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Embark on a transformative journey of knowledge, innovation, and discovery at the University of Southern California. Our Doctoral Program stands as a beacon of excellence, where academic aspirations meet the boundless possibilities of the future.

At USC, we’re committed to nurturing the next generation of scholars, researchers, and thought leaders who will shape the world. This page serves as your gateway to information about our doctoral offerings, designed to empower you with the insights you need to embark on this new chapter of your academic journey.

Fall 2025 Admission Application Will Open on September 1st!

There is only one Psychology PhD application.  Within the application, applicants should choose one area of study when applying. The priority deadline for clinical program applicants is November 11th, 2024. The application will close at 11:59pm PT (Pacific Time) on December 1st, 2024 for every area. Late submissions will not be considered. Please refer to our “ Admissions ” and “ Requirements ” pages to find out more.

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Incoming PhD students are provided with an annual stipend and health benefits. Outside of the graduate student package exist other funding opportunities to support you through your academic journey here at USC. Check out our “ Financial Aid ” page to find out more.

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Fall 2023 or Later

These guidelines apply to students who started the PhD program in the Fall 2023 or Later. For earlier guidelines, please see Fall 2015 to Spring 2023 guidelines .

For a breakdown of CS PhD program milestones, please see Ph.D. Milestones for Computer Science students .

1. Introduction

The PhD degree at the USC Computer Science department prepares students for a career in research. The goal of the program is to nurture talented minds via research and formal coursework, to produce future thought leaders in computer science. The program accepts students who have completed a four-year Bachelor's degree in a relevant field; a Master’s degree is not a requirement for entry. Once admitted to the program, a student must complete a set of requirements to graduate with the PhD degree. These requirements are described next.

2. Unit Requirements

A student is required to complete a total of at least 60 units, at least 40 of which must be at the 500 level or above (beyond the bachelor’s degree and including the required courses as listed in the requirements below). A student must maintain a 3.0 GPA to remain in good academic standing.

3. Course Requirement

Mandatory courses: Each student is required to complete CSCI 670 (4 units), and two semesters of CSCI 697 (1 unit each, 2 maximum). In addition, students are required to pass two semesters of CSCI 698 (1-2 units each, no maximum) as part of a teaching requirement. CSCI 698 is coursework related to a teaching requirement and is described in Section 6.

In addition to the mandatory courses, each student must complete five (5) CSCI courses at the 500 level and above, each of 4 units. No more than two (2) of these courses (8 units total) may be at the 500 level; the remaining must be CSCI courses at the 600 level. Directed Research units or thesis credits do not satisfy this requirement.

Students are strongly advised to take at least one of their elective courses in an area of Computer Science that is different from their proposed area of research. The PhD advisor is expected to provide guidance on this matter to the student. The CSCI 670 course requirement may be waived only by taking the midterm and final exams with the ongoing class (no homeworks or quizzes), and achieving satisfactory scores.

CSCI 697 and CSCI 698 may not be waived.

4. Biannual Review

Every Fall and every Spring semesters, the faculty will review each PhD student in the program. This is a rigorous review. Each student must submit a current CV and a list of publications and/or achievements. Each student’s faculty advisor will also submit a written statement assessing the student’s research and progress. The review, based on these inputs, will result in an evaluation of:

  • “At or exceeds expectations”,
  • “Mostly at expectations and improvements needed” (with a specific list of improvements for each student), or
  • “Below expectations” (with a specific list of actions that must be taken).

After the first two semesters, students who do not have a faculty advisor will automatically receive a “Below expectations” evaluation.

Students must earn a “At or exceeds expectations” or “Mostly at expectations and improvements needed” evaluation on the most recent review before they will be allowed to take the Qualifying Examination or Dissertation Defense.

For each student who earns a “Below expectations” review, the student’s faculty advisor (if any) and the Associate Chair for PhD Affairs will develop a remediation plan to be completed within 12 months.

Two consecutive “Below expectations” reviews or failure to achieve the remediation plan may be used as grounds for removing a student from the PhD program.

5. Seminar and Thesis Proposal Attendance Requirement

Each PhD student must attend four (4) Department seminars and/or PhD Thesis Proposals each semester.

6. Teaching Requirement

All PhD students must pass CSCI 698: Teaching Practicum in two or more semesters before they can graduate with a PhD. Enrollment in CSCI 698 requires a PhD student to concurrently serve as a TA for a Computer Science or Data Science class. Every student must TA for two semesters to fulfill the teaching requirement. Every student must TA at least one undergraduate class, unless by exceptional approval by the Associate Chair for PhD Affairs.

7. Qualifying Examination

All doctoral students must pass a Qualifying Examination in Computer Science. Before passing the Qualifying Examination, students must have completed all their course requirements.

The Qualifying Examination is administered by a guidance committee consisting of the dissertation advisor and four (4) other faculty members. The student’s dissertation advisor will act as the chair of the guidance committee. The committee must include at least three (3) faculty members who have an appointment in Computer Science, and at least one committee member must be tenured in the Computer Science Department. The committee must also include one tenured/tenure track USC faculty member from another department whose primary appointment is not in Computer Science. All guidance committees must be approved by the Associate Chair for PhD Affairs, the Dean’s office, and the Graduate School. The guidance committee may include faculty from other universities, in addition to the five members from USC.

The Qualifying Examination has two parts: Written and Oral. A student must have an “At or exceeds expectations” or “Mostly at expectations and improvements needed” result from the most recent Biannual Review and at least a 3.0 GPA in order to attempt the Qualifying Examination.

Students may take the Written portion of the Qualifying Examination prior to completing their course requirements. The Written portion of the Qualifying Examination should be taken during the student’s 4th semester in the PhD program. The Written portion is in the form of a paper. Students must work with their Qualifying Examination committee to determine the topic and scope of the paper. The criteria for the paper written in fulfillment of the Written portion of the Qualifying Examination are as follows:

  • Minimum 15 pages in the ACM Computer Science Style.
  • Writing style must be of publishable quality, as determined by the guidance committee.
  • Must include at least 30 scholarly references.

The student will pass the Written part of the Qualifying Examination with their committee’s consensus. If a student does not pass the Written portion of the Qualifying Examination, they may retake it one additional time. The student must retake the Written portion of the Qualifying Examination within at least six (6) and at most 12 months of the initial attempt.

The Oral portion of the Qualifying Examination must be taken by the end of a student’s 3rd year.   The exam can be held publicly or privately at the discretion of the Committee Chair.   The Oral portion of the Qualifying Examination will assess a student’s ability to provide a 30-minute presentation on the topic covered in the Written portion and to show adequate mastery of that topic, reflected both in the quality of the presentation and the ability to answer questions from the committee. The student will not be allowed to take the Oral portion of the Qualifying Examination without having passed the Written portion. If a student does not pass the Oral portion of the Qualifying Examination, they may retake it one additional time. The student must retake the Oral portion of the Qualifying Examination within at least six (6) and at most 12 months of the initial attempt. Postponement of any part of the Qualifying Examination will be treated on a case-by-case basis by the Associate Chair for the PhD Program

8. Thesis Proposal

The thesis proposal presents a summary of planned future research to be carried out until graduation, contextualized by work already completed. Like for the Qualifying exam, the Thesis Proposal consists of two parts: a written part, in the same format as the written portion of the Qualifying Exam, and an oral presentation. The written part must be submitted to the student’s faculty committee at least two weeks before the scheduled oral presentation. The thesis proposal committee is administered by a guidance committee consisting of the dissertation advisor and four (4) other faculty members. The student’s dissertation advisor will act as the chair of the guidance committee. The committee must include at least three (3) faculty members who have an appointment in Computer Science, and at least one committee member must be tenured in the Computer Science Department. The committee must also include one tenured/tenure track USC faculty member from another department whose primary appointment is not in Computer Science.

The oral part of the Thesis Proposal is a presentation open to the public. The presentation must be announced at least one week in advance. The announcement must include the presentation title and abstract, the venue, date and time, as well as the names of the guidance committee members. The presentation is expected to be 45 minutes long at a minimum, with time for questions at the end. All current PhD students are encouraged to attend and participate in the public questions-and-answers session. A portion of the questions-and-answers session may be closed at the discretion of the student’s guidance committee.

The Thesis Proposal must be made by the end of a student’s 5th year in the program, although it is strongly recommended that students do so by the end of their 4th year. Only students who have passed the Qualifying examination (both Written and Oral), may schedule a Thesis Proposal presentation. The guidance committee will assess the thesis proposal for novelty, substance, and feasibility, and decide whether to approve the proposal. If a student’s Thesis Proposal is not approved, the student may make one additional proposal. The student must make the additional Thesis Proposal within at most six (6) months of the first attempt.

9. Dissertation and Defense

A dissertation involving original research completes the requirements for a PhD degree. A Defense of the dissertation must be held as a public oral examination. The Defense must be announced at least one week in advance. To schedule the Defense, the student must have passed the Thesis Proposal. The Defense announcement must include the dissertation title and abstract, the venue, date and time for the examination, as well as the names of the dissertation Defense committee members.

The student must provide the complete written dissertation to the committee at least five (5) business days before the scheduled defense.

The dissertation defense committee must have at least three (3) members, of which at least two must have an appointment in Computer Science. The student’s dissertation advisor will chair the committee. At least one committee member must be tenured in the Computer Science Department. The committee must also include one tenured (or tenure-track) USC faculty member from another department whose primary appointment is not in Computer Science.

Specific upload deadlines and instructions can be found on the USC Graduate School Thesis Center website https://graduateschool.usc.edu/current-students/thesis-dissertation-submission/ .

10. Time Limits

A student must pass the Qualifying Examination within four years of being admitted to the PhD program. The dissertation Defense must be completed within seven years of being admitted to the PhD program (six if the student arrives with a relevant Master’s degree).

After seven years in the PhD program, the student may not be eligible for any Teaching Assistantship funding from the Computer Science department. An extension to either time limit (Qualifying Exam and Defense) requires approval of two-thirds of the Computer Science faculty. In no case may the granted extensions exceed the time limits set by the USC Graduate School.

11. Absences

Doctoral students may be granted a maximum of 24 months (not necessarily consecutive) leave-of-absence by the Department Chair, or by a committee appointed by the Department Chair with the approval of the Graduate School. During these absences, the clock defining the time limits for the qualifying and defense examinations is suspended. The clock is resumed when the student returns from the leave-of-absence. Any leaves longer than 24 months, or leave applied for within four months of the expiration of a time limit, requires an approval of two-thirds of Computer Science faculty. Absences longer than 24 months also require USC Graduate School approval.

12. Transfer Requirements

Students with a relevant MS degree from another university may transfer up to 30 units towards their PhD degree. At most two courses may be substituted for the allowed two 500- level courses in the course requirement. No substitutions are allowed for the 600-level courses.

13. Petitioning for MS Degree

After satisfying the PhD course requirements and completing a minimum of 32 units with a GPA of 3.0, a current CS PhD is eligible to petition for a Master's degree in Computer Science.  This will require the approval of your faculty advisor(s) and the Associate Chair of the department.

14. Existing Students and the new PhD Requirements

These requirements shall apply to all students admitted to the Computer Science PhD program for Fall 2023 or thereafter. Students admitted prior to Fall 2023 may choose to have these requirements applied to them. To do this, the student must submit to the Department an approval letter signed by the student’s PhD advisor.

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    University of Southern California
   
  Sep 17, 2024  
USC Catalogue 2023-2024    
USC Catalogue 2023-2024 [ARCHIVED CATALOGUE]

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Residency Requirement

A minimum of 24 graduate units at USC is required for the doctoral degree.

Course Requirements

Each student must take at least 36 substantive units in psychology at USC during the first three years. Students must complete one statistics and/or research methods course as well as a set of core courses that cover topics in brain and cognitive sciences and clinical, developmental and social areas, the specifics of which are provided in the department’s handbook for graduate students. Additional course requirements vary according to specialty area.

Research Requirement

During the first and second year, students work on either a master’s thesis or a research report of comparable scope and quality. A research project done at USC is required of all students (by the conclusion of the summer following the student’s second year), regardless of prior graduate work.

Screening Procedure

The student’s ability to master graduate-level course material is first evaluated after completion of no more than 24 units, and not later than the third semester of graduate work at USC. The final screening procedure is the successful completion of a second-year project requirement. This evaluation is based on the student’s performance in courses taken and on an evaluation of the student’s research competence as reflected in the second year research project. The project is evaluated by a committee of three faculty, including the student’s primary adviser.

Additionally, students are evaluated each year based on adviser input, course work and research progress.

Qualifying Exam Committee

In preparation for the qualifying examination, each student assembles a five-person qualifying exam committee to direct the student’s program of studies and evaluate research competence. The committee continues to serve until after the qualifying examination has been passed, the dissertation topic approved, and the student admitted to candidacy for the PhD. At that time the student assembles a dissertation committee of four or more members (usually consisting of members of the qualifying exam committee, one of whom must be a faculty member from outside the department), who advise on and evaluate the dissertation.

Qualifying Examination

The qualifying examination evaluates the student’s ability to conduct independent scholarship and research. The student is evaluated based on oral and written presentation of two elements: a written review paper or written exam and the dissertation proposal. The qualifying examination is planned, administered and evaluated by the student’s qualifying exam committee. It should be taken no later than during the fifth semester.

Doctoral Dissertation

A student is expected to engage in research activity throughout his or her graduate career, leading up to and culminating in the PhD dissertation. The dissertation is based on an original investigation, usually involving empirical data.

Defense of the Dissertation

The student’s doctoral dissertation is defended at either a defense oral, based on an approved preliminary copy of the dissertation, or a final oral, based on the final version of the dissertation.

Each student has a major adviser who is usually in the specialty area. The qualifying exam committee should be formed at least one semester before the student takes the qualifying examination. Advisement concerning graduate school requirements may also be sought from the staff graduate adviser and the faculty member serving as director of graduate studies.

Internship Requirement

Students in the clinical science PhD program need a minimum of three full-time in-residence academic years of graduate study plus one full year of internship at a facility approved by the clinical faculty.

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USC COMPASS undergraduate program prepares juniors and seniors for stem cell careers

By   cristy lytal, in this section, read this next.

Students in the teaching lab at USC's stem cell research center (Photo by Chris Shinn)

USC COMPASS undergraduate program points the way to stem cell careers

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COMPASS cohort (Photo by Cristy Lytal)

For 20 undergraduate students at USC, stem cell research is more than the topic of a lecture or an article in a textbook. It’s the focus of a comprehensive two-year program designed to prepare juniors and seniors for careers in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine.

Known as USC COMPASS: Creating Opportunities through Mentorship and Partnership Across Stem Cell Science, the program launched in summer 2023 as a multidisciplinary collaboration among three USC schools: the Keck School of Medicine, the Viterbi School of Engineering, and the Dornsife College of Arts, Letters, and Sciences.

The program is supported by a $2.9 million grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) , the voter-created state agency that distributes public funding to support stem cell research and education. CIRM established a total of 16 COMPASS programs, including several at University of California, California State University, and community college campuses. USC is the only private research university to host a COMPASS program.

“A major goal of the program is to increase diversity in the field of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine,” said USC COMPASS Program Director Senta Georgia , a principal investigator at the Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and an assistant professor of pediatrics and stem cell biology and regenerative medicine at USC.

“We want COMPASS to point the way to stem cell careers for undergraduates with a variety of backgrounds and experiences, and who may have encountered previous barriers to success,” said USC COMPASS Program Co-director Francesca Mariani , an associate professor of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine, and integrative anatomical sciences.

The program starts with a four-week summer “boot camp,” which provides an immediate opportunity to learn on hands-on laboratory techniques, develop academic and career skills, and bond with their cohort.

“I’ve never been in a research lab before, so I was nervous about how my first experience would be in a lab,” said Brandon Barnes, a human biology major with a minor in health administration. “But it’s a really guided approach and teaches you a lot of information and a lot of lab techniques pretty quickly. The second day we were here, we came straight into the lab and did some small things with pipetting. And once we started pipetting more, we got straight into working with mouse embryonic stem cells, and that was the coolest thing.”

After completing the boot camp, the students match with research laboratories, where they spend the remainder of the first summer and continue to work for 10 hours per week during junior year.

“Over that summer, when we were deciding which labs we want to work with or what we want to focus on, it was the first time that I was actually able to consider what type of research I want to do, rather than being desperate to just get into a research lab and have those qualifications,” said Chris Young, a biological sciences major pursuing a progressive master’s degree in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. “So I would say COMPASS gave me the confidence and the ability to actually start thinking about what I want to do, and it’s providing me the tools for how to achieve those things. I feel like I’ve gained confidence as a researcher and as a student. This is probably the best decision I made in college, being a part of COMPASS.”

During their senior years, students can choose to continue these laboratory research internships, or to explore other stem cell-related interests. For example, students can spend the second summer interning at biotech companies, or can commit their entire second year to training experience in USC’s cell manufacturing facility.

During their junior and senior years, COMPASS students also pursue 12 units of required course work and electives, which partially meet the requirements for a minor in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine.

In addition, the students conduct bioinformatics or bioengineering projects, capstone projects culminating in a public symposium, and community outreach projects.

The students also participate in workshops and seminars covering topics ranging from research ethics to laboratory skills to imposter syndrome. Guest speakers from a variety of industries also share their career paths and advice.

“In this program, I was genuinely surprised by how multifaceted being a researcher is,” said Henry Le, a human biology major. “Being a researcher is not only about knowing the science, but also about learning to become a leader. It’s about being a person who is high-integrity and a person who is able to communicate science effectively and translate that into the real world. And in so in many ways, being trained as a researcher prepares you for all aspects of your life.”

To guide the students through these experiences and to prepare them for the next steps in their academic and professional careers, the program relies on a strong network of academic and professional mentors. USC faculty or staff provide one-on-one mentorship, and external mentors from the biotech industry offer additional guidance.

“Having so many different mentors and different avenues of support has been really beneficial to me,” said Maddie Pierce, a biomedical engineering major pursuing a progressive master’s degree in medical device and diagnostic engineering. “I’m a first-generation student, so I really appreciate any insight into what I can do with my future. COMPASS exposed me to a lot that I probably wouldn’t have had the opportunity to know about if I wasn’t in the program.”

While participating in COMPASS, the students earn summer stipends, academic year stipends, and a tuition credits to offset their living and educational expenses. This allows them to concentrate on developing themselves as researchers, without the pressure to find additional employment to support themselves.

In summer 2025 and summer 2026, the USC COMPASS program will welcome two additional cohorts of 10 rising juniors and incoming transfer students. To continue in summer 2027, the program will require either a renewal of CIRM funding or philanthropic support.

“For many of our undergraduate students, the COMPASS program has been completely lifechanging,” said Charles (Chuck) Murry, Chair of the Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, and Director of the Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research. “We’re grateful to CIRM for their vision and partnership in opening this pathway to success for USC’s talented and diverse undergraduates, who are poised to become tomorrow’s leaders in regenerative medicine.”

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Spring 2025 Application NOW OPEN for On-Campus MSW

At the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, we prepare our students for a life of impactful work. To help our graduates promote lasting social change, our faculty delivers bold, principled and forward-thinking training, blending classroom instruction with real-world training.

As important as your training is, making the most of your time at the school can be difficult if you're worrying about how to pay for it. Our Stipend Wizard helps you hone in on relevant stipends and scholarships to help you pay for your world-class education.

  • Current Get Started
  • Areas of Interest
  • Your Financial Aid Opportunities

How the Workforce Development Stipend and Scholarship Programs Work

The Office of Recruitment and Workforce Development (ORWD) was specifically formed to create a robust stipend program that connects MSW students with organizations and areas of practice with a high need for qualified social workers. Students receive a financial incentive in the form of a stipend or scholarship that requires workforce development responsibilities during the MSW program and after graduation. Stipend/scholarship recipients benefit from specialized curriculum and practicum placements.

In practice, this means that students with financial concerns can still attend USC and make a difference in their communities. But workforce development goes beyond money. According to a recent article, "the ORWD provides an integrated approach, with many stipend programs providing specialized training, internships and priority job placement in social service agencies upon receipt of their MSW degree, allowing fresh graduates to realize their dreams right away."

Read more about how MSW stipends have changed lives.

All Workforce Development Stipend Opportunities

Lac dcfs , 30 stipends.

The stipend offered by the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services is $52,000 over two years.

CalSWEC PDH

16 stipends.

The Public Behavioral Health MSW Training Program offers a stipend of $25,000 per academic year.

Primary Care Project 

20+ stipends.

The Primary Care Project is a one-year scholarship of $30,000. 

RecoverUSC 

48 stipends.

The RecoverUSC: Addiction Treatment Certification Project offers a $20,000 stipend per academic year.

LAC DMH 

10+ stipends.

The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health offers an $18,500 stipend.   

Next-Gen Partnership

30 stipends.

The stipend offered by the Next Generation Partnership Project is $10,000. 

The Geriatric Social Work Education Consortium offers a stipend ranging from $1,000 to $8,000.

USC Trojan Scholar

This scholarship offers full tuition benefits and one-on-one mentorship.   

Students can apply to workforce development stipend/scholarship program from an area(s) of focus based on their interests. Stipend/scholarship programs differ in length, funding, requirements and competitive application processes. 

Please keep in mind that these programs rely on the availability of external funding every year. Some stipend scholarships are able to be compounded with one another.

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If your stipend award doesn't cover the full amount of your tuition, we can help you find other ways to afford this life-changing experience.

Find scholarships

Learn about financial aid

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  1. USC Online Graduate Programs

    Power your career with knowledge, resources and community. USC Online offers 100+ online master's degrees, doctoral programs and graduate certificates. Learn more about each program through the links below, or use the filter to narrow down your selections by degree type and area of focus. Filters.

  2. EdD in Organizational Change and Leadership

    The Doctor of Education in Organizational Change and Leadership online prepares students for a variety of roles in different sectors. They include: President/Vice President. CEO. Chief Learning Officer. Higher Education Administrator. Training/Professional Development Manager. Non-Profit Manager/Executive Director.

  3. USC Online

    To make sure your personal statement makes its way to the top of the college admissions pile, follow these tips and advice for crafting a powerful essay. Earn an online degree from the University of Southern California. USC Online offers master's degrees, graduate certificates and doctorate degrees.

  4. Doctoral Degree Programs

    Explore our online doctoral programs and apply today to take the next step. Request More Information. Loading... OCL Spring Priority: 09/15/2024 ... USC Rossier Online Graduate Education Programs. University of Southern California. Waite Phillips Hall 3470 Trousdale Parkway Los Angeles, CA 90089

  5. Doctor of Social Work (DSW)

    The online Doctor of Social Work (DSW) program at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work offers an advanced practice degree in social change and innovation for agency and community leaders and entrepreneurs. The program prepares experienced professionals with the skills to develop practical, applied solutions to large-scale social ...

  6. Doctor of Education in Organizational Change and Leadership (online)

    This program is designed for working professionals with leadership experience who desire to work in a variety of industries including colleges and universities, private firms, nonprofits and government organizations. This program is not recommended for individuals interested in K-12 settings. Organizational change is a complex process that requires skilled leadership. Equip yourself with the ...

  7. USC Rossier School of Education

    The online Master of Education in School Counseling is designed for those who aspire to become school counselors in K-12 settings and explores relevant challenges affecting today's schools, focusing on the well-being of the whole child through support of their social, emotional and academic needs. Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy.

  8. Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (online)

    Callah Darmali. [email protected]. (213) 205-0609. This program is designed for working professionals with leadership experience who desire to lead K-12 schools, universities, community colleges or other educational settings. To address the existing gaps in education, the EDL online program empowers students to lead change through an ...

  9. USC Schools Offer 100+ Online Graduate Degrees

    USC Online offers 100+ online master's degrees, certificates and doctoral degrees across our schools. ... USC Online offers wide-ranging degree programs and certification options across our schools. Whether you want to earn a master's or doctoral degree or gain a certificate in a specialized field, we'll help you find the right fit to take ...

  10. Online DEN@Viterbi Offerings

    DEN@Viterbi OfferingsOnline DEN@Viterbi OfferingsThe following list provides an overview of programs available online via DEN@Viterbi, offering over 40 graduate degree programs in a variety of disciplines. Explore the programs in each of the engineering fields below and click on your program/s of interest for more information. To confirm that your program of interest is authorized by your ...

  11. Graduate Admission

    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.

  12. Doctoral Program in Computer Science

    Doctoral Program in Computer Science. Since the department's founding in 1968, faculty members have made pioneering contributions to fundamental and interdisciplinary fields of computing. Today, the department is a research and education leader in computation, information, and digital media, offering innovative environments for study and research.

  13. Graduate & Professional

    With 23 schools and academic divisions, we offer a range of undergraduate, graduate and professional majors. At USC, one of the best colleges in the U.S., you'll work with leading experts and supportive faculty to build your path to success. Tap into USC's dynamic, global community as you embark on your world-class undergraduate study.

  14. Doctor of Social Work

    The Doctor of Social Work (DSW) program offers an advanced practice degree in social change and innovation for agency and community leaders and entrepreneurs. Unlike other schools of social work that offer advanced practice doctorates in clinical practice or pedagogy, we prepare experienced professionals to develop practical, applied solutions ...

  15. Ph.D Programs at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering

    Doctoral Programs. Ranked amongst top graduate schools for engineering and computer science in the United States by U.S. News and World Report, the USC Viterbi School of Engineering is an elite engineering school that seeks to extend the frontiers of engineering knowledge by attracting the most talented doctoral students worldwide.

  16. Doctoral Program

    Fall 2025 Admission Application Will Open on September 1st! There is only one Psychology PhD application. Within the application, applicants should choose one area of study when applying. The priority deadline for clinical program applicants is November 11th, 2024. The application will close at 11:59pm PT (Pacific Time) on December 1st, 2024 ...

  17. Doctoral Degree Programs

    Master of Education in Learning Design and Technology. Master of Education in Enrollment and Management Policy (online. School Leadership Academy Preliminary Services Credential. USC Rossier School of Education offers two types of excellent doctoral degree programs. The PhD is research-oriented whereas the EdD is directed towards educational ...

  18. Explore Our Programs

    Explore Our Programs - USC. USC is a constellation of schools, centers and institutes where some of the brightest minds are leading the way to the future of education. USC, L.A. and California's southland are inextricably linked. Our passion as a great private research university serves the public good across the city and throughout SoCal ...

  19. Ph.D. Program

    1. Introduction. The PhD degree at the USC Computer Science department prepares students for a career in research. The goal of the program is to nurture talented minds via research and formal coursework, to produce future thought leaders in computer science. The program accepts students who have completed a four-year Bachelor's degree in a ...

  20. Program: Psychology (PhD)

    Course Requirements. Each student must take at least 36 substantive units in psychology at USC during the first three years. Students must complete one statistics and/or research methods course as well as a set of core courses that cover topics in brain and cognitive sciences and clinical, developmental and social areas, the specifics of which ...

  21. Doctoral Program in Electrical Engineering

    Doctoral Program in Electrical Engineering. PhD in EE Application Process. View Formal Application Steps (Deadline: December 15) The Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering is one of the largest departments in the Viterbi School and is divided into several major teaching and research groups: signal and image processing ...

  22. Meet USC

    Dates & Registration. All Spotlight: USC programs take place on Fridays from 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Learn more and Register here. Explore USC's graduate application process with Spotlight: USC. Get valuable insights and tips directly from our Office of Graduate Admission. Register for our upcoming sessions.

  23. USC Neuroscience Graduate Program

    The USC Neuroscience Graduate Program (NGP) is the only university-wide PhD program at USC. NGP students and faculty come from a variety of academic backgrounds to study questions spanning the spectrum of modern neuroscience research. We provide a highly supportive, research-intensive training experience designed to prepare students for a ...

  24. USC COMPASS undergraduate program prepares juniors and seniors for stem

    In summer 2025 and summer 2026, the USC COMPASS program will welcome two additional cohorts of 10 rising juniors and incoming transfer students. To continue in summer 2027, the program will require either a renewal of CIRM funding or philanthropic support. ... Master's Programs; Professional Programs; Post-Doctoral Researchers; CME ...

  25. Stipends

    Students can apply to workforce development stipend/scholarship program from an area(s) of focus based on their interests. Stipend/scholarship programs differ in length, funding, requirements and competitive application processes. Please keep in mind that these programs rely on the availability of external funding every year.