Student Organizations and Groups

Recognized student organizations and groups offer students the opportunity to gain experience in special areas of interest including community philanthropy; advocacy for the occupational therapy profession; mentorship of other students; and social events with students in fellow health disciplines and clinical practice areas. Membership of these organizations may be merit-based, volunteer-based or elected positions.

Chan Registered Student Organizations (RSOs)

The Chan Division has several Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) that are recognized by the University and self-governed by Chan students with advisement by Chan faculty. The following RSOs are currently active in the Chan Division:

Occupational Therapy and Science Council (OTSC)
The Occupational Therapy and Science Council represents OS/OT student interests to the division and the university; provides students with opportunities to network and interact with students of other programs; and provides access to volunteer and fundraising opportunities around the world.

Interdisciplinary Community Outreach (ICO) — Occupational Therapy
Our mission is to offer volunteer opportunities for students to get involved in interprofessional health teams (PharmD, PA, PT, and MD) to promote health education and access to comprehensive care to the chronically ill and underserved communities of Los Angeles.

Pre-Occupational Therapy Club
The Pre-OT Club is open to all USC undergraduate students who are interested in learning more about occupational therapy; it provides students with the opportunity to attend club activities and events on campus at USC and throughout the Los Angeles area.

Student Groups

In addition to Registered Student Organizations, the following Chan Student Groups, supported by Chan faculty, provide opportunities for student involvement in special areas of interest or represent local student chapters of national organizations:

Asociación Hispanohablante de Terapia Ocupacional (AHTO)
The mission of the Asociación Hispanohablante de Terapia Ocupacional (Spanish-speaking Occupational Therapy Association) is to improve the educational experience of Latinx and/or Hispanic-identifying occupational therapy students, serve as a resource for community members to support one another and to advance clinical care for Spanish-speaking/Latin American populations.

Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (COTAD)
The goal of USC’s Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (COTAD) chapter is to build diversity and inclusion within the Chan Division by increasing the profession’s visibility and accessibility to underrepresented groups and increasing cultural humility by sharing and learning about different lived experiences.

OTs for OuTreach
OTs for OuTreach aims to build and strengthen the sense of community for LGBTQ students and allies by providing opportunities for social engagement and professional development.

Pi Theta Epsilon (PTE)
Pi Theta Epsilon is the national honor society for occupational therapy students and alumni. The Alpha Eta Chapter of Pi Theta Epsilon was established at USC in 1991.

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.