DPPD Admissions

When assessing applications, the admissions committee evaluates each applicant’s:

• Professional experience, demonstrated by their current and recent employment in public policy, planning, or development, or a related field.
• Academic ability, shown by prior coursework and grades.
• Academic and professional letters of recommendation.
• Research goals and their alignment with the Price faculty.
• Writing skills, illustrated through a writing sample.

A student begins the DPPD program with advanced standing if they possess a master’s degree in public policy, public management, public administration, urban planning, or a related field from an accredited institution. Students with advanced standing must complete a minimum of 40 units of coursework.

Students without advanced standing or a relevant master’s degree must complete a minimum of 60 units, including the 40-unit DPPD curriculum and 20 additional units from graduate-level coursework at USC.

Application Materials

Each of the following items is required to complete the admissions process:

• A USC Graduate Application — For step-by-step admission guidelines, visit: gradadm.usc.edu/apply
• $90 application fee
• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.  Applicants from domestic institutions should have their university registrar send transcripts electronically to [email protected].  To expedite review of your application, you may upload **OFFICIAL** copies of your transcripts into your application but you must still have official transcripts sent electronically to [email protected].  Applicants with international transcripts must mail them to the address indicated on the USC Graduate Application.
• At least 5 years of professional experience.
• Submit a current resume.
• A minimum of five years of full-time work experience in or related to public policy, planning, or development
• Submit a statement of purpose of 1,000 to 1,500 words that:
  • (1) Describes your personal and professional background
  • (2) Explains your research interest(s) and identifies at least two Price faculty members with similar interests
  • (3) Discusses how the DPPD program will help you achieve your professional goals
• Submit a paper or professional document demonstrating your writing ability and style. The applicant must have completed the writing sample alone; co-authored papers and group projects are unacceptable. The sample should be less than two years old.

USC has a zero-tolerance policy for actions that violate the integrity of its admissions processes. Every applicant is personally responsible for all aspects of their application. USC will reject applications that contain falsified information. Examples include, but are not limited to, using generative artificial intelligence, plagiarism, and academic and professional history misrepresentations.

NOTE: This program does not require GRE or GMAT scores.

International students must also submit the following documents:

• official TOEFL/IELTS scores – must have taken within the last two years (Institution code: 4852)
• official transcripts 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
• a financial guarantee statement showing proof of the ability to pay all tuition and living expenses

Application Deadline

February 1

Contact Us

For admissions information, please email [email protected].

Anna Parks,
Student Services Advisor
(213) 740-8181
[email protected]