Undergraduate Minor
in Occupational Science
Spring 2027 Courses

Wednesday, 2:00 – 3:50pm

A class created for students, by students through a collaboration between USG, USC Chan, and USC Campus Wellness & Education. Meet leading faculty, learn about human connection, give back to your community, foster self-care, and bring your true self. 1 unit, no pressure, no homework.

One-unit option
The 1-unit version of OT-100 is not available for credit towards the OS Minor.

Two-unit option
The 2-unit version of OT-100 does contribute towards credit for the OS Minor. In addition to the weekly lectures and discussions, students taking the course for 2 units will engage in a semester-long project of their choosing that applies the concepts presented in OT-100 THRIVE outside of the classroom. Students will meet periodically with their faculty member, then submit their project at the end of the semester.

Tuesday, 12:00 – 1:50pm, or
Wednesday, 10:00 – 11:50am

Get credit for taking care of your self as you navigate your path. Learn about healthy habits by applying self-care knowledge to your own life. Save some time each week just for you!

Monday, 3:30 – 5:20pm

Discover the occupation of play, including applications through the lifespan and therapeutic benefits. Learn to embrace and embed your play identity into everyday living.

Monday, 12:00 – 1:50pm, or
Wednesday, 4:00 – 5:50pm

What you choose to do or not do, minute by minute, day by day and year by year, shapes who you will become and how healthy you will be. Develop your knowledge and skills in lifestyle design and find your path to a healthier happier you!

Thursday, 12:00 – 1:50pm

Examine the challenges associated with the emerging adulthood stage of development — what most college students are experiencing as everyday life.  Discuss occupational science strategies for promoting health and wellness in the face of these challenges and learn the life skills needed on your path to adulthood.

Tuesday, 5:00 – 6:50pm or
Wednesday, 12:00 – 1:50pm

What creative occupations did you leave behind when you began your path at USC? Learn how you can rediscover the imaginative pursuits that help bring happiness and meaning to your life. Explore your creative side and discover what you have in common with famous writers, cartoonists, artists and performers.

Monday, 3:30 – 5:20pm

Your daily routines and choices can have a global impact and that is why scientists and policy-makers advocate lifestyle changes as crucial to solving today’s climate challenges. Advance the health of the Earth by promoting environmental sustainability at a policy level or by learning some simple tips to improve your personal well-being.

Tuesday & Thursday, 11:00am – 12:20pm or
Tuesday & Thursday, 3:30 – 4:50pm

Discover strategies that will enable you to successfully transition to college life and beyond. Learn to utilize tools that will help you to create a healthy living environment, manage your time and find social community. In this age of information overload, find your path to happiness, purpose and health.

Monday & Wednesday, 12:00 – 1:50pm

What activities are important to a child? To an adolescent? To an adult? Explore the power of occupation and its ability to be transformative throughout the lifespan of all individuals. Discover how your path has changed throughout your life and learn to better direct its course in the future.

Monday & Wednesday, 12:00 – 1:50pm

Human connection is the best predictor of wellbeing, so why can it be so hard sometimes? Explore the ways our brains, bodies, histories, and cultures shape the way we connect, how connections are made, and what happens when we feel disconnected from each other. Then create your own personal connection approach to help you in your own life.

Thursday, 2:00 – 4:50pm

When you participate in activity every day, you create, manage, shift and mold your identity. Learn how activities, identity, society and culture all combine in the construction of your identity and take control of the life path you build for yourself.

Wednesday, 3:30 – 6:50pm

Every day in the news we hear about ethical dilemmas involving sports and athletes in professional leagues and at college campuses. Examine your own participation in sports and critically examine ethical issues central to the world of sport, such as fair play, performance enhancing drugs, gambling, gender equality, and Name, Image, Likeness (NIL).

Monday & Wednesday, 2:00 – 3:20pm

Our lives are intertwined with animals in more ways than most recognize. Explore these connections that humans share with animals through everyday activities such as entertainment, vocations, eating, human development, and health promotion, and learn how animals enrich our lives and contribute to human health and wellbeing.

Tuesday & Thursday, 9:30 – 10:50am

USC, your future workplace, and American society at large are continually growing more diverse. Expand your knowledge about managing everyday
activities from the perspectives of people living with disabilities. Learn how physical, political and social environments can create opportunities and obstacles in all of our lives.

Monday & Wednesday, 9:30 – 10:50am

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now estimates that 1 in 68 children is identified as having Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
making it highly probable that you will encounter one or more individuals with ASD during your life. Discuss representations of ASD in media, film and TV, while learning about health disparities, autistic self-advocacy, neurodiversity and other contemporary perspectives on disability.

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 doctorate in occupational therapy (OTD) 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 master’s degree program (cost of attendance) is in Accreditation–Inactive 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.

Professional program graduates are eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the 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.