Progressive Degrees

For a select number of exceptional students in the PPD major and USC undergraduate community, USC offers the opportunity to complete a graduate master’s degree while finishing their undergraduate degree. For most programs, students emerge with both degrees in five years, ready to excel in the professional workplace.

In USC Price, progressive degrees are offered in:

• Master of Health Administration (MHA)
• Master of Public Administration (MPA)
• Master of Public Policy (MPP)
• Master of Urban Planning (MUP)

Students need to meet the following requirements to earn both the bachelor’s and master’s degrees:

• Minimum 3.0 GPA at time of application
• Submit an application once 64 units of undergraduate course work have been completed, (excluding AP, IB, or transfer units earned prior to graduation from high school).
• Complete and submit an Application for Admission to a Progressive Master’s Program, including:
• Obtain approval signatures for the application and proposed course plan from:
  • Undergraduate program department chair
  • Undergraduate program dean
  • Master’s program department chair
  • Master’s program dean
• Complete both degree programs within 12 semesters (6 years)
• Each degree program may have varying admission procedures.

Students can visit the USC Price Program Office in RGL 102 for MHA, MPA or MUP application materials. For degree-specific questions contact the following program administrators:

Master of Health Administration
Jennifer Kim, Program Administrator
(213) 821-0837
Email: [email protected]

* All completed progressive application materials should be submitted in one PDF to Jennifer Kim at [email protected]. Letters of recommendation should be emailed directly to [email protected] and do not need to be written on the form in the application packet.

Master of Urban Planning
Karla Barajas, Program Administrator
[email protected]
(213) 740-0529

* All completed progressive application materials should be submitted in one PDF to Karla Barajas at [email protected]. Letters of recommendation should be emailed directly to [email protected] and do not need to be written on the form in the application packet.

Master of Public Policy
Suzanne Alexander, Program Administrator
[email protected]
(213) 740-1532

RSVP November 2nd MPP Progressive Information Session 

* All completed progressive application materials should be submitted in one PDF to Suzanne Alexander at [email protected]. Letters of recommendation should be emailed directly to [email protected] and do not need to be written on the form in the application packet.

Master of Public Administration
Yingfei Xin, Program Administrator and Advisor for students with last name (A-J)
(213) 740-6283
Email: [email protected]

Lucia Saavedra, Program Administrator and Advisor for students with last name (K-Z)
(213) 740-0423
Email: [email protected]

Application Deadlines

Program	Spring Deadline	Fall Deadline
Master of Health Administration Download application »	N/A	March 1 (if this date falls on a weekend, the deadline is the next business day)
Master of Urban Planning Application Directions and Requirements  » Download application »	September 15 (if this date falls on a weekend, the deadline is the next business day)	February 1 (if this date falls on a weekend, the deadline is the next business day)
Master of Public Administration Application Directions and Requirements » Application »	Download application » September 15 – December 1 (if this date falls on a weekend, the deadline is the next business day)	March 1 (if this date falls on a weekend, the deadline is the next business day)
Master of Public Policy MPP Progressive Application Process » Application »	N/A	December 15 for scholarship consideration. March 1 for standard admission consideration (if this date falls on a weekend the deadline is the next business day.

* PLEASE NOTE: There is no admittance for summer.