Major Mondays: Occupational Therapy
Major: The Bachelor’s to Doctorate (BS-OTD) in Occupational Therapy is housed in the USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy. This path is open to incoming first-year students interested in pursuing a career in occupational therapy. The accelerated program allows students to earn a bachelor’s degree and doctorate degree in occupational therapy in just 6 years!
Overview: Occupational therapy is a health profession aimed at enabling people to live life to its fullest. To occupational therapists, a “full” life means a person can engage in ordinary and extraordinary activities that they want and need to do, no matter what injury, illness, condition, disability, lifestyle, or environmental barriers stand in the way. These everyday activities are called “occupations.” Occupational therapists help people to perform, modify, or adapt their skills and activities in order to lead healthier, happier, and more productive lives – physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally.
Notable Research: Currently, USC OT faculty, students and professionals in the field are conducting research related to oral care for children. For the Sensory Adapted Dental Environments to Enhance Oral Care for Children study, researchers are investigating the efficacy of a sensory adapted dental environment, in comparison to a regular dental environment, for 184 ethnically diverse children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). One of the projected outcomes of this study is to “be able to decrease children’s physiological anxiety, distress behavior, perception of pain, and sensory discomfort during a dental cleaning.”
Unique Class Opportunity: THRIVE: Foundations of Wellbeing is a collaboration between the Campus Wellbeing and Education (CWE), USC undergraduate students, and the USC Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy (OT). This class is open to all USC students and helps them focus on wellbeing. Each week, an inspiring guest speakers leads the class and hosts an interactive discussion that encourages students to explore what gives them meaning and purpose, and how to infuse compassion and connection with others as keys to a thriving community.
Students will also participate in small group Connection Sessions. These sessions bring students together to reflect on themes of well-being, engage with each other in dynamic activities, and cultivate their own perspectives on self, identity, and community.
Notable Faculty
Ruth Zemke PhD, OTR, FAOTA, a current professor at USC, is noted as one of the founding leaders in Occupational Sciences and noted as a staple in efficacy practices in OT. Of particular note, Zemke is a co-Principal Investigator on the USC Well Elderly Project, utilizing her interest in applying concepts of occupational science to occupational therapy practice.
Anna-Jean Ayres, Ph.D., OTR was a USC faculty member and a founder of a specialty area of occupational therapy called Sensory Integration (SI). Sensory Integration is based on over 50 years of theory and research that originated at USC. Dr. Ayres developed a theoretical framework and clinical approach for identifying children with various developmental and learning difficulties. USC Chan students can take elective courses that provide a comprehensive overview of sensory integration theory or can take continuing education courses through the USC Chan Sensory Integration Continuing Education Certificate Program.
Want to Learn More?
As Occupational Therapy is a wide ranging and ever-growing field, there are many ways you can find out more about what it’s like to study OT at USC!
USC Chan has a great blog written by current USC OT students. Check out a day in the life of a USC Chan student on the Occupational Therapy Student Blog.
Also, non-OTD students can even pursue a minor in Occupational Sciences!
For students interested in listening to student stories, as well as staff and faculty experiences in the field, check out the USC Chan Instagram and YouTube page.
Want a student’s perspective on the program? Visit the USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy Student Ambassador page to learn more!
Written by: Audrey Burba, Assistant Director - USC Office of Admission