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:

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.

Jewish Affinity Group - HSC
The Jewish Affinity Group at the USC Health Sciences Campus provides a welcoming community for Jewish students, faculty, and staff. Our mission is to foster connection, celebrate culture and tradition, support professional and personal wellbeing, and create inclusive opportunities for education, service, and community engagement across USC’s health programs.

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.

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.

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:

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.

Affinity Spaces

USC Chan is committed to helping our students find and create communities. An Affinity Space is a physical or virtual environment designed to be supportive, respectful, and free from conflict or criticism. The purpose of these spaces is to provide a positive and welcoming environment for individuals to come together and engage in community through open and honest dialogues in order to facilitate personal and professional growth.

View the current list of Affinity Spaces.

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.