Entry-Level Doctorate (OTD)
of Occupational Therapy

Within seven years of planned enrollment, complete six prerequisite courses with a cumulative prerequisite GPA of 3.0 or higher. Prerequisite courses may be in progress at the time of application (see details below).

• Prerequisite courses may be in progress during Fall 2023 and Spring 2024; (Note: Please directly notify our Admissions Team at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) once your prerequisite coursework is complete.)
• Medical Terminology may be completed as a certificate course or taken for 1-2 semester units, or for pass/no pass.
• All courses must be completed with a letter grade of “C” or higher; pass/no pass or AP credit are not accepted. (If you completed a prerequisite course in 2020, spring 2021, or summer 2021, pass/no pass grades are accepted.)
• Courses may be completed at any accredited community college, college or university.
• The Anatomy course may be completed in-person or online. Online anatomy courses must include one of the following components:
  • Virtual 3D interaction dissection software/prosection
  • Animal dissection
  • At-home cadaveric dissection
• All prerequisites may be completed online.
• If your prerequisites do not meet these criteria, or you would like to verify a course, please submit a prerequisite inquiry.

Submit a personal statement through the USC program-specific questions section of OTCAS, in response to the following prompt (max. 3,000 characters, including spaces):

We understand that people are exposed to occupational therapy and develop their passion for the profession in different ways. Exposure to occupational therapy could result from personal research, life circumstances, or related educational, job or volunteer experiences.

In order to demonstrate your commitment to the profession of occupational therapy, please address these two central questions in your essay:

• Describe past experiences that have influenced your interests and goals specific to occupational therapy.
• Reflect on why you are choosing to enter the occupational therapy profession.

Note: The Admissions Team will focus on the personal statement written to this prompt, and not on the general OTCAS personal statement that is sent to all programs. You are welcome to use the same statement for both, however please ensure you are tailoring your response to the USC prompt.

You are also required to submit responses to two short-answer essays through the USC program-specific questions section of OTCAS:

1. Describe a time when you became aware of an implicit or unconscious bias you had about someone (or someone had about you) and reflect on how you responded to it. (max. 1000 characters, including spaces)
2. How will the experience you described in response to question #1 impact your goals as an occupational therapy professional in one or more of the following areas: justice, equity, diversity, and/or inclusion? (max. 1000 characters, including spaces)

Submit three letters of recommendation (evaluations) from professors, therapists, and/or other professionals familiar with your capabilities and achievements. These individuals should know you well and be able to attest to your skills and abilities as they specifically relate to becoming an occupational therapist. Recommendations (evaluations) should be submitted electronically through OTCAS. Please be thoughtful when selecting individuals to write your letters of recommendation as these letters are scored as a component of your holistic admission review.

Note: The Admissions Team will read only the first three letters of recommendation. The letters of recommendation will be uploaded in the order you input your evaluators into OTCAS. We do, however, advise that you request four letters of recommendation, in the event that one of your evaluators is unable to submit your letter for any reason.

Your GPA from your baccalaureate degree, which must be obtained from an accredited college or university, will be one component of the holistic admissions process. If you completed a graduate degree, we will consider your graduate GPA instead of your undergraduate GPA. There is no minimum GPA required; however, students entering with a GPA less than 3.0 are required to achieve a GPA of 3.0 or above in the first semester in the program.

Note: If you have a question about your specific situation, please contact our Admissions Team.

OTCAS must have all official transcripts for completed courses before they will verify an application.

Academic Update
If you are completing prerequisite courses during the Fall or Winter terms, you are required to submit an Academic Update to OTCAS no later than February 15. Be sure to carefully read the full Academic Update instructions from OTCAS. OTCAS does not automatically notify us when applications are updated. It will be your responsibility to notify the Admissions Team at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) once the academic update is complete.

If you are completing prerequisite courses during the Spring term, you must order your transcripts for these courses to be sent to our division by email or mail. Please contact the Admissions Team at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) once you have ordered your transcripts.

Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Mail:

Attn: Admissions Team
USC Occupational Therapy
1540 Alcazar Street, CHP 133
Los Angeles, CA 90089

Foreign Institutions
If you have a degree from a foreign institution, or if you spent two or more semesters/academic terms studying at a foreign institution, you must send your transcripts to both OTCAS and USC Graduate Admissions. See the USC Office of Graduate Admissions for transcript submission information. The USC Office of Graduate Admission provides admission requirement details by country. Please visit their website to determine which documents (such as transcripts and diplomas) are needed by USC, based on home country. When your verified application is evaluated, please note that additional documents may be requested as needed. If you are admitted to the program, you may also be required to verify your degree via the International Education Research Foundation (IERF). It is not necessary to submit a USC Application for Graduate Admission.

Note that we will review your application for admission even if USC Graduate Admissions has not yet received your foreign transcripts.

If your bachelor’s degree was earned in a non-English speaking country and you are not a US citizen or permanent resident, you must submit scores from an official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or Pearson Test of English (PTE). Please note that even if you are from an English-speaking country, you may still need to submit scores. Scores should be submitted to USC directly prior to the admission deadline for which you are being considered. We require that you have verification of the following scores within two years of your intended enrollment at USC:

• A computer based TOEFL (iBT) score of 100 with no less than 20 on each sub-score; or
• A computer based IELTS of 7 with no less than 6 on each band score.
• A computer based PTE of 68 or above with 53 or above on each band.

If your native language is English and/or you have a bachelor’s degree from a US college or university, you are exempted from this examination. See the USC Office of Graduate Admission for more information about English-language requirements.

If you have questions about program requirements for the TOEFL/IELTS, please contact our Admissions Team.

Make sure to complete the other program-specific questions for USC that are required through OTCAS.

We recommended that you upload a résumé or CV through OTCAS with your application.

The USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy does not require background checks, drug testing or fingerprinting for admission into the entry-level OTD program. However, an increasing number of health care facilities require USC students to provide this and other information in order to participate in clinical rotations at their sites. The successful completion of clinical rotations is required for the OTD degree at USC and is a prerequisite for being able to sit for the NBCOT® (National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy®) exam to practice as an occupational therapist. A felony conviction may affect your ability to sit for the NBCOT® certification examination or attain state licensure.

For additional information, please contact our Admissions Team.

If you are admitted to the entry-level OTD program, you will be required to complete certain health clearances prior to enrolling in the program. These health clearances are required in order to participate in clinical rotations, which are a requirement for the OTD degree. Please see USC Fieldwork Prerequisites for an overview of the prerequisites for these clinical rotations and enrollment in the program.

Please also refer to the USC Student Health Center for the health clearance requirements for students enrolled in the professional program.

Please see information on how to apply for scholarships and financial aid.

Note: The application deadline for Research Student Worker and Vision Scholarship awards is November 1. Division Tuition Scholarship applications are accepted on a rolling basis and awarded upon admission.

Please view our Frequently Asked Questions for more helpful information.

If you have additional questions, there are a number of ways in which you can contact us for more information.

Program Brochure
If you complete our form to request program information, we will be happy to provide access to a brochure about our programs.

Information Sessions
We also provide information sessions, both in-person and virtual, for prospective students interested in our degree programs.

Admissions Team
The USC Chan Admissions Team will be delighted to answer any questions you may have and further explore your interest in our program.

General Inquiries
For general inquiries, you can also call us at +1 (323) 442-2850, or (866) 385-4250 (toll free within the US).

USC Chan Division

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