A Progressive Degree is a highly individualized program that allows USC undergraduate students to begin work on a master’s degree while completing the requirements for the bachelor’s degree. Pursuing a progressive degree can deepen your education and prepare you for a career in as little as two semesters. Progressive Degree students can begin graduate-level courses during their senior year and complete an undergraduate and master’s degree in five years. Students may also waive eligible courses in the master’s degree program to further reduce time-to-degree and overall cost.

PDP Eligibility

    Units Required

    Applicants to the progressive degree program may apply once they have at least 64 total units, and no more than 96 units of undergraduate coursework completed, excluding AP, IB, or transfer units earned prior to graduation from high school. Students must complete a minimum of 25 upper division credits. 

    When to apply

    Applicants may apply in their junior or senior year, but no later than the semester prior to beginning graduate work.

    Degree Conditions

    Progressive degree students are classified as undergraduate students until they attain one of the following conditions, whichever comes first: Up to and including the semester they completed 144 units AND Their first bachelor’s degree is conferred; OR They receive a research or teaching assistant award

    Course Requirement

    Prospective progressive degree students should have completed, or be currently enrolled in, a Statistics course at USC and Writing 340 before applying to this program.

    MAPP PDP Requirements

    MAPP PDP is a hybrid program, where students may be required to take some courses in-person or online. Students must have completed  all these requirements in order to qualify for MAPP’s Progressive Degree Program.

    GPA

    An undergraduate’s GPA must be 3.4 or higher to be considered

    Advising Appointment

    Prospective students must meet with the MAPP admissions counsellor before applying to this program

    Letters of Recommendation

    Three letters of recommendation are required

    Unit Requirement

    34 units are required to graduate. Up to 2 courses (8 units) may be waived at the discretion of the program director *Total of 26 units for degree

    Admission Requirement

      Application Requirement

      Students must complete all necessary sections on the Application for Admission to a Progressive Master’s Program form.

      1. Students are required to submit 3 letters of recommendation

      2. And a personal statement answering the following questions:
      You are required to show how your background, experiences, and interests lead you to seek ways to apply psychology in organizations to benefit consumers or employees?
      Why do you believe the USC MAPP program can help you achieve your career goals?

      3. Students are also required to submit a Resume

       

      Advisement Appointment

      Students must schedule an advising appointment with MAPP’s admissions counselor to complete a Progressive Degree Program Proposed Course Plan form as part of the application process. This is necessary to determine how future terms of registration apply to remaining undergraduate and graduate degree requirements. Coursework taken to fulfill degree requirements will show on the Course Plan, as will an indication of whether the coursework fulfills undergraduate or graduate degree requirements.

      Approval

      Admission requires approval from the program/department chair and the dean of the student’s undergraduate major, and by the program/department chair and the dean of the master’s degree program at USC. The completed application form must show all signatures required for approval.

      Progressive Degree Course Plans are tentative until a student is formally admitted to the program. As a reminder, please do not change your current undergraduate course plan or your undergraduate majors/minors until you receive an admission decision from the M.S. in Applied Psychology Admissions Office. MAPP PDP Applications are reviewed and finalized by the MAPP Admissions Selection Committee.