Mar 28, 2024  
USC Catalogue 2022-2023 
    
USC Catalogue 2022-2023 [ARCHIVED CATALOGUE]

Occupational Therapy (MA)


Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Programs by School

The one-year Master of Arts (MA) program is designed for the individual who is already a certified or board-eligible occupational therapist, or an international therapist who has completed a baccalaureate degree in occupational therapy from an accredited college or university, or a program approved by the World Federation of Occupational Therapy® (WFOT). The MA program in occupational therapy requires 32 units: 20 units of core courses and 12 units of elective courses. All students must complete either the Thesis or Comprehensive Exam Option.

Admission Requirements


Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, three letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and essay responses to supplemental application questions. International students must have a satisfactory English proficiency exam score within two years of enrollment. 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).

Application Procedures


Applications are accepted at any time, preferably by February 15 for fall admission.

Application materials include:

  1. USC Online Graduate Application with Chan Division supplemental application materials
  2. three letters of recommendation
  3. transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
  4. personal statement
  5. essay responses to supplemental application questions, if requested
  6. English proficiency exam scores if required

Please see the Chan Division website for the most up-to-date application procedures: chan.usc.edu/.

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


The MA degree is under the jurisdiction of the USC Graduate School. Students should also refer to the Graduate School section of this catalogue for general regulations. All courses applied toward the degree must be courses accepted by the Graduate School.

Requirements include: GPA of 3.0 in all course work attempted and all course work applied to the degree. All students must complete either the Comprehensive Exam Option or Thesis option. Students who complete the Comprehensive Exam option must complete 32 units of courses: 20 units of core courses and 12 units of elective courses. Students who complete the Thesis Option must complete a minimum of 28 units of courses: 20 units of core courses, 4 units of electives courses and 4 units of thesis (OT 594a  and OT 594b ).

Comprehensive Examination Option (12 units)


In addition to the required courses, 12 units of elective are required; 4 units of electives may be taken from outside the Chan division. All electives must be 500 level or above.

Successful performance on a written comprehensive examination administered on campus each fall and spring semester completes the degree.

Thesis Option (8 units)


In addition to the required courses, 4 units of electives at 500 level or above and 4 units of Master’s Thesis, OT 594a  and OT 594b,  are required. Acceptance of the thesis by the master’s committee and the university completes the degree.

Return to {$returnto_text} Return to: Programs by School