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Master’s & Professional Studies

Level Up

A USC Dornsife master’s or professional degree program is unlike any other. Here, you’ll put your distinct vision for your own future in motion. And you’ll graduate with a clear advantage over the competition in a rapidly changing job market.

Every graduate student at USC Dornsife becomes highly skilled in a high-demand field, builds impressive professional connections, and gets plenty of opportunities to practice solving real problems in real situations. Whether you are looking to pursue your passion or take the next big leap in your current field, there’s never been a better time to get started on an advanced degree.

Find Out Which Program Is Right for You

The USC Dornsife Edge

Programs with Purpose
A Vibrant Environment
Immersive Education
Learn With the Best
The Trojan Network

Programs with Purpose

USC Dornsife designs master’s and professional programs with purpose. Programs are offered only when they meet the right criteria:

• They must train students to succeed in the most relevant and emerging fields, where new leaders are in high demand.
• They must integrate theoretical knowledge with practical instruction and experiences, so graduates can make meaningful contributions to their employers from the moment they arrive.
• They must harness USC’s academic strengths, including faculty who are among the most celebrated experts and practitioners anywhere — experts who are actively engaged in shaping the future of their fields.

Because we carefully design our programs to meet these standards, graduates are well-prepared with cutting-edge knowledge and distinct experience that set you apart from the competition.

A Vibrant Environment

You’ll have ample opportunities to study and collaborate in a vibrant intellectual environment. Along with ambitious peers, you’ll engage with the most cutting-edge research and innovative techniques in your chosen field. And if you’re studying on campus, you’ll have Los Angeles — one of the most dynamic and innovative in the world — right in front of you for inspiration.

Immersive Education

We don’t make a distinction between theory and practice, so you won’t sit passively taking notes. You’ll be immersed in learning and applying what you’ve learned to professional work out in the world. This makes transitioning to the job you want practically seamless.

Learn With the Best

Not only are USC faculty among the most celebrated and accomplished in their fields, but your fellow students will also be top-notch. Getting a graduate or professional degree challenges you to go deeper into a subject than you might have ever gone before. But you won’t be alone. As a master’s student you’ll be part of a group of hungry, motivated learners who know what they want to accomplish — students just like you.

The Trojan Network

Trojans have each other’s backs. Don’t underestimate the next-level networking built into every one of our programs.

Need a letter of recommendation? Looking for an inside connection to a job you want? Want valuable career advice from someone who knows the ropes? The unrivaled Trojan network — which extends all around the world — will be a valuable resource for life.

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Program Spotlight

New Leaders to Grapple With Evolving Global Threats

From cybersecurity to human rights to disaster relief, today’s world needs a new kind of leader who is trained to get ahead of global challenges on the horizon and develop creative solutions for those that impact society right now. USC Dornsife’s new M.A. in Global Security Studies combines coursework in international relations, spatial sciences, and environmental studies that trains students in data-driven approaches to problem solving.

Los Angeles:
The Place to Be

Ready to take your next big leap? You need to be here: a top-tier university in the heart of an ultramodern city that influences the entire world.

Discover Life in L.A.

The research, data analysis, and creative problem-solving skills that I developed from the Applied Economics program at USC has unlocked multiple career pathways. I currently work on data strategy and research at Skanska, a leading international development and construction firm. My education at USC enables me to take on a critical role driving our business analytics and building data analysis reports for our business’s key stakeholders.

Christopher Cashdan ’19, Masters in Economics

Portrait of Christopher C. in blue shirt on beige background

The master’s in Applied Psychology is carefully designed to equip students to be leaders in a rapidly changing world. Our program teaches both hard and soft skills, led by practitioner faculty, which include professional development workshops, global learning experiences like our Dublin Internship program and Dubai Spring Break, and several networking events every year. Students leave the program with a unique skill set that can only come from a deep knowledge of psychology

Jorge Abram Barraza, Assistant Professor of Psychology

Portrait of Barazza, blue suit with blue background

Stand Out from the Competition

A master’s degree or professional certificate gives you that competitive edge. When experience matters, your resume rises to the top of the stack.

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Increase Your Earning Power

The earnings difference between a bachelor’s and master’s level averages around 20 percent. What could you do with that much more income?

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Master Knowledge, Upgrade Your Skills

Whether you’re switching careers or advancing your current one, you’ll gain the specific tools and knowledge to become more than just competent — you’ll become a go-to specialist, who knows not just where the leading edge of the field is now but how to get ahead of where it’s going.

Increase Your Professional Credibility

A master’s degree or professional certification signals that you’re serious and ambitious — you prove you have what it takes to navigate complexity and handle the most challenging work. You demonstrate that nothing can stop you from achieving at the highest level.

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Get the Career You Actually Want

There is no better way to get to the job you want faster than with a graduate-level degree. Particularly in fields that are evolving at warp speed, employers look to hire people who are “smarter” than they are — the experience to be that candidate is built into a USC Dornsife graduate degree program.

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financial aid

Paying for Your Graduate Education

Cost should never be a barrier to learning. At USC, we offer fellowships, scholarships, and assistantships, in addition to loans and payment plans that help ease the economics of pursuing your graduate education. We’ll also support you to identify other sources of funding.

Explore Resources

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professional pathways

We’ll Help You Land the Job You Want

From general support to strategic recommendations to skills workshops — our award-winning career services will help enhance your job search and leverage your expertise.

Get Started

USC Dornsife Office of Graduate and Professional Education

3551 Trousdale Pkwy., ADM 304
Los Angeles, CA 90089-4012

graduateprograms@dornsife.usc.edu

Master’s & Professional Studies

Level Up