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 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.