*Information here is for those admitted prior to 2019. For those admitted in 2019, please click here.
MPA students are encouraged to specialize by completing at least 12 units of focused electives in a substantive subject area. Six popular specialization tracks and recommended courses are listed below. Students may take other relevant electives, however, to complete their degree with a specialization.
Alternatively, students who prefer to pursue a specialization of personal interest may self-design (with Price School guidance) a program that includes USC courses across various disciplines.
Recommended:
PPD 628 — Urban Planning and Social Policy
PPDE 647 — Civic Engagement and Governance
PPD 651 — Seminar in the Administration of Local Government
PPD 657 — Political Leadership in Public Organizations
Recommended:
PPDE 645 — Financial Management of Nonprofit Organizations
PPDE 647 — Civic Engagement in Governance
PPD 675 — Nonprofit Management and Leadership
PPD 689 — The Nonprofit Sector and Philanthropy
Recommended:
PPD 511 — Health Information Systems (2 units)
PPD 513 — Legal Issues in Health Care Delivery (2 units)
PPD 518 — Quality of Care Concepts (2 units)
PPD 600 — Management of Managed Care Organizations (2 units)
PPD 601 — Management of Long-Term Care Organizations (2 units)
PPD 604 — Seminar in Hospital Administration (2 units)
PPD 509 — Problems and Issues in the Health Field
Recommended:
PPD 541 — Public Financial Management and Budgeting
PPD 625 — Planning and Economic Development Finance
PPD 647 — Finance of the Public Sector
Recommended:
PPD 526 — Comparative International Development
PPDE 649 — International Development NGOs
PPD 677 — International Development Administration
PPD 613ab — Policy, Planning, and Development International Laboratory
Recommended:
ARTL 500 — Arts Leadership and Arts Entrepreneurship (2 units)
ARTL 501 — Executive Leadership in the Arts (2 units)
ARTL 502 — Issues and the Arts in the Contemporary World (2 units)
ARTL 503 — Arts Organizations: Innovation and New Models (2 units)
ARTL 504 — Arts and the Community: Current Practice and New Visions (2 units)
ARTL 510 — Arts leadership Practicum (2+2 units)