Graduate & Professional Degrees

The Public Interest Certificate is intended for JD students who plan to spend a significant part of their careers in the nonprofit or government (including criminal) sectors. It serves at least three functions. First, it signals to future employers that the student has made a significant commitment to acquiring the substantive knowledge, practical skills and familiarity with the landscape of nonprofit and government law, which will prepare him or her for a successful career in these sectors. Second, the certificate assists students in discerning and following a law school path that will provide the fundamentals they need for a career in nonprofit or government law, and exposes them to a range of substantive law areas, practitioners and experiences in the public interest sector. Third, the certificate allows the Law School to affirm and showcase its support for public interest law and its offerings for students and potential students interested in this career path.  

This program provides students with a solid foundation of training and skills in management. Individuals who need training in public administration but who are unable to enroll for the Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree may find this certificate program of particular interest. Key to the program's success is the close integration of the academic curriculum and the application of skills and theory to managerial work assignments. Students may enroll at any time throughout the year.

The graduate certificate is offered jointly by the Sol Price School of Public Policy and the Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism. The certificate provides students with knowledge of the increasingly important role played by information flows in politics and governance. Students will assess the structure of campaigns designed to influence public opinion, the messaging strategies utilized by political players and civic society organizations and new scholarship on the pathways of persuasion in the digital age. The certificate is especially appropriate for students who intend to pursue work with elected officials, think tanks, foundations, community-based organizations, consulting firms and corporate offices that aim to shape public policy through advocacy.

Applicants for the Certificate in Public Policy Advocacy must be currently enrolled in a graduate program at USC and in good standing, with a 3.0 GPA. Students can apply for the certificate through the student services office at the Price or the Annenberg School.

The Certificate in Public Policy Advocacy requires a minimum of 14 units for students taking two 3-unit electives in the Strategic Public Relations Program. More typically students will earn 15 or 16 units by taking one or two 4-unit electives. All units earned in pursuit of the certificate can be applied toward the completion of degree requirements if they fall within existing criteria. However, courses taken solely for certificate purposes will not substitute for degree requirements.

The Price School offers two PhD programs. Both the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Public Policy and Management and the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Urban Planning and Development degree programs are under the jurisdiction of the Graduate School. Students should also refer to Graduate and Professional Education and The Graduate School sections of this catalogue for general regulations. All courses applied toward the degrees must be courses accepted by The Graduate School.

This PhD program in the Price School emphasizes a rigorous program of advanced study and research, stressing qualitative or quantitative analysis and the theoretical foundations of their field of study. This program is designed to provide students with the opportunity to develop their own specialization and expertise in their major field while also offering a breadth of knowledge in an especially rich intellectual environment.

This graduate certificate program provides students with a foundation in public policy analysis. It is designed to provide expertise in public policy to individuals who do not want to pursue the Master of Public Policy degree. Potential students include those who are pursuing another degree and want to complement that work with a specialization in public policy, as well as qualified students holding a bachelor's degree who have not matriculated at USC. The certificate develops policy analytic skills and their integration with a policy issue area of interest to the student.

Applicants for the Certificate in Public Policy who have not matriculated at USC must make a formal application for admission to the certificate program, provide transcripts of all college work, a resume and one letter of recommendation.

The program consists of 16 units of graduate course work.

datascience.usc.edu

Big data is revolutionizing the way many agencies operate, particularly with respect  to governance transparency and accountability, law enforcement, transportation and housing policy. Big data is changing strategies for crime-fighting, defense, national intelligence, social programs and finance and operations of agencies. The Master of Science in Public Policy Data Science is a multi-disciplinary program offered jointly between the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy and the Data Science Program in the department of Computer Science at the Viterbi School of Engineering, and will provide a curriculum that will make degree recipients appealing to the employers of the 21st century.

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 master's degree candidates in public relations in the USC Annenberg School of Journalism are required to complete the Managing Complexity in Diverse Organizations (MCDO) program during their enrollment at USC. MCDO is a non-credit, professional skills-building curriculum designed to prepare students to create, sustain and thrive within increasingly complex global work environments. The program is offered online by USC Annenberg every fall, spring and summer term. USC Annenberg faculty developed this immersive, eight-week, active learning program to equip learners with the skills to collaborate with, manage and lead across teams with diverse perspectives and expertise, while supporting resilient, high-performance professional environments. Learn more about MCDO on 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 master's degree candidates in public relations in the USC Annenberg School of Journalism are required to complete the Managing Complexity in Diverse Organizations (MCDO) program during their enrollment at USC. MCDO is a non-credit, professional skills-building curriculum designed to prepare students to create, sustain and thrive within increasingly complex global work environments. The program is offered online by USC Annenberg every fall, spring and summer term. USC Annenberg faculty developed this immersive, eight-week, active learning program to equip learners with the skills to collaborate with, manage and lead across teams with diverse perspectives and expertise, while supporting resilient, high-performance professional environments. Learn more about MCDO on 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.