USC
University of Southern California
black horizontal bar for print styles

Master of Arts

The Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy offers a Master of Arts degree with two routes of entry. Those with a baccalaureate degree in occupational therapy begin taking graduate course work (500 level) immediately. Those with baccalaureate degrees in fields other than occupational therapy take 400‑level courses before beginning graduate work. Eligibility to sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy examination occurs when all course work is completed, including the equivalent of 24 full-time weeks of clinical internships, and the M.A. degree has been awarded.

Admission Requirements

For those with baccalaureate degrees in occupational therapy: prerequisites are a bachelor's degree in occupational therapy from an accredited college or university; registration (or eligibility for registration) by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy; a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (A = 4.0); acceptable scores on the General Test of the Graduate Record Exam­inations; three letters of recommendation and an autobiographical sketch/­statement of purpose.

For those with baccalaureate degrees in fields other than occupational therapy: you must have completed all prerequisites:

  • Within the last five years
  • Prior to the start of the senior year with a minimum GPA of 3.0 (pass/fail or grades below a C are not accepted)
  • All courses from an accredited junior ­college, college or university
  • Either in a classroom setting or online, however anatomy must be completed in a classroom setting
  • Each course totaling three or four semester units (with exception of medical terminology which may be 1 or 2 units) as follows (course numbers refer to USC courses, but prerequisites can be taken at any accredited college or university):
    • human anatomy with laboratory* (EXSC 301L or OT 260)
    • human physiology* (OT 261) introductory (general) psychology (PSYC 100)
    • developmental psychology or human development (PSYC 336L)
    • abnormal psychology (PSYC 360)
    • introductory sociology or cultural anthropology (SOCI 200 or ANTH 201)
    • medical terminology (effective summer 2009)
    • gerontology or adult development (recommended but not required)

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

Four-week intensive courses in human anatomy with lab and human physiology are offered from mid-May to mid-June (just prior to the start of the program) for those students who have been unable to complete them earlier.

Also required are a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0; a grade of "A" or "B" in division prerequisite courses (pass/fail grading is not acceptable for the division prerequisites); acceptable scores on the General Test of the Graduate Record Examinations; three letters of recommendation and a statement of purpose/autobiographical sketch.

Courses prerequisite to master's degree work include: OT 405, OT 415, OT 420, OT 440, OT 441, OT 452, OT 453, OT 463, OT 464, OT 465, OT 466, OT 467, OT 468, OT 485 and OT 486.

Application Procedure

For those with baccalaureate degrees in occupational therapy: applications are accepted at any time, preferably by February 15 for fall admission and October 15 for spring admission.

For those with degrees in fields other than occupational therapy: applications for early decisions are due by November 30; all other applications are due February 15.

Applications received after the February 15 deadline are considered on a space available basis. Application materials include:

  1.  USC Online Graduate Application;
  2.  division online Supplemental Application for Graduate Admission;
  3. three references indicating the applicant's perspectives on occupational therapy;
  4. transcripts from all colleges/­universities attended;
  5. results of the aptitude test of the Graduate Record Exami­nations. This should be taken no later than February prior to summer and fall admission requests and no later than October for spring semester requests. A personal ­interview may be requested.

Application must be made to the Division of Occupa­tional Science and Occupational Therapy, 1540 Alcazar Street (CHP 133), Los Angeles, CA 90089-9003, as well as to the USC Graduate Admission Office. Transcripts must be sent to the division as well as to the Graduate Admission Office.

International Students

Students educated outside of the United States must have their credentials evaluated by the Office of Admission before application to the division can be reviewed. See the Admission section of this catalogue. International students must demonstrate competency in English, as measured by the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

Degree Requirements

The M.A. 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; at least two-thirds of units applied to the degree must be at the 500 level or higher.

Required courses for both optionsUnits
OT 506The Making of a Profession4
OT 507Daily Dilemmas for the Reflective Practitioner4
OT 510Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis of Occupational Data4
OT 550Foundations of Occupational Science4
OT 588Research Methods4

Thesis Option
A minimum of 28 units is required: 20 units of required courses, 4 units of elective and 4 units of OT 594ab Master's Thesis. Acceptance of the thesis by the guidance committee and the university completes the degree.

Comprehensive Examination Option
A minimum of 32 units is required: 20 units of required courses, 4 units of elective and 8 units of occupational therapy electives. Successful performance on a written comprehensive examination administered on campus each semester completes the degree.