Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy Nursing Occupational Therapy

The USC Departments of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, Nursing and Occupational Therapy are administered independently by the Office of the Vice President for Health Affairs. Each of these departments offers outstanding health professional training at either the graduate or undergraduate levels.

The Department of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy was established in 1944. For those wishing to enter the profession, the department offers the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. For persons who are already practicing physical therapists, the department offers a Master of Science program as well as a program leading to the Master of Science degree with a diploma of clinical specialization. In addition, the department offers the nation's oldest Ph.D. degree program in Physical Therapy, now a Ph.D. in Biokinesiology. Experienced clinicians with a master's degree in physical therapy may be eligible to apply for the Doctoral of Physical Therapy in an Advanced Standing program. The department is headquartered on the Health Sciences Campus; all degree programs are offered through the Graduate School.

The Department of Nursing was established in 1981. For those desiring to enter the profession, the department offers the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program. For the registered nurse, the department offers an RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program. The department also offers a Master of Science in Nursing degree program in conjunction with the Graduate School. In addition to the functional areas of nursing leadership and administration and clinical nurse specialist in enterostomal therapy, this program offers family nurse practitioner, gerontologic nurse practitioner, nurse anesthesia and midwifery options. Nursing courses are held on the Health Sciences Campus. Both undergraduate and graduate programs are accredited by the National League for Nursing.

The Department of Occupational Therapy opened in 1942 and is headquartered on the Health Sciences Campus; more than 50 percent of the recipients of the highest academic awards given by the American Occupational Therapy Association have been USC alumni. The department's highly regarded Bachelor of Science degree program is offered through the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. The department offers two degrees in conjunction with the Graduate School: the nation's oldest degree programs leading to the Master of Arts for registered occupational therapists or for persons with degrees in related fields and the world's first Ph.D. in Occupational Science.

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