USC Price School of Public Policy

Graduation

Welcome to the USC Price graduation information website. This site is provided for students to obtain information about commencement-related activities and the USC Price satellite ceremonies.

Save the Date!

The University of Southern California’s 130th commencement exercises will be held on Friday, May 17, 2013.

Students Graduating Fall 2012, Spring 2013, or Summer 2013

Doctoral Students
February 2013 – deadline for Ph.D., DPDS and DPPD students to notify the appropriate person in the Program Office of their intentions to complete their degree in May 2013 or August 2013. Please provide Julie Kim (Ph.D. PL and Ph.D. UPD – Planning track), Suzanne Alexander (Ph.D. PPD and Ph.D. PPMT – Public Policy or Public Management tracks) or Deborah Natoli (DPDS and DPPD) with your full name, listing of previous degrees, name of Dissertation Committee Chair and title of dissertation.

Masters Students
October 2012 – deadline for submitting applications for graduation for May 2013 and August 2013 graduation. Please download a Masters Student Application.

Undergraduate Students
Students do not need to fill out an application to graduate. However, students who plan on graduating this academic year, 2012-2013, should be in contact with Nam Ung. Undergraduate students are required to complete the Undergraduate Satellite Ceremony registration (see below).

Commencement-Related Events

USC Price Awards Ceremony
Participants of the USC Price Awards Ceremony include undergraduates, master’s students, and doctoral candidates. The ceremony recognizes the various accomplishments of the graduating students in USC Price, such as academic excellence and community contribution. This event is by invitation.

Baccalaureate Ceremony
Taking place in Bovard Auditorium on Thursday, May 16, the university’s Baccalaureate Ceremony begins at 5:00 PM and runs about one hour. Baccalaureate is a non-denominational, inter-faith celebration open to all students and their guests. There are no reservations necessary for the ceremony, but seating in Bovard Auditorium is available on a first-come, first-served basis, and the 1,200 available seats always fill up quickly. Students do not need to wear regalia for the ceremony.

Baccalaureate Dinner
Baccalaureate is followed by a festive dinner for graduates and their families. The dinner begins at 6:30 PM and reservations are required. Baccalaureate Dinner Reservations will begin in late January online: http://www.usc.edu/dept/pubrel/specialevents/commencement/baccalaureate.php
Please RSVP early as this event sells out quickly.

USC Price Doctoral Hooding Ceremony
The USC Price Doctoral Hooding Ceremony for Ph.D., DPDS and DPPD candidates will take place during the graduate satellite ceremony on Friday, May 17, at 3:00 PM.

USC Main Commencement Ceremony

Commencement ceremonies are held once a year during the month of May. The main ceremony is for all graduates and their families. Students are to assemble Friday morning, May 17, by 8:00 AM. (USC Price students will be informed where to line up). The processional will take place at 8:30 AM; the Commencement Ceremony will start at 9:00 AM and last for about an hour. All 8,000 graduates march in under their school’s heraldic flag before receiving their degrees as a class. This ceremony (seen around the world on television and the internet) features performances by the USC band, brief speeches by the valedictorian, keynote speaker, and the president.

There is no registration required for students to march in the main ceremony, and guest seating is available on a first-come, first-seated basis. Please note, at the main ceremony each guest may only hold or reserve two additional seats.

Students are officially designated graduates of the university at this first, or main, ceremony, but they do not march across a stage, receive a diploma cover, and take a photo until they attend their school’s satellite ceremony. The ceremony concludes at approximately 10:10 AM and students march out of the park back to their assembly points.

After this ceremony, there are individual school satellite ceremonies where each graduate is recognized.

The USC Commencement website has information about the schedule for the day, transportation to campus, parking, purchasing invitations and regalia rental, etc.

Quick Link: USC Commencement

USC Price Satellite Ceremonies

There will be two USC Price satellite ceremonies following the USC Commencement Ceremony where students march across a stage, receive a diploma cover, and have their photo taken. A satellite ceremony and reception for undergraduate students will immediately follow the USC Commencement Ceremony, at approximately 10:45 AM. A satellite ceremony and reception for all graduate students will begin at 3:00 PM.

Tickets are not required for the Price satellite ceremonies though we require that students register below.

USC Price Satellite Ceremony for Undergraduate Students
Immediately following USC’s main Commencement (approximately 10:45 AM), USC Price will host a satellite ceremony and reception for all USC Price undergraduates on Childs Way, in between Ralph and Goldy Lewis Hall and Popovich Hall. Guests will be seated beginning at 9:45 AM. Students wishing to participate must complete the Undergraduate Satellite Ceremony registration.

USC Price Satellite Ceremony for Graduate Students
At 3:00 PM, USC Price will host a satellite ceremony for all USC Price graduate students at Lot 6, located on Downey Way near Kaprielian Hall and Irani Hall. Guests will be seated beginning at 2:00 PM. Students wishing to participate in the satellite ceremony must complete the Graduate Satellite Ceremony registration. USC Price will host a reception immediately following the ceremony at Argue Plaza, located in front of Lewis Hall.

Registration for the Price Undergraduate and Graduate Satellite Ceremonies, to ensure your name is in the program, has closed, though you may attend the ceremony. Please contact Christine Wilson at 213-740-6842 if you are attending the ceremony and have any questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Click here to download Commencement – Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)

USC Price Commencement Coordinator
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Christine Wilson, USC Price’s Commencement Coordinator, at sppdgrad@usc.edu or 213-740-4127