USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy

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For more than 10 years, hundreds of USC occupational students, including Kathy Phi MA ‘14, have traveled to Ghana to learn about and provide culturally responsive vocational consultations for Ghanaian children and teens with disabilities. Photo by Heather Dingess.

Health Sciences Campus
Center for the Health Professions
1540 Alcazar St., CHP 133
Los Angeles, CA 90089-9003
(323) 442-2850
Toll Free: (866) 385-4250
FAX: (323) 442-1540
Email: info@chan.usc.edu
chan.usc.edu

Faculty

Mrs. T.H. Chan Professorship in Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, Associate Dean and Chair: Florence A. Clark, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA

Associate Chairs: Linda Fazio, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA; Julie McLaughlin Gray, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA; Katie Jordan, OTD, OTR/L

Professors: Sharon Cermak, EdD, OTR/L, FAOTA; Florence A. Clark, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA; Gelya Frank, PhD; Mary Lawlor, ScD, OTR/L, FAOTA; Cheryl Mattingly, PhD; William Morgan, PhD

Associate Professor: Lisa Aziz-Zadeh, PhD

Assistant Professors: Natalie Leland, PhD, OTR/L, BCG (Gerontology), FAOTA; Sook-Lei Liew, PhD, OTR/L; Elizabeth Pyatak, PhD, OTR/L; Shawn C. Roll, PhD, OTR/L, RMSKS (Sonography), FAOTA; Olga Solomon, PhD; Barbara Thompson, PhD

Professor of Clinical Occupational Therapy: Linda Fazio, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA

Associate Professors of Clinical Occupational Therapy: Erna Blanche, PhD, OTR/L; Katie Jordan, OTD, OTR/L; Julie McLaughlin Gray, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA

Assistant Professors of Clinical Occupational Therapy: Michael Ang, OTD, OTR/L; Amber Bennett, OTD, OTR/L; Sarah Bream, OTD, OTR/L; Elizabeth Carley, OTD, OTR/L; Adley Chan, OTD, OTR/L; Karen Crum, OTD, OTR/L; Carlin Daley, MAEd, OTD, OTR/L; Celso Delgado Jr., OTD, OTR/L; Camille Dieterle, OTD, OTR/L; Don Gordon, PhD, OTR/L; Ashley Halle, OTD, OTR/L; Marisa Hernandez, OTD, OTR/L; Jess Holguin, OTD, OTR/L; Michelle Hsai, OTD, OTR/L; Tracy Jalaba, OTD, OTR/L; Karrie Kingsley, OTD, OTR/L; Kimberly Perring Lenington, OTD, OTR/L; John Margetis, OTD, OTR/L; Jenny Martinez, OTD, OTR/L; Michael McNulty, OTD, OTR/L; Jaynee Meyer, OTD, OTR/L; Helen Mirsaeidi, OTD, OTR/L; Stacey Morikawa, OTD, OTR/L; Phuong Nguyen, OTD, OTR/L; Kristin Nxumalo, OTD, OTR/L; Emily Ochi, OTD, OTR/L; Jazminne Orozco, OTD, OTR/L; Daniel Park, OTD, OTR/L; Joanne Park, OTD, OTR/L; Tara Perry, OTD, OTR/L; Elyse Peterson, OTD, OTR/L; Deborah Pitts, PhD, MBA, OTR/L, BCMH (Mental Health); Samia Rafeedie, OTD, OTR/L, BCPR (Physical Rehabilitation), CBIS (Brain Injury); Lindsey Reeves, OTD, OTR/L; Chantelle Rice, OTD, OTR/L; Kimberly Rice, OTD, OTR/L; Clarissa Saunders-Newton, PhD, OTR/L; Shelby Surfas, OTD, OTR/L; Bari Turetzky, OTD, OTR/L; Ashley Uyeshiro, OTD, OTR/L; Jamie Wilcox, OTD, OTR/L; Myka Winder, OTD, OTR/L

Instructors of Clinical Occupational Therapy: Mahjabeen Aftab, OTR/L; Aimee Aguillon, OTR/L; Catherine Crowley, OTD, OTR/L; Kim Eggleston, OTD, OTR/L; Stephanie Mielke, OTD, OTR/L; Scott Orr, OTD, OTR/L; Karen Park, OTD, OTR/L; Whitney Pike, BS, OTR/L; Janice Rocker, OTD, OTR/L; Carey Sokol, MA, OTR/L; Joan Vartanian, BS, OTR/L

Research Professor: Michael Carlson, PhD

Research Adjunct Professor: Barbara Gage, PhD

Research Associate Professor: Sarah Jeanne Salvy, PhD

Research Assistant Professors: Stefanie Bodison, OTD, OTR/L; Jesus Diaz, OTD, OTR/L; Leah Duker, Ph.D., OTR/L; Stacey Schepens Niemiec, PhD, OTR/L; Cheryl Vigen, PhD

Research Adjunct Assistant Professor: Nora Kashani, JD, OTR/L

Adjunct Associate Professor of Clinical Occupational Therapy: Linda Liang, MOT, OTR/L

Adjunct Assistant Professor of Clinical Occupational Therapy: Shawn Phipps, PhD, OTR/L

Adjunct Instructors of Clinical Occupational Therapy: Susan Bowles, OTD, OTR/L; Cynthia Burt, MA, OTR/L; Remy Chu, MHA, OTR/L; Lisa Deshaies, MA, OTR/L; Heidi Dombish, MS, OTR/L; Janet Gunter, OTD, OTR/L; Dawn Hironaka, BS, OTR/L; Tessa Milman, OTD, OTR/L; Pamela Roberts, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA; Joan Surfus, MA, OTR/L

Distinguished Emeritus Professor: Elizabeth J. Yerxa, EdD, LHD (Hon.), ScD (Hon.), DMed (Hon.), FAOTA

Emeritus Professor: Ruth Zemke, PhD, FAOTA

Degrees Offered

The USC Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy offers a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy, a minor in Occupational Science, and a Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy. The Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy is offered for students continuing their education following their undergraduate degree in occupational therapy, for students whose first degree is in another field and also for certified occupational therapists seeking a post-professional degree. The division also offers the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) and the PhD in Occupational Science. The USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy master’s-level professional degree program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education®, c/o Accreditation Department, American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc., 4720 Montgomery Lane, Suite 200, Bethesda, Maryland 20814-3449, (301) 652-6611 x2914, acoteonline.org.

Entry into occupational therapy practice is at the graduate degree level only. In order to practice, students in the bachelor’s program must earn an MA degree in Occupational Therapy, successfully complete a minimum of 24 full-time weeks of clinical fieldwork, sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy® (NBCOT) exam and apply for a license (in most states including California).

Pi Theta Epsilon

Pi Theta Epsilon is the national honor society for occupational therapy students and alumni. This society recognizes and encourages superior scholarship among students enrolled in entry-level graduate programs of occupational therapy across the United States.

The Alpha Eta Chapter of Pi Theta Epsilon (PTE) at the University of Southern California selects candidates early in the spring semester of each year based on National PTE guidelines related to academic standing and students’ potential for leadership in the profession.

Programs

Bachelor’s Degree

• •  Occupational Therapy (BS)

Minor

• •  Occupational Science Minor

Master’s Degree

• •  Occupational Therapy (MA)
• •  Online MA in Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy

University Certificate

• •  Lifestyle Redesign® Graduate Certificate (online)

Doctoral Degree

• •  Occupational Science (PhD)
• •  Occupational Therapy (OTD)

Courses

Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy

• •  OT 105 g Culture, Medicine and Politics
• •  OT 200 Medical Terminology for Health Professions
• •  OT 220 Lifestyle Design: Introduction to Occupational Therapy
• •  OT 250 Introduction to Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
• •  OT 251 x Across the Lifespan: Occupations, Health and Disability
• •  OT 260 Human Functional Anatomy for the Occupational Therapist
• •  OT 261 Human Physiology for Occupational Therapists
• •  OT 300 Occupational Expressions of Diverse Identities and Lifestyles
• •  OT 310 Creativity Workshop
• •  OT 312 Creating a Sustainable Lifestyle
• •  OT 320 The Nature of Human Occupation: Form, Function, and Meaning
• •  OT 325 The Brain: Mind, Body, and Self
• •  OT 330 Perspectives on the Daily Life of Families
• •  OT 333 Sports Ethics
• •  OT 350 Disability, Occupations, and the Health Care System
• •  OT 355 x Occupational Reconstructions and Social Transformations
• •  OT 360 Creating the Self through Narrative: Acts of Life Story Production
• •  OT 375 The Narrative Structure of Social Action: Narrative, Healing and Occupation
• •  OT 390 Special Problems
• •  OT 405 Foundations: Occupation
• •  OT 406L Foundations: Creativity, Craft and Activity Analysis
• •  OT 440L Foundations: Kinesiology
• •  OT 441L Foundations: Neuroscience
• •  OT 490x Directed Research
• •  OT 499 Special Topics
• •  OT 500a Clinical Problems in Occupational Therapy
• •  OT 500b Clinical Problems in Occupational Therapy
• •  OT 500c Clinical Problems in Occupational Therapy
• •  OT 501L Practice Immersion: Adult Physical Rehabilitation
• •  OT 502L Practice Immersion: Mental Health
• •  OT 503L Practice Immersion: Pediatrics
• •  OT 511 Therapeutic Use of Self
• •  OT 515 Neuroscience of Behavior
• •  OT 518 Quantitative Research for Evidence-Based Practice
• •  OT 521 Clinical Reasoning
• •  OT 523 Communication Skills for Effective Practice
• •  OT 525 Qualitative Research for Evidence-Based Practice
• •  OT 534 Health Promotion and Wellness
• •  OT 537 Occupation-Centered Programs for the Community
• •  OT 538 Current Issues in Practice: Adulthood and Aging
• •  OT 540 Leadership Capstone
• •  OT 545 Advanced Seminar in Occupational Science
• •  OT 560 Contemporary Issues in School-Based Practice
• •  OT 561 Occupational Therapy in Acute Care
• •  OT 562 Advanced Hand Rehabilitation and Certification (PAMs)
• •  OT 563 Occupational Therapy in Primary Health Care Environments
• •  OT 564 Sensory Integration
• •  OT 565 Sensory Integration Interventions
• •  OT 566 Healthcare Communication with Spanish-Speaking Clients
• •  OT 567 Contemporary Issues: Occupational Therapy in Early Intervention
• •  OT 571 Assistive Technology
• •  OT 572 Ergonomics
• •  OT 573 Hand Rehabilitation
• •  OT 574 Enhancing Motor Control for Occupation
• •  OT 575 Dysphagia Across the Lifespan: Pediatrics through Geriatrics
• •  OT 576 Universal Design
• •  OT 577 Seminar in Occupational Therapy
• •  OT 578 Therapeutic Communication: Facilitating Change in Clients
• •  OT 579 Occupational Therapy in Adult-Neurorehabilitation
• •  OT 581 Quantitative Research for the Practicing Clinician
• •  OT 582 Occupational Science Foundations of Lifestyle Redesign
• •  OT 583 Current Applications of Lifestyle Redesign
• •  OT 584 Clinical Applications of Telehealth Technologies in OT
• •  OT 585 Advanced Seminar in Occupational Science
• •  OT 586 Clinical Internship with Seminar
• •  OT 590 Directed Research
• •  OT 594a Master’s Thesis
• •  OT 594b Master’s Thesis
• •  OT 594z Master’s Thesis
• •  OT 599 Special Topics
• •  OT 610 Sensory Integrative Dysfunction
• •  OT 612 Information Processing and Occupation
• •  OT 620 Current Issues in Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy
• •  OT 621 Occupational Therapy Leadership: Contemporary Issues
• •  OT 640 Conceptual Foundations of Occupational Science
• •  OT 641 The Nature of Occupation
• •  OT 642 Therapeutic Uses of Self: Psychodynamic Perspectives
• •  OT 643 Meaningful Engagement in Everyday Life
• •  OT 644 Foundations of Research on Activity and Health
• •  OT 645 Narrative, Healing and the Culture of Biomedicine
• •  OT 646 Intersections of Occupational Science and Human Development
• •  OT 647 Producing New Knowledge in Occupational Science
• •  OT 648 Researching Occupation: Engagement, Meaning, and Society
• •  OT 649 Researching Occupation: Function, Participation, and Health
• •  OT 650 Development of Adaptive Skills
• •  OT 655 Work and Leisure
• •  OT 660 Research Practicum
• •  OT 661 Grant Writing for Occupational Science
• •  OT 686 Residency
• •  OT 790 Research
• •  OT 794a Doctoral Dissertation
• •  OT 794b Doctoral Dissertation
• •  OT 794c Doctoral Dissertation
• •  OT 794d Doctoral Dissertation
• •  OT 794z Doctoral Dissertation