usc sociology phd application

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Graduate admission, the university of southern california is one of the world’s leading private research universities., we are home to more than 28,500 top-caliber graduate and professional students— more than half the entire usc student population., our students represent all 50 states and 130+ countries around the world., prospective students can choose from more than 400 highly regarded graduate and professional programs in our liberal arts college and 20 professional schools..

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Our Programs

Graduate and professional studies at the University of Southern California prepare students for leadership positions in research, education and professional practice. Students can choose from a wide array of master’s, PhD, dual-degree and graduate certificate programs in our distinguished liberal arts college or 20 professional schools.

How to Apply

Our step-by-step application guidelines are designed to help you easily navigate the application process and ensure that you complete your application in a timely and efficient manner.

Domestic Applicants

International applicants.

Return to: USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences    

The Department of Sociology offers bachelor’s degrees in Sociology, Health and the Human Sciences, and Non-Governmental Organizations and Social Change. The Department of Sociology also offers a number of minors and the Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology. Students of sociology examine the patterns of social life, focusing on the relationship of individuals to society and the interaction of culture, economy and politics in shaping social life. The greater Los Angeles area provides a natural laboratory for students to explore such sociological themes as race relations, work and the workplace, immigration, the family in a changing society, population trends, globalization, religion, and the criminal justice system. Matching the special strengths of our faculty and cutting edge research in the discipline, USC’s sociology program offers students the opportunity to learn about social issues locally, nationally, and internationally, as well as develop empirical research tools to conduct research, and analyze and interpret data in order to create social change. Many of our undergraduate courses include opportunities to engage actively with the community and to pursue multi-faceted independent research projects.

Hazel and Stanley Hall 314 (213) 740-3533 FAX: (213) 740-3535 Email: [email protected] dornsife.usc.edu/soci/  

Chair: Tim Biblarz*, PhD

University Professor and Wallis Annenberg Chair of Communication Technology and Society and Professor of Communication, Sociology, Planning and International Relations: Manuel Castells, PhD (Communication)

Harold Quinton Chair of Business Policy and Professor of Management & Organization, Environmental Studies and Sociology : Paul Adler, PhD (Management & Organization)

Turpanjian Chair in Civil Society and Social Change and Professor of Sociology and American Studies & Ethnicity: Manuel Pastor, Jr.*, PhD

Professors: Lynne Casper, PhD; Nina Eliasoph, PhD; Peer C. Fiss, PhD (Management and Organization) ; Pierrette Hondagneu-Sotelo*, PhD; Andrew Lakoff, PhD; Paul Lichterman, PhD; Michael Messner*, PhD; Dowell Myers, PhD (Policy, Planning and Development) ; Rhacel Salazar Parreñas, PhD; Camille Rich, JD (Law) ; Avelardo Valdez, PhD (Social Work) ; John P. Wilson*, PhD

Associate Professors: Tim Biblarz*, PhD; Jennifer Hook, PhD; Elaine Bell Kaplan, PhD; Ann Owens, PhD; Emily Ryo, PhD (Law) ; Leland Saito, PhD; Jody Agius Vallejo*, PhD; Lori Qingyuan Yue, PhD (Management and Organization)

Assistant Professors: Jennifer Ailshire, PhD (Gerontology) ; Jessica Ho, PhD (Gerontology) ; Daniel Schrage, PhD; Joshua Seim, PhD; Emily Smith-Greenaway, PhD; Hajar Ferrell, PhD

Lecturers:  Juliana McGene, PhD; Joseph Palacios, PhD

Professor (Research): Brian Finch, PhD

Professor (Teaching): Karen Sternheimer, PhD

Adjunct Associate Professor (Teaching): Erin Quinn, PhD

Emeritus Professors: Constance Ahrons, PhD; Vern Bengtson, PhD (Gerontology) ; Lamar T. Empey, PhD; Malcolm Klein; Jon Miller * , PhD; H. Edward Ransford, PhD; Maurice D. Van Arsdol Jr., PhD

*Recipient of university-wide or college teaching award.

Undergraduate Degrees

Honors program.

Seniors with 3.5 GPAs in the major and 3.25 overall are encouraged to apply to the sociology honors program.  Under faculty guidance, honors students design and complete a significant piece of original sociological research. Seniors with 3.5 GPAs in the major and 3.25 overall are encouraged to apply to the sociology honors program. Under faculty guidance, honors students design and complete a significant piece of original sociological research.

Juniors and seniors who have made substantial progress toward completion of the program and have achieved a 3.3. GPA in sociology and a 3.0 GPA overall are eligible for the Alpha Kappa Delta International Sociology Honors Society. 

University Requirements for All Minors

To satisfy the university’s minor requirements, students must choose at least four courses (16 units) outside their major department and at least four courses (16 units) of upper-division course work. In addition, at least four courses (16 units) must be dedicated to the minor (not counting for credit toward a major, another minor or USC core requirements).

Interdisciplinary Minors

American Studies and Ethnicity (see American Studies and Ethnicity   ).

Law and Society (see Political Science   ).

Race, Ethnicity and Politics (see Political Science   ).

Graduate Degrees

The Department of Sociology offers programs of study leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree. The PhD is directed toward the training of theoretically and methodologically sophisticated sociologists who have an enduring commitment to the practice and teaching of sociology.

Applicants must complete their applications by December 1. Consideration for university fellowships is possible as early as November for students whose applications are complete.

Prerequisites

All applicants must have a bachelor’s degree, a GPA of at least 3.0, and one or more courses in either undergraduate statistics or college algebra.

Admission to regular graduate status ordinarily requires possession of a bachelor’s degree, a GPA of at least 3.0, one or more courses in undergraduate statistics and/or college algebra, and three letters of recommendation. The GRE is also required. International applicants must also submit their score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Approximately 5–8 students enroll each year from the available pool of applicants. Each application receives careful attention and is judged in terms of the full set of criteria.

A limited number of graduate course units taken elsewhere may be considered for transfer into the graduate program. These units are transferred in on a course-by-course basis.

Application Procedures

The following materials should be submitted to apply for graduate study:

• an online USC application form (available at gradadm.usc.edu ) plus a check for the admission fee;
• official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work;
• the official results of the general aptitude scores of the Graduate Record Examinations (verbal, quantitative, and analytical);
• for international students, a TOEFL or IELTS score;
• a completed Sociology Department Graduate Application form (please save and upload);
• one example of written work (normally a paper written for a course) of no more than 20 pages;
• three letters of recommendation from persons who can write about your academic performance and your potential as a social scientist;
• a personal statement describing (1) your present sociological interest, (2) the books, articles or ideas that have had the greatest influence on your interests in sociology, and (3) what you hope to be doing in the field of sociology 10 years after you receive your degree. We welcome you to include other aspects of your experience that you think are important sources of your sociological interests. We stress, though, that an effective personal statement will illustrate your intellectual engagement and your interest in producing high-quality scholarship.

Degree Requirements

These degrees are under the jurisdiction of the Graduate School. Refer to the Requirements for Graduation    section 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.

All graduate students must be in residence and must take at least eight units of graduate work each semester (except during Advanced and Qualifying Examinations), prior to work on the dissertation.

Master of Arts in Sociology

The department does not admit students whose objective is a master’s degree. However, if a student accepted in the program does not have a master’s degree, the department strongly recommends completion of the requirements for the MA in the course of work toward the PhD degree.

Bachelor’s Degree

• •  Health and Human Sciences (BA)
• •  Non-Governmental Organizations and Social Change (BA)
• •  Sociology (BA)
• •  Forensics and Criminality Minor
• •  Managing Human Relations Minor
• •  Photography and Social Change Minor
• •  Sociology Minor

Doctoral Degree

• •  Sociology (PhD)
• •  SOCI 100gm Los Angeles and the American Dream
• •  SOCI 142gm Diversity and Racial Conflict
• •  SOCI 150gm Social Problems
• •  SOCI 155gm Immigrant America
• •  SOCI 169gm Changing Family Forms
• •  SOCI 200gm Introduction to Sociology
• •  SOCI 210g Science, Technology, and Social Conflict
• •  SOCI 215g Sociology of Wall Street
• •  SOCI 220gm Questions of Intimacy
• •  SOCI 225gw Sociology of Health and the Body
• •  SOCI 242g Sociology, Demography, and Health
• •  SOCI 250gmw Grassroots Participation in Global Perspective
• •  SOCI 255g Sociology of Globalization
• •  SOCI 270g Sociological Theory
• •  SOCI 275 Sociology of Everyday Life
• •  SOCI 305m Sociology of Childhood
• •  SOCI 313L Sociological Research Methods
• •  SOCI 314Lg Analyzing Social Statistics
• •  SOCI 325 Applied Social Research Methods
• •  SOCI 335 Society and Population
• •  SOCI 340 Organizations: Bureaucracy and Alternatives to Bureaucracy
• •  SOCI 342m Race Relations
• •  SOCI 345 Social Institutions
• •  SOCI 350 Social Exclusion, Social Power, and Deviance
• •  SOCI 351 Public Policy and Juvenile Justice
• •  SOCI 353 Public Policy and Criminal Justice
• •  SOCI 355m Immigrants in the United States
• •  SOCI 356m Mexican Immigrants in Sociological Perspective
• •  SOCI 357m Latino Politics
• •  SOCI 360m Social Inequality: Class, Status, and Power
• •  SOCI 362 Global and Transnational Sociology
• •  SOCI 364m Racial and Ethnic Women in America
• •  SOCI 369 The Family in a Changing Society
• •  SOCI 376m Contemporary Issues in Asian American Communities
• •  SOCI 379gm Mixing and Matching: Intermarriage in 21st Century
• •  SOCI 382 Judaism as an American Religion
• •  SOCI 386m Men and Masculinity
• •  SOCI 390 Special Problems
• •  SOCI 402 Human Trafficking
• •  SOCI 408 Volunteers, Non-Governmental Organizations, and Everyday Politics
• •  SOCI 410 The Sociology of Popular Culture
• •  SOCI 425 Social Movements: Power, Resistance, and Political Dynamics
• •  SOCI 429 Immigration, Work and Labor
• •  SOCI 430m Work and the Workplace
• •  SOCI 431 Cities
• •  SOCI 432m Racial and Ethnic Relations in a Global Society
• •  SOCI 435m Women in Society
• •  SOCI 445 Political and Social Theory
• •  SOCI 450 Non-Governmental Organizations/Non-profits Field Practicum
• •  SOCI 460 Key Issues in Contemporary International Migration
• •  SOCI 464 Sociology of Gender and Work
• •  SOCI 465 Visual Sociology of the City and Its Residents
• •  SOCI 468 Sociology of Religion
• •  SOCI 470 Social Change in Low-Income Countries
• •  SOCI 472 Health, Disease, Language and Culture: Guatemala
• •  SOCI 475 Medical Sociology
• •  SOCI 480 The Sociology of Risk and Disaster
• •  SOCI 490x Directed Research
• •  SOCI 494 Sociology Honors Seminar I
• •  SOCI 495 Sociology Honors Seminar II
• •  SOCI 499 Special Topics
• •  SOCI 500 Sociology Professional Seminar
• •  SOCI 510 Sociological Theory I
• •  SOCI 511 Sociological Theory II
• •  SOCI 520 Qualitative Research Methods
• •  SOCI 521 Quantitative Methods and Statistics
• •  SOCI 525 Sociology Proseminar: Approaches to Sociological Research
• •  SOCI 554 Women in Global Perspective
• •  SOCI 560 Feminist Theory
• •  SOCI 590 Directed Research
• •  SOCI 593 Practicum in Teaching the Liberal Arts
• •  SOCI 594a Master’s Thesis
• •  SOCI 594b Master’s Thesis
• •  SOCI 594z Master’s Thesis
• •  SOCI 599 Special Topics
• •  SOCI 620 Advanced Methods – Qualitative Research
• •  SOCI 621L Quantitative Methods and Statistics II
• •  SOCI 622L Advanced Methods – Quantitative Research
• •  SOCI 625 Demographic Methods
• •  SOCI 628 Theories of Aging
• •  SOCI 640 Sociology of Gender and Sexuality
• •  SOCI 642 Sex and Gender in Society
• •  SOCI 643 Sociology of Labor
• •  SOCI 644 Population Trends: Public and Private Policies
• •  SOCI 645 Seminar in World Population Problems
• •  SOCI 646 Economic Sociology
• •  SOCI 647 Political Sociology: Politics, Symbols and Everyday Life
• •  SOCI 648 Fertility Control Policies
• •  SOCI 649 Migration Policies
• •  SOCI 651 Seminar in Social Stratification
• •  SOCI 653 Seminar in Science and Technology Studies
• •  SOCI 655 Seminar in Race Relations
• •  SOCI 656 Social Demography
• •  SOCI 657 Sociology of Culture
• •  SOCI 667 Seminar in Social Deviance
• •  SOCI 669 Seminar in Family Sociology
• •  SOCI 670 Seminar in Organizational Analysis
• •  SOCI 671 Urban Sociology
• •  SOCI 675 Seminar in Immigration
• •  SOCI 680 Writing for Publication in Sociology

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Graduate & Professional Degrees

The university of southern california is one of the top-ranked universities in the country and offers a diverse range of graduate and professional programs to suit various career pursuits. students can gain access to exceptional academic scholarship, accelerated degrees, top faculty, leading research opportunities and collaborative learning communities. with state-of-the-art facilities and competitive faculty and staff committed to excellence, usc's graduate and professional programs serve as an attractive option for those seeking higher education on the west coast., graduate certificate | keck school of medicine of usc.

University Certificate Programs

Academic Medicine Certificate

Students who do not wish to pursue a Master of Academic Medicine degree at this point may earn a university certificate in Academic Medicine. The certificate requires 12 units of course work. Each learner may only seek a single certificate. There are two options available, the Teaching/Learning Track and the Leadership Track. The teaching learning track provides graduates with the essential principles of teaching and learning needed to integrate leaning principles, teaching techniques and assessment methods within the health professions to effectively teach health professions' learners at all levels: undergraduate, graduate and continuing education. The leadership track is designed to prepare those in academic medicine for leadership positions, for example assistant/associate dean, program director (including assistant or associate), designated institutional officer and associate or vice chair for education. After completion of the certificate, if a learner decides to go on to pursue a Master of Academic Medicine (MACM) degree all 12 units of the certificate can be applied to the MACM degree. 

ACMD 501  (Introduction to Academic Medicine Worldwide, 3 units). Students then take two required courses (6 units) related to their selected track. Each student completes the 12-unit certificate with 3 units of elective course work from the courses available within the Master of Academic Medicine program. All courses should be selected with the approval of the learner's adviser.

Master's Degree | Keck School of Medicine of USC

Keith Administration Building 211 1975 Zonal Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90033 (323) 442-2372 FAX: (323) 442-2051 Email: [email protected] Program Director: Julie G. Nyquist, PhD

Core Faculty

Professors: Donna Elliott, MD, EdD (Pediatrics) ; Jerry Gates, PhD (Family Medicine) ; Win May, MD, PhD (Medical Education) ; Julie G. Nyquist, PhD (Medical Education) ; Samuel Yanofsky, MD, MSEd (Anesthesiology)

Associate Professors: Kathleen Besinque, PharmD, MSEd (Pharmacy) ; Cha-Chi Fung, PhD (Medical Education); Tara Humphrey, DO, MACM (Anesthesiology)

Assistant Professors: Cathy Jalali, PhD (Medical Education); Shara Steiner, DO, MACM (Medical Education)

The Master of Academic Medicine is offered by the Keck School of Medicine. The goal is to develop leaders who will create and enhance academic and training programs for health care professions globally. Academic medicine is defined in broad terms as relating to those who lead training worldwide in medicine or in other health care related fields. Enacting this vision is possible due to the flexible delivery model selected. The program employs a hybrid model, combining on-campus face-to-face sessions, blended with online course work. During the 32-unit program, the majority of sessions will be delivered using interactive online delivery methods. All students will also be on campus for one-week intensive sessions in the spring of each year, which focus on community building and the development and evaluation of skills.

The program addresses the unique population of medical and health professions faculty who are focused on leading the academic enterprise for health professionals at the undergraduate, graduate and continuing education levels. Our graduates will be positioned to guide future generations of health professionals around the world toward better meeting the health needs of our global society. For those with a clear focus on the academic enterprise, a complementary degree in academic medicine offers the specialized skills needed to lead worldwide development of enhanced training for health professionals, increases professional capacity and provides new opportunity for promotion. The audiences for this degree will typically have primary professional degrees in health fields (e.g., MD, DDS, DPT, RN, MSN, PA, DVM, DO, PharmD, DC, DOM). The Master of Academic Medicine will provide the needed complementary training for clinician educators.

Applicants for admission to the Master of Academic Medicine program are generally expected to have an advanced degree in a health profession. Proof of graduation is required, as well as three letters of recommendation. For specific information on admission and application procedures, contact the Office of Medical Education, (323) 442-2372.

Students are admitted for the academic year beginning in the fall, although those admitted prior to March 15 may enroll in summer courses. Although there is no formal application deadline, complete applications received before March 1 will be given priority. Application inquiries should be made to: Master of Academic Medicine Program, University of Southern California, Office of Medical Education, 1975 Zonal Avenue, KAM 211, Los Angeles, CA 90033, telephone (323) 442-2372.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

A graduate GPA of at least 3.0 is required at all times. Any student whose graduate GPA falls below 3.0 will be placed on academic probation. Students on academic probation who do not raise their GPA to 3.0 after two semesters of written notification of academic probation will be academically disqualified.

A minimum of 32 units of graduate-level course work is required.

Master's Degree | USC Leventhal School of Accounting

The Master of Accounting program with an emphasis in data and analytics combines course work from the Leventhal School of Accounting and Marshall's Data Sciences and Operations department. Advances in computing technology are fundamentally changing the way audits are conducted. The data and analytics emphasis of the MAcc is designed to train auditors for the data age.

The program employs a rigorous case analysis approach that requires students to exercise their analytical abilities and develop both teamwork and professional communication skills.

Integrated into the data and analytics emphasis is an audit internship during the spring semester encompassing both audit and data and analytics in an integrated fashion. This required element of the program builds a critical bridge for the student between his or her academic and work lives, ultimately enriching both.

Application

The data and analytics emphasis of the MAcc is open only to individuals who have earned the equivalent of a four-year bachelor of accounting degree from an accredited program. Applicants also must have an offer letter for a spring internship at a "big four" or major national public accounting firm or equivalent. Spring internships must run from January through April and integrate both audit and data analytics.

Program Requirements

The Master of Accounting, Data and Analytics emphasis requires up to 31.5 units including fundamentals, core requirements and electives. Students with prior study in statistics who pass the challenge exam for Data Driven Decision Making receive a waiver reducing the units required to earn the degree to 30.

The Master of Accounting program (MAcc) prepares graduates for careers in public accounting, industry and government. The program offers students technical and conceptual knowledge, professional development, research and lifelong learning, ethical and professional standards and globalization and diversity. For details on these student learning outcomes, see the program website at marshall.usc.edu/macc .

An undergraduate accounting or business major is not necessary, nor is work experience a requirement. The program enrolls students in the summer or fall based on their academic backgrounds. For application information visit marshall.usc.edu/macc/admissions .

The Master of Accounting degree requires 45 units, including fundamentals, core requirements and electives. A student with an undergraduate degree in accounting or the equivalent may be able to waive 15 units for a total degree requirement of 30 units.

The Leventhal School of Accounting Master's Program Office evaluates the academic background of each admitted student to determine the courses required to complete the program.

ACCT 525  Intensive Accounting Principles and Practices (15 units) — an eight-week course for students who have not completed undergraduate degrees or other extensive course work in accounting. This course must be completed successfully prior to beginning the fall semester.

ACCT 525  class reducing the number of units required to earn the degree to 30.

USC BS in Accounting students may qualify for waiver of an additional 6 units reducing the number of units required to earn the degree to 24. (USC BS in Accounting students should meet with a graduate adviser during their junior year to determine if they qualify.)

Addiction exacts a toll on individuals, families and communities worldwide. The Master of Science in Addiction Science (MAS) exposes students to the biological, psychological and social aspects of substance use and addictive behaviors. Students study emerging trends in addiction studies with an emphasis on evidence-based transdisciplinary approaches in to addiction science and practice addressing epidemiology, etiology, prevention, treatment, policy and harm reduction, as well as sociocultural and healthcare contexts that intersect with addiction. The MAS equips students with a solid foundation and prepares them to enter a number of fields, from treatment to recovery and research to policy-work, representing critical areas of support among diverse communities in need. 

Master's Degree | USC School of Architecture

The Master of Advanced Architectural Research Studies, City Design and Housing emphasis is a 42-unit multi-disciplinary graduate degree program at the USC School of Architecture that prepares participants to study, analyze and design within complex urban systems. Focusing on the 21st-century city the program will address specific urban challenges through a combination of explorative design studio and advanced topical research. Working across disciplines and at multiple scales, this degree concentration moves between real-world issues and innovative architectural approaches to explore ideas for radically re-thinking the ways in which we can design, build and inhabit our cities in more inclusive and equitable ways.

The program will leverage Los Angeles as a laboratory to examine the forces that shape local and global cities. Addressing a diverse set of factors that are linked to city design and housing – such as urban development and housing policies, real estate and housing finance, history and theory, technology and infrastructure, and ecology and climate change – the program will introduce students to broad methodological tools for critically analyzing contemporary challenges of urban systems and housing and will strengthen their skills to employ research and design to create more equitable, sustainable and resilient urban environments and housing schemes.

The CD+H program's design and research efforts will be framed by three topical trajectories: a) urban housing (low-cost, collective, affordable, informal, densification, etc.); b) urban inequalities (racial segregation, economic disparities, gentrification, homelessness, digital divide, migration, etc.); and c) urban infrastructures (street design, public transportation, walkability, public space, programmatic and zoning issues, etc.). In addition, the one-year course will switch between the local context of Los Angeles and a selected global city (Latin America, Asia, Africa). In order to more thoroughly study the international context – and potentially establish more sound collaborations with institutions and stakeholders abroad – the same international context will be part of the program in a two or three-year cycle.

Finally, to connect students with real-world contexts, challenges and experiences, the CD+H program seeks to include various travel components throughout the year, which could potentially be linked to the PD+T and SP+SJ cohorts. Semester 1 will incorporate field trips in the Los Angeles and Southern California region. In Semester 2, the program's focus on an international context will be supplemented by a week-long trip to the respective city. For semester 3, the program intends to provide students the option of an immersive trip in a foreign or domestic location for their final project. The USC School of Architecture is developing the Latin Americas Cities Initiative and Asia Cities Initiative, which will be expected to interface with the MAARS CD+H, PD+T and SP+SJ programs.

Completion of the degree requires 42 units, including 8 units of Architecture Directed Design Research.

The Master of Advanced Architectural Research Studies, Performative Design And Technology Emphasis is a 42-unit graduate design program at the USC School of Architecture that focuses on the integration of architectural design, building performance and technology, within the context of digital design and fabrication. As a design-centric approach to building science concepts in the spirit of Ralph Knowles and the legacy of the Natural Forces Laboratory at the USC School of Architecture, issues of sustainability, structure, daylighting and thermal comfort will be explored in the context of architectural design. In this program, students will explore digital and analog techniques for discovering form through variable material and geometric organizations and force simulations, while simultaneously considering the design opportunities being afforded by advances in computation and fabrication technologies. The proposed curriculum will respond to emerging shifts in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry towards integrated technologies, increased efficiency, and productivity, and a digital workforce driven by digital, sensing and intelligent technologies. An integrated design curriculum that incorporates these concepts will support students in developing the skill necessary to foster innovation in practice with a focus on: data, technology, integration, performance, ecology and sustainability. 

A travel component will be included in Semester 1 through field trips in the Los Angeles and Southern California region to connect students with the real-world context and challenges faced in urban cities. In Semester 2, a week-long trip to a foreign or domestic location will provide students with a global context and interface and connect with the CD+H program. Students will have an option in Semester 3 to participate in an extended and immersive trip in a foreign or domestic location that will support completion of the final project. The USC School of Architecture is developing the Latin Americas Cities Initiative and Asia Cities Initiative, which will be expected to interface with the MAARS CD+H and PD+T programs.

This program is dedicated to cutting edge research and experimentation, and seeks to explore in a highly innovative fashion the cultural and technological landscapes of Los Angeles. Through its range of experimental 'Labs', the program is structured under three distinct veins of inquiry [1] architectural urban studies using Los Angeles as a laboratory to engage global issues; [2] advanced computation/fabrication technologies and material processes; and [3] performative architecture with an emphasis on sustainable systems. These specific design and research directions are diversely initiated by our faculty and fully supported by additional resources from the University of Southern California and the city of Los Angeles.

The Master of Advanced Architectural Studies is a three-semester advanced degree program. Consisting of two option-based topic studios followed by an in-depth Directed Design Research project [DDR], and coordinated seminar courses each for the first two semesters, the degree is focused on advanced and emerging topics in architecture. The design and research directions are diversely initiated by our faculty and fully supported by additional resources from the University at-large and the city of Los Angeles.

Candidates for admission must have a five-year Bachelor of Architecture degree or its equivalent. Completion of the degree requires 48 units, including 28 units of required studio and seminar courses, [including 8 units Directed Design Research or Thesis], and 20 units of approved electives, over three semesters of residency.

Graduate Certificate | USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work

The graduate certificate in Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice prepares students for practice in clinical settings by enhancing their theoretical, empirical and practice knowledge relevant to these settings and by offering a blend of didactic and experiential learning. Through an intersectional lens, students enhance their understanding of critical elements of advanced clinical practice, such as assessment and conceptualization, diagnosis and treatment. Given that social workers treat diverse client populations, this certificate also encompasses a commitment to social justice and addressing barriers to mental health treatment.

The USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work offers university certificates that provide students advanced practice or research training through a social justice and intercultural competence lens that emphasizes community, organizational and environmental justice. Certificates are designed to complement and deepen training provided through our degree programs by focusing on experiential application of concepts in relation to particular and diverse client populations, settings, and systems. Each certificate consists of at least 12 units, which may in part be satisfied by courses completed for a degree program. Certificates are also available to graduate students from other disciplines and to employed professionals.

The graduate certificate in Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice requires a minimum of 14 units.

Graduate Certificate | Advanced Programs in Dental Education

The advanced endodontics certificate program is a 24-month course of study. The program provides advanced students with the academic background information and clinical experience necessary for the specialty practice of endodontics. The program also requires activities in research and teaching to expose the advanced students interested to these areas of endodontics.

Advanced students are encouraged to pursue Board Certification by the American Board of Endodontics and are prepared for the certification examinations.

Emphasis is also placed on the interaction of endodontics with other specialties and general dentistry.

The program in endodontics is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), which serves as the only nationally recognized accrediting body for dentistry and the related dental field. The Commission receives its accreditation authority from the acceptance of all stakeholders within the dentistry community and recognition by the United States Department of Education. Since its inception in 1937, the Commission and its predecessors have operated within the parameters of the ADA Bylaws. The Commission serves the profession and the public by establishing and applying high-quality standards for the accreditation of educational programs in dentistry, postgraduate general and specialty dentistry, and the allied dental professions.

HSH 314, MC 1059

Main Phone: 740-3533 Main Fax: 740-3535 Email: [email protected]

Please visit our commencement page for all information regarding the  ceremony for Class of 2024 PhD, DSW, MSW and MSN graduates. 

Fall 2024 On-Campus MSW Application FINAL Deadline: July 16, 2024

How To Apply

Msw application process for domestic students.

International Student Information

Apply for MSW Program

Applications for Spring and Fall 2024 now open! 

Request Information About the Program

Academic Requirements for All MSW Programs:

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (Based out of a 4.0 grading scale)
• Minimum of 18 units of liberal arts coursework, such as coursework from humanities (E.g. Anthropology, communication studies, cultural studies), social sciences (E.g. Sociology, psychology, political science), biological sciences (E.g. Biology, zoology, ecology), and natural sciences (E.g. Astronomy, physics, chemistry).
• Note: GRE scores are not required or evaluated.

Additional Requirements for All MSW Programs:

• Dedication to the Profession: Potential for professional competence, strong interest and motivation, and commitment to social work values such as the appreciation for cultural and ethnic diversity; belief in the dignity and freedom of every individual; promotion of social justice and equal access to resources; and institutional responsiveness to human needs and social change.
• Personal Qualifications: Professionalism, sensitivity and responsiveness in relationships, capacity for self-awareness, concern for the needs of others, the ability for abstract reasoning, conceptual thinking, and strong communication skills.
• Experience: Providing service to people preferred (1-2 years of social work-related or volunteer experience).

Special Requirements for Advanced Standing MSW Candidates:

• Bachelor’s degree in social work or social welfare from a Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)-accredited school of social work.
• BSW degree earned within the past 5 years.
• Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 in all social work courses.

Application Instructions

Apply to the University of Southern California and the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work using a single online application portal:  Graduate Admission Application   For technical assistance with the online application portal  (E.g. Trouble logging in, how to upload documents, how to request letters of recommendation) , please contact USC Application Customer Service at 857-304-2092 or  [email protected] . There is a $90 non-refundable application fee paid through the online application portal when you submit your application. Fee Waivers:  The Office of Graduate Admissions offers a limited number of Application Fee Waivers to qualifying students:  Application Fee Waiver Request Instructions   City Year alumni are eligible for an application fee waiver from the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work:  City Year Application Fee Waiver Instructions

For admission, experience in the field of social work is preferable but not required. Applicants are expected to have experience in environments such as human services (E.g. Nonprofit organization, public health, healthcare, etc.) and education. Students should highlight their leadership, advocacy, and capacity to work with a variety of populations. Your resume will assist the admissions committee in assessing your level of knowledge, experience, and preparation for graduate social work education at USC. These experiences may include those in the workplace or academic settings (E.g. Internship). Submit a resume through the online application portal that details the following: Current Work Experience Please describe your current or most recent professional paid position. This position does not have to be social work-related. Include the following details: company name, job title, dates of employment and responsibilities. Professional Social Work Experience Please describe any work you have done professionally in the field of social work or related fields. Include the following details: agency name, position/title, dates of employment and responsibilities. Volunteer Social Work Experience Please describe any work you have done as a volunteer or intern related to the field of social work. Please include the following details: agency name, dates of volunteer work, frequency and responsibilities. Miscellaneous Please indicate any of the following: affiliations with professional organizations (e.g., National Association of Social Workers) or honors/recognitions received. Leadership Experience Please indicate the length of time of leadership experience, the agency or community where leadership efforts occurred and a description of actual leadership activities.

The USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work does not offer in-person interviews as part of the application. Please note some applicants may be asked to complete a short virtual interview or phone call if needed for clarification purposes. This is our opportunity to get to know you and evaluate your preparedness for graduate-level writing. The Office of Admissions strongly recommends that you take the time to proofread and collect feedback from trusted friends, colleagues or mentors, prior to submission.

Your Statement of Purpose should be exactly five pages and address all of the prompts below. The Statement of Purpose is your opportunity to address your motivation in seeking an MSW. Your statement should demonstrate an ability to synthesize your professional/personal experiences and desire to enter the field of social work. This statement will be used to assess your creativity, critical thinking, self-awareness, and writing skills.

A note about privacy: What you write in your Statement of Purpose is considered confidential and will be used for the purposes of rendering an admissions decision and directing your educational experience.

• A comprehensive essay encompassing ALL QUESTION.
• Question and answer format WILL NOT be accepted.
• Five double-spaced pages in length, with 1-inch margins, and 12-point Times New Roman font.

Submission 1: Statement of Purpose Questions (5 page essay)

Upload under Required Documents > Personal Statement

• Why did you choose social work as opposed to another field? How have you incorporated social work core values in your human service experiences and interactions with others?
• What significant relationships and life experiences have you had that motivated you to enter the field of social work?
• What type of societal concerns interest you in the social work profession? What type of barriers or successes have you witnessed in your area of interest?
• Please discuss your career goals.  Include why the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work is a good fit for your goals.

Submission 2: Short Answer Questions (Required)

Upload under Optional Documents > Other

• Please describe how you personally have coped with a challenging life situation.  What lessons can you apply in your social work career? (150 word max)
• In a professional context, you will face challenging individuals and/or events.  At times, these situations can be stressful or triggering as you try to care for clients.  Describe your strategies and supports to protect your wellbeing as you navigate these complex challenges. (150 word max)
• As part of your fieldwork, you may be required to work with diverse populations including survivors of all types of traumas, individuals who have abused children, and individuals dealing with mental health and substance use challenges.  Do you believe you would have any challenges in working with any particular population? (150 word max)

Special Consideration (Optional Addendum)

• Please address any special academic or other considerations that you would like the committee to take into account in the review of your application.

General Disclosure As a social worker you may be required to work with diverse populations including survivors of all types of traumas, individuals who have abused children, and individuals dealing with mental health and substance use challenges, SMI, death and dying, and/or being a first responder among others.  It is highly recommended that all social workers engage in deep self-reflection with support from mental health providers to ensure they are prepared for the challenges of this work.

In the online application portal, you will be asked to send electronic recommendation requests. We require a minimum of two recommendations with an optional third recommendation. There is no specific format or set of questions for the recommenders. However, we do prefer recommendations submitted in formal work/business letterhead and with the use of an email address that has your work/business domain name in it (e.g. [email protected]). Preferred recommendations are those that come from:

• Academic instructors
• Professionals who have supervised you in a social work-related position (Paid, volunteer, internship)

Not accepted:  Personal recommendations (E.g. Friends, relatives, therapists).

We encourage you send your official transcripts after you have submitted your online application. You will receive your 10-digit USC ID via email within two to three business days after you submit your application. It is important to note that your 10-digit USC ID is different from the USC CAS ID you will receive when you begin your application. That ID is only required for technical support during the application process and is not issued by the university.

USC requires official transcripts from  all  post-secondary schools (Including community colleges) you have attended, regardless of transfers or whether a degree was earned. Your application processing may be delayed if you fail to submit all undergraduate transcripts.

Transcript submission is a two-step process:

• First, upload scanned copies of official registrar-issued transcripts to the online application. Please note that these must be official transcripts printed on university letterhead. Print-outs from online student portals are not acceptable.
• After you submit your application and received your 10 digit USC ID number, you must request that every university send an e-transcript to [email protected] . 

Studied abroad?  If it was for one semester or less, we do not need a transcript from that institution if the grades appear on your undergraduate transcript. Haven’t graduated yet?  You must complete the  Concurrent Enrollment Form  if you are submitting official transcripts without a conferred bachelor's degree. Sign and scan the form and upload it to your admissions application under the “supplemental documents” tab.

Your application is considered complete once all application materials have been processed, including transcripts and letters of recommendation. Completed applications will be reviewed and notifications will be made according to the deadlines below. To check the status of your application, please contact the Office of Recruitment and Workforce Development . *Please note some applicants may be asked to complete a short virtual interview or phone call if needed for clarification purposes.

Please note that applications, including all supplemental documents, must be completed by the listed deadline.

Traditional (4 Semesters) & Part Time Program (6 Semester) Program Start: Spring 2024

•  Deadline:  Wednesday, November 1, 2023

Traditional (4 Semesters) & Part Time Program (6 Semester) Program Start: Fall 2024

• Priority Deadline: Monday, January 8, 2024 Decision notification: May 2024
• Main Deadline: Monday, April 1, 2024 Decision notification: June 2024
• Late Deadline: Monday, July 16, 2024  

International Students Program Start: Fall 2024

• Application Deadline: Monday, January 8, 2024 Decision Notification: May 2024

Best in Class

USC Marshall’s Vice Dean for Undergraduate Programs Introduces new emphases to deepen student experience.

Marshall Develops DEI Leadership Training

Strategic DEI content, built around faculty expertise, now informs all graduate students at orientation.

Rankings Rise

Two USC Marshall online graduate programs recognized in national rankings.

• UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS

USC Marshall School of Business is one of the world’s leading global undergraduate business programs. Our courses of study in Business Administration or Accounting allow students to combine in-depth knowledge of the theory and practice of business with a solid foundation in the liberal arts.

BS Artificial Intelligence for Business (BUAI)

In partnership with the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, the AI for Business joint-degree program brings together the expertise of two of the top business and engineering schools in the country to create a new generation of technically-savvy business leaders.

BS Business of Cinematic Arts (BCA)

Students in the John H. Mitchell Business of Cinematic Arts Program (BCA) earn a joint degree recognized by the Marshall School of Business and the School of Cinematic Arts. Program-specific courses, internships, and networking give BCA students the competitive edge as business leaders in the entertainment industry.

World Bachelor in Business (WBB)

Three world-class universities. Three continents. Three degrees. One unparalleled experience.

BS Business Administration (BUAD)

USC Marshall leads the way in business educations as a top-ranked four-year business school housed at a leading private research institution. Undergraduate students are immersed in the University's foundation of "breadth with depth,” with a core curriculum that encompasses all of the major cornerstones of business.

BS Accounting (ACCT)

USC Leventhal provides undergraduate students with the tools and resources they need to succeed. Our program is recognized for the immersive experience it offers accounting students. Graduates leave the program not only as qualified accountants, but as well-rounded professionals. Our students enter careers in accounting, finance, data analytics and more. Leventhal resides within the Marshall School of Business, which provides our students opportunities to interact with the top-notch faculty at Marshall.

Progressive Degrees (PDP)

Undergraduate students can utilize the PDP pathway to add a Masters of Science degree to deepen their education starting junior year. This pathway reduces the number of units needed to complete an MS degree, in some cases by as much as 1/3rd, allowing completion within one additional year depending on the program and individual student course plans.

Global Fluency + Leadership

LINC and GLP are first - of - their - kind international experiences available to first-year USC  Marshall students.  USC Marshall’s unique  WORLD BACHELOR IN BUSINESS (WBB)   program  focuses on developing global leaders and  is the only 4 - year, 3 - continent, 3 - degree program in  the world.

Leaders in Entrepreneurship

USC Marshall is home to the nation’s first integrated entrepreneurship program. Our students learn a mindset that sets them apart and better positions them to make a positive difference in the world. Read more about the LLOYD GREIF CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL STUDIES and BRITTINGHAM SOCIAL ENTERPRISE LAB .

Hands-On Experience

The USC Marshall EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING CENTER (ELC) is the nation's first applied learning program to employ professional trainers to design and conduct simulations and workshops for undergraduates.

Elite Entertainment Opportunity

USC Marshall is the only school offering a Business and Cinematic Arts program in conjunction with the No. 1 film school in the world.

MBA PROGRAMS

USC Marshall's top-ranked MBA programs attract students from across the globe for a hands-on graduate business education that translates to professional success.

Full-Time MBA (FTMBA)

Our Full-Time MBA is a two-year on-campus program. Ranked as a Top MBA program and STEM Certified. Learn More!

Executive MBA (EMBA)

Our Executive MBA is intended for senior business leaders in Southern California looking for an elite hybrid program. Learn More!

Part-Time MBA (MBA.PM)

Our Part-Time MBA is made to fit your schedule. Ranked as a Top 8 MBA program and STEM Certified. Learn More!

One-Year MBA (IBEAR)

Our One-Year MBA is an accelerated MBA program. The program incorporates real-world consulting projects. Learn More!

Online MBA (OMBA)

Our Online MBA is a Top 3 MBA program and there is no GMAT required to apply. Learn more!

SPECIALIZED MASTERS

Focused, flexible, and foundational.

Our specialized masters programs give you critical skills and experience to put you on the fast track to career advancement.

MS Business Administration (MSBUSAD)

The Master of Science in Business Administration (MSBUSAD) is designed to provide those who have completed a traditional MBA with an opportunity to pursue further study in an area of specialization subsequent to successfully completing the Master of Business Administration (MBA). The degree is only available to those holding an MBA degree.

MS Business Analytics (MSBA)

Our MS in Business Analytics is a Top 5 program and is STEM certified. The program incorporates project-based learning that is career focused. Learn More!

MS Entrepreneurship + Innovation (MSEI)

Our MS in Entrepreneurship and Innovation can be completed in 12 months. The program provides opportunities with venture competitions. Learn More!

ACCOUNTING MASTERS

The Leventhal School of Accounting is consistently ranked among the top accounting schools in the nation. Spanning more than two decades, the school's outstanding reputation for excellence is a tribute to its faculty, staff, students, and alumni

Master of Accounting (MAcc)

The MAcc program provides students opportunities to apply accounting and business knowledge to cases and situations that develop technical knowledge plus skills in research, analysis, and communication. This graduate degree helps ensure success in public accounting, private industry, auditing, assurance services, advisory services, consulting and strategic finance.

Master of Business Taxation (MBT)

The Jennifer and James R. Parks Master of Business Taxation (MBT) program provides an in-depth specialization in taxation and analytical skills designed to prepare students for a successful career in the tax field. Intended for today’s professionals using technology and data tools in applying the breadth of tax law and regulations, the program provides students with the technical, analytical, and communication skills necessary to assist clients large and small.

Master of Business Taxation for Working Professionals (MBT.WP)

For fully employed tax professionals who are ready to deepen and broaden their knowledge of taxation and learn research techniques critical to success as a professional. Minimum one-year tax-related experience required for MBT.WP program.

We train highly motivated and intellectually curious students to become research scholars and experts in a variety of business disciplines. Our flexible program, rigorous courses of study, and mentorship experiences with top-rated faculty prepare our students to become professors at some of the top business schools in the world.

Accounting PhD Program

The Accounting PhD program includes research focused on several accounting disciplines, including Financial, Managerial, and Auditing and Corporate Governance Accounting.

Data Sciences + Operations PhD Program

Operations Management studies how firms organize their resources and recurring activities in order to be competitive in cost, price, responsiveness and quality. The field stresses quantitative techniques ranging from applied probability to optimization and game theory.

Finance PhD Program

The finance Ph.D. program is designed to prepare students for academic careers in financial economics. Financial economics is the study of how individuals and firms raise and invest resources, and how financial assets are priced. Specific topics in asset pricing include the determinants of asset returns, pricing of risk, behavior of investors, and trading mechanisms. Specific topics in corporate finance include capital structure, payout policy, financial intermediation, internal capital markets, venture capital, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance.

Management + Organization PhD Program

MOR research includes the study of human behavior in organizational settings, the design of organizational structures and the relationship of organizations to their environments. MOR research draws on the basic disciplines of psychology, sociology and economics to investigate research questions in three general areas: organizational behavior, organizational theory and strategic management.

Marketing PhD Program

Marketing is an interdisciplinary field that examines the interactions of consumers and businesses in the marketplace. Academic research in marketing draws upon theories and methodology from a wide variety of fields, including psychology, sociology, mathematics, statistics, and economics. Faculty members in Marshall’s marketing department represent numerous theoretical backgrounds and substantive interests. As mentors, they encourage students to identify their own interests and develop the analytic and methodological skills to pursue their own research questions.

GRADUATE CERTIFICATES

With cutting-edge certificate programs across a broad range of business disciplines. USC Marshall offers a unique perspective on how to thrive in a dynamic economy.

Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics

Students gain the skills to analyze large and unstructured data sets to make business decisions based on data.

Graduate Certificate in Financial Analysis and Valuation

The theories and practice of financial accounting, financial analysis, valuation, credit analysis, and financial instruments to better understand and develop strategic financial decisions.

Graduate Certificate in Management Studies

An opportunity to pursue further studies at the USC Marshall after completing one year at an accredited MBA program.

EXECUTIVE EDUCATION

Executive education.

Career-changing experiences start here. Explore opportunities to develop the skills that can take you and your company to the next level.

Marshall Executive Education delivers open-enrollment short courses and custom programs in humanistic leadership, strategy, communication, finance, innovation and more for a diverse group of business professionals and companies in a variety of industries.

• VISIT THE EXECUTIVE EDUCATION SITE

Stay Informed + Stay Connected

FAQ for Class of 2024

General Information Academics Regalia Honor Cords Diplomas, Program Book, Yearbook International Students Health Protocols

General Information

When is Commencement 2024?

Wednesday, May 8 – Saturday, May 11 . 2024. More than 100 commencement events will celebrate the conferral of 18,000+ degrees. Check ceremony times and locations for all of the schools and special events.

 What are the different ceremonies?

The focal point of Commencement is the Academic School Ceremonies where students gather with their academic peers and cross the stage as their name is called to receive their diploma. Each school features a speaker related to their chosen disciplines. This is the highlight for family and friends and the culmination of the student’s academic career, honoring the work they have completed. They are held at various times and locations: check the schedule for more specifics.

Do students have to register for Commencement? Everyone who intends to participate in Commencement — students, family and friends — will need to sign up for tickets. More details will be provided in the near future.

When does the graduate need to arrive on campus on Commencement Day?

Campus access for Commencement events will begin at 8:00 a.m. Since Commencement activities will be ticketed and all students, guests and staff will need to clear security checkpoints, we recommend graduates arrive at least two hours before their ceremony to ensure ample time to enter the campus for their event.

When should guests arrive on Commencement Day?

Campus access for Commencement events will begin at 8:00 a.m. Since Commencement activities will be ticketed and all students, guests and staff will need to clear security checkpoints, we recommend guests arrive at least two hours before their ceremony to ensure ample time to enter the campus for their event.

Will the ceremonies be broadcast for those unable to attend?

Yes, for those who cannot join us in Los Angeles, all in-person ceremonies will be broadcast online, live, and on-demand for future viewing.

How do I participate in social media?

When posting to your social media, please use the hashtag #uscgrad.

In addition to the in-person Commencement ceremonies on campus, will there be other school-specific events?

Many schools will host a reception before or after their ceremonies. Individual school units will contact their students directly with more information, or check your school’s commencement page .

Will wheelchairs be available for disabled guests?

Wheelchairs  are available to check out on a first-come, first-served basis on commencement day only, Friday May 10 th . Checkout begins at 8:00 a.m. and all chairs must be returned by 9:00 p.m. Checkout is located on the north side of Leavey Library off 34 th  street.

Please note: If you need a wheelchair on Wednesday, Thursday or Saturday, or on Friday after 9:00 p.m., you will need to bring your own.

Does USC have any travel and accommodation recommendations?

If you are traveling from outside of the Los Angeles area for Commencement, it is highly recommended to reserve accommodations early. Regardless of the plans you make, please review cancellation policies closely. Commencement schedules could be subject to change based on health and safety considerations.

• The hotel adjacent to the USC main campus is the  USC Hotel .
• Visit  Discover Los Angeles for a handy listing of hotels by price, location, and amenities. When searching, select “Downtown/LA Metro” for the nearest adjacent neighborhood to USC.

Other popular visitor neighborhoods—Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, and Pasadena, offer a variety of hotels at different price points.

How do I know if I am eligible to graduate? Students will need to check their degree status with the Office of the Registrar, Degree Progress.

Do I need to attend the in-person Commencement ceremonies to have my degree conferred?

No, graduates do not need to attend to have their degree conferred.

Will my name be called at my Academic School Ceremony if I cannot attend in person?

Please contact your school’s commencement coordinator to inquire if there will be any opportunities available to have your name announced or listed virtually at your school ceremony in your absence.

Will my Doctoral Hooding take place this year?

Yes. Ph.D. candidates will be invited to official hooding ceremonies held by The USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism; The USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences; The USC Marshall School of Business; The USC Rossier School of Education; and The USC Viterbi School of Engineering. Ceremony day and times will vary. Students will be contacted directly by their school’s coordinator. Family and friends can check the Full Schedule for location and timing.

I will be finishing my degree requirements next fall (2024).  Can I participate in this year’s graduation ceremony?

Certain schools have rules about which spring (before or after) a winter graduate can participate in for the Academic School Ceremonies. Please contact your school’s commencement coordinator and/or academic advisor to inquire. Students who decide to walk early are  not eligible to wear a university Honor Cord.

Do I need to wear regalia for the in-person Commencement ceremonies ?

Yes, regalia is available to rent or purchase through the USC Bookstore .

Will regalia be shipped to my home, or can I pick up on campus?

You can order your regalia via the USC Bookstore website . The deadline to order Cap and Gown Rentals to ship to your home is April 7, 2024.

After April 7th regalia can be rented only in-person at the Bookstore. In-person distribution begins May 6th until May 10th.

Can I rent regalia the day of my Commencement ceremony?

A limited amount of regalia will be available to rent outside of the Bookstore on commencement day. To avoid waiting in possible long lines, we recommend ordering in advance via the USC Bookstore .

How do I return my regalia after the in-person Commencement ceremonies?

All rented regalia should be dropped off in the return bins located around campus following your ceremony. Permanent bins will be placed in front of the Bookstore.

Can I keep my cap and tassel that came with my rented regalia?

Yes, the cap and tassel are yours to keep

Who can I contact if I have questions regarding regalia?

Please send an email to: [email protected]

Honor Cords

How do graduates get honor cords?

Honor cords are only given to undergraduate students who have a minimum overall GPA of 3.5. Students must meet these averages, for both USC coursework and on combined transferred and USC coursework. University honors is then determined by either the USC GPA or the combined USC and transfer GPA,  whichever is lower .

You will be contacted by your school’s commencement coordinator or academic advisor during the spring semester if you are eligible to receive one. They are free of charge.

Where do I pick up my honor cord?

Honor cords are provided by your individual school. You will be contacted by their team and instructed on how to pick up your cord.

Diplomas, Program Book, Yearbook

When will I get my diploma?

Diplomas are distributed by the Office of the Registrar, Degree Progress. They will be mailed to your permanent address approximately six weeks after degrees are conferred on May 10.

When and where do I receive my diploma cover?

Diploma covers are distributed to students at their school’s in-person ceremony.

Will my name be listed in the 2024 commencement program?

If you have worked with Degree Progress to confirm that your requirements are complete, you will be listed in the program.

How do I get a copy of the 2024 commencement program?

You will be able to download a copy of the program from the commencement website and virtual platform.

How do I take my yearbook/graduation photo?

USC’s yearbook,  El Rodeo , partners with Lauren Studios to take portraits each fall semester.  For more information about  portrait appointments ,  dedications , and  other yearbook questions , please see  the  El Rodeo  website.

How will yearbooks be issued out to purchasers?

When  ordering the yearbook , purchasers may elect to pick up the book on campus or have the book shipped directly to domestic addresses. Student Publications will be in contact directly with purchasers to provide pick-up information and shipping notifications.  For questions related to yearbook orders, see  the El Rodeo website .

International Students

I’m an international student, and I need a letter from USC to invite my parents for Commencement. How can I get it?

Please inquire with the  Office of International Services , or emailing [email protected] .

Health Protocols and Restrictions

Will there be any COVID policies and restrictions in place when visiting USC’s campus for Commencement?

Currently no restrictions or limitations for visitors coming to campus. If you have any symptoms or are currently in isolation/quarantine period due to a recent infection or exposure, you may not attend.

Please note that COVID polices and protocols are subject to change. Information on protocol updates will be communicated to guests by email or other appropriate mechanism.

Do I need to be vaccinated to come to campus and attend commencement?

• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

US faculty speak up and stand alongside student Gaza protesters

With pro-Palestine students arrested and campus protests broken up, educators are increasingly rallying in support

A s student-led protests calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and divestment from Israel and its occupation of Palestinian land continue to spread across US universities , some faculty members are increasingly joining the charge – speaking up and even standing alongside their students.

At Georgia’s Emory University, faculty members have been arrested at pro-Palestine demonstrations – including Emil’ Keme, a professor of English and Indigenous studies, and Noelle McAfee, the philosophy department chair.

WATCH: Among those arrested today were Noelle McAfee, Chair of the Philosophy Department at Emory University. I’ve asked for a comment from Emory on this arrest, no word yet. This video provided to us by an #Emory PHD student. You can hear him in this video. @ATLNewsFirst pic.twitter.com/86aJgb7NUX — Patrick Quinn (@PatrickQuinnTV) April 25, 2024

McAfee was seen being roughly pinned down and escorted away by Atlanta police in a video shared widely on social media, asking the person recording: “Can you call the philosophy department office and tell them I’ve been arrested?”

Arrests continued on Saturday as at least 200 protesters were detained at three campuses across the US. The Indiana University police department in Bloomington said in an emailed statement that 23 protesters were arrested there after an encampment was not dismantled.

Northeastern University in Boston said in a statement on social media that it decided to call in police as “what began as a student demonstration two days ago was infiltrated by professional organizers with no affiliation to Northeastern”. Massachusetts state police said in statement that they arrested 102 protesters who refused to leave.

At Arizona State University, campus police arrested 69 protesters early Saturday, the school said in a statement.

The university said “a group of people – most of whom were not ASU students, faculty or staff – created an encampment and demonstration” and were arrested and charged with criminal trespass after refusing to disperse.

In light of the protests sweeping campuses, formal graduation ceremonies have been cancelled at the University of Southern California, where the Muslim student Asna Tabassum was prevented from making her valedictory speech over her public support for Palestine.

“Rather than respond to faculty and student concerns about the cancelling of Asna Tabassum’s valedictorian speech and the arrest of peaceful protesters, USC has unfortunately doubled down on its authoritarian approach and simply cancelled an aspect of graduation that students earned and looked forward to,” said the USC assistant sociology professor Brittany Friedman.

“It is disheartening to see the current state of higher education in our country, the mass exposure of students to police violence, and the complete disregard for what USC claims to stand for.”

On Monday, many members of Columbia University faculty and staff rallied in support of students who were arrested, suspended, and in some cases, evicted from their dorm rooms. They demanded “an immediate apology and amnesty” for these students and for their disciplinary records to be cleared.

Classes will be held remotely until the end of the semester as a result of the tensions on campus.

At nearby Princeton, classes, such as the one run by Max Weiss, who is teaching a course on the history of Palestine and Israel, are even being held at some protests.

Earlier this week, Weiss joined dozens of other faculty members in New Jersey in writing an open letter in the school’s newspaper, the Daily Princetonian, in support of Columbia faculty and student protesters.

“We, Princeton University faculty and staff, affirm our solidarity with and support for the Columbia University and Barnard College students who are continuing to demand that the university divest from Israel’s genocide in Gaza and ongoing occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and other Palestinian land,” the letter read.

“We fully support the rights of all university community members, including students, to engage in peaceful protest at Columbia, at Princeton, and on all university campuses.”

Weiss told the Guardian it was “clear” that “university students across the country are not going to stand idly by as university administrations collude with local and municipal police departments, alongside an orchestrated campaign within the halls of the United States government to quell speech”.

Professor and students were arrested at protests at other universities in New York, such as New York University and the City University of New York. While some NYU educators were arrested shortly after shielding Muslim students as they prayed, Cuny professors physically stood together in order to form a barricade between their students and police.

“To get to our students, you have to get through us,” they chanted in unison.

Faculty have formed a human barrier between their CUNY students and campus police. pic.twitter.com/ZainMmk1f9 — Luca Saeed (@cityascanvass) April 25, 2024

Since Hamas militants attacked Israel on 7 October, killing nearly 1,200 people and taking more than 240 hostage, Israel has launched an unrelenting military assault on Gaza, killing more than 34,000 Palestinians, most of whom are women and children.

The violence overseas has sparked campus protests that have spread around the country in the last few weeks. Major protests at Columbia kicked off earlier this month with a pro-Palestinian encampment at the school. Since then, at least 30 other universities, including Yale, Brown and the University of Texas – which on Wednesday saw riot police arrest nearly 60 protesters and one journalist – have followed in Columbia’s footsteps with their own encampments on campus grounds.

To quell the disturbances on campuses, especially as commencement nears, many university administrations have been actively working to shut down the demonstrations and, in some cases, punish participants – sparking a backlash from professors.

Columbia’s president, Nemat “Minouche” Shafik, called on the New York police department to clear the encampment at the university. Hundreds of students were arrested and suspended in a chaotic scene that drew international attention and criticism from faculty, students and the public.

Far-right Republicans have weighed in on recent events at Columbia. Just one day before the NYPD incident, Shafik testified before a committee in the Republican-led House about her alleged failure to prevent instances of antisemitism on campus. Her statements before the House attracted criticism from Columbia faculty, who faulted her for not mounting a robust enough defense of academic freedom.

“Trying to reconcile the free speech rights of those who want to protest and the rights of Jewish students to be in an environment free of harassment or discrimination has been the central challenge on our campus, and many others, in recent months,” Shafik said in her prepared remarks.

“We do not, and will not, tolerate antisemitic threats, images, and other violations. We have enforced, and we will continue to enforce, our policies against such actions.”

Bassam Khawaja, a lecturer at Columbia’s law school who spoke to the Guardian after the faculty-led walkout, condemned Shafik’s decision to engage the NYPD and said the protest “was by all accounts non-violent”.

“It was a group of students camping out on a lawn in the middle of campus,” Khawaja said, pointing out that it was no different than a typical day on campus and that fellow lecturers and professors “felt outrage” at the presence of police on campus. He added that there was “no clear and present danger”.

Khawaja, who is also a supervising attorney at the school’s human rights clinic, said he had seen “people who have spoken out in support of Palestinian human rights immediately painted as Hamas sympathizers, as antisemites, as terrorists … that’s outrageous”.

“Students have to be able to express solidarity with people of Gaza without being painted as extremists or radicals,” he said. “And I think Columbia’s president has a duty to speak up for them.”

In contrast, Shafik is under pressure from others, including some prominent pro-Israel donors, to get tougher on protests amid accusations of intimidation of Jewish students and calls for her to resign, while some senior Republicans have urged Joe Biden to send troops onto campuses.

UT Austin faculty condemned the president, Jay Hartzell, in a statement over his decision “to invite city police as well as state troopers from across the state – on horses, motorcycles and bicycles, in riot gear and armed with batons, pepper spray, teargas and guns to our campus today in response to a planned peaceful protest”.

Text messages obtained by the local Austin American-Statesman newspaper confirmed Hartzell requested police backup.

Weiss, the Princeton professor, called the decision by Columbia’s president to deploy police to forcibly break up the protests “unjust and unjustified”.

He said: “It is the responsibility of the Columbia administration and every American university administration to come out publicly and unequivocally in support of the rights of students, faculty and other university affiliates to exercise their constitutionally protected rights to dissent, speech, and peaceable assembly.”

Zia Mian, a longtime Princeton faculty member who serves as the co-director of the college’s program in science and global security, also attended a Gaza solidarity encampment protest on campus.

Mian told the Guardian: “It’s no surprise that universities are the place – where struggles for equality of men and women, for the equality of people of color, of desegregation of education, of environmental movements, and of movements against war – [where] these debates are often the most charged and the most vivid.

“Young people are confronting the playing-out of existing systems that many of them are seeing for the first time.

“It is almost inevitable then that young people in university settings confronted with the world as it actually is, over and over again, end up being on the cutting edge of change.”

Reuters contributed to this report

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Suggested search, this major allows students to see the myriad interconnections of politics, culture, and economics, big power structures and everyday interactions, persistent social inequalities, and the practices of intimate life. the greater los angeles area provides a natural laboratory for studying such sociological themes as race relations, work and the workplace, the family in a changing society, immigration, civic engagement, and the criminal justice system..

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Sociology Major Learning Objectives

1. Develop a sociological imagination; acquire an understanding of the connections between the individual and social institutions, social policy, and social change;

2. Demonstrate an awareness of diverse human experiences, including but not limited to issues of race, class, gender, sexuality, citizenship, and age, and how these experiences are shaped by structural and cultural forces;

3. Understand the nature of empirical evidence and assess the usefulness of qualitative and quantitative evidence in explaining the causes and consequences of specific social phenomena; become cognizant of the ethical issues of conducting research involving human subjects; create and test hypotheses based on social theories;

4. Conduct, analyze, and describe the results of research using written, oral, and multimedia platforms.

What can you do with a Sociology degree?

“Sociology gives us tools to understand people’s lives that might not be like ours, to be able to understand how peoples’ worldviews might differ from our own”