USC Price School of Public Policy

IPPAM Admission

The USC Price School welcomes applications for the International Public Policy and Management Program from international professionals and US professionals interested in international settings. To be considered for admission, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited educational institution and 3 or more years of work experience.

The IPPAM course of study begins in the summer semester (generally the third week of June). Although summer enrollment is strongly preferred, in cases where sponsors and employers permit only fall semester enrollment, it is possible to be admitted in the fall semester.

Applicants are encouraged to begin the application process early. The deadline for summer semester is March 15. The application process is done online (both in terms of the application form and letters of recommendation). Official transcripts and TOEFL scores (international applicants) should be mailed in after submitting the online application.

Application Materials

The following items are required in order to complete the applications process.

  • Graduate Admission application https://www.usc.edu/admission/graduate/applyonline/
    • Select Term “Summer 2013″ or “Fall 2013.” Please note that summer admission is preferred. Fall admission may be requested if there are extenuating circumstances preventing a summer start.
    • Select “International Public Policy and Management – IPPAM (M.P.P.M)” for Intended Program of Study
  • Application fee of $85
  • Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, whether or not a degree was earned. (To expedite the processing of your application, please send all transcripts directly to our office. Print and complete the Transcript Cover Pagefor each college/university you have attended. Complete the entire form, sign it, and ask the registrar of each institution to attach it to your official transcript.)**
        USC has begun to accept some forms of e-transcripts. Please check with the institution you attended to see if they provide e-transcripts.

    Please note that we accept only e-transcripts provided that they are submitted via the following methods:

        1. eSCRIP SAFE (Grad)
        2. eTranscriptCA (CCC)
        3. Texas Server (Grad)
        4. University to University

    If your school does not provide e-transcripts through one of these methods, you must submit a hard copy of your transcripts. **

  • A minimum of three letters of recommendation, including at least one academic reference from a professor who taught a course in which you were enrolled. Letters from family friends or from ESL schools generally do not count towards the requirement. Please note: Letters of recommendation must be submitted through the online application system. We will not accept letters of recommendation through postal mail.
  • Current resume (submitted via online application Employment Information upload)
  • Statement of purpose (submitted via online application Supporting Documents upload) of approximately 1,000-1,500 words addressing:
    • Your reasons for applying to the International Public Policy and Management Program and how you see the program contributing to your professional goals or personal growth. Describe your academic interests and the skills or knowledge you hope to gain from the program.

International students must also submit the following documents:

  • Official TOEFL Scores – must have been taken within the last two years (USC institution code: 4852)
  • Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, indicating the award of all degrees with the title and date conferred in the applicant’s native language and an exact translation into English of each document. (Note: Transcripts from English as a Second Language (ESL) schools do not need to be submitted but the name of the ESL program and the dates of attendance should be noted as part of your educational history in the “Academic Background” section of the application).
  • A Financial Guarantee Statement showing proof of the ability to pay tuition and living expenses. The financial statement(s) from one or more bank accounts should total the equivalent of $65,200.

Admission Deadline

March 15 is the IPPAM application deadline but the program may continue to accept applications until the class is filled.

How to Apply

Online: Candidates may apply through USC’s graduate online application system at http://www.usc.edu/admission/graduate. The online system allows you to electronically submit the entire application including USC Price supporting documents — except for official transcripts and a copy of test scores, which should be sent directly to USC Price at the mailing address below.

If you have questions regarding the online application, please contact Diana Ramos at (213) 740-0550 or noraramo@usc.edu.

USC Price Recruitment and Admissions
650 Childs Way, RGL 111
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0626
Tel: (213) 740-0550
Fax: (213) 740-7573
E-mail: uscprice@usc.edu