Graduate & Professional Degrees

Students who do not wish to pursue a Master of Academic Medicine degree at this point may earn a university certificate in Academic Medicine. The certificate requires 12 units of course work. Each learner may structure their certificate to suit their needs with a focus on Teaching/Learning or on Leadership. The teaching/learning option provides graduates with the essential principles of teaching and learning needed to integrate learning principles, teaching techniques, and assessment methods within the health professions to effectively teach health professions learners at all levels: undergraduate, graduate, and continuing professional development. The leadership option is designed to prepare those in academic medicine for leadership positions, for example, assistant/associate dean, program director (including assistant or associate), designated institutional official and associate or vice chair for education. After completion of the certificate, the learner is no longer eligible to pursue the Master of Academic Medicine degree.

Each student completes the 12-unit certificate with 9 units of required course work and 3 units of elective course work from the courses available within the Master of Academic Medicine program. All courses should be selected with the approval of the learner’s adviser.

Keith Administration Building 211
1975 Zonal Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90033
(323) 442-3004
Email: academicmedicine@med.usc.edu
Program Director: Julie G. Nyquist, PhD

The Master of Academic Medicine (MACM) is offered by the Keck School of Medicine. The Master of Academic Medicine program's mission is to cultivate leaders who will develop and advance educational programs for healthcare professions through their roles as teacher, leader, scholar and mentor. These leaders will guide future health care professionals to thrive in their careers as they guide care for diverse patient populations. Academic medicine is defined in broad terms as relating to those who lead training worldwide in medicine or in other health care related fields. Enacting this mission is possible due to the flexible delivery model selected. The 32-unit program employs a model of synchronous online learning in all courses, accompanied by optional annual on-campus face-to-face skill-building workshops for three days each February.

The program addresses the unique population of medical and health professions faculty who are focused on leading the academic enterprise for health professionals at the undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education levels. The curriculum focuses on four roles that faculty and other leaders can play: teacher, leader, scholar and mentor. Our alumni are well prepared to guide future generations of health professionals toward better meeting the health needs of our diverse society and promoting the wellbeing of future providers.

For those with a clear focus on the academic enterprise, a complementary degree in academic medicine offers the specialized skills needed to lead development of enhanced training for health professionals, increases professional capacity, and provides new opportunity for promotion. The audiences for this degree are current and future leaders in health professions education, e.g., education fellows, Associate Program Directors, Program Directors and Designated Institutional Officers. Matriculants typically have primary professional degrees in health fields (e.g., MD, DDS, DPT, RN, MSN, PA, DVM, DO, PharmD, DC, DOM). The Master of Academic Medicine will provide the needed complementary training for clinician educators.

Admission

Applicants for admission to the Master of Academic Medicine program are generally expected to have an advanced or professional degree, typically in medicine or another healthcare profession. Official transcripts from all institutions will need to be submitted. Proof of graduation is required. For all applicants, an undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 (A=4.0) is expected and three letters of recommendation are required.

Students can be admitted to begin the program in Fall, Summer or Spring. Inquiries regarding applications and admission procedures should be made by email to academicmedicine@med.usc.edu or by phone to (323) 442-3004.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

A graduate GPA of at least 3.0 is required at all times. Any student whose graduate GPA falls below 3.0 will be placed on academic probation. Students on academic probation who do not raise their GPA to 3.0 after two semesters of written notification of academic probation will be academically disqualified.

A minimum of 32 units of graduate-level course work is required.

The Master of Accounting program (MAcc) prepares graduates for careers in public accounting, industry and government. The program offers students technical and conceptual knowledge, professional development, research and lifelong learning, ethical and professional standards and globalization and diversity. For details on these student learning outcomes, see the program website at marshall.usc.edu/macc.

The program employs a rigorous case analysis approach that requires students to exercise their analytical abilities and develop both teamwork and professional communication skills.

Application

An undergraduate accounting or business major is not necessary, nor is work experience a requirement. The program enrolls students in the summer or fall based on their academic backgrounds. For application information, visit marshall.usc.edu/macc.

Program Requirements

The Master of Accounting degree requires 45 units, including fundamentals, core requirements and electives. A student with an undergraduate degree in accounting or the equivalent may be able to waive 15 units for a total degree requirement of 30 units.

The Leventhal School of Accounting Master's Program Office evaluates the academic background of each admitted student to determine the courses required to complete the program.

Students admitted for summer term start with ACCT 525 Intensive Accounting Principles and Practices (15 units) — an eight-week course for students who have not completed undergraduate degrees or other extensive course work in accounting. This course must be completed successfully prior to beginning the fall semester.

Students admitted for fall term generally hold a bachelor's degree in Accounting and are waived from the 15-unit ACCT 525 class reducing the number of units required to earn the degree to 30.

USC BS in Accounting students may qualify for waiver of an additional 6 units reducing the number of units required to earn the degree to 24. USC BS in Accounting students should meet with the Leventhal Academic Advisor for Graduate Programs during their junior year to determine if they qualify.

Addiction exacts a toll on individuals, families and communities worldwide. The Master of Science in Addiction Science (MAS) exposes students to the biological, psychological and social aspects of substance use and addictive behaviors. Students study emerging trends in addiction studies with an emphasis on evidence-based transdisciplinary approaches in to addiction science and practice addressing epidemiology, etiology, prevention, treatment, policy and harm reduction, as well as sociocultural and healthcare contexts that intersect with addiction. The MAS equips students with a solid foundation and prepares them to enter a number of fields, from treatment to recovery and research to policy-work, representing critical areas of support among diverse communities in need. 

The Master of Advanced Architectural Research Studies, City Design and Housing emphasis is a 32-unit multi-disciplinary graduate degree program at the USC School of Architecture that prepares participants to study, analyze and design within complex urban systems. Focusing on the 21st-century city the program will address specific urban challenges through a combination of explorative design studio and advanced topical research. Working across disciplines and at multiple scales, this degree concentration moves between real-world issues and innovative architectural approaches to explore ideas for radically re-thinking the ways in which we can design, build and inhabit our cities in more inclusive and equitable ways.

The program will leverage Los Angeles as a laboratory to examine the forces that shape local and global cities. Addressing a diverse set of factors that are linked to city design and housing – such as urban development and housing policies, real estate and housing finance, history and theory, technology and infrastructure, and ecology and climate change – the program will introduce students to broad methodological tools for critically analyzing contemporary challenges of urban systems and housing and will strengthen their skills to employ research and design to create more equitable, sustainable and resilient urban environments and housing schemes.

The CD+H program's design studios and research efforts are guided by three thematic trajectories:

1. Urban Housing

This theme explores the design and development of diverse housing solutions, including low-cost, collective, affordable and informal housing, as well as strategies for urban densification. Students investigate how innovative housing models can respond to the needs of growing urban populations.

2. Urban Inequalities

Students critically examine issues related to racial segregation, economic disparities, gentrification, homelessness, migration and the digital divide. This trajectory highlights the role of design in addressing socio-economic challenges and fostering inclusive, equitable communities.

3. Urban Infrastructures

This theme focuses on the design and reimagining of urban infrastructures, including street design, public transportation, walkability, public spaces and zoning issues. Students engage in projects that address the functional and programmatic aspects of cities, enhancing connectivity and accessibility.

Completion of the degree requires 32 units, including 8 units of Architecture Directed Design Research.

The Master of Advanced Architectural Research Studies (MAARS), with an emphasis in Performative Design And Technology (PD&T) is a specialized, post-professional program at USC School of Architecture. It is designed for individuals with prior architectural education who seek to advance their expertise in cutting-edge design and technological research. The program focuses on integrating advanced computational design, performance-driven methodologies, and sustainable technology within architectural practice. It aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills to develop innovative, performance-oriented design solutions that address contemporary architectural and environmental challenges.

The PD&T program emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach, combining theoretical knowledge with practical application through research-based studios and technical seminars. Students engage in hands-on, project-based learning that leverages computational tools, simulation software, and performance analysis techniques. The goal is to cultivate a deeper understanding of how technology can inform and transform design processes, enabling architects to create efficient, resilient and contextually responsive architectural solutions.

The curriculum addresses the urban experience through three thematic issues explored in design studios:

1. Emerging Design Technologies (Parametric Modeling, Design Computation, Digital Fabrication, etc.)

Students engage with advanced computational tools and parametric modeling to push the boundaries of design. By leveraging algorithms, simulations and data-driven methods, they optimize architectural performance and merge digital technologies with design thinking.

2. Data-Driven Design (Environmental Analysis, Data Visualization, Data Spatialization, Artificial Intelligence, etc.)

This theme emphasizes using data to inform and enhance design decisions. Students explore environmental analysis, data visualization and the application of artificial intelligence to create informed, responsive architectural solutions.

3. Performance-Based Design (Environmental Performance, Solar Performance, Thermal Performance, Material Performance, etc.) Students investigate various performance metrics to assess and improve building behavior, focusing on environmental, solar, thermal and material performance. This approach ensures sustainable and efficient design strategies.

Completion of the degree requires 32 units, including 8 units of Architecture Directed Design Research.

Learn More

This program is dedicated to cutting edge research and experimentation, and seeks to explore in a highly innovative fashion the cultural and technological landscapes of Los Angeles. Through its range of experimental 'Labs', the program is structured under three distinct veins of inquiry [1] architectural urban studies using Los Angeles as a laboratory to engage global issues; [2] advanced computation/fabrication technologies and material processes; and [3] performative architecture with an emphasis on sustainable systems. These specific design and research directions are diversely initiated by our faculty and fully supported by additional resources from the University of Southern California and the city of Los Angeles.

The Master of Advanced Architectural Studies is a three-semester advanced degree program. Consisting of two option-based topic studios followed by an in-depth Directed Design Research project [DDR], and coordinated seminar courses each for the first two semesters, the degree is focused on advanced and emerging topics in architecture. The design and research directions are diversely initiated by our faculty and fully supported by additional resources from the University at-large and the city of Los Angeles.

Candidates for admission must have a five-year Bachelor of Architecture degree or its equivalent. Completion of the degree requires 48 units, including 28 units of required studio and seminar courses, [including 8 units Directed Design Research or Thesis], and 20 units of approved electives, over three semesters of residency.

The graduate certificate in Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice prepares students for practice in clinical settings by enhancing their theoretical, empirical and practice knowledge relevant to these settings and by offering a blend of didactic and experiential learning. Through an intersectional lens, students enhance their understanding of critical elements of advanced clinical practice, such as assessment and conceptualization, diagnosis and treatment. Given that social workers treat diverse client populations, this certificate also encompasses a commitment to social justice and addressing barriers to mental health treatment.

The USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work offers university certificates that provide students advanced practice or research training through a social change and intercultural competence lens that emphasizes community advocacy. Certificates are designed to complement and deepen training provided through our degree programs by focusing on experiential application of concepts in relation to particular client populations, settings, and systems. Each certificate consists of at least 12 units, which may in part be satisfied by courses completed for a degree program. Certificates are also available to graduate students from other disciplines and to employed professionals.

The graduate certificate in Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice requires a minimum of 17 units.

The advanced endodontics certificate program is a 24-month course of study. The program provides advanced students with the academic background information and clinical experience necessary for the specialty practice of endodontics. The program also requires activities in research and teaching to expose the advanced students interested to these areas of endodontics.

Advanced students are encouraged to pursue Board Certification by the American Board of Endodontics and are prepared for the certification examinations.

Emphasis is also placed on the interaction of endodontics with other specialties and general dentistry.

The program in endodontics is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA), which serves as the only nationally recognized accrediting body for dentistry and the related dental field. The Commission receives its accreditation authority from the acceptance of all stakeholders within the dentistry community and recognition by the United States Department of Education. Since its inception in 1937, the Commission and its predecessors have operated within the parameters of the ADA Bylaws. The Commission serves the profession and the public by establishing and applying high-quality standards for the accreditation of educational programs in dentistry, postgraduate general and specialty dentistry, and the allied dental professions.

The graduate certificate in Advanced Integrative Social Work and Nursing Practice focuses on micro clinical interventions, mezzo organizational systems of care and macro health care policy to promote wellness and recovery for individuals living with co-occurring health and mental health disorders. Course work applied to this certificate incorporates theories and models regarding primary, secondary and tertiary prevention, etiology and treatment of health and mental health related issues across systems of care. Students draw on theory, biopsychosocial assessment, diagnosis and treatment goals to select and implement evidence-supported interventions that focuses on the intersection of physical and mental health disorders and associated behaviors that may require complex intervention strategies. Social workers and nurses consider pertinent theory, client characteristics, intersecting health and mental health issues, client motivation and readiness for change, and client needs and desires to implement best interventions in accordance with their goals and available resources. Evidence-supported interventions, including medication adherence, retention in care and chronic disease self-management. This certificate enables graduates to work with clients to enhance the quality of health and mental health care.

The USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work offers university certificates that provide students advanced practice or research training through a social change and intercultural competence lens that emphasizes community advocacy. Certificates are designed to complement and deepen training provided through our degree programs by focusing on experiential application of concepts in relation to particular client populations, settings, and systems. Each certificate consists of at least 12 units, which may in part be satisfied by courses completed for a degree program.

The graduate certificate in Advanced Integrative Social Work and Nursing Practice requires a minimum of 13 units.