- Current Students
Current Students
Requirements for Graduation
Catalogue Regulations, Policies and Procedures
In addition to degree requirements outlined below, undergraduate and graduate students are also subject to current catalogue regulations, policies and procedures. Examples include, but are not limited to, the policies on the grades of incomplete (IN), missing grade (MG) and continuous enrollment for graduate students. Unlike degree requirements, changes in regulations, policies and procedures are immediate and supersede those in any prior catalogue.
Degree Requirements
All graduate students must meet both university degree requirements and those degree requirements specific to their program of study to receive an advanced degree. University degree requirements consist of grade point averages, unit, residence and time limit requirements. Degree requirements specific to a student's program of study consist of course, examination and research requirements. University degree requirements and degree requirements specific to the program of study are collectively defined as degree requirements. Graduate students may elect to follow (a) the degree requirements in the catalogue current for the semester of their admission to the degree program or (b) degree requirements in subsequent catalogues as long as they are continuously enrolled (see Continuous Enrollment). However, they may not mix catalogues. Graduate students who discontinue their enrollment without a leave of absence approved by the dean of the degree program (see Leave of Absence) will be subject to the degree requirements in effect for the semester of their readmission to the program. Students requesting exceptions to the catalogue year should petition the dean of the degree program.
Time Limit for Degree Completion
Students must maintain satisfactory progress toward their stated degree objective at all times. Progress is measured from the beginning of the first course at USC applied toward a specified degree, and all requirements for that degree must be completed within a specified time. The maximum time limit allowed for each degree is considerably greater than what is needed to complete all requirements. Departments may set more stringent time limits than those specified in this section.
The time limit for completing the master's degree is five years. The time limit for completing the doctoral degree is eight years. For students who earned an applicable master's degree within five years prior to admission to the doctoral program, the time limit for completing the doctoral degree is six years from the date of admission to the doctoral program. An academic department may grant an extension of one semester at a time, up to a maximum of two years. For Ph.D. students all extensions must also have the approval of the dean of the degree program.
In unusual cases, a student's committee and the department chair may petition the Graduate School for further extensions.
Students who have exceeded the time limit for completing their degree program will not be permitted any further registrations. If granted an extension of time, the dean of the degree-conferring unit will permit registration for the specified period of extension. Approved leaves of absence (up to a total of two years or four semesters) are not counted in the time allowed for completion of degree requirements.
The time limits apply unless otherwise designated by the faculty and previously approved by the University Committee on Curriculum for a particular degree program.
For additional information on USC Graduation requirement, please visit USC Catalogue.
For additional information on USC SPPD MPA Graduation requirements, please visit USC GIST Graduate Programs.
