Residency
• If you are coming from the USC MA program, you are required to pass your NBCOT exam and be fully registered by the end of this semester.

Summer Session

Summer session begins in mid-May and continues for 12 weeks.

• OT 686 (12 units/40 hours): Full-time Residency

Fall Semester

Fall semester generally begins in late August and continues for 16 weeks.

• OT 621 (4 units): Occupational Therapy Leadership: Contemporary Issues
• OT 686 (6 units/20 hours): Part-time Residency
• Elective Course(s) (4 units)

Front Loading

Students with an out-of-area residency placement may need to front-load their coursework. This can be started in either Fall or Spring. Please be sure to discuss this option with program director Dr. Sarah Bream.

Semester 1

• OT 620 (4 units): Current Issues in Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
• OT 621 (4 units): Occupational Therapy Leadership: Contemporary Issues
• Elective Course (4 units)
• If you are coming from the USC MA program, you are required to pass your NBCOT exam and be fully registered by the end of this semester.

Semester 2

• OT 686 (12 units/40 hours): Full-time Residency

Semester 3

• OT 686 (12 units/40 hours): Full-time Residency

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 is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education® (ACOTE). ACOTE c/o Accreditation Department, American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.®, 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929, (301) 652-6611 x2914, acoteonline.org

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 https://secure.nbcot.org/data/schoolstats.aspx.