Arianna Lopez MA ’23

What brought you to USC?
USC was my dream school ever since I decided I wanted to be an OT. USC has one of the top ranked OT programs in the country, it is close to home, and the school spirit can be felt from a mile away!

What brought you to Occupational Therapy?
My mom is an OT and I grew up watching her do therapy on my grandpa, who had dementia and a stroke. My mom would also sometimes let me practice therapy on my grandpa, and those hands on experiences really sparked my passion for OT.

Describe your favorite occupational therapy course.
I took a brand new course run by the OT department called “OT 299”, AKA “Thrive”. In this class we get Ted-talk style speeches about well-being and how to live a prosperous first year in college. We also have small discussion groups where we reflect on the speeches and give advice to everyone in our groups. I love how I feel so safe and welcome in Thrive class!

If your childhood had a smell, what would it be?
Fresh tamales during the holidays!

What song can you sing entirely by heart?
“Something There” — Beauty and the Beast.

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ACOTE accreditation | NBCOT certification

The USC entry-level master’s degree program (cost of attendance) is 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) is accredited 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 apply for the national certification examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.® (NBCOT®), nbcot.org. All states require licensure to practice; a felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NBCOT® OTR certification examination or attain state licensure. Program results from the NBCOT® can be found online at www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance.