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Education at USC Chan
Overview of Our Programs

Please find below links to information about our programs, which we believe continue to define this rewarding profession. For additional information and help, you can also:

• Request program information online.
• Attend one of our program information sessions.
• Review our Frequently Asked Questions.
• Contact the USC Chan Admissions Team.

Programs to Study Occupational Science

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Occupational Science ⟩
Position yourself as a research scientist. Become a PhD in Occupational Science student after earning your bachelor’s degree in any field, your occupational therapy master’s or OTD degrees, or while concurrently enrolled in USC’s OTD to PhD Pathway.

OTD to PhD Pathway ⟩
To become both a career occupational scientist and an occupational therapist, current Entry-Level OTD students can apply for the OTD to PhD Pathway during the second year of the Entry-Level OTD. If accepted, you will begin PhD coursework while completing the final, third year of your OTD degree.

Undergraduate Minor in Occupational Science ⟩
If you are a USC undergraduate student choosing to pursue a bachelor’s degree in another field, you can enhance your degree and your life with a greater understanding of health and occupation.

Programs to Become an Occupational Therapist

Entry-Level Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (OTD) ⟩
If you have a bachelor’s degree in any field other than occupational therapy, you will apply for our Entry-Level OTD, which is 3 years. One of the top-ranked programs, the Entry-Level OTD will prepare you to be a practicing occupational therapist.

Entry-Level Master’s (MA) in Occupational Therapy ⟩
If you have a bachelor’s degree in any field other than occupational therapy, prior to 2021, you would have applied for our Entry-Level Master’s program. This two-year program has admitted its last class, and will end upon their graduation in 2023.

Bachelor’s to Doctorate (BS to OTD) in Occupational Therapy ⟩
Complete both your bachelor’s and your doctorate degrees in occupational therapy in just 6 years. Please note that you must apply to the major before entering USC and be accepted into this program as a freshman.

Programs for OT Graduates and Practitioners
You must have a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in occupational therapy

Post-Professional Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (OTD) ⟩
A flexible program designed for the working professional, this program offers you 4 leadership concentration options in: Education, Policy and Administration, Clinical Research, and Advanced Clinical Practice.

Post-Professional Master’s (MA) of Occupational Therapy ⟩
If you already have your bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in occupational therapy, then you can advance your career with this master’s degree program. Our students and alumni hail from 63 countries on 6 continents.

Graduate Certificates

Foundations of Lifestyle Redesign® Graduate Certificate ⟩
The Graduate Certificate in Foundations of Lifestyle Redesign® is designed for occupational therapy students or occupational therapists who wish to obtain advanced training in Lifestyle Redesign®.

Sensory Processing and Sensory Integration Graduate Certificate ⟩
The Sensory Processing / Sensory Integration Graduate Certificate (SP/SI GC) is intended for those students who would like to develop an expertise in identifying sensory processing disorders and using sensory integration treatments to address them.

Continuing Education

The division also strives to offer ongoing learning opportunities for expanded knowledge and skills in occupational science and occupational therapy.

USC Chan Sensory Integration Continuing Education (CE) Certificate Program ⟩
The USC Sensory Integration Continuing Education (CE) Certificate Program provides training in the theory, assessment, and intervention principles of sensory integration.

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.