Graduate & Professional Degrees

The Peter Stark Producing Program is a two-year (four semester) full-time graduate program.

Approximately 24 Peter Stark Program students are enrolled each fall (there are no spring admissions). The curriculum places equal emphasis on the creative and the managerial, to enhance and develop artistic skills and judgment while providing a sound background in business essentials. Each course is continually updated to ensure that the Stark program remains responsive to the needs of our students and the ever-changing film, television and new media landscape, and prepare students for careers as creative decision-makers in those fields.

A minimum of 44 units of 500-level courses is required for the Peter Stark Producing Program leading to the MFA degree. There are no electives; all Stark students take the same classes at the same time in a mandated sequence. In CMPP 541a and CMPP 541b, first-year students get hands-on filmmaking experience, working on collaborative projects in different roles. Projects are shot and edited digitally. Equipment is provided by the school.

The thesis completion requirement is a detailed plan for a film, documentary, television or webseries project comprising a developed script and notes for improvement, a schedule, budget assumptions and a marketing/distribution plan.

Industry experience is an essential component of the Peter Stark Program academic experience; it enhances both their course work and thesis research project. To facilitate as much industry experience as possible, the program endeavors to leave two free days in the students' first year course schedule, and holds all second-year classes in the evening. The Peter Stark Program requires 2,800 hours of entertainment industry internships or work experience over the two-year program, including in the summer semester between the first and second year. Students look for internships, per their own interests. In addition, though the Stark Program cannot guarantee it can procure internships, it does ongoing semester-by-semester internship advocacy for the students at many companies including studios, networks, production companies and agencies. The Stark Program grants exceptions to the internship/work experience requirement on a case-by-case basis for other equivalent forms of industry experience that may better fit a student's individual career goals – producing projects for film, television or new media, writing or developing screenplays – as long as the student completes at least one internship. At all times, students must attend all classes and maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Inquiries regarding the program should be addressed to: The Peter Stark Program, USC School of Cinematic Arts, University Park, Los Angeles, CA 90089-2211. Call (213) 740-3304 or email pstark@cinema.usc.edu.

The Master of Science in product development engineering (MS PDE) is an interdisciplinary graduate degree program at USC jointly offered by the Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering and the Daniel J. Epstein Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) departments. The Daniel J. Epstein Industrial and Systems department manages this joint degree program. It focuses on the global and innovative features of new product development with Management and Technology specializations to match students' academic backgrounds and career interests. Both full-time and part-time students can enter this program in either the fall or spring semesters and choose on-campus or online (Distance Education Network, DEN) study options.  

Admission

The program has the following admission requirements:

• A bachelor's degree in an area of engineering or science;
• An undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above; 

The MS PDE program requires a minimum of 28 units to complete. Although it is mainly a course work-based program, students can choose to complete the program with or without a thesis requirement. For this thesis option, at least 12 units, not including 4-unit thesis, must be at the 500 level or higher from the ISE and AME departments. For the non-thesis option, 16 units must be at the 500 level or higher from the AME and ISE departments, and/or closely related units (per the program director approval). As well, students can choose to take up to 8 units of directed research (e.g., AME 590 or ISE 590). Students must maintain a minimal cumulative GPA of 3.0 in all USC course work to receive the degree.

The program's prerequisite is a minimum of one 400-level course in either engineering design or engineering economy. Admitted students who do not meet this prerequisite will be assigned appropriate USC course(s) to complete the deficiencies. Deficiency courses, if taken at the 400 level, may be counted toward 28 units as general electives with adviser approval.

Depending on the academic background and career interests of students, the program offers two areas of specialization: namely product development management and product development technology. The management specialization offers more ISE courses to prepare students as future product development managers whereas the technology specialization includes more AME courses to prepare students as future product development engineers. Students entering this degree program must declare their choice of an area of specialization and follow the requirements of the chosen specialization to graduate. Switching between the two specializations is possible upon the approval of the program director.

This degree can be completed through an on-campus program or through a hybrid online/on-campus program. The curriculum comprises six semesters plus two summer sessions for on-campus students and three summer sessions for hybrid students, resulting in completion of the required 115 units. Clinical experience (clerkship) is part of the curriculum during all three years. The Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy awards the DPT to enrolled students who have satisfactorily completed the three-year curriculum. For successful completion, students must pass all course work with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75, meet all professional standards and pass all clinical clerkships.

Admission Requirements (Entry-Level)

Applicants are required to complete the equivalent of a U.S. baccalaureate degree at an accredited college or university prior to matriculation. Prerequisite course work must include: a minimum of four semesters/six quarters of course work in the mammalian biological sciences (and must include one course in human anatomy with laboratory and one course in human physiology with laboratory), two semesters/three quarters of chemistry course work with laboratory (which may include general chemistry, organic chemistry or biochemistry), two semesters/three quarters of physics course work with laboratory, a minimum of two courses in psychology (which may include general psychology or abnormal psychology), and one college-level statistics course (generally from the biology, mathematics and psychology departments). A minimum of 150 hours of clinical experience in a variety of physical therapy settings is required. This can be in a volunteer or paid capacity. Applicants should be computer literate.

Students from foreign countries must have completed one year of study in the United States prior to application. Credits from foreign institutions must be approved by the USC Office of Graduate Admission.

Graduate Record Examinations (GRE)

The GRE is required of all applicants. In general, minimum scores of 150 are required on each of the general test measures of verbal and quantitative ability.

Applications

Applications for the on-campus program are submitted through the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) Website, and must be completed by December 1 of each year for the class beginning the following fall. Hybrid program applications will be available through our technology partner's Online Application and Recommendation System (OARS). For the initial hybrid class, entering in June 2018, applications will be completed by April 17. Only one class is admitted each year for each program.

The Admissions Committee reviews all information submitted. Applicants may request a personal interview. It is highly recommended that all applicants make an appointment to visit the division's office located on the Health Sciences Campus and talk with students and members of the faculty.

Notice of Acceptance

Notice of acceptance in the on-campus program will be sent to successful candidates no earlier than December of the year prior to the August program start date (with the exception of Early Decision applicants who are typically informed of a decision by late September) and continually thereafter until the class is filled. In no case will an acceptance be offered earlier than one year before anticipated enrollment. Applicants to the hybrid program will be reviewed on a rolling basis with notices of acceptance sent to successful candidates continually until the class is filled.

Candidates in the on-campus program should reply to an offer of acceptance within three weeks enclosing a $1,000 deposit (nonrefundable), which is credited to tuition at the time of registration. Candidates in the hybrid program should submit their initial $1,000 deposit within 10 days of an offer of acceptance. A second nonrefundable $500 deposit is required by mid-May of the program start year (also to be applied in its entirety as a tuition credit). A letter of withdrawal is required if applicants wish to relinquish their place in the class; release is granted automatically upon receipt of the letter.

Degree Requirements (Entry-Level)

The DPT is awarded to enrolled students who have satisfactorily completed the three-year curriculum of 115 credits (depending on electives chosen). The minimum number of credits required for graduation is 115. The minimum GPA required for graduation is 2.75. Clinical experience (clerkship) is part of the curriculum during all three years.

The Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy uses a system of student evaluation and grading that is designed to encourage self-reliance, to stimulate the student's independent quest for knowledge and to promote excellence in clinical and academic achievement.

Faculty of the program are responsible for establishing evaluation criteria appropriate to the objectives of each course and for specifying the manner in which evaluative information is to be gathered. For clinical evaluation, descriptive comments based on the student's performance are submitted by faculty and clinical instructors to the student's permanent file.

The online certificate in Project Management in Global Health and Development provides training in key aspects of management for global health and development professionals. It is aimed at professionals in or seeking management positions in health or international development, including within the private non-profit and public sectors. Participants are introduced to key concepts and skills in management from the project to the program to the organizational level. Courses are taken online through both the Keck School of Medicine (8 units) and Bovard College (4 units) for a total of 12 units. The program can be completed in as few as three semesters or over the course of three years.

Applicants for the certificate must make a formal application for admission to the certificate program and provide transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended (if applicable), a resume and a statement of purpose. The GRE is not required. 

This certificate program can serve as a possible “stepping stone” toward the Master of Public Health (MPH) degree program. Up to 12 units may be applied toward both the certificate and the core or electives in the MPH. Note that students must apply and be admitted to the MPH program and must earn a grade of “B” or better in a course to be eligible to transfer that course toward the degree program. Completion of the certificate does not automatically guarantee admission to the MPH program.

The certificate in Project Management in Global Health and Development is also open to students who are currently enrolled in another graduate program at USC and are in good standing with a 3.0 GPA. These students only need to submit the appropriate paperwork, which may be obtained from the student services adviser, and pay associated tuition costs for adding the certificate program

The Master of Science in Project Management program is designed to prepare professionals to advance their careers in the field of project management (PM). This program emphasizes the strategic role that project management plays in the performance of global organizations, providing students with the knowledge and skills needed to be effective leaders.

In addition to core PM principles, students explore the full spectrum of project management concepts and methodologies, including portfolio and program management, technical project delivery, Agile and change management. Students will learn about business relationship elements, including effective communication, negotiation, organizational culture and conflict resolution. Essential management processes such as performance, quality, risk, cost and budget are also examined and applied to real-world projects. The program encourages immediate application of key concepts learned to address workplace challenges and opportunities.

The department does not admit students whose objective is this master’s degree. However, if a student accepted in the doctoral program does not have a master’s degree, the department strongly recommends completion of the requirements for the MS in Psychology in the course of work toward the PhD degree. This involves 24 graduate units of psychology course work and a thesis.

Residency Requirement

A minimum of 24 graduate units at USC is required for the doctoral degree.

Course Requirements

Each student must take at least 36 substantive units in psychology at USC during the first three years. Students must complete one statistics and/or research methods course as well as a set of core courses that cover topics in brain and cognitive sciences and clinical, developmental and social areas, the specifics of which are provided in the department's handbook for graduate students. Additional course requirements vary according to specialty area.

Research Requirement

During the first and second year, students work on either a master's thesis or a research report of comparable scope and quality. A research project done at USC is required of all students (by the conclusion of the summer following the student's second year), regardless of prior graduate work.

Screening Procedure

The student's ability to master graduate-level course material is first evaluated after completion of no more than 24 units, and not later than the third semester of graduate work at USC. The final screening procedure is the successful completion of a second-year project requirement. This evaluation is based on the student's performance in courses taken and on an evaluation of the student's research competence as reflected in the second year research project. The project is evaluated by a committee of three faculty, including the student's primary adviser.

Additionally, students are evaluated each year based on adviser input, course work and research progress.

Qualifying Exam Committee

In preparation for the qualifying examination, each student assembles a five-person qualifying exam committee to direct the student's program of studies and evaluate research competence. The committee continues to serve until after the qualifying examination has been passed, the dissertation topic approved, and the student admitted to candidacy for the PhD. At that time the student assembles a dissertation committee of four or more members (usually consisting of members of the qualifying exam committee, one of whom must be a faculty member from outside the department), who advise on and evaluate the dissertation.

Qualifying Examination

The qualifying examination evaluates the student's ability to conduct independent scholarship and research. The student is evaluated based on oral and written presentation of two elements: a written review paper or written exam and the dissertation proposal. The qualifying examination is planned, administered and evaluated by the student's qualifying exam committee. It should be taken no later than during the fifth semester.

Doctoral Dissertation

A student is expected to engage in research activity throughout his or her graduate career, leading up to and culminating in the PhD dissertation. The dissertation is based on an original investigation, usually involving empirical data.

Defense of the Dissertation

The student's doctoral dissertation is defended at either a defense oral, based on an approved preliminary copy of the dissertation, or a final oral, based on the final version of the dissertation.

Advisement

Each student has a major adviser who is usually in the specialty area. The qualifying exam committee should be formed at least one semester before the student takes the qualifying examination. Advisement concerning graduate school requirements may also be sought from the staff graduate adviser and the faculty member serving as director of graduate studies.

Internship Requirement

Students in the clinical science PhD program need a minimum of three full-time in-residence academic years of graduate study plus one full year of internship at a facility approved by the clinical faculty.

Admission

The Master of Public Administration programs are under the jurisdiction of the Price School of Public Policy. All admissions decisions are made by the school, following guidelines set by the university. See the Admission section of this catalogue.

All questions about the programs and all materials required for admission should be submitted to: MPA Programs, Admissions Office, RGL 111, University Park, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0626.

Admission to each of these programs is determined by the faculty and admissions committees connected with those areas. Application packages should be sent directly to the program office.

Applications

The admission decision is made using criteria which include verification that the applicant has completed a bachelor's degree from an accredited college, has maintained a B average in undergraduate course work and has earned an acceptable score on the verbal and quantitative portions of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT). Other elements of the applicant's educational and experiential background are also evaluated. International students whose native language is not English must also submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score.

Each candidate should submit the following to the school: (1) official transcripts of all previous college and university work, showing an awarded degree where appropriate; (2) copies of GRE or GMAT scores; (3) an essay answering questions on the admission questionnaire provided by the school; (4) an up-to-date resume which includes academic and professional accomplishments; (5) three or more letters of evaluation from previous instructors and from professional associates who can attest to the applicant's potential; (6) completed USC Graduate Admission Application, along with the nonrefundable processing fee; and (7) completed Price School of Public Policy Supplemental Graduate Application.

International applicants may be asked to supply additional information. See the Graduate Admission section of this catalogue.

Deadlines

Applications for admission are evaluated monthly. Those students who are also applying for financial aid, or who must meet other deadlines for admission, should submit application materials early enough to allow the admissions decision to be made in advance of those other deadlines.

The admissions process generally takes about four to six weeks after all necessary materials have been submitted.

Pre-Service/In-Service Designation

Most MPA students are classified as pre-service or in-service students at the time of admission. Pre-service students are those who enter the program with less than two years of professional work experience. In addition to course work, pre-service students complete an internship. Students pursuing a dual degree program are not classified as pre-service or in-service. Appeals for reclassification of this designation must be submitted during the first semester of enrollment.

International Students

Students applying for graduate programs should send applications and appropriate documents to the MPA Programs Admissions Office, which processes all such applications.

Admission

A student is accepted for admission only for the semester indicated on the letter of admission. If the student desires to enter at another time, or if the student cannot arrive on campus in time for the semester in which he or she was admitted, the student must contact the MPA Programs Admissions Office in writing. That office will contact the Office of International Admissions.

Students who do not enroll for the semester indicated on the letter of admission cannot be guaranteed admission to a later session. They will need to work with the MPA Programs Admissions Office to determine procedures to follow.

Registration Requirements

International students on student visas must be registered as full-time students as arranged by the Office of International Services. Doctoral students must carry a load of at least 6 units to be considered full-time students. A full-time graduate load is eight units. Such students are not eligible to be considered students without formal registration and may be in violation of immigration laws when not properly registered.

International students who have questions about registration requirements should contact the Office of Recruitment and Student Affairs.

Admission Status

MPA applicants may be permitted to take courses before the admission process is completed or they may be admitted before certain conditions have been met; each student must, however, attain regular status (standing) admission to the school prior to or upon completion of 8 graduate units.

Limited Status Students (Preadmission)

Students taking courses who have not been admitted to the school are designated limited status students. These students may be taking courses to meet prerequisites; they may be waiting for part of their application package materials to arrive; or they may be investigating whether an MPA is the best choice for them.

To be considered for limited status enrollment, interested students need to complete the Price School of Public Policy Limited Student Application for Enrollment form and submit official or unofficial copies of their transcripts from their bachelor's degree granting institution. Students with a 3.0 grade point average (A = 4.0) may enroll in up to 12 units of graduate courses in the Price School of Public Policy.

Price School of Public Policy Limited Student Application for Enrollment forms may be obtained from the Admissions Office, Price School of Public Policy, University of Southern California, RGL 111, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0626; (213) 740-6842. Limited students may only enroll during the in-person registration period (the week before classes begin).

Limited status students may apply only 12 units of appropriate graduate work toward the MPA after admission. Units beyond these first 12 must be petitioned for through the school. Students on limited status are encouraged to complete the application and admission processes before completing those first 12 units.

PhD Candidates

PhD students who pass the qualifying examinations and complete the MPA course requirements or their equivalent during their course work at USC may, with the recommendation of the coordinator of the MPA program, apply for and receive the MPA degree.

The Master of Public Diplomacy is designed for students who already have a substantial undergraduate background in social sciences or relevant professional experience in subjects such as communications, film and media studies, journalism, political science, public relations and international relations. Students in the program may decide to emphasize public diplomacy training most appropriate for a career in public service, the corporate world or in a nongovernmental organization (NGO) working in the ever-expanding global civil society. USC is a member of the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA).

For admission requirements, refer to the Admission Requirements section in the School of Communication.

Requirements for the completion of this degree program are 32 units, including the required substantive paper or alternative project.

All master's degree candidates in the Annenberg School of Communication are required to complete the Managing Complexity in Diverse Organizations training during their enrollment at USC. This non-credit, professional skills training is offered online by USC Annenberg every fall, spring and summer term and is designed to foster students' ability to create, sustain and thrive within diverse work environments. Modules include: fostering connection and inclusive cultures; managing implicit biases and power; understanding the impact of technology on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA); creating representative and inclusive content; and developing habits and strategies to effect lasting change. To learn more about this training please visit our website.

The course requirements are as follows:

This program is designed for students who already have at least five years of experience working in public diplomacy (engaged in international advocacy, international publicity/public relations, international broadcasting, cultural and/or exchange work or other work which the admissions committee deems to fall within their definition of public diplomacy). The program is taught over a single calendar year beginning with a summer course introducing the advanced study of public diplomacy and ending in the middle of the following summer with the submission of a piece of research work. USC is a member of the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA).

For admission requirements, refer to the Admission Requirements section in the School of Communication.

Requirements for the completion of this degree program are 32 units, including a substantive paper or alternative project.

All master's degree candidates in the Annenberg School of Communication are required to complete the Managing Complexity in Diverse Organizations training during their enrollment at USC. This non-credit, professional skills training is offered online by USC Annenberg every fall, spring and summer term and is designed to foster students' ability to create, sustain and thrive within diverse work environments. Modules include: fostering connection and inclusive cultures; managing implicit biases and power; understanding the impact of technology on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA); creating representative and inclusive content; and developing habits and strategies to effect lasting change. To learn more about this training please visit our website.

The course requirements are as follows: