Occupational Therapy (BS)

The undergraduate curriculum leads to the Bachelor of Science with a major in Occupational Therapy. Only incoming freshmen may apply to the bachelor’s to doctorate program in occupational therapy; students may not change their major to occupational therapy once admitted to USC. Students majoring in occupational therapy begin full-time graduate study during their senior year, substantially reducing their overall cost of education and preparing them sooner for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy® (NBCOT) examination. Successful completion of an Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) degree, including successful completion of a minimum of 24 full-time weeks of clinical fieldwork, qualifies students for eligibility to sit for the NBCOT examination. Certification from the board and state licensure are required to practice as an occupational therapist.

Admission Criteria and Application Procedures for Incoming Freshmen

See the Undergraduate Admission  section of this catalogue for admission criteria and application procedures for the university.

Program Requirements

A total of 128 units is required for the Bachelor of Science degree. An occupational therapy major cannot count any 300-level OT course toward the BS degree.

General Education Requirements

The university’s general education (GE) program provides a coherent, integrated introduction to the breadth of knowledge you will need to become a generally well-educated person. This program is effective for all students entering USC in fall 2015 or later, or transfer students beginning college elsewhere at that time and subsequently transferring to USC. The general education program requires eight courses in six Core Literacies, plus two courses in Global Perspectives (which may double-count with courses in the Core Literacies) and two courses in writing. See General Education  for more information.