Graduate & Professional Degrees

The Sensory Processing/Sensory Integration Graduate Certificate (SP/SI GC) is intended for those students who would like to develop an expertise in identifying sensory processing disorders and using sensory integration treatments to address them. The certificate encompasses five courses with the last one delivered in conjunction with hands-on clinical practice. The SP/SI GC will position the students to translate the latest research on SI and SP into practice. Once the program is completed, graduates will be able to apply the information in clinical practice, research, advocacy and education.

An applied and overall GPA of 3.0 or above must be met to receive the SP/SI Graduate Certificate as required by the University for graduation. Final course work graded C- or below or No credit is not acceptable for subject or unit credit toward any graduate certificate programs.

Admissions Requirements:

Current USC Chan Graduate Students and USC Chan Alumni: Applicants for the certificate in SP and SI who are currently enrolled in a Chan graduate program at USC and are in good standing with a 3.0 GPA, or Chan alumni who completed the applicable course work within the past seven years (see required courses), need only submit the appropriate paperwork for adding the certificate program, which may be obtained from the Chan Division.

Prospective Applicants: Applicants for the certificate in SP and SI who are currently registered/licensed occupational therapists and have not matriculated at USC must submit a formal application on the USC Graduate Admission website.

Applicants must submit the following items:

• Official transcripts from ALL institutions attended must be sent directly to etrans@usc.edu.
• Résumé (upload via online application)

A letter of recommendation (uploaded via online application)

Program Requirements

The Graduate Certificate program in Sensory Processing and Sensory Integration (SP/SI) is under the jurisdiction of the USC Graduate School. Students should also refer to the Graduate School section of this catalogue for general regulations. All courses applied toward the degree must be courses accepted by the Graduate School.

Requirements include: GPA of 3.0 in all course work attempted and all course work applied to the program. 

Additionally, all students must also meet minimum competency criteria for intervention planning and delivery of direct sensory integration services, as assessed by the program director.

The Master of Arts in Teaching degree prepares teacher candidates to pursue careers as teachers. Subject Matter Concentrations of the program are offered at the Elementary (Multiple Subjects) and Secondary (English, Mathematics, Science and Social Science) levels. The curriculum focuses on preparing teachers to work with diverse K-12 populations. Teacher candidates enrolled in the MAT program will engage in supervised field experiences throughout the curriculum. MAT course work provides teacher candidates with theoretical foundations, teaching strategies and practical field-based experiences necessary to make a difference in schools across the State of California, the United States and the world. The Gifted Education Certificate may be obtained for additional course work. 

The Education Specialist Mild/Moderate credential recommendation may also be earned by completing the Special Education pathway in EDUC 677. Bilingual authorization in Spanish is available through the completion of the MAT program and passage of additional exams and fieldwork requirements.

Single Subject

The MAT Single Subject is designed for those interested in teaching at the secondary level. The emphasis offers specializations in English, Science (Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Geoscience or Physics), Mathematics and Social Science. The MAT Single Subject program requires a minimum of 28 units.

The Single Subject emphasis is available online.

As a California-based licensure program, candidates enrolled in the MAT Single Subject program must satisfy requirements in addition to the courses listed below. Please refer to the information about these requirements here.

The doctorate in Slavic Languages and Literatures is designed to prepare students for a career of teaching and scholarship at the university level. It provides a thorough grounding in Russian literary and cultural history as well as in the theoretical perspectives current in the field. Elective course work, particularly at the upper level, allows students to take advantage of the department's expertise in such additional areas as Russian art, Russian theater, and eastern European cinema. The linguistic component of the curriculum together with the experience as a teaching assistant in Russian language courses that many students gain also serves as preparation for positions involving language teaching. Depending on departmental offerings, further study in a second Slavic language and culture may also be possible.

Admission Requirements

An undergraduate major in Russian or its equivalent is a prerequisite for graduate work.

Degree Requirements

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

Master of Arts in Slavic Languages and Literatures

The department does not accept applicants for a Master of Arts degree in Slavic Languages and Literatures. The MA degree is intended only as a transitional degree in the process of completing requirements for the PhD in Slavic Languages and Literatures. The MA portion of the program comprises 30 units.

First-year Review

The program conducts a thorough review of all first-year students at the end of the second semester. To be permitted to continue doctoral work, students must receive a satisfactory evaluation in this review.

Language Requirements

Non-native speakers of Russian must successfully complete 8 units (four semesters) of RUSS 500 Topics in Advanced Russian and pass a proficiency exam in the language.

Field Examination

A written exam based on a reading list, followed by an oral exam, must be successfully passed before the MA can be awarded. It is normally taken at the end of the semester in which MA course work is completed.

The Master of Science in Manufacturing Engineering program prepares students to work in the manufacturing industry by providing them with the skills and knowledge necessary to design and operate modern factories. The program includes courses that introduce the latest manufacturing technologies and, based on such technologies, project-based learning opportunities in the form of industry case studies.

The program requires a minimum of 28 units. 

The Master of Science in Social Entrepreneurship offers students a unique combination of business entrepreneurship skills delivered within the context of achieving both social and financial missions.

The courses focus entirely on the business aspects of social entrepreneurship including feasibility, planning, marketing, management, finance and execution. Social, environmental and health issues are integrated into the readings, cases, teaching, guest lectures, exercises and assignments. The program also includes a for-credit practical capstone project in which students have the option to develop a business plan for a new social enterprise.

This program requires 30 units and can be completed in one year (full time) or two years (part time). Courses are offered in the evenings and on weekends on the University Park Campus in downtown Los Angeles.

Admission Requirements

Applicants apply online and must fulfill the general Marshall/USC admission requirements for graduate programs. Admission decisions into the MSSE program will be based on an applicant's previous academic record, résumé, a letter of recommendation and a response to an essay question. TOEFL, IELTS or PTE scores will be required for international applicants who have not completed the equivalent of a four-year bachelor's degree (all four years) at an institution in a country where English is the primary official language. GMAT or GRE scores are recommended, but will not be required for this program.

Application Procedure

Submit an online application to the program through the USC Graduate Admissions website (gradadm.usc.edu/). International applicants are advised to view the information for international students at gradadm.usc.edu/apply/international-students/.

A complete application includes the online application form, an application fee, a response to the essay question, one letter of recommendation and copies of transcripts from all institutions attended since the applicant last applied to USC.

For more information about the program and detailed information about the application requirements and procedures, please visit marshall.usc.edu/MSSE, write to SocialEntrepreneur@marshall.usc.edu, or call (213) 740-7587.

Persistent social problems such as concentrated poverty, environmental degradation, and income inequality demand innovative new solutions to addressing these issues and improving the quality of life for all members of society. This certificate prepares future social innovators to design innovative policy solutions, create social enterprises and develop new financial tools to speed the pace of social innovation.

Students will take 13-15* units of course work depending on the electives chosen. There are two required courses (7 units) and students select two elective courses.

*Total unit value depends on elective courses selected.

The graduate certificate in Social Justice is for students interested in understanding the set of factors that contribute to a broad range of disparities (or inequities) and the challenges that exist when managing, planning and policy making among diverse populations. The course work in this certificate focuses on the theories and analytic tools that are needed to assess issues in social justice.

The certificate in Social Justice consists of 12 units of graduate course work.

The online Graduate Certificate in Social Work Administration is a joint program offered by the Gould School of Law and the Dworak-Peck School of Social Work. It provides students with an introduction to the U.S. legal system and allows them to deepen their knowledge by offering a working understanding of the law and social work administration. The program is geared toward those who work in administrative and leadership positions in the field of social work and within social service agencies, in particular.

Students enroll in 12 units of course work that includes 6 units of Law courses and 6 units of Social Work courses.

The Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) program at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work offers a professional practice doctorate in social change and innovation for master's- level social work practitioners who are graduates of CSWE-accredited programs and for professionals with master's degrees in allied fields from accredited institutions. The DSW program prepares doctoral level practitioner-scholars to create practical, applied solutions to large-scale social challenges that directly impact a myriad of populations.

Graduates of our program should possess the following capabilities:

1. Research-Informed Practice: Our graduates apply and disseminate research-informed knowledge, values, ethics and skills in social work through practice, professional leadership and teaching, driving positive change in the field.
2. Advancing Practice: Graduates excel at advancing practice at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels within the social work field, addressing a wide range of social challenges and promoting positive change.
3. Knowledge Development: They are skilled at developing, translating, and advancing social work practice knowledge to address evolving challenges in the field.
4. Systematic Inquiry: Graduates engage in systematic inquiry to inform evidence-based practice and contribute to the profession's knowledge base.
5. Leadership Excellence: They excel in roles within professional leadership (including higher education leadership), contributing to the advancement of social work practice and knowledge.
6. Substantive Expertise: Additionally, our program emphasizes the development and maintenance of substantive expertise in one or more areas of social work practice, ensuring that graduates are well-equipped to make a meaningful impact in their chosen specialization areas.

Students are required to complete a minimum of 42 units of course work beyond their master's degree. The core DSW curriculum consists of 14 courses culminating with an independent capstone project, representing a substantive advancement in research-informed practices as well as in professional leadership, which may include leadership in the context of higher education. The foundation for the DSW curriculum rests on three pillars: (1) advanced practice expertise; (2) systematic inquiry and (3) professional leadership. Students complete 12 units of course work in each of these areas and 6 units of preparatory scholarship for their capstone projects. The DSW program is typically completed in nine semesters, with no accelerated options for completing the minimally required courses.

The program of study leading to the Master of Social Work (MSW) degree with a specialization in integrative social work practice requires a minimum of 48 units (see below for exception for students with Advanced Standing). Of these, 30 units focus on foundational generalist training, while 18 units are dedicated to advanced specialized training.

The generalist practice curriculum (typically completed in the first two semesters of full-time study) introduces students to the core competencies and practice behaviors essential for professional social work, including the range of social welfare problems and programs, and the varieties of human behavior with which social work is concerned. At the same time, students learn the methods by which the social worker, the social agency and the organized community work with people and problems. Practicum education, under supervision in a social agency, is typically scheduled for two or three days per week for most students, enabling students to apply theory and concepts to actual practice. At the completion of generalist practice training, students are expected to have acquired a sense of professional responsibility and the ability to integrate and apply knowledge, skills, values and cognitive and affective processes to practice situations with individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities. 

Students complete their specialized practice training in integrative social work typically in semesters three and four of full-time study. As part of the specialized practice curriculum, students build on the core competencies developed in the generalist curriculum and deepen their knowledge and skills in advanced social work practice.This component of the curriculum comprises 18 units of the total 48-unit curriculum. The integrative social work specialization includes 6 units of integrative practice, 3 units of integrative assessment and evaluation, 6 units of practicum training and a 3-unit elective offered by the School of Social Work, providing comprehensive and holistic training in advanced practice.

Students have the option to customize their education beyond their training in integrative social work by selecting a track (or "sub-specialization"). Tracks introduce students to practice with a particular client population, setting or system. Importantly, tracks are designed to deepen or broaden students' expertise in integrative social work practice, complementing—rather than replacing—the core training in this specialization.

Each track consists of advanced, specialized course work on integrative practice (6 units) and assessment and evaluation (3 units); and practicum training (6 units). Some tracks require completion of a track-specific elective.

If chosen, tracks are completed within the minimum 48-unit MSW curriculum in alignment with Council on Social Work Education's (CSWE) educational policy and accreditation standards. The availability of specific tracks may vary based on enrollment, scheduling and other institutional factors; some tracks may only be offered on-ground or online.

The program is available at these locations:

• University Park Campus (UPC): Offers fully on-ground and hybrid options, with hybrid students completing their generalist course work in person at UPC and their specialized course work online. 
• San Diego Academic Center (SDAC): Offers a hybrid option, with hybrid students completing their generalist course work in person at SDAC and their specialized course work online.
• Virtual Academic Center (VAC): Offers a fully online option, with VAC students completing both their generalist and specialized course work online (excluding their practicum internship training). 

The MSW can be completed through a full-time or part-time/extended option, allowing students to progress at a pace that fits their needs (typically four semesters for full-time and five or more semesters for part-time/extended). Additionally, students with a baccalaureate degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program—earned within the timeframe specified by CSWE—may be eligible for advanced standing, which allows for an accelerated path to degree completion (usually three semesters instead of four). Unlike students completing the traditional curriculum, Advanced Standing students complete 24 units of training, consisting of 6 units of bridge courses and 18 units of specialized course work. 

Special Note: MSW students are required to complete practicum education training as part of the program's graduation requirements. Students typically complete four semesters of practicum education sequentially. However, the number of semesters and practicum hours may vary for part-time students, students with Advanced Standing, and transfer students, based on individual academic plans and placement availability. Students without Advanced Standing typically complete at least 1200 total practicum hours as part of their training, which includes a minimum of 1100 hours interning at assigned agencies (450 hours of generalist training and 650 hours of specialized training) and 100 hours attending the classroom portion of practicum education. Specific practicum expectations may vary based on individual circumstances, including compliance with legal and regulatory requirements for international students under Curricular Practical Training/Optional Practical Training (CPT/OPT). Exceptions to practicum hours or requirements are subject to review and approval.

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