Graduate & Professional Degrees

The Linguistics department does not accept applicants for a Master of Arts degree. Students who complete the necessary course work and write and successfully defend a screening research paper will automatically be awarded an MA in Linguistics as part of the PhD program.

Students pursuing the PhD program in linguistics are required to complete 32 units of course work toward the MA degree. The choice of courses is subject to approval by the Graduate Studies Committee. In addition, students must satisfy one foreign language or research tool requirement. (See Foreign Language/Research Tool Requirement.)

MA Research Paper

In addition to course work, students are also required to write one research paper. The completed paper must be submitted to the Graduate Studies Committee no later than the student's fourth semester of graduate study by the deadline established for that academic year. Following submission of the research paper, each student will conduct an oral defense of the student's work.

Students pursuing the PhD in Linguistics are required to complete a minimum of 60 units of course work beyond the baccalaureate. In addition to the 32 units completed toward the MA, students are required to take three 600-level seminars in linguistics and a minimum of 4 units of 794ab Doctoral Dissertation. No more than 8 units of 794 may be applied toward the PhD degree. A maximum of 30 transfer units, approved by the university and the department may be applied to the PhD degree.

Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) scores are not required for applications for admission to the graduate program in linguistics.

After successfully completing the screening procedure, students will establish a qualifying exam committee to determine a PhD course program in preparation for the dissertation. This course program must be approved by the Graduate Studies Committee.

Advisement

The student in his or her first semester will have the option of either selecting a faculty adviser or postponing such a selection until, but no later than, the last day of classes of the first year in the program. The Graduate Studies Committee (GSC) will serve as a provisional adviser until the student makes a selection.

The student has the option of changing advisers at any time without the need to seek the original adviser's approval. The student should inform the GSC and the previous adviser of the change.

At the beginning of the second year of graduate study, the faculty adviser will assist the student in planning a program of study appropriate to the student's interests leading to the screening procedure.

Required Core Courses in Linguistics

Students pursuing the PhD program in linguistics are required to complete 32 units of course work toward the MA degree. See Waiver and Substitution of Course Requirements for possible exceptions.

Students interested in East Asian linguistics take the Doctor of Philosophy in Linguistics with a specialization in East Asian linguistics. In addition to all requirements for the PhD in linguistics, students are required to write research papers on topics relating to East Asian languages for four courses or 15 units during their PhD studies. One of the two screening papers, the prospectus associated with the qualifying examination and the doctoral dissertation must also deal with at least one East Asian language. Students must additionally take LING 794a Doctoral Dissertation, LING 794b Doctoral Dissertation.

Students pursuing the PhD in Linguistics are required to complete a minimum of 60 units of course work beyond the baccalaureate. In addition to the 32 units completed toward the MA, students are required to take three 600-level seminars in linguistics and a minimum of 4 units of 794ab Doctoral Dissertation. No more than 8 units of 794 may be applied toward the PhD degree. A maximum of 30 transfer units, approved by the university and the department may be applied to the PhD degree.

Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) scores are not required for applications for admission to the graduate program in linguistics.

After successfully completing the screening procedure, students will establish a qualifying exam committee to determine a PhD course program in preparation for the dissertation. This course program must be approved by the Graduate Studies Committee.

Advisement

The student in his or her first semester will have the option of either selecting a faculty adviser or postponing such a selection until, but no later than, the last day of classes of the first year in the program. The Graduate Studies Committee (GSC) will serve as a provisional adviser until the student makes a selection.

The student has the option of changing advisers at any time without the need to seek the original adviser's approval. The student should inform the GSC and the previous adviser of the change.

At the beginning of the second year of graduate study, the faculty adviser will assist the student in planning a program of study appropriate to the student's interests leading to the screening procedure.

The master's degree in Literary Editing and Publishing is intended for students with strong backgrounds in English literature, creative writing and narrative studies to explore the roles of the professional editor and publisher, with an emphasis in literary nonfiction.

Exceptional USC undergraduate students accepted to this degree program may combine their baccalaureate and masters studies during their senior (fourth) year, in accordance with USC policy on Progressive Degree Programs. Applicants without appropriate preparatory course work in literature and creative writing may be required to complete more course work. All applicants must have completed ENGL 300 or ENGL 310 with a grade of A- or better. The master's degree in Literary Editing and Publishing requires one year of supervised external professional internship in lieu of a thesis.

Advisement

Students interested in applying to the Progressive Degree Program in Literary Editing and Publishing will propose a plan of study in consultation with an academic adviser. Advisers will work with students throughout the final years of undergraduate study and the master's program to help students select courses based on remaining undergraduate degree requirements, recommended preparation for the master's degree, and the core requirements for the master's degree in Literary Editing and Publishing.

Degree Requirements

The master's degree in Literary Editing and Publishing is under the jurisdiction of the Graduate School. Refer to the Requirements for Graduation section and the Graduate School section of this catalogue for general regulations. All courses applied toward the degree must be courses accepted by the Graduate School.

Application deadline: December 1

The program provides dual emphasis in literature and creative writing, culminating in the dissertation, which combines critical analysis with creative originality. Roughly half of the dissertation is based on original research, that is to say, research contributing to knowledge which enriches or changes the field. Doctoral candidates not only read and write texts as finished products of scholarship in researching their creative work's literary and historical milieu, but also consider the text as writers create it, then compose texts as writers, a process that goes to the source of the study of literature and of literature itself. This integration of literature and creative writing is reflected in the structure of the dissertation, which introduces the creative work within a context of critical inquiry, bringing together the examination and embodiment of the literary act, a new model of scholarship and creative innovation.

PhD candidates in literature and creative writing must pass the same departmental screening examination taken by PhD candidates in Literature who are not working in the area of creative writing. The exam tests students in various areas of emphasis (British literature, American literature, poetry, prose, etc.) and literature and historical periods as a measure of their preparedness to undertake independent research.

The literature and creative writing student takes 64 units in all, 32 in literature, 24 in creative writing workshops and seminars and 8 units of dissertation studies credits.

Admission Requirements

Requirements for admission to study in the department of English include: scores satisfactory to the department in both the verbal and quantitative General Test and the literature Subject Test of the Graduate Record Examinations; evidence of experience and ability in creative writing, as demonstrated by a creative writing sample; evidence of competence in writing English and interpreting English literature, as demonstrated by a sample of written work by the applicant on literary subjects; a satisfactory written statement by the applicant of aims and interests in graduate work; letters of recommendation from at least three college instructors; and grades satisfactory to the department earned by the applicant at other institutions. This program will accept applicants with BA degrees or transfer students with an MA or MFA in creative writing.

Degree Requirements

These degrees are under the jurisdiction of the Graduate School. Refer to the Graduate School section of this catalogue for general regulations. All courses applied toward the degrees must be courses accepted by the Graduate School.

Graduate Curriculum and Unit Requirements

The graduate curriculum is divided into 500-level foundation courses and 600-level advanced courses. The 500-level courses offer fundamental work in theory and in the history of British and American literatures and cultures. The 600-level courses feature advanced studies in theory, creative writing seminars and workshops and special topics. Although students will normally take 500-level courses leading up to the screening procedure (see Screening Procedure) and 600-level courses thereafter, students after consultation with their advisers may be permitted to take 600-level courses in the first semester of their graduate training.

The student's course work must total at least 64 units. No more than eight units of 794 Doctoral Dissertation and no more than four units of 790 Research may count toward the 64 units. A maximum of 12 transfer units, approved by the graduate director, is allowed toward the 64 units minimum required by the PhD (See Transfer of Course Work.)

Advisement

The student will be assigned a faculty mentor in his or her first semester in the graduate program and will be encouraged in subsequent semesters to begin putting together an informal qualifying exam committee. The makeup of the qualifying exam committee may change as the interests of the student change. The faculty mentor and informal qualifying exam committee will assist the student in planning a program of study appropriate to the student's interests leading to the screening procedure.

Screening Procedure

At the end of the student's fourth semester (second semester for students who enter with an MA or MFA degree or near equivalent), the student will sit for a departmental examination, which is part of a comprehensive screening procedure. Rarely, and only with the approval of the graduate director and the graduate committee, will a student be allowed to postpone the departmental examination and the screening procedure, and then only for one year. Prior to the screening procedure, the student will be allowed to take a maximum of four units of independent study (ENGL 590), and that independent study will normally be used to prepare for the departmental examination; all other units must be in the 500- or 600-level seminar.

Qualifying Exam Committee

Immediately following successful completion of the screening procedure, the student will nominate formally a five-member qualifying exam committee, including a chair and three other members from the English Department who are in the student's areas of interest and an outside member from another PhD-granting department. The committee must be in place and approved by the Graduate School at the time the student chooses a dissertation topic, writes the dissertation prospectus and schedules a qualifying examination.

Qualifying Examination

Following completion of course work, the student must sit for a qualifying examination, at a time mutually agreed upon by the student and the qualifying exam committee.

This is a field examination given in the subject of the student's proposed dissertation research. No less than one month before the qualifying examination, the student will submit to the qualifying exam committee a dissertation prospectus. The prospectus, it is understood, will not be a polished dissertation proposal, but at a minimum it should display a strong knowledge of the subject, much of the relevant secondary material and other contexts crucial to the writing of the dissertation, and should present a workable plan of attack as well as a reasonably sophisticated understanding of the theoretical assumptions involved in the subject.

The qualifying examination will consist of both written and oral portions with special emphasis areas in creative writing. It will focus on the dissertation area and its contexts with the specific format and content of the examination being negotiated among the student and all members of the examination committee. Upon successful completion of the qualifying examination the student proceeds to the writing of the doctoral dissertation.

Dissertation

The final stage of the program is the submission of a creative dissertation that makes an original, substantial and publishable contribution to creative literature: a book of poems, a novel, a collection of short stories.

Foreign Language

PhD students are required to demonstrate proficiency in at least one foreign language. This may be demonstrated by completing a course in the literature of that language at the 400 or 500 level (with a grade of B [3.0] or better) or by passing a foreign language exam that tests proficiency in reading comprehension and translation. PhD students may also be required to demonstrate proficiency in additional languages, as determined by the qualifying exam committee in view of the student's proposed field of research.

The Long Term Care Administration (MA) provides an opportunity for professionals who are currently working in a long term care profession to acquire skills and formal training in long term care administration. The online program requires 28.5 units of course work.

The required courses are in sequential order and are restricted by availability. Continuous registration in the program is required. Leaves of absence are available for limited times and are excluded from the total time limit.

Admission standards are the same as for the Master of Science in Gerontology.

Transfer Credits

An admission credit evaluation is prepared for graduate students with previous graduate level course work. This review indicates which courses the university will approve but it is the relevant school (Gerontology, Business, or Public Policy) that determines if any of these courses are appropriate for this degree. A maximum of 4 units may be used toward the master's degree.

Graduate transfer credit will not be granted for life experience, credit by examination, non-credit extension courses, correspondence courses or thesis supervision. Graduate transfer credit will not be granted for any course work taken elsewhere after the student has been admitted and enrolled at USC unless the student receives prior written approval from the department.

Students enrolled in the Doctorate of Longevity Arts and Sciences (DLAS) will learn about the human potential for healthspan, lifespan and meaning. This program seeks to provide a framework to advance the concept of meaning-making through the biological, sociological and psychological sciences. This program will allow high-achieving individuals to obtain a rigorous academic experience to enhance their capabilities for greater social contributions based on their accumulated knowledge and wisdom within an aging framework. The DLAS seeks to enrich individuals' understanding of their own aging experience as well as that of society at large. The program is designed to help individuals develop a wide range of skills including program and policy development that may serve the betterment of our communities, state and nation. In addition, the program prepares individuals to understand their own potential and abilities to lead change and make contributions both intellectually and creatively as they age. Doctoral candidates may choose their own pathway to complete a final summative project.

Professional Advisory Committee

By the end of the first year in the program, students will be expected to choose an advisory committee comprised of three Davis School of Gerontology faculty members. With permission of the advisory committee a fourth member may be added from outside of the Davis School.

Course Requirements

The minimum number of units required for the Doctorate of Longevity Arts and Sciences is 60, as follows:

A Master of Science degree in the management of drug development will be granted upon completion of at least 32 units of course work. The program is offered on both a full-time and part-time basis, and courses are also available in distance formats.  Course requirements normally include a minimum of three courses concerned with translational aspects of medical product development. Recommended courses to satisfy this core requirement include RSCI 531, RSCI 532, PSCI 664 or CXPT 609. The program must also include a minimum of one course in each of: regulatory science, quality assurance, clinical research, business and statistics. Students should develop a specific plan of study in consultation with graduate advisers before beginning the program.

The Graduate Certificate in Management Studies is designed to provide those who have already completed the equivalent of the first year of a traditional two-year MBA with an opportunity to pursue further study in an area of specialization currently available to Marshall graduate students.

Completion of the Graduate Certificate in Management Studies requires a minimum of 12 graduate units for all candidates — usually four, 3-unit courses.

The certificate may be completed on either a full- or part-time basis. Classes applicable to the certificate are offered during both daytime and evening hours.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to visit the Graduate Certificate in Management Studies website at marshall.usc.edu/gcms for more information about this very flexible curriculum. Applicants interested in accounting or taxation should consider applying for admission to the Master of Accounting or the Master of Business Taxation program offered by the USC Leventhal School of Accounting. Information about the areas of concentration offered to Marshall graduate students is available at marshall.usc.edu/ecg.

Admission Requirements

Applicants may apply for admission to begin the program in the fall or spring semesters. Application deadlines vary by semester, citizenship and registration goals. Details are available under the "Dates + Deadlines" links at marshall.usc.edu/gcms.

The equivalent of a four-year bachelor's degree is required for admission. Additionally, applicants must have completed the equivalent of the first year of a traditional two-year MBA accredited by the AACSB, EQUIS, ACBSP, AOCTE. IACBE or AMBA. Successful applicants should have earned a GPA of 3.3 or greater in their graduate business course work and scored at least as well as an average Marshall MBA student on the GMAT.

Application Procedure

Submit an online application through the USC Graduate Admissions website (gradadm.usc.edu/). International applicants are advised to see the instructions for international students published in the USC Graduate Admissions website (gradadm.usc.edu/apply/international-students/).

For additional information, visit marshall.usc.edu/gcms.

Program Structure and Unit Requirements

Applicants are urged to consider areas of specialization available to Marshall graduate students published at marshall.usc.edu/ecg. The applicant is asked to identify areas of interest as part of the application process, but is free to choose course work from the full range of graduate electives offered by Marshall.

An evaluation of work previously completed determines if specific content areas are missing. If it is determined that preliminary courses are needed, the number of units needed to complete the Graduate Certificate in Management Studies certificate will increase.

Completion of the Graduate Certificate in Management Studies certificate requires a minimum of 12 graduate units for all candidates.

None of the GSBA-prefixed classes required for completion of a Marshall MBA program may be applied toward the certificate unless they are required to update prior work and are added to the 12-unit total.

No courses numbered lower than 500 may be included in this program. All courses applied toward the certificate must be taken within the Marshall School of Business. Acceptable course prefixes include ACCT, BAEP, BUCO, FBE, GSBA, IOM or DSO, MKT, MOR and RISK.

Successful completion of the program is acknowledged by a certificate awarded by the university.

Return to: USC Marshall School of Business 

The Master of Management Studies (MMS) is designed to provide those who have already completed the equivalent of the first year of an accredited traditional two-year MBA with an opportunity to pursue further study in an area of specialization currently available to Marshall graduate students.

Completion of the Master of Management Studies degree requires a minimum of 26 graduate units for all candidates.

Courses applicable to the degree are offered during both daytime and evening hours. The degree may be completed on either a full- or part-time basis. International students should expect to complete the program within two semesters.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to review the full list of specialized master's programs offered by the Marshall School of Business (marshall.usc.edu/masters) before applying for admission to this program. Also, visit the Master of Management Studies website at marshall.usc.edu/mms for more information about this very flexible curriculum. Information about the areas of concentration offered to Marshall graduate students is available at marshall.usc.edu/ecg.

Admission Requirements

Applicants may apply for admission to begin the program in the fall or spring semesters. Application deadlines vary by semester, citizenship and registration goals. Details are available under the Dates and Deadlines tab at marshall.usc.edu/mms.

The equivalent of a four-year bachelor's degree is required for admission. Additionally, applicants must have completed the equivalent of the first year of a traditional two-year MBA accredited by the AACSB, EQUIS, ACBSP, AOCTE, IACBE or AMBA. Successful applicants should have earned a GPA of 3.3 or greater in their graduate business course work and scored in at least the 80th percentile on the GMAT or the GRE.

Application Procedure

Submit an online application to the MMS program through the USC Graduate Admissions website (gradadm.usc.edu/). International applicants are advised to see the instructions for international students published in the USC Graduate Admissions Application website (gradadm.usc.edu/apply/international-students/).

For additional information, visit marshall.usc.edu/mms.

Program Structure and Unit Requirements

Master of Management Studies applicants are urged to consider areas of specialization available to Marshall graduate students published at marshall.usc.edu/ecg. The applicant is asked to identify areas of interest as part of the application process, but is free to choose course work from the full range of graduate electives offered by Marshall.

An evaluation of work previously completed determines if specific content areas are missing. If it is determined that preliminary courses are needed, the number of units needed to complete the Master of Management Studies degree will increase.

Completion of the Master of Management Studies degree requires a minimum of 26 graduate units.

None of the GSBA-prefixed classes required for completion of a Marshall MBA program may be applied toward the Master of Management Studies unless they are required to update prior work and are added to the 26-unit total.

No courses numbered lower than 500 may be included in this program. No more than two courses or 8 units may be taken in graduate course work outside the Marshall School of Business.

Successful completion of the program is documented on the student's USC transcript and acknowledged by a diploma awarded by the university.

Return to: USC Marshall School of Business