Graduate & Professional Degrees

Overview

The MM in vocal arts performance is a two-year, 30-unit program consisting of individual instruction, ensembles, acting for singers, pedagogy, opera literature, diction, music history and electives. A graduate recital is required.

Admission

Admission to Thornton programs is granted through the USC admission process. Applicants are screened by appropriate faculty selection committees. Specific entrance requirements are reviewed on an annual basis and published online at music.usc.edu.

Unit and Grade Requirements

Students must complete at least 26 semester units at USC, including the thesis or recital. A grade point average of not less than 3.0 (A = 4.0) is required for all graduate courses in music, and a grade of B or higher is required for all courses in the major department. Students who transfer credits must achieve this average on all combined transferred and residence units.

Transferred Credits

All credits transferred must be the equivalent of corresponding current work at USC. Course work completed at another institution that has been approved by the Thornton School for transfer credit must have been completed within seven years from the date of admission to a master's degree program to be applied toward that degree. Transfer credit petitions must be filed with the appropriate Thornton adviser during the first semester in residence.

Time Limit

The time limit for completing the Master of Music degree is five years. Progress is measured from the beginning of the first course at USC applied toward the degree. Extensions will be granted by petition to the Thornton School for only the most compelling reasons.

Music Graduate Entrance Exams

All students entering a graduate-level degree program (MA, MM, DMA, PhD) at USC Thornton, who have not previously completed a degree at USC Thornton, must take a series of entrance exams in core music subjects. These exams are called Music Graduate Entrance Exams (MGEEs). Information regarding which exams are required for specific majors is available from the Thornton Student Affairs office. Also see the Thornton School of Music Admission to Graduate Standing section of this catalogue for specific policies relating to these exams. 

Master's Recital

One public recital is required of all candidates for the Master of Music degree (Vocal Arts), as indicated below. Candidates must apply for recital dates, according to the current guidelines of the Music Operations office. Some departments require that a candidate be prepared to play or conduct the recital program for the approval of a faculty committee in advance. Students are required to write extensive program notes for the recital.

Comprehensive Review

Candidates for the Master of Music must pass a comprehensive review toward the end of their course of study, usually in the final semester. This review, which is administered by the faculty of the major department, consists of an oral or written examination, covering relevant aspects of musical performance, literature, and/or technique.

A final examination in vocal pedagogy, art song and oratorio literature, and diction will be administered by the vocal arts faculty.

USC Opera

USC Opera is an integral part of the Vocal Arts Department, providing career development opportunities for singers, coach/pianists, conductors and directors. The program includes instruction in opera history and literature, coaching techniques, stage direction, body movement for singers, stage training, role study and analysis.

The opera workshop is a repertory experience involving preparation and performance of operatic works and excerpts for performance both on and off the USC campus.

The Graduate Certificate in Performative Design + Technology at the USC School of Architecture offers an intensive exploration of advanced technologies shaping the future of the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. This specialized program equips students with the specialized knowledge and focused expertise needed to excel in key areas such as parametric modeling, design computation, data-driven design, artificial intelligence and digital fabrication.

In today's rapidly evolving AEC industry, proficiency in cutting-edge technologies is essential for driving innovation and delivering sustainable, high-performance building solutions. The Performative Design + Technology certificate program immerses students in the latest advancements in design methodologies, computational tools and digital fabrication techniques, empowering them to lead transformative projects and shape the future of the built environment. The Graduate Certificate in Performative Design + Technology prepares students to excel in a rapidly changing industry by equipping them with the specialized knowledge, technical skills and visionary mindset needed to leverage emerging technologies and shape the future of the AEC industry.

A perfusionist is commonly involved in a variety of complex clinical procedures, including cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), ventricular assist device (VAD) placement, transplantation of heart and lungs, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), patient monitoring, blood conservation, and related modalities. With expected accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Accreditation Committee of Perfusion Education (AC-PE), graduates will be eligible for certification examination administered by the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (ABCP). The USC Cardiovascular Perfusion Sciences Program is dedicated to providing students with “an outstanding, well-rounded education in the domains of clinical, scientific, and research […] dedicated to improving the overall health of society.” The program consists of 61 credit hours utilizing evidence-based medicine to build all skill levels and competency, along with leadership, ethics and diversity to cultivate insightful perfusionists, capable of performing at the highest level of patient care.

The Master of Science in Petroleum Engineering (Digital Oilfield Technologies) is awarded in strict conformity with the general requirements of the Viterbi School of Engineering. A student may be permitted to elect the program without thesis upon approval from the department. Course requirements are similar to the existing MS degree in Petroleum Engineering in terms of core requirements.

Students without a BS in Petroleum Engineering will normally be required to complete prerequisite courses before beginning the MS program. Specific prerequisite courses are decided upon consultation with the department adviser. Units from these courses cannot be applied toward the degree.

The Master of Science in petroleum engineering is awarded in strict conformity with the general requirements of the Viterbi School of Engineering. Electives vary according to the area of interest. A student may be permitted to elect the program without thesis upon approval from the department.

The Doctor of Philosophy with a major in petroleum engineering is also offered. Registration in MASC 520, PTE 507, PTE 508, PTE 517, PTE 531, PTE 555, PTE 582 and 4 semesters of CHE 550a is required of all students. See general requirements for graduate degrees.

Satisfactory completion of at least 60 units of approved graduate-level course work beyond the baccalaureate, with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 is required of all PhD students in engineering. The 60 units minimum include research courses (590, 690, 790) and 4 units of 794a and 794b Doctoral Dissertation. PhD students must also complete the core requirement for their major as listed below. The core courses make a part of the 60 units requirement. The number of units taken at USC can be reduced by transferring graduate credits from another institution. Transfer/Waiver units are subject to approval by the Degree Progress Department (for course work taken at institutions in the United States) or by International Admission (for course work taken at institutions outside the United States), by the faculty adviser and by each degree's respective department directors. Faculty advisers may also request students to take additional courses outside of the core requirements including specific elective courses.

The Department of Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy (School of Pharmacy) offers a program of study leading to the MS degree. Applicants must apply to the Graduate School and meet the admissions requirements of the program. This program requires students to demonstrate skills in the analysis of pharmaceutical and health technology innovations, as well as an understanding of contemporary health policy issues.

A minimum of 36 units of graduate level courses is required.

Grade Point Average

A grade point average of at least 3.0 (A = 4.0) must be achieved on graduate course work at USC.

Application deadline: December 1

The Department of Economics and the Department of Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy (USC School of Pharmacy) jointly offer a program of study leading to the PhD degree and to the MA degree in the process of work toward the PhD degree.

Required courses include both core requirements and area requirements. Core requirements include courses in economic theory, econometrics, and research methods. Area requirements include courses in health economics, pharmaceutical economics, welfare theory and applied econometrics.

For a detailed description of this program, see the School of Pharmacy section of this catalogue.

A Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences (28 units) will be granted on the basis of completion of at least 24 units of formal course work, in addition to 4 units earned by either completing and successfully presenting a thesis (PSCI 594a and PSCI 594b, both 2-unit courses based on the results of an original investigation), or by completing a non-thesis option. Students must choose one of these options by the end of the first year of study.

Three courses (12 units) are required from Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences: PSCI 501, PSCI 502 and PSCI 503. Additionally, 4 units are in a degree-specific required course: PSCI 665.

The remaining units will be taken from courses offered within the Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences or in various related disciplines outside the department, if approved by the Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Affairs Committee.

All 28 units must be at the 500 level or above. 

This program emphasizes basic as well as applied research in drug delivery and targeting, utilizing medicinal chemistry, computational chemistry, pharmaceutics, pharmacodynamics,  molecular pharmacology, immunology and cell biology.

A minimum of 60 units is required for the Doctor of Philosophy degree. At least 24 units of course work are required at the 500-level or above, exclusive of seminar and directed research. The Doctor of Philosophy candidate must select a minimum of 12 units from courses offered in the Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences (PPSI), eight of which must be selected from the core 4-unit courses. The remainder of the 24 units may be taken from PPSI courses or from courses offered in other departments that are approved by the PPSI graduate affairs committee. The qualifying exam committee may require more than 24 units of course work. A maximum of 12 units can be transferred from graduate studies elsewhere.

Foreign Language Requirement

There is no formal foreign language requirement. However, an individual qualifying exam committee can require competency in a foreign language or some other research tool such as computer language, if this is relevant for the student's area of research.

Qualifying Exam Committee

Upon admission, the student will be assigned to a member of the graduate faculty who will serve as his or her temporary adviser until a permanent adviser has been identified. The student's program of study will be under the direction of a qualifying exam committee composed of at least five members, one of whom must be from outside the department granting the degree. The student should select a graduate adviser and qualifying exam committee no later than the third semester in residence.

Screening Procedure

The performance of each student will be evaluated no later than the end of the second semester of enrollment in the graduate program. This screening procedure is conducted by the student's qualifying exam committee or, if a student has not selected his or her research adviser at that time, by the Graduate Review Committee of the department. The committee reviews thoroughly the student's progress up to that point in various areas including course work, research interests and laboratory performance on his or her research project or laboratory rotations. If a performance deficiency is detected at that point by the committee, the student will be recommended to either take additional course work or transfer to the Master of Science program. Passing this screening procedure is prerequisite to continuation in the PhD program.

Qualifying Examination

Students will be required to pass a comprehensive qualifying examination in major areas of the pharmaceutical sciences. The examination is administered by the qualifying exam committee and consists of two parts: a written examination and a written proposition outlining a research project, followed by an oral examination based on the proposition and questions dealing with the written examination. All course and qualifying examination requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy must be completed within two and one half years after admission.

Dissertation

A dissertation based on original investigation is required. The research should make a contribution to science and should demonstrate the candidate's scholarly advancement and competence to undertake independent research. An oral defense of the dissertation will be held after the candidate submits the final draft of the dissertation to the dissertation committee (see Theses and Dissertations).

Student Teaching

Teaching experience is considered an integral part of the training of graduate students. Thus, as part of the general requirements for the PhD, each student is required to participate in the  teaching program of the School of Pharmacy.