Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

• How do I become a licensed occupational therapist in the United States? →
• What is the difference between the BS, MA-I, and MA-II programs, and how do I know which program to apply for? →
• Where can I find the tuition and fees for attending USC? →
• Can I work and go to school? →
• How can I find the semester schedule? →
• How can I purchase a parking pass? →
• Do students receive free membership to the on-campus gym? →
• How can I purchase USC Football Tickets? →
• Does USC have a student newspaper? →
• How can I find the contact information for a faculty or staff person at USC? →
• Is there on-campus housing for graduate students? →
• Is there public transportation in Los Angeles? →

Bachelor’s to Master’s Degree Program

• Can I apply to this program as a freshman? →
• Can I apply to the bachelor program as a transfer student? →

Master’s Degree Program

• What type of degree will I be working toward if I am admitted to the program? →
• Is volunteer experience required? →
• Can pre-requisite courses be in progress while applying to the program? →
• When does your program start? →
• Is there a limit to how many times I can take the GRE? →
• How much hands-on experience is available to me while I am in the program? →
• How are fieldwork placement sites chosen? →

Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (OTD) Program

• Do I need to have a master’s degree in OT in order to apply to the OTD program at USC? →

Doctor of Philosophy in Occupational Science (Ph.D.) Program

• What is the minimum requirement for the GRE? →
• What are the current research studies in which the USC Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy is involved? →

International Students

• Do I need to take the TOEFL? →
• What is the minimum TOEFL iBT score required for applying for OTR Certification through NBCOT? →
• What do I need to do after I get admitted to USC? →
• How is the teaching style at USC different from international schools? →
• What is the H1B Visa and which companies will sponsor it? →

General Questions

How do I become a licensed occupational therapist in the United States?

Successfully complete your Master’s degree in occupational therapy and associated fieldwork requirements. Then pass the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam and complete required paperwork in your state.

Please note that if you received your bachelor’s or master’s in occupational therapy from a country other than the United States you will need to check with NBCOT first in order to determine whether you will have additional requirements to complete in order to become eligible to sit for the exam.

What is the difference between the BS, MA-I, and MA-II programs, and how do I know which program to apply for?

The Bachelors program (BS) is for those students who are seeking to receive their undergraduate degree in occupational therapy.  This is for students who have not yet received an undergraduate degree, and this program will save you a year of graduate school (after you complete your BS, you will have only one year to earn your MA). 

We have two Masters’ programs. We offer a two-year program (MA-II) for those students who are completing or have completed a baccalaureate degree in a field other than occupational therapy.  We also have a one-year program (MA-I), which is offered to practicing therapists who received their Bachelor’s in occupational therapy and are seeking a Master’s degree. 

Where can I find the tuition and fees for attending USC?

The Tuition and Fees section of our website has the estimated costs for each of our programs.

Can I work and go to school?

Due to the intensive nature of the program, BS and MA-II students have little time for work outside of studies. We recommend working no more than 10-12 hours per week. OTD and MA-1 students have some time for research and outside work. Some work part-time or “on-call” as therapists.

How can I find the semester schedule?

See USC’s Academic Calendar for the semester schedule including university holidays. Occupational Therapy course sequence information can be found at Academics by clicking on your program of interest within the drop-down menu.

How can I purchase a parking pass?

Go to USC Transportation and click on Parking Permits.

Do students receive free membership to the on-campus gym?

Yes. To maintain a healthy lifestyle, many students utilize the Lyon Recreation Center, located on University Park Campus, and the HSC Fitness Center, located near the Health Sciences Campus. These newly built and newly renovated facilities are free to students and include features such as the Main Gym: 21,800 sq. ft. gym (basketball, badminton, volleyball), an auxiliary gym (basketball, volleyball, wrestling), as well as conference rooms, sauna and jacuzzi, equipment rental and sales, men’s and women’s locker rooms, weight rooms center, cardiovascular equipment, racquetball and squash courts, outdoor basketball courts, a climbing/bouldering wall, multi-purpose weight and stretching areas, group exercise studio, and outdoor seating for aquatic events. A variety of workout classes are offered including yoga, Pilates, and cycling. Visit USC Recreational Sports for more information.

How can I purchase USC Football Tickets?

All undergraduate, graduate, and visiting students can purchase a Season Ticket for home football games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Spouse/domestic partner season tickets are also available.  Visit the USC Ticket Office for more information.

Does USC have a student newspaper?

The USC student newspaper is the Daily Trojan.

How can I find the contact information for a faculty or staff person at USC?

The contact information for Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy faculty can be found in the Faculty Directory. Contact information for Division staff members can be found at Staff Directory. Contact information for other USC faculty and staff can be found in the USC Directory.

Is there on-campus housing for graduate students?

There is student housing available for occupational therapy graduate students at the OT House, located a short 5 minute bike ride or 15 minute walk away from the University Park Campus. There is also a tram stop from which you can take a tram to the Health Sciences Campus, about a 20-30 minute tram ride that is free for USC students and employees. The tram also stops at Union Station, providing a convenient way to travel throughout Los Angeles and the surrounding areas. 

Is there public transportation in Los Angeles?

The University provides tram service for students between Union Station, the USC University Park Campus, and the USC Health Sciences Campus, as well as shuttle service to both campuses from the USC Occupational Therapy House. A car is just about essential for convenient mobility in Los Angeles; however, some students arrange car-pools for commutes and/or special activities. Los Angeles does offer limited bus and subway services at a reduced rate for students. Take a look at the USC Tram Schedule.

There are also a multitude of public transportation options in Los Angeles: Metro Rail lines and Bus routes, DASH bus lines, Amtrak trains, FlyAway shuttles from Union Station to LAX airport, and more.  View the following resources:

• USC Transportation’s Public Transit webpage
• Discover Los Angeles
• Public Transport feature of Google Maps

Bachelor’s to Master’s Degree Program

Can I apply to this program as a freshman?

Yes, freshmen applicants may apply to USC and select occupational therapy as their major.

Can I apply to the bachelor program as a transfer student?

Yes, transfer students are welcome to apply to the Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s (BS to MA) Occupational Therapy program by applying to USC and selecting occupational therapy as their major.

Master’s Degree Program

What type of degree will I be working toward if I am admitted to the program?

You will be working toward a Master of Arts in Occupational Therapy.

Is volunteer experience required?

Volunteer work is not required for admission; however, we recommend volunteering or shadowing an occupational therapist to gain a better understanding of the profession, the types of settings in which occupational therapists work, and life on the job. Because volunteer work is not required, you do not need to document your hours for the purpose of applying to our program.

Check out this Volunteer List for information on local and national observation and volunteer opportunities. This list is not exhaustive so feel free to contact other sites in your area.

Can pre-requisite courses be in progress while applying to the program?

Yes, pre-requisite courses can be in progress while applying to the program. All of the pre-requisite courses need to be successfully completed prior to the start of the program, if you are admitted.

When does your program start?

Our 2 Year Master’s degree program begins each year with a summer session in mid-June.

Is there a limit to how many times I can take the GRE?

No. We accept the highest score from each section of the test regardless of how many times you take the GRE.

How much hands-on experience is available to me while I am in the program?

Hands-on experience will include Level I and Level II fieldwork, an externship, classroom laboratories and elective courses, which entail offsite clinical learning opportunities. 

You will participate in 3 semesters of Level I fieldwork, in addition to hands-on laboratories, in each practice immersion (1. Pediatrics, 2. Mental Health, and 3. Adult Rehabilitation and Geriatrics). Level II fieldwork consists of two summer sessions of full-time fieldwork, which allow you to experience life as a full-time occupational therapist.  You will also complete a 2-week externship at a community practice of your choice, including the popular Ghana or Romania experiences as two of the options.  Additional elective course opportunities provide you with the opportunity to gain hands-on exposure in various practice areas, such as a Lifestyle Redesign^® group for patients with multiple sclerosis or Enhancing Motor Control for Occupation, a course designed to provide students with an in-depth understanding of remediation of motor control following upper motor neuron lesions.

How are fieldwork placement sites chosen?

USC has over 850 fieldwork placement sites across the United States and overseas. Students may review information about affiliated sites and reviews from past students. For 12-week Level II fieldwork experiences, students submit a request list of 10 sites, generally based on geographical location and/or type of practice setting. Our Fieldwork Team considers each student’s request when making placement decisions, but cannot guarantee placements in any particular site.

Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (OTD) Program

Do I need to have a master’s degree in OT in order to apply to the OTD program at USC?

Applicants to the OTD program need to have completed an entry-level Occupational Therapy degree with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 from an accredited college or university, and need to be certified or eligible for certification in Occupational Therapy in the United States, or have graduated from a WFOT-approved program outside the United States. Conditional admission may be possible if either the GPA or the GRE score is slightly below the requirement. Students enrolled in the OT baccalaureate or master’s programs at USC may receive admission contingent upon successful completion of all coursework and fieldwork prior to the start of the OTD program.

Doctor of Philosophy in Occupational Science (Ph.D.) Program

What is the minimum requirement for the GRE?

A total combined score of 1100 on the verbal and quantitative sections is the minimum requirement for applying to the Ph.D. in Occupational Science.

What are the current research studies in which the USC Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy is involved?

Please view a listing of our Division’s Active Research Projects.

International Students

Do I need to take the TOEFL?

If your bachelor’s degree was earned in a non-English speaking country and you are not a US citizen or permanent resident, an official TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score is needed. Students from some English-speaking countries, such as India and Singapore, may also need to submit TOEFL scores. We require that the student have verification of the following scores within two years of intended enrollment:

• At or above 600 on the paper-based test (examination); or
• At or above a total score of 100 on the Internet-based test, with no less than 20 on each of the four test components.

Students whose native language is English and/or students with a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. college or university are exempted from this examination.

For more information, refer to www.usc.edu/admission/graduate/international/english.html.

What is the minimum TOEFL iBT score required for applying for OTR Certification through NBCOT?

The minimum TOEFL iBT score required is 89 with a minimum score of 26 for speaking.

What do I need to do after I get admitted to USC?

For information regarding applying for your visa, on-campus employment, documents needed, which clothing to bring, etc., please visit: http://sait.usc.edu/ois/new-stu.aspx.

How is the teaching style at USC different from international schools?

The teaching style is mainly interactive. Some of the classes are structured in such a way that learning occurs through group discussion and a portion of your grade may be dependent on your participation in class. Exams,tests, and assignments are scheduled throughout the semester for each course and are weighted differently.

What is the H1B Visa and which companies will sponsor it?

The H1B Visa is a United States non-immigrant visa. It allows a U.S. company to employ a foreign individual for up to six years and it may lead to a Green Card. The following industries commonly sponsor H1B Visas for occupational therapists: rehabilitation centers, skilled nursing facilities(SNFs), assisted-living facilities, hospice, and home healthcare offices.