OTD: Course Sequence*

Students that do not already have a Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from USC attend the two year OTD program. However, selected courses may be waived if the student has taken comparable courses at another institution. The following is the course of study for the first year of this program.

*Courses are subject to change.

First Year Course Overview

Read Course Descriptions here.

Fall Semester One

Fall semester generally begins in late August and continues for sixteen weeks.

OT 451 Neuroscience of Behavior (4 units)
OT 470 Qualitative Research for Evidence-Based Practice (4 units)
OT 504 Health Promotion and Wellness (4 units)
OT 581 Quantitative Research for the Practicing Clinician (4 units)

Spring Semester One

Spring semester courses begin in January and continue for sixteen weeks.

OT 580 Leadership Capstone (2 units)
OT 585 Advanced Seminar in Occupational Science (2 units)
Elective Courses (12 units)

**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 OT500 or its equivalent (see USC Catalogue for details).

Second Year Course Overview

Students with a Master’s in OT from USC are on the “fast track” and earn their Doctorate with just one year of study. The following is the course of study for these “fast track” students, as well as the second year of study for the two-year OTD students.

Fall Semester Two

Fall semester generally begins in late August and continues for sixteen weeks.

OT 620 (4 units)
Elective Course (4 units)
Part-time Residency (6 units)

Spring Semester Two

Spring semester courses begin in January and continue for sixteen weeks.

OT 621 (4 units)
Elective Course (4 units)
Part-time Residency (6 units)

Summer Session

Summer session begins in mid-June and continues for nine weeks.

Full-time Residency (12 units)