Program: Entry-Level Occupational Therapy (OTD) - University of Southern California (2024)

Jun 30, 2024

USC Catalogue 2024-2025

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USC Catalogue 2024-2025

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The Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (OTD) program is open to students who have completed an undergraduate degree in any field. Students without a prior degree in occupational therapy take both the foundationalcourses and the core courses listed below. Students who have earned a bachelor of science (BS) in Occupational Therapy from USC may apply for Advanced Standing and follow the curriculum outlined under Required Courses for students with Advanced Standing in the USCBachelor to Doctorate Program, reducing the total units required for the degree from 97 units to 67units.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, three letters of recommendation, and a personal statement. A satisfactory English proficiency exam score within two years of enrollment is required for most international students.There is no minimum GPA required; however, students entering with a GPA less than 3.0 will have a registration hold based upon Graduate School requirements (see Chan Division Student Handbook for details regarding academic standing).

All entry-OTD courses are designed to be delivered in-person; however, remote sections of the 3rd year entry-OTD courses will be offered as an option for students who complete their Level IIB Fieldwork and Doctoral Capstone Experience out of the area.Participation in remote courses throughout the third year of the program will require knowledge in using Brightspace as a Learning Management System and skills in using and navigating remote learning tools, such as Zoom, Turnitin and others.

Those with a baccalaureate degree in occupational therapy from USC may apply for Advanced Standingin the entry-OTD program.

Those with a baccalaureate degree in a field other than occupational therapy must have completed all of the following prerequisites (listed below):

within seven years of enrollment
from an accredited junior college, college or university
either in a classroom setting or online
with each course totaling the equivalent of at least three semester units (with exception of medical terminology which may be 1 or 2 units, pass/no pass, or certificate) as follows (course numbers refer to USC courses, but prerequisites can be taken at any accredited college or university):

Prerequisites

OT 200 Medical Terminology for Health Professions Units: 1
OT 250 Introduction to Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy Units: 4 or
SOCI 200gm Introduction to Sociology Units: 4 or
ANTH 201g Introduction to Sociocultural Anthropology Units: 4
OT 260 Human Functional Anatomy for Allied Health Professions Units: 3 (with laboratory)
HBIO 301L Human Anatomy Units: 4 (with laboratory)
OT 261 Human Physiology for Allied Health Professions Units: 3 * or
BISC 307L General Physiology Units: 4
HBIO 420L Applied Human Physiology Units: 4
OT 251 Across the Lifespan: Occupations, Health and Disability Units: 4
PSYC 360 Psychological Disorders Units: 4
A course in Gerontology or adult development (recommended but not required)

Note:

*If anatomy and physiology are combined, students must take two sequential semesters with a laboratory each semester (6–8 units).

Application Procedures

Please review the Chan Division Entry-Level Doctorate (OTD) Admissions webpage at chan.usc.edu/education/entry-level-otd/admissions for further details regarding admissions procedures and timelines.

International Students

Students educated outside the United States must have their credentials evaluated by the Office of Graduate Admission before their application to the Chan Division can be reviewed. International students must demonstrate competency in English, as measured by a proficiency examination. See the Admission section of this catalogue.

Degree Requirements

Satisfactory completion of 97 units beyond the baccalaureate degree is required for the Occupational Therapy Doctorate degree.

Requirements include: GPA of 3.0 in all course work attempted and all course work applied to the degree; All units applied to the degree must be at the 500 level or higher.

The degree is awarded under the jurisdiction of the Graduate School. Refer to the Requirements for Graduation section and the Graduate School section of this catalogue, for general regulations. All courses applied toward the degree must be accepted by the USC Graduate School.

Students complete all courses in the program on a full-time basis and in sequence.

Students who have earned a BS in Occupational Therapy from USC may apply for Advanced Standing and follow the curriculum outlined under Required Courses for students with Advanced Standing in the USC Bachelor’s to Doctorate Program, reducing total units required for the degree from 97 units to 67 units. All students must complete the Doctoral Capstone.

Doctoral Capstone Experience and Project

The Doctoral Capstone Experience (DCE) for the entry-level occupational therapy doctorate (OTD) program provides the doctoral student with an in-depth exposure to one or more of our signature capstone experiences. In alignment with the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) accreditation standards, the DCE is a curated, full-time 14-week experience designed by the doctoral student in collaboration with a faculty mentor and/or site preceptor(s). This experience includes the implementation of a Doctoral Capstone Project supported by an evidence-based needs assessment and synthesis of best practices, as well as a program evaluation to ensure effective and sustainable outcomes. As a culminating output, the doctoral student assembles a portfolio to showcase completed work, reflections, and accomplishments achieved throughout the capstone experience and disseminates completed work through a final OTD leadership presentation delivered to an audience of faculty, professional colleagues, fellow doctoral students and alumni.

Required Foundational Courses (15 Units)

OT 510 Foundations of Occupation: Kinesiology in Daily Life Units: 3
OT 514 Foundations of Occupation: Neuroscience in Daily Life Units: 3
OT 516 Foundations of Occupation: Creativity, Craft and Activity Analysis Units: 3
OT 517 Foundations of Occupation: Sensory Processing in Daily Life Units: 3
OT 519 Theoretical Foundations of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy Units: 3

Required Core Courses (77 Units)

OT 501L Practice Immersion: Adult Physical Rehabilitation Units: 8
OT 502L Practice Immersion: Mental Health Units: 8
OT 503L Practice Immersion: Pediatrics Units: 8
OT 504L Practice Immersion: Productive Aging and Geriatrics Units: 8
OT 511 Reflection in Practice Units: 3
OT 521 Communication in Practice Units: 3
OT 526 Practice Scholar: Applying Quantitative Evidence Units: 3
OT 531 Facilitating Transformational Change in Practice Units: 3
OT 536 Practice Scholar: Applying Qualitative Evidence Units: 3
OT 539 Applying Occupational Science: Health Promotion and Primary Care Units: 3
OT 617 Visionaries: Innovation and Technology to Promote Occupation Units: 3
OT 618 Visionaries: Global Health Systems, Policy and Advocacy Units: 3
OT 619 Applying Occupational Science: Lifestyle Redesign Units: 3
OT 622 Advanced Clinical Perspectives: Neurocognition and Occupation Units: 3
OT 623 Advanced Clinical Perspectives: Medical Complexity and Occupation Units: 3
OT 636 Fieldwork with Seminar Units: 1, 2 *
OT 710 Teaching and Learning Seminar: Becoming a Fieldwork Educator Units: 1
OT 715 Practice Scholar: Synthesizing Evidence and Practice Needs Units: 3
OT 720 Pedagogy in Higher Education: Seminar and Practicum Units: 1
OT 725 Practice Scholar:Mobilizing Knowledge to Advance Practice Units: 3
*Students are expected to take one 2-unit section and two 1-unit sections of this course.

Required Doctoral Capstone Courses (5 Units)

OT 713 Doctoral Capstone Preparation: Seminar 1 Units: 1
OT 723 Doctoral Capstone Preparation: Seminar 2 Units: 1
OT 730 Doctoral Capstone Experience with Seminar Units: 3

Required Courses for students with Advanced Standing in the USC Bachelor’s to Doctorate Program (67 units)

Complete threeof the following immersion courses:
OT 501L Practice Immersion: Adult Physical Rehabilitation Units: 8
OT 502L Practice Immersion: Mental Health Units: 8
OT 503L Practice Immersion: Pediatrics Units: 8
OT 504L Practice Immersion: Productive Aging and Geriatrics Units: 8
OT 509 Seniors Rising:Occupational Foundations for Graduate Success Units: 2
OT 531 Facilitating Transformational Change in Practice Units: 3
OT 536 Practice Scholar: Applying Qualitative Evidence Units: 3
OT 539 Applying Occupational Science: Health Promotion and Primary Care Units: 3
OT 617 Visionaries: Innovation and Technology to Promote Occupation Units: 3
OT 618 Visionaries: Global Health Systems, Policy and Advocacy Units: 3
OT 619 Applying Occupational Science: Lifestyle Redesign Units: 3
OT 622 Advanced Clinical Perspectives: Neurocognition and Occupation Units: 3
OT 623 Advanced Clinical Perspectives: Medical Complexity and Occupation Units: 3
OT 636 Fieldwork with Seminar Units: 1, 2 *
OT 710 Teaching and Learning Seminar: Becoming a Fieldwork Educator Units: 1
OT 713 Doctoral Capstone Preparation: Seminar 1 Units: 1
OT 715 Practice Scholar: Synthesizing Evidence and Practice Needs Units: 3
OT 720 Pedagogy in Higher Education: Seminar and Practicum Units: 1
OT 723 Doctoral Capstone Preparation: Seminar 2 Units: 1
OT 725 Practice Scholar:Mobilizing Knowledge to Advance Practice Units: 3
OT 730 Doctoral Capstone Experience with Seminar Units: 3
*Students are expected to take one 2-unit section and two 1-unit sections.

Accreditation

The USC entry-level OTD degree program has been granted Candidacy Status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE®). ACOTE c/o Accreditation Department, American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.®, 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929, (301) 652-6611 x2914,acoteonline.org.