Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (OTD)

Be part of a world-class program of study in occupational science and leadership that provides its graduates with the insights and practical skills to drive change and benefit society. Sarah Kelly, Director of Admissions, can answer your questions, schedule your visit, or arrange contacts with faculty members or students to help you further explore your interest in the Doctorate of Occupational Therapy program. You can reach her at (866) 385-4250 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). If you would like to know more, please use our Request Program Information Form, and we will be happy to send you a beautiful brochure about any of our programs.

Admission Criteria

All applicants to the OTD program must:

Complete an entry level Occupational Therapy degree with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 from an accredited college or university*
Be certified or eligible for certification in Occupational Therapy in the United States or a OT degree from a WFOT approved program outside the United States**
Complete the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test within the last five years with a minimum combined score of 1000 on the verbal and quantitative sections*
Submit at least three letters of reference
Show evidence of academic potential (based on Master’s level study if relevant), research skills and interest
Submit an essay describing your interests and skills, goals and professional accomplishments, including why you are choosing a graduate degree

In addition, international students must demonstrate competency in English, as measured by the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination. For more information, refer to www.usc.edu/admission/graduate/international/english.html.

*Conditional admission may be possible if one of these two criteria is slightly below the requirement.

**Students enrolled in the OT baccalaureate or Master’s programs may receive admission contingent upon successful completion of all coursework and fieldwork prior to the start of the OTD program.

Tuition and Fees

The University of Southern California is a private institution where tuition is the same for all students. Residents of California, of other states, and international students all pay the same tuition rate. Tuition and fees are subject to change.

Tuition for 2009-2010 is $1,259 per unit.

Estimated 2009-2010 tuition and fees for full-time doctoral OT students are presented below. Tuition costs for 2010-2011 should be very similar or slightly increased.

Estimated Tuition Costs 2009-2010

Semester	# of Units	Tuition	USC Fees
Fall	14	$18,186	$312
Spring	14	$18,186	$277
Summer	12	$15,588	$192

Optional student health insurance fees are not included in the above estimate. (Verification of other health insurance is required if student health insurance is not purchased at registration.) USC Financial Aid Office estimates annual costs of $15,842 for room and board, $1,344 for books and supplies and $2,250 for transportation. International students incur an additional orientation fee of $90.

Note: Above costs are provided for students who have earned a Master’s degree in the Division within the past five years. All other students may require additional coursework to be determined.

Financial Aid

Department Merit-based Support
The Department provides teaching assistantships, which cover 8 units of tuition, student health insurance, and a monthly stipend of $800 or more. Tuition Scholarships are also awarded. These are awarded on the basis of academic achievement. For more information, or to request a packet of information prepared by the Department which describes a wide variety of financial resources within and outside of USC and includes an application for Departmental awards, contact Sarah Kelly, Director of Admissions, at (866) 385-4250 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

USC Graduate Financial Aid