Students

Undergraduate students at the Price School of Public Policy enjoy numerous benefits including:

» Learning from the Best
» Receiving One-one-one Attention
» Graduating in Four Years
» Becoming Leaders throughout the USC
» Participating in an Alumni Mentor Program
» Receiving Career Planning Guidance
» Gaining Experience in Meaningful Internships
» Having Direct Access to Influential Alumni
» Getting Good Jobs
» Being Admitted to the Best Graduate Schools

Learning from the Best
USC faculty members are expert instructors and are involved in the latest research. USC Price faculty write the textbooks used in other programs and are renowned throughout the United States and the world. Almost all teach regularly in the undergraduate program, as well as in USC Price’s five professional master’s degree programs and its three doctoral programs.

Receiving One-on-one Attention
Faculty members encourage questions and want to see students during their office hours. When students are admitted to the Price School of Public Policy, they are assigned a faculty advisor and a staff advisor who meet with them regularly.

Graduating in Four Years
General education, pre-major, core and elective courses are scheduled regularly so students who enter USC as freshmen and follow the proposed course of study can graduate in four years.

Becoming Leaders throughout the USC
USC Price students are recognized leaders throughout campus. They are elected to the USC Student Senate, secure leadership positions in their housing groups and serve as officers in many USC student organizations. USC Price’s Student Association is one of the most active student groups on campus.

Participating in an Alumni Mentor Program
The USC Price Office of Career Services coordinates an alumni mentor program. Students are paired with alumni in the early fall and participate in several workshops, networking nights and career seminars. Freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors many participate.

Receiving Career Planning Guidance
USC Price students may participate in resume writing and interviewing workshops. They receive information about internships, jobs and on-campus career events. Students also have access to career preparation books, interviewing tips and jobs in government, planning, healthcare, nonprofits, private corporations and consulting organizations. They are invited to networking nights, careers fairs and information sessions with prospective employers.

Gaining Experience in Meaningful Internships
PMPL students link classroom knowledge with professional skills in an internship. To get the best experience, most students work 15 hours per week and participate in the internship along with their coursework. Student interns are an integral part of the office in which they are employed. Examples of recent internships include:

Chief Administrative Office, City of Los Angeles
City Manager’s Office, City of Torrance
Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office
Sheriff’s Department, County of Los Angeles
Korean American Coalition
Alliance for Children’s Rights
Mayor’s Office, City of Los Angeles
Los Angeles County Supervisors Offices
Gardena Senior Citizens Bureau
Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles
Maxicare
L.A. Care Health Plan
KNBC
MGM Studios
Walt Disney
American Express
Merrill Lynch
Toshiba Business Solutions
Salomon Smith Barney
KB Homes
Consensus Planning Group
Planning Department, City of Huntington Park
First City Corporation
Center Enterprises

Having Direct Access to Influential Alumni
USC alumni live and work in all 50 states and in many countries around the world. They hold significant positions in public administration, healthcare management, urban and regional planning, and real estate development. Some serve on the School’s Board of Councilors, Lusk Center Board and degree program advisory boards. Through alumni mentor programs, internships and participation in USC organized events, undergraduate students have many opportunities to meet with graduates of USC individually and in groups.

Getting Good Jobs
Graduates of the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy are highly sought after in the job market and are admitted to outstanding graduate programs. Through networking events, many students receive competitive job offers at the time of graduation. Here is a sample of the positions obtained by recent USC Price graduates:

Human Resources Coordinator, Lifeway Home Health
Project Manager, PacifiCare Behavioral Health, Inc.
Police Officer, Los Angeles Police Department
District Deputy, Los Angeles City Council, District 6
Attorney, Andre, Morris & Buttery
Financial Advisor, American Express Financial Advisors
Consultant, Deloitte & Touche, LLP
Senior Associate Planner, City of Oxnard
Land Analyst, New Urban West, Inc.
Associate Vice President, PM Realty Group
Regional Planning Assistant, Los Angeles County
Corps Member, AmeriCorps VISTA
Executive Director, Child Care Alliance of Los Angeles

Being Admitted to the Best Graduate Schools
With the school’s strong emphasis on writing, presentation and critical thinking, many USC Price graduates are admitted to some of the nation’s top programs in law, business, health administration, planning, public administration and public policy. A brief sampling of past students’ admissions includes:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Master’s Student, Urban and Regional Affairs
University of Southern California, Medical Student
University of California, Los Angeles, Law Student
Georgetown University, Law Student
University of California, Berkeley, Master of Public Policy Student
Harvard University Kennedy School of Government, Master of Public Policy Student
Georgetown University, Master of Public Policy Student
University of California, Berkeley, City Planning, and Transportation Engineering Student
University of Southern California, Law Student
University of California Berkeley, Law Student
Stanford University, Law Student
Syracuse University, Master of Public Administration Student