For general application procedures to USC Graduate School, please refer to the Graduate Admission website. The online application portal will begin accepting applications for Fall 2024 admission in November 2023. Applications are due January 3rd, 2024.
USC ETS Codes
- School Code 4852
- Department Code 2902
General Requirements
General requirements for admission to CSLC Tracks include:
- A Bachelor’s degree awarded by a U.S. institution in a relevant discipline, or the equivalent degree from another accredited college or university
- A minimum earned grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale), or the equivalent, in undergraduate and any previous graduate coursework
- Letters of recommendation from three recent instructors in relevant disciplines
- CV/resume
- International applicants should review the country-specific requirements for admission, including English-language proficiency requirements.
- As of Fall 2021, CSLC no longer accepts GRE scores as a part of our review process.
In addition to meeting these general requirements, to be considered for admission to the program, applicants must include the following supplemental materials:
Requirements for each program:
Comparative Media and Culture
- A 500-word statement in which you describe clearly your interest in Comparative Media and Culture, your proposed field of concentration, the research you would like to undertake, and your level of competence in languages other than English.
- A sample of your scholarly writing (15-25 pages) that treats a subject relevant to the field of Comparative Media and Culture. A paper submitted for a course is fine.
Comparative Literature
- A 500-word statement in which you describe clearly your interest in Comparative Literature, your proposed field of concentration, the research you would like to undertake, and your level of competence in languages other than English. Successful applicants to Track II will have the ability to do graduate-level work in two language traditions in addition to English.
- A sample of your scholarly writing (15-25 pages) that treats a relevant literary, critical, or theoretical subject. A paper submitted for a course is fine.
French and Francophone Studies
- A 500-word statement in which you describe clearly your interest in French and Francophone Studies, your proposed field of concentration, the research you would like to undertake, and your level of competence in French and other languages besides English.
- A sample of your scholarly writing (15-25 pages) written in French. It should treat a subject relevant to the field of French and Francophone studies. A paper submitted for a course is fine.
Spanish and Latin American Studies
- A 500-word statement in which you describe clearly your interest in Spanish and Latin American Studies, your proposed field of concentration, the research you would like to undertake, and your level of competence in Spanish and other languages besides English.
- A sample of your scholarly writing (15-25 pages) in Spanish. It should treat a subject relevant to the field of Spanish or Latin American studies. A paper submitted for a course is fine.
The following application materials are to be submitted online:
- Graduate Admission Application
- Statement of Interest
- Letters of recommendation. (If these cannot be submitted electronically, recommenders may be emailed to cslc@dornsife.usc.edu or sent directly to CSLC.)
- Writing sample
- CV/resume
- Copy of transcripts (unofficial is fine and preferred) from each institution you’ve attended for undergraduate and graduate work completed or attempted
- Application fee of $90.
The following application materials are to be mailed directly to:
Office of Graduate Admission 3601 South Flower Street Room 112 University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA 90089-0915
- Official academic transcripts from all institutions attended for undergraduate and graduate work completed or attempted. International students should also refer to the Office of Graduate Admission’s Country-Specific Guidelines for international applicants.
- Transcripts may be emailed by the academic institution directly to the Office of Graduate Admission at admscan@usc.edu. Transcripts emailed by the applicant will not be accepted. See Transcript Requirements for more information.
International Students
- Official results of the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE Academic* sent by the testing agency. Exam should be taken as early as possible so that the results will be received by the January 3 application deadline.
*If you are an applicant from a country where both the national language and language of instruction is English or if you receive a BA in a country where both the national language and language of instruction is English, you may be exempt from this requirement. Please see the Office of Graduate Admission’s Country-Specific Guidelines for more information.