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!
» Students Graduating Fall 2011, Spring 2012, or Summer 2012
» Commencement-Related Events
» USC Main Commencement Ceremony
» USC Price Satellite Ceremonies
» Satellite Ceremony DVD
» USC Commencement
» Frequently Asked Questions
Save the Date!
The University of Southern California's 129th commencement exercises will be held on Friday, May 11, 2012.
Students Graduating Fall 2011, Spring 2012, or Summer 2012
Doctoral Students
February 1, 2011 – 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 2012 or August 2012. 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 29, 2011 – deadline for submitting applications for graduation for May 2012 and August 2012 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, 2011-2012, should be in contact with Faye Cameron. Undergraduate students are required to complete the Undergraduate Satellite Ceremony registration (see below).
Commencement-Related Events
USC Ph.D. Hooding Ceremony
Ph.D. candidates who graduate in December 2011 or expect to graduate in May or August 2012 are encouraged to attend the prestigious Ph.D. Hooding Ceremony on Thursday, May 10, in Bovard Auditorium from 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM. Here each candidate will receive the hood, symbolizing conferral of the Ph.D. degree, from his or her dissertation chairperson. All participants are required to register online. More information will be posted in late January at the official hooding website. Please RSVP early as this fills up quickly.
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 10, 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 11, 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 11, 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.
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.
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.
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 9:30 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 Lewis Hall Courtyard and second floor.
Doctoral Students — Please register for the Graduate Satellite Ceremony to ensure that your name is in the satellite ceremony program.
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