Applying for Graduation
The following provides important information for students who are applying for graduation and who are interested in the honors programs offered:
» Graduate Students
» Undergraduate Students
» Departmental Honors
» University Honors
Graduate Students
An application to apply for a graduate degree is a requirement for all USC graduate students. A student will be awarded the graduation date for the term in which degree requirements, including submission of supporting documents, have been met. Although coursework may have been completed in a prior term, the degree will be awarded only for the term for which all academic and administrative requirements have been fulfilled.For additional information, please go to the Graduate Students page in the Requirements for Graduation section of the USC Catalogue.
Obtaining an Application for Graduation
Obtain an Application for Graduation from the USC Price Student Affairs Office or here:
Master Student Application (Word Doc)
Doctoral students need not complete a separate form since a degree check is performed after students pass their qualifying examinations. Applications are due to the Student Services Advisor in the semester preceding the one in which the student hopes to graduate.
Graduation Application Process
The student lists the courses he/she wants applied to his/her degree, the term in which the student expects to receive the degree, and attach copies of approved petitions. The Student Services Advisor processes the application for graduation with the Office of Degree Progress. The Office of Degree Progress issues a Degree Progress Summary Report to the student. It indicates requirements that still need to be met. If the student feels he/she has already met those requirements, he/she should contact his/her student services advisor.
Undergraduate Students
An application is not required for undergraduate degrees.
Departmental Honors
The Price School of Public Policy provides an opportunity for the school's most outstanding undergraduate students to participate in an honors program. This program identifies the best students majoring in Public Policy, Management, and Planning during the second semester of their junior year and enables them to participate in an undergraduate honors class (PPD 498, offered in the fall semester only). This course, led by a full?time faculty member, is demanding in performance and culminates in an honors project. It is intended to prepare USC Price's outstanding students for graduate work as well as enrich their undergraduate education.
In order to be eligible for the honors program, students must be in their senior year, have a grade point average (GPA) in PPD courses of 3.5, an overall GPA or 3.0, and be nominated by a USC Price faculty member. Students who complete the course with a grade of A or A? and who maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5 in the major and a 3.0 overall will graduate with "Departmental Honors."
Departmental honors are noted on academic transcripts, but not on the diploma.
University Honors
To be eligible for undergraduate honors at graduation, a minimum overall grade point average of 3.5 for cum laude, 3.7 for magna cum laude, and 3.9 for summa cum laude is required. Students must meet these averages, both on residence work attempted and on combined transferred and residence work attempted. The honors award is then determined by either the GPA for the residence work or the GPA for the combined transferred and residence work, whichever is lower. The university will not deviate from policies governing the calculation of the grade point averages required for graduation with honors through inclusion or exclusion of coursework. University honors are noted on academic transcripts and the diploma.
For additional information, please go to the Undergraduate Students page in the Requirements for Graduation section of the USC Catalogue.