Post-Professional Master’s (MA) of Occupational Therapy
Please note
The Post-Professional Master’s program curriculum is undergoing revisions, which are currently in the university’s submission and review process. We anticipate approved changes to be implemented in the 2023-24 academic year. Our website will provide the latest updates as they become available.
The Post-Professional Master’s degree program is designed for the individual who is already a certified or board-eligible occupational therapist, or an international therapist who has completed a baccalaureate degree in occupational therapy from an accredited college or university or a program approved by the World Federation of Occupational Therapy® (WFOT).
A Global Community
In 1947, USC Chan officially established the world’s first Post-Professional Master of Arts degree program in occupational therapy and we have continued to grow as a global community. Our students and alumni hail from 63 countries on 6 continents and we welcome international students.
The USC Chan Post-Professional Master’s program requires the completion of 28-32 units of coursework (28 if you complete a thesis, 32 if you take the comprehensive exam), including:
Required occupational therapy coursework
Elective courses to build specialized expertise in areas of your interest
Either obtaining a passing score on the comprehensive exam* or submitting a master’s thesis that is accepted by both your your committee and the thesis editor of the graduate school
You are also required to maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better (both applied and overall) throughout the program.
*If you fail the comprehensive exam, you may re-take it a second time. If you fail the exam twice, you will be terminated from the program.
Practicing as an Occupational Therapist in the United States
If you plan to practice occupational therapy in the United States, you must apply for OTR certification through the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy® (NBCOT®) after the completion of your studies. Please view the nbcot.org website for more details. Select the students tab, then “Eligibility,” then “Internationally Educated” under Certification Eligibility Requirements. Here you can find relevant information and resources related to the Occupational Therapist Eligibility Determination (OTED®) process. A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT® certification examination or attain state licensure. Be aware that NBCOT® may request additional coursework or materials to process your application.
Other USC School Electives (500-level classes and above)
Occupational therapy elective course work may be combined with four units from another school within USC.
Thesis Option Course Overview
Fall Semester
OT 515 (4 units): Neuroscience of Behavior
OT 518 (4 units): Quantitative Research for the Practicing Clinician
OT 534 (2 units): Health Promotion and Wellness
OT 538 (2 units): Current Issues In Practice: Adulthood and Aging
OT 545 (2 units): Advanced Seminar in Occupational Science
OT 594a (2 units): Thesis
Spring Semester
OT 525 (4 units): Qualitative Research for Evidence-Based Practice
USC Chan recognizes that the composition of occupational therapists nationwide is not sufficiently representative of the diversity of the healthcare consumers whom the profession serves. Consequently, we strive to recruit superior applicants for all of our academic programs from diverse populations and to provide financial packages that will make it possible for promising students from underserved populations to attend USC Chan. Read more about diversity, access, and equity at USC Chan and our Diversity Mentorship Program.
A Day in the Life of a Post-Professional Master of Arts Student
Giorgio, a student in the Post-Professional Master’s program, shares about daily life as a graduate student studying occupational therapy at the University of Southern California.
Favorite Courses
USC Chan Post-Professional Master’s students share their favorite core courses and elective courses. This video was created, filmed, and edited by USC Chan students.
Subscribe | RSS