Doctor of Occupational Therapy
The Doctor of Occupational Therapy (O.T.D.) program prepares occupational therapists for leadership positions in health care, with a focus on applying knowledge developed in occupational science to practice health care policy and health care management. The O.T.D. program is designed to complement the Ph.D. program in occupational science. The Ph.D. degree is an academic degree that prepares students to conduct original research that will expand the knowledge base regarding occupation; the O.T.D. degree is a professional degree that focuses on the practical application of knowledge about occupation in order to solve real-world health care problems in clinical and community settings.
Graduates are expected to demonstrate a solid understanding of occupational science research findings, to appropriately utilize research regarding occupation to guide therapeutic decision-making, and to integrate knowledge of occupation with information from other disciplines and professions in order to make sound clinical, administrative and policy decisions. In addition, each O.T.D. graduate is expected to acquire advanced skills in one or more of the following areas: development of innovative service programs, public policy formulation and evaluation or administration of health care systems.
Admission Requirements
Applicants for admission to the O.T.D. program are expected to have at least a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and must be certified or licensed as an occupational therapist, or be eligible to sit for the examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). A minimum GPA of 3.0 (A = 4.0) and a minimum score of 1,000 on the combined verbal and quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Examinations are required. At least three letters of reference must be submitted as well as an autobiographical statement of purpose. Other considerations include evidence of leadership potential based on previous academic work as well as clinical experiences and professional accomplishments.
International Students
Occupational therapists educated outside of the United States must have credentials evaluated by the Office of Admission before applying to the department. See the Admissions section of this catalogue. International students applying to the department will be considered for admission if they have graduated from an occupational therapy program that is approved by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists and have completed all requirements for practice as an occupational therapist in their country. International students must demonstrate competence in English, as measured by the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination.
Degree Requirements
The degree is awarded under the jurisdiction of the Graduate School. Refer to the
Requirements for Graduation section and the
USC Graduate School section of this catalogue for general regulations. All courses applied toward the degree must be courses accepted by the USC Graduate School.
Course Requirements
Satisfactory completion of 60 units beyond the baccalaureate degree is required.
| Required occupational therapy courses | units |
|---|
| OT 506 | History of Occupational Therapy Practice | 4 |
| OT 507 | Theory in a Practice Profession | 4 |
| OT 510 | Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis of Occupational Data | 4 |
| OT 550 | Occupational Behavior Model | 4 |
| OT 588 | Research Methods | 4 |
Clinical Experience Criterion
If, at the time of admission, the student has less than three years of clinical experience as a registered or licensed occupational therapist, he or she may be required to complete at least 8 units of clinical pathway occupational therapy courses, such as the following:
| OT 500abc | Clinical Problems in Occupational Therapy | 2-4 each |
| OT 560 | Contemporary Issues in School-Based Practice | 4 |
| OT 564 | Sensory Integration | 4 |
| OT 572 | Ergonomics | 4 |
| OT 574 | Enhancing Motor Control for Occupation | 4 |
| OT 583 | Lifestyle Redesign | 4 |
| OT 590 | Directed Research | 1-12 |
| OT 610 | Sensory Integrative Dysfunction | 4 |
Occupational Science Course Requirements
Completion of at least two courses (8 units) in the Ph.D. program in occupational science is required.
| Occupational science courses (8 units required) | units |
|---|
| OT 604 | Temporal Adaptation: Organization and Use of Time | 4 |
| OT 612 | Information Processing and Occupation | 4 |
| OT 650 | Development of Adaptive Skills | 4 |
| OT 651 | Adaptation and Disability | 4 |
| OT 653 | Play and Occupation | 4 |
| OT 655 | Work and Leisure | 4 |
Cognate Requirement
Completion of at least 8 units of graduate-level public administration course work in the School of Policy, Planning, and Development is required. Upon approval, courses in other USC departments may be substituted providing they clearly relate to the student's professional goals and are consistent with the objectives of the O.T.D. degree.
Residency Requirement
Students must complete 24 units of OT 686 Residency. The residency is intended to ensure that students completing the O.T.D. program demonstrate competence in integrating advanced practice, policy and administration skills with knowledge emanating from occupational science. At least 20 units applied toward the O.T.D. must be successfully completed before enrolling in OT 686. One of the semesters of OT 686 must entail a full-time residency, that is, registration for 12 units with no other course work undertaken simultaneously. The purpose is to ensure that students have an opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the application problems presented by their residency site. Faculty must approve the student's residency plan prior to enrollment. The student must present a portfolio demonstrating competence in program development, administration or policy formulation in the last semester of enrollment in OT 686 as the final step in completing the O.T.D. degree.
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