Graduate & Professional Degrees

In our dynamic global society, talented professionals who contextualize, analyze and shape policy with an eye for the public good are vitally important. The USC Price Master of Public Policy program prepares students to become these essential leaders. Our program is organized around three broad areas: policy processes and analysis, economics and quantitative analysis. With an emphasis on social justice and innovation, students' comprehensive studies will be immersive, spanning a variety of disciplines and culminating in a unique year-long practicum.

The MPP degree is offered at the University Park Campus only.

Requirements for Admission

Potential for distinguished academic and professional achievement is the principal criterion for admission to the Master of Public Policy program. In assessing an application, the admission committee evaluates:

• past performance and future promise as evidenced by grades, work experience, community service, etc.
• commitment to educational and career goals, as demonstrated particularly in the writing sample

In general, successful applicants will have at least a 3.0 undergraduate grade point average (GPA).

Students are admitted to the fall semester. Students applying are encouraged to submit applications prior to December 15 in order to receive full scholarship consideration. Since the admission review process does not include an interview, submitted materials should present student qualifications clearly and completely.

Prerequisites

All entering students must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and are required to demonstrate proficiency in foundational statistical methods. The statistics prerequisite can be satisfied in one of two ways:

Statistics or Econometrics Course Taken Prior to Enrollment in the MPP

Completion of a college-level statistics or econometrics course with a grade of "B" or better within three years of matriculation. At minimum, prior coursework must have included essential topics in descriptive and inferential statistics such as measures of central tendency and dispersion, confidence intervals, and hypothesis testing. If relevant statistical coursework was completed more than three years prior, a waiver may be granted based on the level of statistical training completed and the degree to which currency with this material was maintained through subsequent professional use.

PPD 504 Essential Statistics for Public Management

If a student has not completed a college-level statistics course with a grade of "B" or better within three years of matriculation, they will need to complete a summer course prior to starting the MPP program. USC offers PPD 504 Essential Statistics for Public Management each summer; a grade of "C" or better in PPD 504 is sufficient to satisfy the statistics prerequisite. Students may instead choose to satisfy the requirement by completing a qualifying statistics course at another institution prior to enrolling at USC. If the course is completed outside of USC, it must be taken for a grade and the student must earn a grade of "B" or better. Regardless of which course is used to meet the prerequisite requirement, the units associated with the course will not be used toward the 48 required degree units.

Pre-semester MPP Labs

The Professional Fundamentals and Statistics/STATA Labs provide an introduction to the program, acclimate students to skills that will be further developed in their first-semester courses and help to create a genuine camaraderie within the first-year student cohort. Entering MPP students are required to participate in the Statistics/STATA Lab as well as the Professional Fundamentals Lab. The labs meet the week prior to the start of the fall semester. The Professional Fundamentals Lab will lead directly into PPD 554 Foundations for Policy Analysis, while the Statistics/STATA Lab will provide initial exposure to the statistical software that will be utilized extensively in PPD 558 Multivariate Statistical Analysis.

Few industries have been as radically transformed by new technologies in the past 20 years as the public relations and advertising professions. Now increasingly converged fields of practice and study, they remain central to the success of organizations of all types, whether business or purpose-driven. The Master of Arts in Public Relations and Advertising offers students a broad perspective across a changing global communication landscape and a deep grounding in foundational courses across disciplines such as persuasive writing, strategy, business fundamentals, advocacy, digital content creation, improvisational leadership and storytelling backed by data intelligence. Through a combination of conceptual courses, research and content creation labs plus electives, specializations and study abroad opportunities, this highly applied program prepares students to become a leader in one of the most dynamic global industries.

Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to utilize strategic and critical thinking principles, quantitative and qualitative analyses, multi-platform content creation methods and ethical reasoning models to conceptualize and execute effective communication campaigns across all forms of media. In addition to the core competencies of public relations and advertising, graduates will work in other digital communication fields that include social media management, influencer relations, digital brand activation, etc.

Studies toward the Master of Arts in Public Relations and Advertising require 36 units in total, 27 of which are required, foundational courses. The remaining 9 units may be taken as PR and Advertising specializations, Annenberg electives or at other USC schools. No more than 9 units of 400-level course work may be applied toward the MA in Public Relations and Advertising.

Students who earn a GPA of below 3.0 will be placed on academic probation and must improve according to established terms if they are to remain in the school.

Residence

Normally, full-time students in the MA in Public Relations and Advertising can complete the program in four semesters.

Foreign Language/Research Tool Requirement

There is no foreign language or research tool requirement; however, prior knowledge of digital media and research tools is beneficial. 

Master's Thesis/Capstone

The Master of Arts in Public Relations and Advertising culminates in either a Thesis or Capstone option. Students may choose between two options: a) the 4-unit thesis/professional project option, which entails one of three approaches: a traditional academic thesis (generally reserved for students who intend to pursue a PhD); a research project (a strategic campaign plan or a white paper); or a video thesis. Alternatively, students may select b) a practicum to craft a digital capstone portfolio that tests overall program knowledge. A passing grade in the capstone portfolio is required for graduation. 

Additional Requirements

All public relations master's degree candidates in the Annenberg School of Journalism 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 Master of Science in Public Relations Innovation, Strategy and Management (PRISM) program is designed to prepare professionals to advance their careers in the field of brand communication disciplines, including public relations and advertising. This practice-focused program emphasizes innovation and the critical role communication plays in the performance of global organizations, providing students with the knowledge and skills needed to be effective leaders. In addition to core communication principles, students explore the full spectrum of multiplatform content development, marketing and advertising concepts and methodologies, including brand purpose, storytelling and journalism. Students will learn about social media advertising, influencer relations, crisis communication and the impact of emerging technologies. Essential processes such as campaign and program planning, development, measurement and evaluation are also examined. The program encourages immediate application of key concepts learned to address workplace challenges and opportunities. Finally, students will explore practical topics that are increasingly important to the communication profession, including leadership, management, business acumen, ethics and diversity, equity, inclusion and access.

A Master of Science degree in Public Relations Innovation, Strategy and Management (PRISM) requires 24 units of course work offered in the fall, spring and summer semesters. The program may be completed on a full-time or part-time basis. Students attending the program on a full-time basis can earn the degree within 12 months and those on a part-time basis can complete the program in less than two years. 

Additional Requirements

All public relations master's degree candidates in the Annenberg School of Journalism 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 Department of Quantitative and Computational Biology offers a Master of Science in Quantitative and Computational Biology (QCB), which integrates quantitative graduate courses from the Biological Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Astronomy, and Quantitative and Computational Biology departments. Students will gain additional skills across these disciplines that prepare them well for advanced graduate-level work, MD/PhD programs at top universities and/or jobs in industries at the intersection of biotechnology and software development.

The program requires 32 units, as indicated below.

The Master of Science in Quantum Information Science program requires a minimum of 28 graduate units with at least 20 units at the 500 level. A minimum grade point average of 3.0 must be earned on all course work applied toward the degree. This average must also be achieved on all 400-level and above course work attempted at USC beyond the bachelor's degree. A maximum of 4 units of Directed Research (590 or 790) may be counted toward the degree. A maximum of 4 transfer units count as credit (CR) toward the master's degree and are not computed in the grade point average.

This graduate certificate program provides students with a foundation of the key elements of real estate development. It is designed to provide these foundations for non-Master of Real Estate Development students who wish to obtain this knowledge to complement their graduate program of study as well as their careers. For admissions information, visit the Price School Website.

The certificate in real estate development consists of 12 units of graduate course work: RED 510, RED 511, and RED 512.

Designed for those who want to understand real estate law and explore the legal framework (statutory and contractual) of this area of law. At least 12 units are required. 

The graduate certificate in regulatory and clinical affairs is designed to provide specialized education for individuals interested in developing a systematic understanding of the U.S. regulatory system for medical products. Students must complete at least 12 units (four course minimum) of course work including an introductory course in regulatory affairs. The certificate can be completed on a part-time basis but must be completed within five years.

Regulatory management relates to the leadership of teams involved in the regulatory and legal requirements of biomedical product development to the scientific study needed to establish product safety and efficacy. The Master of Science in Regulatory Management program is designed to provide post-doctoral scientists and healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to become leaders in regulatory and clinical research. A Masters of Science in Regulatory Management will be granted upon completion of at least 24 units of formal course work. Degree requirements include courses concerned with the regulatory aspects of medical product development, quality assurance, clinical research and business. Students should develop a specific plan of study in consultation with the graduate advisers before beginning the program.

The Doctor of Regulatory Science program cultivates research, leadership and inquiry skills for advanced students in the emerging profession of global regulatory science. It is designed to produce graduates with expertise in strategic management, policy development and research assessment who can play leadership roles in the public sector, academia and the medical products industry. Participants in this program will take a set of interdependent courses that extend from a strong core of basic regulatory science course work and additionally focus on three main areas — global product strategy, product lifecycle strategy, and project and personnel management. After students have completed foundational course work, they will participate as a cohort that typically has a two-year cycle of classes and an additional one or two years of dissertation research. The program has been designed to meet the needs of individuals who are already seasoned professionals working full-time outside of the university. The doctoral degree will be administered by the Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Admission

The program is designed for individuals with strong professional experience and demonstrated intellectual and leadership capabilities. Applicants are expected to have a GPA of 3.0 on university-level course work and ten or more years of professional experience. Admission requirements include university transcripts, a résumé, at least three letters of reference, and a one-page personal statement that outlines the background and goals of the applicant. Students are encouraged even at this early stage to identify areas in which they are interested in conducting research. Students are not required to provide GRE scores unless indicated by the program director.

Students with an appropriate graduate or professional degree may use some previous graduate courses as transfer units toward the overall credit requirements of the Doctor of Regulatory Science program with the approval of the program director and under the normal rules of the university. Students who have graduated from the USC MS program in Regulatory Science can apply all of the previously taken course work toward the doctoral degree. Students with graduate degrees from outside of the regulatory science program are required to take a minimum of 32 units of course work and 4 units of dissertation research to complete the requirements for graduation. The course work requirements will be determined on an individual basis in consultation with the program director and participant's advisers.

Curriculum Requirements

The Doctor of Regulatory Science is administered by the Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. It requires participants to complete 64 units that include the following elements: