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Progressive Degree Program List

Progressive degrees could potentially be almost any Master’s degree at USC.  However, not every Master’s program at USC allows the Progressive Degree option. Some professional degrees, such as the MBA and most medical practitioner Master’s programs, are not available for the Progressive Degree option. Program and School names below may contain links to Progressive Degree websites for those areas. A full list of all graduate degrees currently offered is available in the USC Catalogue.

The list of programs below includes departments that have offered the Progressive Degree option previously, but other programs may also be open to participating. Academic Departments can email list and course plan updates to ugp@usc.edu.

Leventhal School of Accounting
School of Architecture
Marshall School of Business
School of Cinematic Arts
Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
Rossier School of Education
Viterbi School of Engineering
Davis School of Gerontology
Gould School of Law
Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Keck School of Medicine
Thornton School of Music
Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Price School of Public Policy
Dworak-Peck School of Social Work

Leventhal School of Accounting

Program

Admission Deadline

Contact

Eligibility
Master of Accounting
Spring/Fall: Rolling
October 1-March 31
macc.mbt@marshall.usc.edu
Open to all majors; prerequisites: Introduction to Financial Accounting; Micro or Macroeconomics; Statistics
Master of Business Taxation
Spring/Fall: Rolling
October 1-March 31
macc.mbt@marshall.usc.edu
Open to all majors; prerequisites: Introduction to Financial Accounting; Micro or Macroeconomics; Statistics

School of Architecture

Program

Admission Deadline

Contact

Eligibility
Master of Building Science
Spring
Priority: 5th week of the Fall Semester
Final: Last Day of Fall final exams
Fall
Priority: 5th week of the Spring semester
Final: Last day of Spring final exams
Dr. Kyle Konis
Course Plan
Majors in Civil Engineering (Viterbi)

Marshall School of Business

Program

Admission Deadline

Contact

Eligibility
M.S. in Business Analytics
Program begins in Fall only.
PDP review follows review rounds listed on program website.
pdp@marshall.usc.edu
Course Plan
Open to all majors; Prerequisite: Statistics
M.S. in Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Program begins in Fall only.
PDP applications reviewed on a rolling basis from September 1 to March 1.
Applications received after March 1 will be reviewed on a space-available basis until the Fall cohort is full or the final deadline passes.
Final deadline for Fall admission: July 15.
pdp@marshall.usc.edu
Course Plan
Open to all majors
M.S. in Finance
Program begins in Fall only.
The deadline to apply to the MSF PDP during the Spring semester is February 1st.
The deadline to apply to the MSF PDP during the Summer semester is June 15th.
No PDP review in Fall.
pdp@marshall.usc.edu
Course Plan
Open to all majors
M.S. in Global Supply Chain Management
Program begins in Fall only.
PDP review follows review rounds listed on program website.
Applications received after April 17 will be reviewed on a space-available basis until the Fall cohort is full or the final deadline passes.
Final deadline for Fall admission: July 7.
pdp@marshall.usc.edu
Course Plan
Open to all majors
M.S. in Marketing
Program begins in Summer only (May).
PDP review follows review rounds listed on program website.
Applications received after January 22 will be reviewed on a space-available basis until the Summer cohort is full or the final deadline passes.
Final deadline for Summer admission: April 15.
pdp@marshall.usc.edu
Course Plan
Open to all majors
M.S. in Social Entrepreneurship
Program begins in Summer only (June).
PDP review follows review rounds listed on program website.
Applications received after March 1 will be reviewed on a space-available basis until the Summer cohort is full or the final deadline passes.
Final deadline for Summer admission: May 15.
pdp@marshall.usc.edu
Course Plan
Open to all majors

School of Cinematic Arts

Program

Admission Deadline

Contact

Eligibility
M.A. in Cinematic Arts (Media Arts, Games and Health)
Applications accepted on a rolling basis. Deadline for Fall start is May 1
Erlis Murph
Course Plan
Open to all majors

Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism

Interested applicants must attend a mandatory information session before applying.

Program

Admission Deadline

Contact

Eligibility
Master of Communication Management
Applications accepted on a rolling basis after  December 1. Deadline for fall start is March 1.
ascjpdp@usc.edu
Course Plan
Open to all majors
Application guidelines distributed at mandatory information sessions only.
M.S. in Digital Social Media
Applications accepted on a rolling basis after  December 1. Deadline for fall start is March 1.
ascjpdp@usc.edu
Course Plan
Open to all majors
Application guidelines distributed at mandatory information sessions only.
M.S. in Journalism
Applications accepted on a rolling basis after  December 1. Deadline for fall start is March 1.
ascjpdp@usc.edu
Course Plan
Open to all majors, excluding journalism.
Application guidelines distributed at mandatory information sessions only.
Master of Public Diplomacy
Applications accepted on a rolling basis after  December 1. Deadline for fall start is March 1.
ascjpdp@usc.edu
Course Plan
Open to all majors
Application guidelines distributed at mandatory information sessions only.
M.A. in Public Relations and Advertising
Applications accepted on a rolling basis after  December 1. Deadline for fall start is March 1.
ascjpdp@usc.edu
Course Plan
Open to all majors
Application guidelines distributed at mandatory information sessions only.
M.A. in Specialized Journalism
Applications accepted on a rolling basis after  December 1. Deadline for fall start is March 1.
ascjpdp@usc.edu
Course Plan
Open to all majors; journalism majors preferred.
Application guidelines distributed at mandatory information sessions only.
M.A. in Specialized Journalism (Arts and Culture)
Applications accepted on a rolling basis after  December 1. Deadline for fall start is March 1.
ascjpdp@usc.edu
Course Plan
Open to all majors; majors in the arts encouraged.
Application guidelines distributed at mandatory information sessions only.

Rossier School of Education

Program

Admission Deadline

Contact

Eligibility
M.A. in Teaching (MAT – Multiple Subject)
Applications accepted on a rolling basis.
Deadline for Summer start is December 1.
Crystal Conley
(213) 821-3405
Course Plan
Open to all majors; education minor students preferred.
M.A. in Teaching (MAT – Single Subject)
Applications accepted on a rolling basis.
Deadline for Summer start is December 1.
Crystal Conley
(213) 821-3405
Course Plan
Open to all majors; education minor students preferred.
M.A. in Teaching, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MAT-TESOL)
Applications accepted on a rolling basis.
Deadline for Fall start is December 1.
Crystal Conley
(213) 821-3405
Course Plan
Open to all majors; education minor students preferred.
M.Ed. in Educational Counseling (EC)
Applications accepted on a rolling basis.
Deadline for Fall start is February 15.
Danelle Go
(213) 821-2671
Course Plan
Open to all majors; education minor students preferred.
M.Ed. in Learning Design and Technology (LDT) – online
Applications accepted on a rolling basis.
Deadline for Fall start is February 15.
Robin Thimbriel
(213) 740-5436
Course Plan
Open to all majors; education minor students preferred.
M.Ed. in Postsecondary Administration in Student Affairs (PASA)
Applications accepted on a rolling basis.
Deadline for Fall start is February 15.
Danelle Go
(213) 821-2671
Course Plan
Open to all majors; education minor students preferred.

Viterbi School of Engineering

Program

Admission Deadline

Contact

Eligibility
The following departments offer Master’s degrees through the Progressive Degree Program. Additional information is available via Viterbi’s Degree Offerings Page.
Fall
First Deadline: Mid-February
Final Deadline: Last day of Spring final exams
viterbi.pdp@usc.edu 
Viterbi students should contact their undergraduate major advisor.
Non-Viterbi students should contact the graduate advisor in the department for the intended master’s degree.
Majors within Viterbi.
Non-Viterbi majors should have completed significant coursework relevant to the MS program they are applying to.

Davis School of Gerontology

Program

Admission Deadline

Contact

Eligibility
M.S. in Gerontology
Spring: The week before Thanksgiving
Fall: The week after Spring Break
Sara Robinson
(213) 740-1728
Open to all majors
Course Plan
(for GERO majors)
Course Plan
(for non-GERO majors)
M.A. in Aging Services Management
Spring: The week before Thanksgiving
Fall: The week after Spring Break
Sara Robinson
(213) 740-1728
Course Plan
Open to all majors
M.A. in Medical Gerontology
Spring: The week before Thanksgiving
Fall: The week after Spring Break
Sara Robinson
(213) 740-1728
Course Plan
Open to all majors
M.A. in Senior Living Hospitality
Spring: The week before Thanksgiving
Fall: The week after Spring Break
Sara Robinson
(213) 740-1728
Open to all majors
Course Plan
(for non-BUAD majors)
Course Plan
(for BUAD majors)

Gould School of Law

Program

Admission Deadline

Contact

Eligibility
Master of International Trade Law and Economics
Spring/Fall: Rolling (Spring: November 1st, Fall: June 1st)
Julia Martinez
(213) 821-5916
Course Plan
Open to all majors, 3.3 GPA, Applicants must have a grade of B+ or higher in ECON 303/305 or ECON 351/352
Master of Science in Innovation Economics, Law and Regulation
Fall: June 21
Bailey Clem
(213) 821-5916
Course Plan
Open to all majors, 3.3 GPA, Applicants must have a grade of B+ or higher in ECON 303/305 or ECON 351/352
Master of Studies in Law (On-Campus)
Spring/Fall: Rolling (Spring: December 2nd, Fall: August 5th)
Nicholas Kajimoto
(213) 821-5916
Course Plan
Open to all majors, 3.0 GPA

Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences

Program

Admission Deadline

Contact

Eligibility
M.A. in Applied Mathematics
Spring/Fall: Rolling
Susan Sath
Math majors; Math minors; Engineering and other majors with a strong background in mathematics
M.S. in Applied Mathematics
Spring/Fall: Rolling
Susan Sath
Math majors; Math minors; Engineering and other majors with a strong background in mathematics
M.A. in East Asian Area Studies
Spring/Fall: Rolling
Grace Ryu
(213) 740-2991
Course Plan
Open to all majors; applicants must have a minimum 3.75 GPA and should have 3 years or equivalent proficiency in Chinese, Japanese or Korean.
M.S. in Applied Economics and Econometrics
Spring/Fall: Rolling
Alexis Teodoro
(213) 740-5507
Course Plan
Economics, Business, PPD, and related fields; applicants must have a solid foundation in economics and strong math skills
M.A. in Environmental Studies
Spring/Fall: Rolling
Dr. Monalisa Chatterjee
(213) 740-8576
Contact Dr. Monalisa Chatterjee
M.S. in Geological Sciences
Spring/Fall: Rolling
Darlene Garza
(213) 740-6109
Applicants must have a strong background in geological sciences
M.S. in Geographic Information Science & Technology
Spring December 1st/Fall August 1st: Rolling
Monica Pan
(213) 740-5841
Course Plan
Open to all majors; completion of some GIST-related courses is recommended before applying (e.g., SSCI, ARCH, PPD)
M.A. in Global Securities Studies
Spring December 1st/Fall August 1st: Rolling
Monica Pan
(213) 740-5841
Course Plan
Open to all majors; completion of some GIST-related courses is recommended before applying (e.g., SSCI, ARCH, PPD)
M.S. in Human Security and Geospatial Intelligence
Spring December 1st/Fall August 1st: Rolling
Monica Pan
(213) 740-5841
 Course Plan
Open to all majors; completion of some GIST-related courses is recommended before applying (e.g., SSCI, ARCH, PPD)
M.A. in Language Sciences
Spring/Fall: Rolling
Sandra Ferrari Disner (213) 821-2309
 Course Plan
Open to LING majors only
M.A. in Literary Editing and Publishing
Fall: March
Laura Hough
(213) 740-2808
Course Plan
Open to all majors
M.S. in Marine and Environmental Biology
Spring/Fall: Rolling
Adolfo Dela Rosa
(213) 821-3164
Course Plan
Open to all majors;
pre-requisites: BISC 120/220; CHEM 105ab; BISC 320/330
M.S. in Mathematical Finance
Spring/Fall: Rolling
Susan Sath
Math majors; Math minors; Engineering and other majors with a strong background in mathematics
M.A. in Mathematics
Spring/Fall: Rolling
Susan Sath
Math majors; Math minors; Engineering and other majors with a strong background in mathematics
M.S. in Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry
Spring/Fall: Rolling
Paloma Saenz
(213) 740-5188
Open to life sciences majors;
pre-requisites: BISC 120/220, BISC 320, CHEM 105ab,
CHEM 322ab
M.A. in Philosophy and Law
Spring/Fall: Rolling
Natalie Schaad
(213) 740-4084
Course Plan
Philosophy major or minor
M.S. in Applied Psychology
Spring/Fall: Rolling Admissions
Application portal opens in early September
Desiree Mendez
(213) 764-3488
Course Plan
Applicants must have a 3.4 GPA or higher for consideration. Students must complete at least one statistics course at USC before applying.
M.S. in Quantitative and Computational Biology
Spring/Fall: Rolling
Ashley Tozzi
(213) 740-2401
Open to QBIO majors and other majors with a strong background in quantitative and computational methods
M.S. in Spatial Data Science
Spring December 1st/Fall August 1st: Rolling
Monica Pan
(213) 740-5841
Course Plan
Open to all majors; completion of some GIST-related courses is recommended before applying (e.g., SSCI, ARCH, PPD)
M.S. in Spatial Economics and Data Analysis
Spring December 1st/Fall August 1st: Rolling
Monica Pan
(213) 740-5841
Course Plan
Open to all majors; completion of some GIST-related courses is recommended before applying (e.g., SSCI, ARCH, PPD)
M.S. in Statistics
Spring/Fall: Rolling
Susan Sath
Math majors; Math minors; Engineering and other majors with a strong background in mathematics
Master of Visual Anthropology
Spring/Fall: Rolling
Dr. Emily Zeamer
(213) 740-1917
Course Plan
Open to all majors

Keck School of Medicine

Program

Admission Deadline

Contact

Eligibility
M.S. in Addiction Science
Fall Early Deadline: February 1
Fall Final Deadline: May 1
Jillian Boelke
(323) 442-2695
Course Plan
Open to all majors; Basic Biology and Chemistry knowledge preferred
M.S. in Applied Biostatistics and Epidemiology
Fall/Spring: Rolling
Renee Stanley
(323) 442-1810
Open to all majors; applicants must have completed some statistics and math courses
M.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine
Fall/Spring: Rolling
msbmm@usc.edu
Course Plan
Open to all majors but applicants should have a strong background in biological sciences
M.S. in Biostatistics
Fall/Spring: Rolling
Renee Stanley
(323) 442-1810
Open to all majors; applicants must have completed some statistics and math courses
M.S. in Global Medicine
Summer/Fall/Spring: Rolling
msgm@med.usc.edu
(323) 442-3141
Course Plan
Open to all pre-health majors
M.S. in Medical Physiology
Fall/Spring: Rolling
physiology@usc.edu
Course Plan
Open to all majors but applicants should have a strong background in biological sciences
M.S. in Public Health Data Science
Fall: Rolling
Renee Stanley
(323) 442-1810
Open to all majors; applicants must have completed some statistics and math courses
M.S. in Integrative Anatomical Sciences
Summer: February 1 for full consideration; case by case basis through May 15
Dr. Kristi Lewton
Course Plan
Open to all majors, but applicants should have a strong background in biological sciences
M.S. in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
Fall: Rolling
mmidept@usc.edu
Course Plan
Open to all majors, but applicants should have adequate background in biological sciences and strong interest in biomedical hands-on research.
M.S. in Neuroimaging and Informatics
May 1
niin@ini.usc.edu
(323) 442-7246
Open to all majors
M.S. in Narrative Medicine
Fall: Rolling
uscnarrativemedicine@usc.edu
Course Plan
Open to all majors
Master of Public Health
Spring: October 1
Summer: March 1
Fall: May 1
Linda Mendoza Lopez
(323) 442-0641
Course Plan
Open to all majors; applicants must demonstrate strong interest in Public Health
M.S. in Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine
Fall/Spring: Rolling
scrm@usc.edu
(323) 865-1266
Open to all majors but applicants should have a strong background in biological sciences; pre-requisites: BISC 220 and BISC 320
M.S. in Translational Biomedical Informatics
Fall/Spring: Rolling
David Wesley Craig
(323) 442-7784
Open to all majors
M.S. in Translational Biotechnology
Fall/Spring: Rolling
Carol Lin
(323) 442-3237
Course Plan
Open to all majors

Thornton School of Music

Program

Admission Deadline

Contact

Eligibility
M.S. in Arts Leadership
March 1
Fall start only.
Daniel Andrade
(213) 740-4721
Course Plan
Open to visual and performing arts majors
M.S. in Music Industry
December 1
Fall start only.
Viet Bui
(213) 740-4721
Course Plan
Open to all majors except B.S. Music Industry

Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Program

Admission Deadline

Contact

Eligibility
M.S. in Biopharmaceutical Marketing
Fall/Spring/Summer: Rolling
Michelle Ton
Course Plan
All majors are welcome to apply and will be considered on a case-by-case basis
M.S. in Clinical & Experimental Therapeutics
Fall
Priority deadline: February 1
Final deadline:
June 1
Stephanie Lee
Open to all majors; Basic Biology and Chemistry knowledge preferred
M.S. in Healthcare Decision Analysis
Fall/Spring/Summer: Rolling
Michelle Ton
(213) 821-6478
Course Plan
Open to all majors
M.S. in Management of Drug Development
Spring
 Priority deadline: June 1
Final deadline: October 1
Summer
Priority deadline: October 1
Final deadline: February 1
Fall
Priority deadline: February 1
Final deadline:
June 1
Desirae Hernandez
(323) 442-3102
Course Plan
All majors are welcome to apply and will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Basic Biology and Chemistry knowledge preferred.
M.S. in Medical Product Quality
Spring
 Priority deadline: June 1
Final deadline: October 1
Summer
Priority deadline: October 1
Final deadline: February 1
Fall
Priority deadline: February 1
Final deadline:
June 1
Desirae Hernandez
(323) 442-3102
Course Plan
All majors are welcome to apply and will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Basic Biology and Chemistry knowledge preferred.
M.S. in Regulatory Science
Spring
 Priority deadline: June 1
Final deadline: October 1
Summer
Priority deadline: October 1
Final deadline: February 1
Fall
Priority deadline: February 1
Final deadline:
June 1
Desirae Hernandez
(323) 442-3102
Course Plan
All majors are welcome to apply and will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Basic Biology and Chemistry knowledge preferred.

Price School of Public Policy

Program

Admission Deadline

Contact

Eligibility
Master of Health Administration
Spring: N/A
Fall: February 1
Jennifer Kim
(213) 821-0837
Course Plan
Open to all majors
Master of Urban Planning
Spring: September 15
Fall: February 1
Karla Barajas 
(213) 740-0529
Course Plan
Open to all majors; completion of some PPD courses is recommended before applying
Master of Public Administration
Spring: September 15
Fall: March 1
Lucía Saavedra
(213) 740-4723
Course Plan
Open to all majors
Master of Public Policy
Spring: N/A
Fall: December 15 for scholarship consideration.                March 1 for standard admission consideration.
Suzanne Alexander
(213) 740-1532
Course Plan
Open to all majors

Dworak-Peck School of Social Work

Program

Admission Deadline

Contact

Eligibility
Master of Social Work
Program begins in Fall only.
Priority deadline: January 11.
Final deadline: April 5
Monica Ellis
(213) 821-0903
Necole Yaacoub
(213) 821-0976
Course Plan
Open to USC undergraduates with a minimum 3.3 GPA at the time of application.