Occupational Therapy, page 2

Occupational Therapy, page 2
Independent Health Professions

Bachelor of Science

The undergraduate curriculum leads to the Bachelor of Science with a major in occupational therapy. An additional six-month internship is required for students to qualify for the national examination leading to certification by the American Occupational Therapy Certification Board. Professional study begins in the summer preceding the senior year. Students may enter the occupational therapy program after three years of study at USC or another accredited college or university.

Admission Requirements

Occupational therapy students pursuing bachelor's degrees begin classes in their senior year. Applicants may be given provisional acceptance as early as the end of their sophomore year but may apply up to the end of their junior year. For further information, call the department at (213) 342-2876.

Students may enter USC declaring pre-occupational therapy (POT) as their professional objective at the freshman, sophomore or junior level, or may transfer to USC at the senior level after admission to the program.

Two admissions applications are required for transfer students, one for the USC Undergraduate Admission Office and one for the Department of Occupational Therapy. See the Admission section of this catalogue.

Requirements for admission are: (1) a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.75 in undergraduate courses completed; (2) a grade of "A" or "B" in occupational therapy prerequisite courses; (3) completion of all Letters, Arts and Sciences general education requirements; (4) specific experience (volunteer or paid) in helping roles (camp, school, hospital, community center, service clubs); (5) exposure to and exploration of occupational therapy as a career choice; (6) understanding of occupational therapy as demonstrated in autobiographical statement; and (7) satisfactory health status for professional activities and demands. No applicant will be denied admission on the basis of race, religion, creed or disability, provided functional health is sufficient to meet professional needs.

Application Procedures

Applications will be reviewed when the following materials have been received by the Department of Occupational Therapy: (1) completed departmental application form; (2) official transcripts with grades from all colleges or universities attended; (3) autobiographical statement including reasons for wanting to enter the profession, concept of occupational therapy, experience, personal data, skills and accomplishments; (4) three letters of recommendation from employers, teachers or other professional people not related to applicant, sent directly to department. Admitted students must complete all prerequisite course work by time of entry into the department (the department must be informed of grades as completed and applicants should keep the department informed in writing of their plans and progress). A personal interview by the faculty or a registered occupational therapist living in the applicant's area may be arranged by the department after all transcripts and the autobiographical statement have been submitted.

Deadline

Applications are accepted at any time but students are strongly urged to apply by March 31. Completed applications are reviewed on a "first received" basis until the class has been filled. The departmental early decision deadline is November 30. Applicants will be notified as soon as admission decisions are made and every effort will be made to notify each applicant as rapidly as possible. The department's ability to process applications is dependent on receipt of complete information as listed above.

Newly admitted students enter the program in June. It is not possible to begin the program in either the fall or spring semesters.

Produced by the USC Division of Student Affairs, Office of University Publications, May 1, 1995
univpub@stuaff.usc.edu