Progressive Degree Program
The Progressive Degree Program (PDP) enables junior and senior USC undergraduate students to apply undergraduate coursework toward the completion of a USC master’s degree. Pursuing a progressive degree can deepen your education and further prepare you for future career in as little as one additional year. For more information, visit the USC Progressive Degree Program page.
PDP Eligibility Requirements
The following are the USC-wide eligibility requirements for the progressive degree program:
– Applicants may apply only once they have completed at least 64 total units of undergraduate course work, excluding AP, IB, or transfer units earned prior to graduation from high school.
– Applicants may apply in their junior (recommended) or senior year but no later than the semester prior to beginning graduate course work.
– Applicants do not need to submit GRE, GMAT, or other graduate entrance exam scores, but should have at least a 3.0 cumulative USC GPA at the time of application.
Timeline and Deadlines
The MAS PDP only offers Fall admittance at this time. The early application deadline is February 1 and the final deadline is May 1 for the following Fall semester enrollment.
What You Need to Apply
To apply, you must submit the following materials to Jillian Boelke, MAS Academic Advisor after following the application steps outlined in the “How to Apply” section of this page:
– Progressive Degree Program Application form (your Academic Advisor will submit)
– STARS Report (your Academic Advisor will submit)
– Progressive Degree Proposed Course Plan (your Academic Advisor will submit), which must:
– include all remaining undergraduate course requirements and
– include at least two-thirds of the graduate program requirements and
– be based on the approved course plan templates listed on this website
– Your most up-to-date resume/CV
– Three letters of recommendation from professionals or professors familiar with your capabilities and achievements.
– A Personal Statement (approx. 1,000 words) that addresses your interest in the degree.
– Answers to 5 Program Prompts (approx. 250 words each) that will be provided to you once you are ready to complete your application.
How to Apply
1. Review the Progressive Degree Eligibility Requirements to confirm you are eligible to apply.
2. Review the Progressive Degree Program Requirements to ensure that you can feasibly complete the program.
3. Meet with your undergraduate major Academic Advisor to determine eligibility and create a Proposed Course Plan for completing your undergraduate and graduate coursework.
4. Once the Proposed Course Plan is completed, make an appointment with Jillian Boelke, MAS Academic Advisor to review the PDP application and MAS course requirements together.
5. Complete the Progressive Degree Program Application and send it to your undergraduate major Academic Advisor for their signature. Your undergraduate advisor will sign the application and send to Jillian Boelke, MAS Academic Advisor along with a copy of your STARS report and the Proposed Course Plan
6. Send all additional required materials to Jillian Boelke, MAS Academic Advisor
a. Your most up-to-date resume/CV
b. Three letters of recommendation from professionals or professors familiar with your capabilities and achievements.
c. A Personal Statement (approx. 1,000 words) that addresses your interest in the degree.
7. Answers to 5 Program Prompts (approx. 250 words each) that will be provided to you once you are ready to complete your application.
After Your Application is Submitted
Once all your completed application materials have been sent to the MAS Academic Advisor…
1. Your full application will be reviewed by the MAS admissions committee.
2. You will receive a decision letter some time in May/June if the application was submitted before the early admission deadline (February 1) or June/July if the application was submitted before the final admission deadline (May 1).
3. If you are admitted, the MAS admissions department will submit your application to Degree Progress and the MAS will be added to your academic records.
After You Are Admitted
Once you are admitted to the program, you must follow your approved course plan exactly as outlined. No changes can be made once you submit the application. This means you will not be able to take any additional courses, fewer courses, substitute a course, or change your chosen electives.
After you complete your undergraduate requirements, your bachelor’s degree may be awarded separately, but the master’s degree will not be awarded before the undergraduate degree.
Financial Aid for Progressive Degrees
Please note that financial aid eligibility differs for students in Progressive Degree programs. Please visit Financial Aid Enrollment in a Progressive Degree Program for more details.
Detailed tuition and fee information can be found in the USC Catalogue. The cost of the program is per unit.
You will want to factor in expenses for the classes that require additional materials as well as the cost of transportation and health insurance, if you do not already have it already.
Scholarships
Students can apply to an IAS scholarship for up to a $2,000 award. The scholarship will be announced some time in the summer. There are also scholarships you can apply for through USC Scholarship Universe and Awards and Fellowship Database.
Contact
Jillian Boelke, Academic Advisor
boelke@usc.edu or 323-442-2695