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Thesis & dissertation submission​.

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Dissertations: USC Electronic Submission Process

• USC and Non-USC Dissertations Online
• USC Dissertations and Theses in USC Digital Library
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Proquest Contact Info

For students who have already submitted a thesis/dissertation to Proquest and need additional information regarding use, publication, or access, call Proquest at 1-800-521-0600.

Electronic Submission Process

The following describes the typical submission process of theses and dissertations to USC Libraries:

Step 1: Student works with Thesis Editor's office ([email protected]) in the Grad School (or the appropriate coordinator in their school or department) to get a final version of thesis/dissertation/project.

Step 2: Thesis Editor (or appropriate coordinator in another school or department) approves final version.

Step 3:  The Thesis Editor (or appropriate coordinator) notifies student via e-mail to submit their PDF to USC Digital Library.

Step 4: Student logs into  https://usclibraries.usc.edu/thesis/registration and electronically agrees to allow USC to store, reproduce, and make the PDF publicly available per the Electronic Theses & Dissertations Digital Repository Agreement.

Step 5: Student inputs metadata including:

• name & e-mail
• document title
• defense date
• advisors' names
• limited restrictions : selection of  0, 6, 12, 18, or 24 month restriction; students are allowed up to two years of an embargo on their dissertation's/thesis's release by USC to the public

Step 6: Student uploads approved PDF. Approved files in other formats such as .mpeg or .avi may also be uploaded.

Step 7: When the student completes the process, their USC Digital Library submission account is closed and an automated e-mail is sent to librarians to review the submission.

Step 8: Librarians check the validity/completeness of the uploaded file and makes any needed modifications to the metadata (such as spelling corrections, normalization of names, and capitalization). Please note that the PDF must be uploaded by the appropriate submission deadline given at Thesis/Dissertation Submission Deadlines  in order to insure the degree is conferred for the specified term.

Step 9: If all is in order, Librarian approves the submission. If there are errors that require additional input from the submitter, the Librarian will contact the student directly. Typically, submissions are approved within one business day, but can be approved more quickly or slowly depending on the time of year. There are often increased numbers of submissions close to the deadline. This will slow approvals down. Note that submissions do not have to be approved by the Librarian prior to the deadline. But they do have to be submitted prior to the deadline.

Step 10: The student and the Thesis Editor's office are sent an automated e-mail indicating the student is clear to receive their degree.

Step 11: At the end of each term, the Library sends the Thesis Editor a list of all students who submitted prior to the deadline.

Step 12:  Usually within a week or two of Library approval, the submitted PDF will become publicly available in the USC Digital Library unless a restriction was requested during the submission process.

Step 13: OPTIONAL. Student's may wish to submit their thesis/dissertation to ProQuest  if they want to make their submissions available to a broader academic audience, potentially receive royalties on sales, and benefit from other services such as being able to purchase hard bound copies and have their copyright formally registered at U.S. Copyright Office . Note that dissertations/theses are protected by U.S. copyright even if their copyrights are not formally registered at the Copyright Office. Formal registration can be done directly by the author through the U.S. Copyright Office and can provide additional legal protection internationally and in the event of a legal dispute.

Step 14: Within a week or so after the end of each term, the Thesis Editor requests a list from ProQuest of students who have also submitted their dissertations/theses to ProQuest during the previous term. The Thesis Editor validates those submissions for ProQuest. ProQuest then adds those dissertations/theses to their database under the conditions stipulated by the students who submitted them.

If you have any questions regarding these procedures, contact the  USC Digital Library  at [email protected]

Electronic Theses & Dissertations Digital Repository Agreement

Each student who submits a thesis or dissertation agrees to the following terms and conditions when uploading their file to USC Libraries. This agreement is intended only to give USC sufficient permission to store, reproduce, and make theses/dissertations publicly available and may involve preparing derivatives as technology changes.

ELECTRONIC THESES & DISSERTATIONS DIGITAL REPOSITORY AGREEMENT This Digital Repository Agreement is between the University of Southern California on behalf of its USC Libraries (“USC Libraries”) and you the Student (“You”), and covers the terms and conditions for the deposit of your scholarly work (“Work”) in the USC Digital Repository maintained by the USC Libraries. Together, we agree on the following: * That You accept the following terms and conditions for the Work you are about to upload to the USC Libraries. * You grant to USC Libraries a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, no-charge, royalty-free, irrevocable copyright license to electronically store, reproduce, prepare derivative works of, and publicly display and distribute the Work. You grant to USC Libraries the right to use your name in connection with the Work. * USC Libraries will maintain your Work in its USC Digital Repository and/or in other repositories such as it may determine, including ProQuest Dissertations and Theses (see the ProQuest Author Agreement at http://contentz.mkt5049.com/lp/43888/382619/PQDTauthoragreement_0.pdf). * USC Libraries is not liable if someone uses your Work in a way You do not approve. In such an event, you are free to pursue legal remedies against such a third party, but you agree not to seek legal redress against USC Libraries, its Trustees, employees, or agents. * No intellectual property or any other rights shall be transferred to any third party as a result of this Agreement. * You affirm that you own the rights to the Work you are about to upload and You obtained the proper clearances to do so. You agree that the Work You are about to upload to the USC Libraries does not violate copyright, trademark, or patent laws, is not pornographic, plagiaristic or defamatory, is not spam, and does not violate anyone’s privacy rights. * You agree to notify the USC Libraries of any facts or circumstances You become aware of that would make these representations inaccurate in any respect. * You understand that the Work deposited in the USC Digital Repository will be accessible to a wide variety of people and institutions via the World Wide Web, and by agreeing to place the Work on the USC Digital Repository, you recognize that it may also appear on search engines and in an open media registry, and on other partner institution’s web repositories primarily for researchers and scholars. * To the maximum extent permitted by law, in no event will either party be responsible for any incidental, consequential, indirect, special, punitive or exemplary damages of any kind, including damages for lost goodwill, lost profits, lost business or other indirect economic damages, whether such claim is based on contract, negligence, tort (including strict liability) or other legal theory, as a result of a breach of any warranty or any other term of the this agreement, and regardless of whether a party was advised or had reason to know of the possibility of such damages in advance.

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PhD Program Schedule

Program schedule.

FIRST YEAR students take the core and required courses and undergo a doctoral screening

• Refer to the program of study or the sample program schedule
• DOCTORAL SCREENING for 1 st year students occurs during the spring semester Doctoral Screening Timeline
• Speak with faculty advisor about teaching assistantships during year 2

SECOND YEAR students take cognate and concentration courses as well as TA

• Consult with faculty advisor regarding course selection
• Refer to the current and past schedule of classes to select courses
• Concentration courses are within Rossier
• Cognate courses are taken in other departments/schools to enhance interdisciplinary perspectives
• Continually monitor progress degree progress by looking at the STARS report on OASIS
• TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIP – students should be a teaching assistant once or twice while in the program. Most students TA for their faculty advisor in a PhD or EdD class.
• The Center for Excellence in Teaching is a great resource!

THIRD YEAR Qualifying Exams & Teaching and Research Portfolios

• Time Line for Qualifying Exam and Dissertation
• Qualifying Exam Procedures
• Teaching & Research Portfolios Information
• Qualifying Exam Sample Questions
• Qualifying Exam Committee form
• Request to take the PhD Qualifying Exam Form

THIRD-FOURTH YEAR Dissertation proposal & proposal defense

• Dissertation Proposal Procedures
• Dissertation Committee Form
• Report on Defense of Dissertation Proposal

FOURTH YEAR Dissertation submission deadlines & commencement!

• Dissertation Procedures
• The PhD degree is governed by the Graduate School, so please refer to the USC Graduate School website for guidelines for submission , submission deadlines & degree conferral dates , required documents and guidelines for format and presentation information.
• The USC Graduate School has TWO upload deadlines :
• Deadline for submission of required documents
• Deadline for submission of the dissertation manuscript.
• The documents upload deadline is a week before the dissertation upload deadline. Both deadlines are at 12:00 PM noon, PST on the given dates and the deadlines are not flexible!
• Commencement Information the PhD Program office will start commencement planning in January!

August 14, 2019

August 20, 2019, august 23, 2019, august 26, 2019, september 2, 2019, september 13, 2019, october 17-18, 2019, october 25, 2019, november 1, 2019, november 15, 2019, november 27-december 1, 2019, december 6, 2019, december 7-10, 2019, december 11-18, 2019, december 19, 2019-january 12, 2020, 2019, december 20, 2019, spring 2020, january 10, 2020, january 13, 2020, january 20, 2020, january 31, 2020, february 17, 2020, march 15-22, 2020, march 25, 2020 @ 12pm pst, april 1, 2020 @ 12pm pst, may 1, 2020, may 13, 2020, may 6-13, 2020, may 15, 2020.

Published on August 15th, 2017

Last updated on June 26th, 2020

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Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Application deadlines.

Spring: September 1

Fall: December 15

• Program Overview
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The MS in Mechanical Engineering degree provides the technical education needed for engineering professionals in various industries such as aerospace, automotive, energy and power, utilities, petrochemical, design, manufacturing, and transportation. While the field of Mechanical Engineering encompasses this broad set of technical areas, this degree program encourages focused education in selected areas of interest.

Students in this program will choose from one of ten recommended areas of study:

• Advanced Manufacturing Specialization
• Combustion Specialization
• Design Specialization
• Dynamics and Control Specialization
• Energy Conversion Specialization
• Fluid Dynamics Specialization
• Heat Transfer Specialization
• Mechanics and Materials Specialization
• Solid and Structural Mechanics
• Quantitative Medical Engineering Specialization

The course program for each track listed above is designed to provide you with an education that is strong in both fundamentals and application, preparing you for doctoral programs as well as for continuing your engineering career in the industry.

• This program requires completion of 27 units of coursework
• Eligible for the OPT STEM extension
• Program Curriculum Details
• USC Catalogue (Full Course List)
• USC Schedule of Classes

Visit our Ready to Apply page for more information

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Applicants to the master's of science programs in Mechanical Engineering are required to have a bachelor’s degree or be in the process of completing a bachelor's degree. Degrees in any engineering or engineering-related disciplines are frequently represented among our program applicants, including but not limited to the following:

• Aerospace Engineering
• Aeronautics
• Mechanical Engineering
• Mechatronics

Applicants without a Bachelor’s degree in the preferred majors listed above will only be considered with coursework and demonstrated proficiency in the acceptable courses listed below ( or equivalent ). 

Applications are reviewed holistically; simply taking these courses does not guarantee admission.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

The following materials are required to be included with your online application:

• Transcripts
• Personal Statement
• Letter of Recommendation (Optional)

NOTE:   The GRE is   not required   for 2025 applications.

The following link will take you to an overview of the tuition & fees for graduate engineering students, including payment information. Both on-campus and DEN@Viterbi students pay the same tuition

Estimated Cost of Attendance - 27 Unit Program

Download the   Cost of Attendance to see a summary of tuition and fees by semester. The document is a typical example and the number of courses, and time to complete the program, will vary by student.

    LAURA JHOANA LOPEZ

What were the main reasons you chose to pursue this graduate program at USC? USC has a great Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering program. After earning my Bachelor of Science in Mechatronic Engineering with a minor in Computer Engineering from Chico State, I wanted to return to Southern California specifically near the L.A. area.

Tell us about an exciting and unforgettable experience from your time so far at USC. I am currently finishing up my first year at USC and I have already been sponsored to attend conferences in and outside of the state.

What are some personal achievements or experiences you’d like to share? I helped recreate the Women's Rugby team here on campus. At Chico State I was part of the Women's Rugby team. Once I got to USC I was informed that the Women's team hadn't been active for about 3 years. I asked around and got connected with someone else who was interested in recreating the women's team here at USC. Due to COVID we weren't allowed to form a new club for Fall 2021, but the team is now official . Although I am no longer eligible to compete competitively, I can always stop by and support the team when I have the chance.

Which organizations/activities have you been involved with outside of the classroom? Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), Society of Women Engineers (SWE), Women In Engineering (WIE), and Trojan Women's Rugby team.| .

    JEFFREY WEST

Jeffrey West first visited University of Southern California as part of a research project he undertook during his undergrad. During his visit, he connected with USC professors and learnt more about the university and the research opportunities it provided. “I wanted to go to a prestigious school which invested a lot on research projects and USC, I knew, has a track record of funding and doing big research projects,” says West explaining his decision to pursue graduate studies at USC. A year later, he was a part of the USC’s Trojan family, studying Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering at Viterbi School of Engineering.

Born and raised in Ohio, West did his undergraduate at Ohio Northern University where he majored in Mechanical engineering. In 2012, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue higher studies and spent the next five years at USC. After getting a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, West then pursued and earned a PhD in Mechanical Engineering. West was also drawn towards the emphasis USC placed on its student population and the resources provided to them. Additionally, the location was a big draw. “Los Angeles is a big city with huge prospects. With USC having one of the highest international student population, it was easy to meet people from all the over world and learn about different cultures.”

During his five years at USC, West also took on teaching and research assistantships along with his studies. He was a part of Viterbi Graduate Mentorship program where he guided and coached new graduate students to adjust to the life at USC and the city of Los Angeles.

2022 First Destinations Survey - Outcomes*

Top Employers*

• NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
• Raytheon Technologies

Alumni Employment - 2022* (Companies & Job Titles)

• Amazon - Software Development Engineer
• ASML - Mechanical Engineer 3, Competence Engineer, CAE Engineer
• Axonics Modulation Technologies - Sr. R&D Engineer
• Boeing - Product Security Engineer, Environmental Control Systems Design & Analysis Engineer, Mechanical Structure & Payloads Design Engineer, Structural Design Engineer, Electronic Design & Analysis Engineer
• Chevron Corporation - Lead Pressure Vessel Engineer
• Collins / Project Engineer
• DNV Energy - Storage Engineering & Analytics Consultant
• Epirus / Principal Mechanical Engineer
• Exxon Mobil - Process Engineer
• Fuyao Glass America Inc. - Product Development Engineer
• GrayMatter Robotics Inc. - Robotics Engineer
• Heliogen - Sr. Mechanical Engineer
• Huawei - Intelligent & Precise Manufacturing Engineer
• Insight Global - Mechanical Assembly
• Intel - Packaging Engineer
• Karma Automotive - Intern Associate II Package TVMDimension
• Li Auto, Inc. - Control Algorithm Engineer
• Microsoft - Sr. Mechanical Engineer, Entry Level Mechanical Engineer
• Millennium Space Systems A Boeing Company - Spacecraft Mechanical Engineer
• NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory - Mechatronics Engineer I, Systems Engineer,
• NAURA Technology Group Co., Ltd. - Mechanical Engineer
• Northrop Grumman Corporation - Sr. Principal Electromechanical Engineer
• PercuSense / Mechanical Engineer
• Raytheon Technologies - Sr. Optical Mechanical Engineer II
• Right Ascension LLC - Sr. Optical Mechanical Engineer II
• Samsung Austin Semiconductor - DFM Data Analytics Engineer
• Sandia National Laboratories - RD Mechanical Systems Engineer
• Solar Turbines - Staff Engineer
• SprintRay - Associate Mechanical Engineer
• Tour Engine, Inc. - Test Engineer
• Transfer Tech Company - Robotics Engineer
• Turner Construction Company - Field Engineer
• United States Air Force - Special Warfare Mechanical Engineer
• YuShi Technology - Algorithm Engineer

Internships (Summer 2023)**

Amazon, Apple Inc., Bytedance Inc., CRRC MA Corporation, Dassault Systemes Americas Corp., Meta, Viasat Inc., Wells Fargo, ZapBatt

* Information is based on a voluntary survey and should not be interpreted as a comprehensive view of the 2022 graduating class.

** Internship data is from CPT internships done by our international student population.

This program is also available online to professional engineers through DEN@Viterbi. Because the DEN@Viterbi program provides a fully equivalent academic experience, the degree a USC engineering student earns is the same whether they are on-campus or online.

If you are interested in beginning classes as a DEN@Viterbi student next semester, explore the requirements and steps to enrolling as a Limited Status Student.

Learn More About DEN@Viterbi

Detailed Program Curriculum and Requirements Schedule of Classes

DEN@VITERBI ONLINE COURSE OFFERINGS

The following courses and program requirements serve as program planning for DEN@Viterbi students. Course offerings and availability are subject to change. Please consult with advisor if you have any questions.

Spotlight Series

Department Profile

Published on July 6th, 2017

Last updated on May 3rd, 2024

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Open Access Theses and Dissertations

Direct Link

The Master of Public Administration programs are under the jurisdiction of the Price School of Public Policy. All admissions decisions are made by the school, following guidelines set by the university. See the Admission section of this catalogue.

All questions about the programs and all materials required for admission should be submitted to: MPA Programs, Admissions Office, RGL 111, University Park, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0626.

Admission to each of these programs is determined by the faculty and admissions committees connected with those areas. Application packages should be sent directly to the program office.

Applications

The admission decision is made using criteria which include verification that the applicant has completed a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college, has maintained a B average in undergraduate course work and has earned an acceptable score on the verbal and quantitative portions of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT). Other elements of the applicant’s educational and experiential background are also evaluated. International students whose native language is not English must also submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score.

Each candidate should submit the following to the school: (1) official transcripts of all previous college and university work, showing an awarded degree where appropriate; (2) copies of GRE or GMAT scores; (3) an essay answering questions on the admission questionnaire provided by the school; (4) an up-to-date resume which includes academic and professional accomplishments; (5) three or more letters of evaluation from previous instructors and from professional associates who can attest to the applicant’s potential; (6) completed USC Graduate Admission Application, along with the nonrefundable processing fee; and (7) completed Price School of Public Policy Supplemental Graduate Application.

International applicants may be asked to supply additional information. See the Graduate Admission section of this catalogue.

Applications for admission are evaluated monthly. Those students who are also applying for financial aid, or who must meet other deadlines for admission, should submit application materials early enough to allow the admissions decision to be made in advance of those other deadlines.

The admissions process generally takes about four to six weeks after all necessary materials have been submitted.

Pre-Service/In-Service Designation

Most MPA students are classified as pre-service or in-service students at the time of admission. Pre-service students are those who enter the program with less than two years of professional work experience. In addition to course work, pre-service students complete an internship. Students pursuing the Intergovernmental Management specialization or one of the dual degree programs are not classified as pre-service or in-service. Appeals for reclassification of this designation must be submitted during the first semester of enrollment.

Prerequisites

Social science.

Any undergraduate major is acceptable as preprofessional background, provided the applicant has had at least 12 semester units (16 quarter units) of undergraduate course work in cultural anthropology, economics, ethnic studies, social and human geography, political science, sociology or related social science area courses; no more than two of these courses may be in the same field.

Deficiencies in the social science prerequisite may be met while in residence by taking appropriate courses in other departments, but such course work may not be counted toward the course requirements for the master’s degree.

A basic competence in descriptive and inferential statistics is also required for the MPA programs. This prerequisite may be met in one of two ways:

• Entering students must have passed an undergraduate inferential statistics class, with a grade of “B” or better, at an approved university within three years of matriculation.
• If students do not satisfy this prerequisite, they will be required to take PPD 502x Statistical Foundations for Public Management and Policy   , a two-unit graduate level inferential statistics course. They must complete the course with a grade of “B” or better. The units associated with this class may not be used toward the MPA degree.

All prerequisites must be fulfilled within the first 12 units of graduate course work. The statistics prerequisite must also be met before enrolling in PPD 542   , PPD 557   , PPD 638    or PPD 666    .

International Students

Students applying for graduate programs should send applications and appropriate documents to the MPA Programs Admissions Office, which processes all such applications.

A student is accepted for admission only for the semester indicated on the letter of admission. If the student desires to enter at another time, or if the student cannot arrive on campus in time for the semester in which he or she was admitted, the student must contact the MPA Programs Admissions Office in writing. That office will contact the Office of International Admissions.

Students who do not enroll for the semester indicated on the letter of admission cannot be guaranteed admission to a later session. They will need to work with the MPA Programs Admissions Office to determine procedures to follow.

Registration Requirements

International students on student visas must be registered as full-time students as arranged by the Office of International Services. Doctoral students must carry a load of at least 6 units to be considered full-time students. A full-time graduate load is eight units. Such students are not eligible to be considered students without formal registration and may be in violation of immigration laws when not properly registered.

International students who have questions about registration requirements should contact the Office of Recruitment and Student Affairs.

Admission Status

MPA applicants may be permitted to take courses before the admission process is completed or they may be admitted before certain conditions have been met; each student must, however, attain regular status (standing) admission to the school prior to or upon completion of 8 graduate units.

Limited Status Students (Preadmission)

Students taking courses who have not been admitted to the school are designated limited status students. These students may be taking courses to meet prerequisites; they may be waiting for part of their application package materials to arrive; or they may be investigating whether an MPA is the best choice for them.

To be considered for limited status enrollment, interested students need to complete the Price School of Public Policy Limited Student Application for Enrollment form and submit official or unofficial copies of their transcripts from their bachelor’s degree granting institution. Students with a 3.0 grade point average (A = 4.0) may enroll in up to 8 units of graduate courses in the Price School of Public Policy.

Price School of Public Policy Limited Student Application for Enrollment forms may be obtained from the Admissions Office, Price School of Public Policy, University of Southern California, RGL 111, Los Angeles, CA 90089-0626; (213) 740-6842. Limited students may only enroll during the in-person registration period (the week before classes begin).

Limited status students may apply only 8 units of appropriate graduate work toward the MPA after admission. Units beyond these first 8 must be petitioned for through the school. Students on limited status are encouraged to complete the application and admission processes before completing those first 8 units.

PhD Candidates

PhD students who pass the qualifying examinations and complete the MPA course requirements or their equivalent during their course work at USC may, with the recommendation of the coordinator of the MPA program, apply for and receive the MPA degree.

MPA Curriculum

The MPA course requirements are designed to address current and future professional competencies for accomplishment; to establish a sequence of basic required courses; and to maximize student choice and depth in specialized studies. The curriculum requires 40 units for completion (41 for pre-service students). Pre-service students, that is, those who have less than 25 months’ employment experience in a professional level position, are also required to take an internship that includes a one-unit seminar.

Core Courses

• PPD 500 Intersectoral Leadership Units: 2
• PPD 501a Economics for Policy, Planning and Development Units: 2
• PPD 501b Economics for Policy, Planning and Development Units: 2
• PPD 540 Public Administration and Society Units: 4
• PPD 546 Capstone in Public Administration Units: 4

Three of the required core courses ( PPD 500   , PPD 501a   , PPD 501b    and PPD 540   ) provide the foundation to the field and the fourth ( PPD 546   ) serves as a capstone course. PPD 540    must be taken in the first semester or within the first 12 units and PPD 546    must be taken in the final semester or last 12 units of the student’s program.

Management Competencies

MPA students are expected to develop managerial competencies in three areas by taking at least one course in each of the following areas:

Analytic Methods

• PPD 542 Policy and Program Evaluation Units: 4 * or
• PPD 557 Modeling and Operations Research Units: 4 *

Organizational Behavior

• PPD 545 Human Behavior in Public Organizations Units: 4

(With the approval of the MPA or center director, the student may choose a human resource management elective to fulfill this requirement.)

• PPD 541 Public Financial Management and Budgeting Units: 4 or
• PPDE 645 Financial Management of Nonprofit Organizations Units: 4

(With the approval of the MPA or center director, the student may choose a financial management elective to fulfill this requirement.)

* The statistics requirement must be met before enrolling in PPD 542   , PPD 557     or PPD 666   .

Additional Requirements

Area cluster electives.

Students may elect to devote their elective courses (14 units) to gain depth in a designated area cluster. These areas include the following: community and economic development, environmental management and land-use policy, financial management, health administration, human resources management, information technology management, intergovernmental management, international policy and management, local government, nonprofit management, planning, public policy, real estate development, transportation, and urban form and design.

Students may elect to follow a more generalist perspective and take their elective courses from the array of elective offerings.

Thesis Option

Thesis option, PPD 594a Master’s Thesis   ,  PPD 594b Master’s Thesis    (4 units), may be taken as part of the elective category. Information regarding the thesis contract is available from the MPA director. All theses and dissertations submitted in fulfillment of requirements for graduate degrees must conform to university regulations with regard to form and method of preparation.

Internships

Pre-service students — that is, those with fewer than 25 months’ employment in a professional level position —are required to complete at least 300 hours of an internship and an internship seminar ( PPD 543   ). MPA students may enroll in the internship seminar during their first semester. Students complete internships in conjunction with the internship seminar.

Specialization in Intergovernmental Management

In addition to the substantive area cluster, MPA students may choose the specialization in intergovernmental management.

Students enroll in courses and serve in internships in at least two levels of governance. A student may take courses toward this specialization at either the Los Angeles or USC State Capital Center. Internships may be taken through either of these centers. Students electing this specialization meet with the intergovernmental management coordinator at either the Los Angeles or the USC State Capital Center to design their program.

To complete this specialization, students complete three courses from the following lists (with at least two drawn from the first list):

• PPD 661 Intergovernmental Management: Local Perspective Units: 4
• PPD 662 Intergovernmental Management: State Perspective Units: 4
• PPD 663 Intergovernmental Management: Federal Perspective Units: 4
• PPD 669 Federal Management Systems Units: 4
• PPD 670 Management of Intergovernmental Programs Units: 4
• PPD 688 Business and Public Policy Units: 4
• PPD 689 The Nonprofit Sector and Philanthropy Units: 4
• PPD 690 Alternative Dispute Resolution Units: 4

• Find & Compare Programs

Doctor of Education in Mental Health Leadership (online)

Prerequisites.

In order to apply for this program, you must:

• Have a master’s degree, or equivalent, from a college or university that is regionally accredited or recognized by a ministry of education. The institution must have been accredited at the time your degree was conferred
• Have a minimum of three years of relevant, full-time work experience relevant to the concentration of interest
• Have leadership experience that demonstrates increasing responsibility

Program applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, but we encourage you to apply early.

Application Instructions

Review the detailed instructions in the dropdowns for each section of the online application . If you need accommodation for any part of the application process, please contact the Office of Admission and Scholarships at [email protected]. We encourage you to submit your request for accommodation at least two weeks before the accommodation is needed so our team can make the necessary arrangements.

Tips Submit all application materials by the deadline . Incomplete applications may be delayed to the next application review. Skip ahead to the “Recommendations” section and use the application platform to send requests for letters of recommendation first . We recommend you complete this step right away to provide each recommender with the maximum amount of time to complete their letter. Follow the transcript submission instructions carefully. Please upload your registrar-issued transcripts from each institution attended to the USC application portal. Upon acceptance and submission of intent to enroll, you will need to submit official transcripts to the USC Office of Graduate Admissions separately.

Where to find it on the application: My Application > Personal Information

• Enter your name as it appears on your government issued I.D. Indicate any alternate or previous names in the “other name” field (i.e. maiden name).
• Enter the email address USC Rossier should use to communicate with you throughout the application process.

Where to find it on the application: My Application > Academic History > Colleges Attended > Add a College > Upload a Transcript 

To expedite admission decisions, please upload registrar-issued transcripts from all attended institutions to the USC application portal. Official transcripts should be submitted separately to the USC Office of Graduate Admissions upon acceptance and submission of intent to enroll.  

International students should refer to USC’s country specific requirements to determine which academic records they need to submit. 

To Upload Your Transcript to The Application Portal   

Login to your USC Application Portal and navigate to the Academic History section. Enter detailed information about your academic history from each institution you have attended. 

Once you have saved this information, you will find an option to Upload a Transcript for each institution. You can upload only one PDF per institution. If the transcript consists of multiple pages, you must scan each page and merge them into a single PDF file. If you do not have access to a scanner, you can take clear photos of each page and combine them into one PDF.  

There are various online services available to merge multiple files into a single PDF or convert photos into PDFs. Once you have uploaded your transcripts and completed all other sections of the application, you can proceed to submit your application.  

Upon admission and submission of the statement of intent to enroll, you must submit degree-conferred transcripts from all attended institutions to the Office of Graduate Admissions.

Where to find it on the application: My Application > Supporting Information > Documents > CV/Resume

Your résumé should be detailed enough to help the admission committee understand the various experiences – extracurricular, leadership or volunteer – that have shaped your interest in the program. Outline your roles and responsibilities within each organization and highlight any special achievements or accomplishments. In the “Supporting Information” section of the application, select “Documents”. Select the “add document” button under “CV/Resume.”

Where to find it on the application: My Application > Program Materials > Documents

Essay responses will be used to evaluate your personal, professional and educational perspectives and experiences and the ability to effectively communicate ideas and organize written thoughts. Responses to essay questions should be double-spaced with a 12-point font and one-inch margin on all sides. Include your full name at the beginning of each document. Upload each essay as a separate document in the appropriate section.

Personal Statement – 500 words or less

Your personal statement consists of a 500-word essay response. You will have the opportunity to provide an in-depth look at your background, professional goals, and highlight graduate-level written communication skills.

Write a personal statement that addresses how earning the Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (EDL) degree in your concentration of interest will enable you to address inequities that interfere with learning opportunities and outcomes for students and/or employees in educational settings.

Upload your Personal Statement in the “Program Materials” section of the application under the tab “Documents.” Select the “add document” button under “Personal Statement”.

Leadership Description – 500 words or less

A key aim of the program is to graduate critically conscious leaders who will exert influence to bring about equity-oriented change in an educational context. Tell us about your leadership experiences to date. What type of formal or informal leadership roles have you held. What types of responsibilities have you carried? And what has been the scope of your influence? Please provide specific examples.

Upload your short answer essay in the “Program Materials” section of the application under the tab “Documents”. Select the “add document: button under “Writing Sample.”

  Optional Essay – 250 words or less

To aid the admission committee in evaluating your application, use this essay to discuss anything in your academic and/or professional history that may require additional explanation. This essay is optional.

Upload your optional essay in the “Program Materials” section of the application under the tab “Documents.” Select the “add document” button under “Other.”

Where to find it on the application: My Application > Program Materials > Recommendations > Add Recommendation

USC Rossier requires two letters of recommendation to complete the application. Letters should come from supervisors and/or former instructors or faculty who can comment on significant contributions you have made in your workplace, your leadership skills as well as your commitment to life-long learning and your ability to perform well in doctoral-level coursework.

• To submit the names of your recommenders, go to the “Program Materials” section of the application and click on the tab “Recommendations.”

• Recommendation letters must be typed on official letterhead from the organization with a signature. If the recommender is not able to obtain company letterhead, this must be noted somewhere in the letter.
• It is your responsibility to ensure all recommendation letters are submitted in the proper format prior to the appropriate deadline. Letters uploaded in the incorrect format without explanation are subject to further review.
• Recommendations letters should be submitted by recommenders by the application deadline, but they are not required to be submitted at the time you submit your application.

Please note: recommendation letters are program-specific and cannot be used to apply to additional programs. If you withdraw your application from a particular program, your letters of recommendation will be deleted along with the application.

Where to find it: My Application > Program Materials > Kira Assessment

The recorded video response is an opportunity for you to demonstrate your communication skills in professional settings. The timed writing assessment will allow you to demonstrate your writing, critical thinking and analytical ability. No advance preparation is required for either assessment. You must complete both assessments during the same session . You are allowed to take each assessment one time only. For technical assistance with the video response or timed writing assessment, email [email protected]

• Click the “Open Kira Assessment” button on the “Kira Assessment” tab in the application. Note: clicking this link will NOT require you to take the assessment(s) immediately. You can register for the assessment(s) and return at any time to complete it.
• When the page opens, click the “Check In” button.
• Click the registration module. Your first and last name and email should pre-populate in the registration form. Agree to the terms of agreement and privacy policy and click the “Register” button. After you register, a link to Kira will also be sent to your email address for easy access at the time you choose to complete your assessment(s).
• Complete the device set up and practice modules to prepare for your assessment(s).
• Click the assessment module (final step) at the time you are ready to begin your assessment(s).
• Once completed, your assessments become part of your application and will be reviewed by the admission committee in conjunction with other application materials.

 Video Response

• Record your responses using an internet-connected computer with a webcam.
• Dress professionally and behave as you would during an in-person interview.
• Make sure you have a pen and notepad available for taking notes on the prompt.
• Once you begin the assessment, you will be provided with two prompts, one at a time, followed by five minutes of prep time for each prompt.
• You will have two minutes to complete your response. There will be a countdown timer and a progress bar during preparation and response time so you can track how much time you have left. If you finish before time is up, you can submit your response using the “submit” button in the lower right corner. The system will automatically submit your response when the time is up.

Timed Writing Assessment

• Once you begin the assessment, you will be provided with the essay topic. You will have 45 minutes to compose and submit your response.
• Write your essay within the provided space in Kira; do not copy and paste from other documents.
• As a general guideline, the essay should be structured with an introduction containing a thesis statement, a body containing your major points and a conclusion.
• Do not use citations or conduct research on the topic while writing your response.
• There is no minimum or maximum word count, however, we recommend a length of 350 to 700 words.
• There will be a countdown timer and a progress bar during the response time so you can track how much time you have left. If you finish before time is up, you can submit your response using the “submit” button in the lower right corner. The system will automatically submit your response when the time is up.

Where to find it on the application: Submit Application Tab

Application fees must be paid by credit or debit card

An application fee waiver is available to applicants who meet certain eligibility criteria. Eligibility criteria and instructions for obtaining a fee waiver can be found at the USC Graduate Admission website . If you choose to apply for a fee waiver you must:

• Start your online application but do not submit the application until the fee waiver is approved .
• Provide supporting documents to demonstrate qualification.
• Have your fee waiver request approved.
• Complete and submit your online application.

USC Rossier welcomes international applicants. If your prior study was completed outside of the United States, you must have earned the equivalent of a United States bachelor’s degree to be eligible for admission. View the international application requirements based on your country of study . 

International students whose native language is not English and who completed their undergraduate work outside of the United States are required to demonstrate proficiency in English as part of the application process. USC does not waive the English proficiency requirement for graduate degree(s) earned in the United States or other qualifying countries; requirements are based on the completion of undergraduate studies. For more information on English proficiency requirements, English-language test waivers and other alternate accepted exams, please visit the USC Graduate Admission English-Language Proficiency page .

TOEFL or IELTS Test Scores

Where to find it on the application: My Application > Academic History > Standardized Tests > Add a Test Score

International students whose native language is not English and who completed their undergraduate work outside of the United States are required to submit an official TOEFL or IELTS score as part of their application. You must have taken one of these tests within the past two years.

In order to be a competitive applicant, you should receive a TOEFL score at or above 100 iBT and an IELTS score at or above 6.5 with no less than a score of 6 on each band.

You may upload your test score report in the “Academic History” section of the application to be used in application review. However, only scores received electronically from the testing service are considered official . Official test scores should be sent from the testing agency directly to USC.

• TOEFL: To send official scores, use USC ETS code 4852. Please note that USC does not accept super-scoring for the TOEFL.
• IELTS: Select “University of Southern California” at the time of registration. Alternatively, provide this information to your testing center after taking the test.

For more information on English Proficiency requirements, English-language test waivers, and other alternate accepted exams, please visit the USC Graduate Admission page.

Your application materials will be reviewed by both the USC Rossier School of Education Office of Admission and Scholarships and the USC Office of Graduate Admissions.

• Refer to your USC Rossier personal portal for timely and accurate updates on your application status (including missing items).
• If your application is complete by the round application deadline, expect to receive notification of your admission decision by the corresponding notification date.
• You will receive a decision letter from both USC Rossier and the USC Office of Graduate admission.

Review Process

Your application to USC Rossier will be evaluated using a holistic review process. Academic preparation, professional work experience, personal achievement and commitment to the USC Rossier mission are each considered. No single attribute or characteristic guarantees admission to USC Rossier.

We seek applicants who will add to our vibrant learning community and whose goals, values and experiences align with the USC Rossier mission and program goals. We adhere to the university’s non-discrimination policy, and are committed to providing equal opportunity for all students.

As an applicant for this program, you will be automatically considered for limited USC Rossier scholarships, with priority consideration given to applicants who apply by the priority and regular deadlines. There is no need to submit a separate application. Recipients are selected based on academic achievement, demonstrated dedication to the USC Rossier mission and other distinguishing characteristics. All USC Rossier scholarships are awarded at the time of admission.

Document Submission Policy

Transcripts and all other application materials become the property of USC. The university does not return or duplicate materials for any reason whatsoever. The information and materials in your submitted application are made available only to the central Office of Admission and the admission committee of the academic department or professional school to which you have applied.

Aiddee Tellez, M.Ed.

Assistant Director, Office of Admission and Scholarships

• [email protected]
• (213) 205-3827

Florida State University

FSU | The Graduate School

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The graduate school.

• Current Students
• Thesis, Treatise, and Dissertation

Manuscript Clearance Deadlines

The Manuscript Clearance Portal will automatically calculate a student's deadlines once the " Defense Announcement Form " is submitted. Students in the manuscript clearance process should be familiar with both types of deadlines:  Semester and 60-Day.

Summer 2024 Manuscript Clearance Semester Deadlines

Initial, pre-defense doctoral deadline, june 17, 2024.

Last day for doctoral students to submit doctoral dissertation or treatise for pre-defense format review. 

Initial, Pre-Defense Masters Deadline

June 24, 2024.

Last day for master’s students to submit master's thesis for pre-defense format review. 

Final, Post-Defense Deadline (All degrees)

July 8, 2024.

Last day for the post-defense, final content-approved manuscript (all degrees) and required Manuscript Clearance Portal forms to be submitted. 

Formatting Deadline

july 30, 2024

Last day for students (all degrees) to receive an email from Manuscript Clearance Office confirming final clearance. 

Manuscripts must be submitted by 11:59 pm (Eastern Time) of the listed deadline date. Forms must be completed by the same time on the deadline date.

Explanation of Manuscript Clearance Deadlines

Initial, Pre-Defense Deadline

• The relevant pre-defense (initial) format review deadline is the date by which students must submit their manuscript to the Manuscript Clearance Advisor for a pre-defense (initial) formatting review. Manuscripts will not be reviewed and counted as an initial submission under the following conditions: 1) not submitted via the ProQuest ETD website; 2) poorly formatted based on The Graduate School's guidelines, or 3) otherwise appears incomplete (e.g., multiple sections omitted). While it is understood that content will likely change after the defense, it is expected that manuscripts submitted for the pre-defense (initial) format review are at least 90% complete and have been formatted in full accordance with the criteria in the most recent version of The Graduate School's formatting guidelines.

Final, Post-Defense Deadline

• The post-defense deadline indicates the date by which students must submit the post-defense, final content-approved version of their manuscript to ProQuest ETD and ensure completion/signatures of all required manuscript clearance forms in The Graduate School's Manuscript Clearance Portal by 11:59 p.m. ET (except "Official Final Clearance"). Although students cannot complete all forms in the Manuscript Clearance Portal directly, they are ultimately responsible for ensuring their committee has completed the needed approvals. 
• *If there are no content changes requested by the student's supervisory committee or made to the manuscript after the defense, a resubmission of the final, content-approved manuscript is still required in ProQuest ETD by this deadline. A pre-defense manuscript submission in ProQuest ETD is not sufficient in meeting this deadline. 
• Additional formatting revisions are often required after this date in order for final manuscript clearance to be completed, but content changes are prohibited .
•  The Formatting Deadline is the date by which any post-defense formatting revisions (only those required by the Manuscript Clearance Office) should be completed and "Official Final Manuscript Clearance" should be granted in the Manuscript Clearance Portal. 

Academic units may set their own deadlines in advance of these manuscript clearance deadlines. Students must adhere to their unit's deadlines in addition to those established by The Graduate School. Please consult with your Graduate Program Coordinator, if you are unsure of your academic unit's requirements.

In the absence of additional deadlines set by academic units, we strongly recommend students defend at least 1 week prior to the post-defense deadline . Missing a semester deadline will result in the student automatically becoming ineligible to graduate in the current term. While students may be allowed to defend until the semester's post-defense deadline, they should understand that ALL content changes must be completed AND approved in the Portal by their committee prior to the deadline. The finalized manuscript must be submitted to ProQuest ETD by the deadline as well.  Extensions will not be granted for students who defended late and were unable to complete any content changes in time.

60-Day Deadline  

No later than 60 days after a successful defense :

• Post-defense, final content-approved manuscript must be submitted.
• Required forms (through Final Content Approval) must be completed in the Portal.

No later than 1 week after the 60-day deadline :

• All requested formatting corrections must be complete. (Multiple reviews may be required.)
• Official Final Manuscript Clearance must be achieved in the Portal.

This deadline applies to students who :

• Defend early in their semester of expected graduation.
• Defend in a semester prior to their expected graduation.
• Missed a semester deadline after defending (resulting in delayed graduation).

University closures are not excluded from the 60 days, but deadlines may be adjusted (forward or backward) if they fall on a weekend or a day the university is closed. The deadline will be automatically adjusted in the Portal.

Future Manuscript Clearance Semester Deadlines

Summer 2024.

Opinion: The commencement USC students, and their parents, should have had

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Last weekend as a parent, and 36 years ago as a student, I went to Michigan Stadium to be among tens of thousands for the annual graduation ceremony of the University of Michigan.

On Saturday morning, I walked with my wife and daughter — and 87-year-old Grandma Nora — the mile from campus to the Big House, waited in a long security line and then climbed the steps to row 96, the top of the bleachers. Fifteen thousand students from 26 of the university’s schools were on the football field, my son among them. More than 60,000 extremely proud parents and loved ones sat in the stands.

I do not know the precise risks USC, Columbia and other universities faced that caused them to cancel their school-wide commencement ceremonies this year. But what my family experienced on Saturday underlined that the loss will be substantial, and it extends well beyond the personal.

USC’s faculty senate censures President Carol Folt and provost over commencement

The vote followed a nearly three-hour meeting Wednesday in which USC’s faculty members criticized the decisions of President Folt and provost Andrew Guzman.

May 9, 2024

After the obligatory “Hail to the Victors” rendition, and the flag raising, when all were seated and the speeches began on Saturday, I teared up thinking of our son’s measly high school graduation in spring 2020. We watched a pretaped video from his high school in our kitchen, and that was it. The opportunity to be captain of his ultimate frisbee team senior year, gone. Same with high school prom. Never a goodbye or thank you to his favorite history teacher. No graduation parties. And his first year in Ann Arbor was just as riven by COVID-19.

But four years later, the pomp and circumstance were very satisfying. Some of the speeches were very good, others less so. And, yes, there was a protest — about 50 among the thousands of graduates unfurled flags and banners and chanted in support of Palestinian rights. A plane circled the stadium with a banner saying “We stand with Israel,” and a later a banner (perhaps pulled by the same plane) read “Divest from Israel.” Yet the speakers’ voices were heard; the students were honored.

At a college graduation, parents need to be able to share a spiritual high-five on the enormity of mentoring (and paying for) a child’s education. And students need to be with peers for a grand public celebration of all they’ve achieved.

Metal detectors, fear, frustration. College commencements altered amid Gaza war protests

At many universities across the country, graduation for the Class of 2024 will feel more like making it through airport security than a procession through a free-flowing campus green or a cheering stadium crowd.

May 5, 2024

The universities that have canceled their main-stage events may counter that they are offering smaller, more intimate ceremonies that also publicly acknowledge the next generation. That’s nice, and before and after the Big House spectacle we attended department-only events. I met our son’s favorite professor and hugged his sophomore-year roommates and their parents. But department gatherings are far from an adequate replacement for community-wide ceremonies.

When I got my bachelor’s degree in 1988, I remember that we students talked so much during the commencement address — while beach balls bounced from row to row to row of capped and gowned graduates — that the speaker admonished us for being rude. (He was right.) There were protests then too: The biggest demonstration was reserved for former U.N. Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick, who had helped engineer the U.S. military role in Central America. I was a student activist — winning a campaign for student government president on a platform that the university should not be able to expel students for non-academic protest activity.

Yet I didn’t view the graduation ceremony as a referendum on the school or my free speech and assembly rights, or national defense policy either. It was a public acknowledgment of a personal milestone, and it was meaningful.

Did USC set ‘very bad precedent’ by canceling valedictorian speech over safety threats?

Campus administrators nationwide struggle to uphold principles of free expression amid pressure from those who claim speech, or potential speech, can subject students to harm.

April 18, 2024

Saturday night, I carefully composed the obligatory social media post of the day’s events for friends and family who couldn’t be there. I purposely didn’t include images or mention of the protests. But sure enough, the protests were what generated front-page coverage across the nation.

Signs and chants indeed offer sensational media images. VIPs and their speeches may be rudely interrupted. Protesters may exercise their rights and make a mess of the program. Security may be tested. But absent profound dangers, cancellation or curtailment do not outweigh the benefits of a public celebration of education and excellence.

College graduation at USC, or Columbia or Michigan, is a once-in-a-lifetime milestone; a balkanized approach doesn’t do it justice. Administrators should not cause students and their families to settle for less.

Ken Weine lives in Brooklyn and is a communications consultant.

More to Read

Pomona College moves graduation ceremony to L.A. after protesters occupy stage

May 11, 2024

After USC canceled graduation, Jewish students held their own ceremony

May 10, 2024

Silenced USC valedictorian walked the stage and the crowd reaction was anything but silent

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FAQ for April/May 2024

Events of may 5, 2024.

Why did the university clear the encampment on April 24 and again on May 5?

The university is legally obligated to ensure that students, faculty and staff can move freely throughout our campus while pursuing their studies, work, and research. Every part of our campuses, including Alumni Park, must be fully accessible and free from vandalism and harassment.

Like many other universities, USC has longstanding, established policies against encampments, harassment, and vandalism. By repeatedly and flagrantly violating laws and university policies, the encampment and occupiers endangered the health and safety of our community, created a focal point for potential violence, and deprived our community members of a safe and freely accessible academic environment.

The university has received multiple reports of harassment, threats, and violence as a direct result of the illegal encampment, including:

• Vandalizing and defacing university buildings and monuments, including Tommy Trojan and the fountain
• Stealing and misappropriating university property
• Bringing dangerous items into the encampment
• Dismantling and theft of commencement structures
• Blocking access to a central location needed for commencement events
• Defying countless directives from DPS and other university officers
• Noise disrupting exams and studying
• Harassment and violence towards DPS officers and other students

What USC policies did the encampment violate?

Multiple university policies forbid encampments on campus, including:

• Policy on Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation
• USC Student Handbook Camping Policy (pg. 111)
• USC Student Handbook Time, Place and Manner Policy (pg. 96)

In addition, the university received multiple reports that occupiers violated several university policies and local, state, and federal laws against trespassing, defacing and stealing property, verbal harassment, and others.

Don’t students have a right to peacefully protest? Does clearing the encampment violate their right to freedom of speech and assembly?

Freedom of speech and assembly are among our foundational values. Throughout this academic year, faculty, staff, and students have held countless lawful free speech activities and assemblies, including marches, vigils, die-ins, and other peaceful demonstrations.

Free expression does not entitle anyone to obstruct equal access to the campus, deface and steal university property, harass other members of the community, interfere with studying and exams, disrupt commencement, or otherwise interfere with core operations of our university.

The university established a free speech area a short walk from the encampment. Students from the encampment refused to use that alternative space.

Why did the university call in LAPD rather than using its own Department of Public Safety?

USC’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) is the university’s private security force. While a limited number of DPS officers are able to make arrests, DPS primarily works to enforce student conduct policies without arrests, in collaboration with USC’s internal disciplinary offices, and often at risk of their own safety. It lacks the resources to undertake an operation of the type required on April 24 and May 5.

USC is under the geographic jurisdiction of the LAPD. DPS maintains an MOU with the LAPD that allows DPS to enforce the law and investigate some, largely nonviolent, crimes. DPS can request assistance from the LAPD when it determines that assistance is necessary.

How many students, faculty and staff have been arrested?

In the university’s initial action on April 24, 93 individuals were arrested, including 48 students, three faculty members, three staff members, and 39 individuals unaffiliated with the university.

The university’s second operation on May 5 did not lead to any arrests.

Did the university administration meet with the students involved in the encampment? Was there any attempt to find a peaceful resolution?

President Folt, along with the vice president for Student Life and USC’s general counsel met with the self-appointed liaisons from the encampment, and one faculty member, twice for a total of three hours to listen to their concerns and discuss options to reach an amicable resolution. Members of the Office of Student Life have also been engaging with the occupiers on a daily basis. Unfortunately, the occupiers gave no indication of any willingness to remove their illegal encampment.

Why wouldn’t the university agree to the demands of the occupiers? 

In their meetings with the self-appointed liaisons of the encampment, university administrators recognized the important concerns the occupiers had regarding world events and the reasons behind their activism. Without agreeing to negotiate over their demands, university administrators explained that the occupiers needed to follow the university’s policies regarding free speech and assembly. The administrators also explained a number of ways the occupiers could reasonably address their most important concerns following existing university processes. Their demands and the university’s brief responses are below.

1. End War Profiteering and Investment in Genocide. USC must fully disclose and divest its finances and endowment from companies and institutions that profit from Israeli apartheid, genocide, and occupation in Palestine, including the US Military and weapons manufacturing. USC must commit to accountability through full transparency of their financial investments.

The university already has a process for students, faculty, and staff to raise and address questions and concerns relating to the endowment. In particular, the Advisory Committee on Investment Responsibility was formed in 2022 to advise the Board of Trustees on matters related to investments as expressed by the broader community. Several universities that have apparently negotiated with occupiers have now formed committees such as these.

This process was shared with the liaisons of the encampment, as well as avenues to get involved. They did not want to engage in this existing avenue; rather, they demanded to know every investment the university has made, and wanted to determine themselves which investments the university should divest from. 

2. Complete Academic Boycott of Israel. USC must end its study abroad programs at Hebrew University’s Rothenberg International School and Reichman University and sever all academic ties and research cooperation with Israeli universities.

USC adheres to a longstanding position against academic boycotts such as the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement because a robust intellectual environment requires the free and civil exchange of ideas. Additionally, academic boycotts go against the principles of academic freedom and freedom of speech, for which these occupiers were allegedly fighting.

3. Protect free speech on campus and provide full amnesty to all students, staff, and faculty disciplined, penalized, or fired for their pro-Palestine activism. USC must abide by their self-proclaimed Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion values and implement material policies protecting the safety of its marginalized students.

USC is committed to protecting free speech and academic freedom, in compliance with state and federal law and university policy. USC has a one-stop website on free speech and free expression. The university must also comply with its legal obligations to provide a harassment-free educational environment for all students, faculty, and staff. The University’s DEI values are stipulated here , along with USC’s Policy on Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation .

The university must follow its established processes in taking appropriate internal disciplinary actions.

4. Stop the Displacement, from South Central to Palestine. No land grabs, whether in South Central, which is unceded Tongva territory, or Palestine. Cease expansion, provide reparations, and support housing for low-income South Central residents. No development by USC without genuine community control.

For more than 140 years, USC has partnered with our neighbors to continuously strengthen the educational, economic, and health equity of the communities we serve. This includes engaging more than 4,000 LAUSD students daily in college and career preparation, operating eight neighborhood-serving Head Start early childhood centers, partnering with dozens of community-based nonprofits and small businesses, and continuously working to eliminate health disparities. More information on community programs and initiatives is available here .

5. No Policing on Campus. End the targeted repression and harassment of Black, Brown, and Palestinian students and their allies on and off campus, including through university disciplinary processes. Defund the Department of Public Safety and disclose and sever all ties with the LAPD.

During the 2020-2021 academic year, President Folt formed a Community Advisory Board (CAB) to develop tangible recommendations to strengthen trust between the university, DPS, and the broader community.

The result of these efforts was a  ONE USC Safety Vision , which describes an environment where everyone feels safe, respected, and protected, and which has led to significant improvements in how USC’s Department of Public Safety conducts its operations. All members of the USC community are invited to share their input as the CAB continues its work.

6. End the Silence on the Genocide in Palestine. Release a public statement calling for an immediate, permanent ceasefire in Gaza, denouncing the ongoing genocidal campaign against the Palestinian people, and call on government officials to do so too.

The university must maintain an environment where all members of our community feel free to express themselves and engage in vigorous debate. In order to maintain this open environment, it is important for the university to exercise great restraint before issuing statements on issues over which members of our community may vehemently disagree.

Where can I find additional information about the university’s policies on free speech, free expression, and protests?

USC is committed to protecting free speech and academic freedom, in compliance with state and federal law and university policy. The university’s policies on students’ right to free speech are set forth in the  USC Student Handbook , and the university’s policies on academic freedom more generally are set forth in the  Faculty Handbook . Additionally, USC has developed a dedicated website with resources, policies, and FAQs around free speech, free expression, and campus activism, available here .

Conduct and Disciplinary Processes

Will the university press charges or pursue other disciplinary actions against students, staff and faculty participating in the encampment?

No charging decisions by the City Attorney’s office have been made at this time.

The university will follow its established processes in taking appropriate internal disciplinary actions. Students, faculty, and staff who commit repeated offenses will face more significant consequences.

Why can’t you provide “amnesty” to any students going through the disciplinary process?

It is critical that the university follow its established policies and procedures around student discipline and not make special exceptions with respect to certain policies, certain groups, certain individuals, or certain viewpoints. Once the university begins making special exceptions for some, it will have to do the same for others. That would be deeply discriminatory, would violate the law, and would undermine our authority to apply any of our rules at all.

We are prohibited by law from discussing specific disciplinary matters. With that said, the disciplinary process is led by professionals who review the specific facts of every case carefully, and seek to come to outcomes that are fair, consistent, and reasonable. It is critical that the university leadership not jeopardize the integrity of these established processes by interfering in particular cases. As part of the process, all students have appeal rights.

Will students involved in the encampment be able to participate in graduation?

Each student’s situation will be evaluated based on the facts, including past student conduct history. Student records are private (protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), and students are encouraged to reach out to the Office of Community Expectations to learn more about the process and their current standing.

What is the student disciplinary process like?

All reported student conduct that potentially violates university policies and/or community expectations is referred to the university’s disciplinary process, which is described in the USC Student Handbook. Office of Community Expectations team members are very experienced, follow robust processes, strive to resolve cases expeditiously, and treat every student with care. We have prepared additional FAQs about what students can expect when engaging with the university’s disciplinary process.

How can students, faculty and staff seek additional help?

The university offers many support resources. Specifically, the  Office of Campus Support and Intervention  ( 213.740.0411 ) provides all members of the USC community with support, guidance, and resources to address a wide variety of challenges.  Counseling and Mental Health Services  ( 213.740.9355 ) supports students with therapy, crisis support, referrals to long-term providers, and other services. I encourage students to connect with either of these resources as needed.

Access, Support and Accommodations

How will individuals with ADA needs be able to access campus with the limited entry points?

All of the curb cuts around the university perimeter are manned by community service officers who are instructed to let anyone who is disabled out of the university gates. All pedestrian gates have full ADA compliance. Additional measures will be put in place throughout the week prior to commencement to ensure the campus remains as accessible as possible for all members of the USC community.

Where can I find information about accessing campus? What if I need to help my student move out of USC Housing?

Campus access information is available on the USC Transportation website.

USC IDs will be required for students and employees to enter campus. All guests must register via the visitor.usc.edu website for a daily guest pass. As of May 3, 2024, guest registration is paused indefinitely.

While the visitor registration process is suspended, parents and helpers coming to campus to assist students moving out of USC Housing should have received an email from USC Housing with instructions for how to enter campus during this time.

Guests coming to USC for commencement activities must have a valid ticket for each event they will attend. Commencement ticketing information is available here .

What academic accommodations are available to students who are concerned about their safety on campus or their ability to focus on final exams and assignments during this time?

We have put in place an enhanced accommodations protocol, similar to what was used during COVID. Students should work directly with their faculty for accommodations such as extended deadlines, incompletes, or adjusting the parameters of their final assessments.

Students may also contact their advisors through the Advise USC platform or the Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Programs, which can also assist with requests for accommodation.

What additional support is available to USC students during this time?

The recent events on campus have been challenging and disruptive for many members of USC’s community. Students have many resources available to support them throughout this time. Questions regarding grading can be directed to the University Registrar at  [email protected] . Students in need of mental health resources can access them via  USC Student Health . Students looking to navigate complex situations can be connected to  Campus Support and Intervention

Commencement

Will this impact commencement activities planned for May 8-11?

This action to remove the encampment will have no impact on scheduled commencement celebrations and activities. We remain focused on honoring our graduates and giving them the celebration and recognition they deserve.

Where can I find information related to USC’s 2024 commencement ceremonies, ticketing, and other visitor information?

All information related to commencement, including a schedule of events, ticketing, and other information is available on the USC commencement website .

Where can I find more details related to the USC Trojan Family Graduate Celebration on Thursday, May 9 th ?

Special guests and surprise performances will create an electric atmosphere at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum as graduating students and their families gather for a graduation celebration Southern California-style. Count on drone shows, fireworks, the Trojan Marching Band, and a special gift for members of the Class of 2024. This is a ticketed event available to graduating students and five plus-ones per graduating student (six tickets total). More information will be shared with graduating students and their families via email and on the USC commencement website .

Why did the university make the decision to cancel the valedictorian’s speech, and the mainstage commencement ceremony?

The main stage commencement ceremony at USC draws more than 65,000 people to our University Park Campus. The university made the decision that the valedictorian would not give a speech at the mainstage ceremony after hearing from campus security and threat experts about security concerns that rose to the level of credible. The university then finalized additional security protocols – including bag checks and ticketing processes, to mitigate those concerns. Understanding the time it would take for families to enter campus with additional protocols in place, the university then canceled the mainstage ceremony.

Refocusing commencement on school ceremonies will allow graduates to celebrate with their families in a more intimate environment, hear their names called, walk across the stage to receive their diplomas, shake the hands of the faculty and deans who mentored and educated them, throw their hats, and celebrate with those who made their time at USC so special.