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University of Southern California
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Graduate Degrees

Master's Degrees

Master's Thesis and Seminar

An integral part of the requirements for the master's degree is the completion of either a thesis (594ab) or the master's seminar (593ab). Registration in both the 594a and 593a semesters are prerequisites to the 594b and 593b semesters. Concurrent registration in 594a and 594b or 593a and 593b is not permitted except by petition. Credit for 594ab is conditional upon satisfactory completion of the thesis.

Transfer of Course Work

The Degree Progress Department determines whether course work taken elsewhere is available for transfer credit. The available work is recorded on the Graduate Credit Statement prepared by that office.

For information about the maximum number of transfer credits which may be applied toward a master's degree, see Transfer of Course Work. Additional university regulations apply to students seeking a second master's degree.

Final transfer of graduate credit to be applied toward a degree is dependent upon approval of the student's faculty advisor. The criteria used in approving available transfer credit are relevance to the program, recency, quality and grades earned.

Master of Science in Education

The Master of Science (M.S.) in Education is designed to develop qualities and techniques essential to leadership in professional services. The fundamental objectives of the program are to develop an awareness of the major fields and their relationships within professional education, to develop an understanding of and appreciation for the purposes and procedures of educational research, and to develop a particular proficiency in one or more of the special fields within the education profession. A minimum of 28 units of graduate-level course work is required. The units are selected with advisor consent to develop some degree of proficiency in an educational focus.

Master of Science in Education with a Concentration in Learning and Instruction

The Master of Science in Education concentration in learning and instruction is intended to educate professionals who are interested in improving learning and instruction in a variety of educational settings including schools and informal environments such as zoos and museums. In addition to enhancing one's own instructional abilities, most students in the program are preparing for careers in program development, curriculum design or improving school capacity through instructional technology. A minimum of 28 units of graduate-level course work is required.

core courses (16-17 units)Units
Learning and Development; select one of the following:
CTSE 503Teaching and Learning in U.S. Schools4
EDPT 502Learning and Individual Differences3

Assessment and Measurement; select one of the following:
CTSE 534Diagnosis of Reading Disability3
EDPT 540Introduction to Educational Measurement and Evaluation3

Instruction and Curriculum; select one of the following:
CTSE 509Advanced Science Teaching Methods 3
CTSE 511Reading and Writing Methods 3
CTSE 528Foundations of Reading Instruction3
CTSE 529The Teaching of Writing: Research and Practice3
CTSE 548aCurriculum and Methods for Teaching Multiple Subjects, or
CTSE 548bCurriculum and Methods for Teaching Multiple Subjects3
CTSE 556Methods of Instruction for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Child 3
EDPT 510Human Learning 3
EDPT 571Instructional Design3

Inquiry Design -- required courses:
CTSE 593abMaster's Seminar, or
CTSE 594abMaster's Thesis2-2
EDPT 550Statistical Inference, or another methodology course recommended by advisor3

electives (12 units)
500-level electives to be approved by the faculty advisor to develop an area of educational focus (e.g., instructional technology, science education, literacy/reading, educational psychology and medical education) are required.

Master of Science in Education, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Specialist Credential Track

The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Credential authorizes the holder to teach hearing-impaired students, 0-22 years of age.

required coursesUnits
CTSE 556Methods of Instruction for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Child3
CTSE 557Directed Teaching of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Student4
CTSE 577Language Development for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Child during Early Childhood3
CTSE 578Methods of Teaching Speech and Auditory Skills to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Student3
CTSE 579Directed Teaching of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Child During Early Childhood2
CTSE 580Audiology for Teachers of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Child2
CTSE 581Topics in Deaf Education3
CTSE 582Language Development for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Child3
CTSE 583Advanced Methods, Practicum, and Research in Spoken Language for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Child3
CTSE 585abSign Language for Teachers of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children1-1
CTSE 586Typical and Atypical Infant and Toddler Development4
CTSE 587Service Delivery System for Infants and Toddlers with Special Needs4
CTSE 593abMaster's Seminar2-2
EDCO 580Working with Families of Children with Special Needs2

Master of Marriage and Family Therapy

The program for the Master of Marriage and Family Therapy is offered for those students seeking to prepare for the practice of marriage, family and child counseling. The curriculum of the master's program is grounded in the applications of the discipline of counseling psychology to clinical work with couples, families and children in the family context. Students who complete this specialized professional degree program and who fulfill the additional state-mandated requirements are eligible for the State of California's Marriage and Family Therapy license. A minimum of 51 units of graduate-level course work is required. A minimum of four semesters is required for completion of the degree program. Students must demonstrate an acceptable level of counseling proficiency, a grade of B (3.0) or better, in EDCO 560 Practicum in Counseling before being permitted to complete the master's degree. (Students with little or no prior counseling experience are advised to audit the practicum course the first time it is taken. Two registrations for credit and one audit are permitted in EDCO 560.) Of the 51 units, the last 14 units must be completed at USC.

required course sequenceUnits
EDCO 500The Counseling Process3
EDCO 503Ethical and Legal Issues in Counseling3
EDCO 515Theories of Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling3
EDCO 516Perspectives on Human Sexuality3
EDCO 541Theories in Counseling Psychology I3
EDCO 542Group Counseling: Theory and Process3
EDCO 544Measurement Procedures in the Helping Process3
EDCO 546Psychopathology for Counselors3
EDCO 548Career Development: Theory and Practice3
EDCO 551Cross-Cultural Counseling: Research and Practice3
EDCO 557Chemical Dependence and Substance Use3
EDCO 560Practicum in Counseling3
EDCO 561Field Work in Counseling3
EDCO 593abMaster's Seminar, or
EDCO 594abMaster's Thesis2-2
EDPT 520Human Lifespan Development3
EDPT 550Statistical Inference3
2 additional units selected with the approval of the advisor2

Master of Science in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

The Master of Science in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages qualifies holders of this degree to teach English as a Second Language (ESL) or English as a Foreign Language (EFL). Graduates of the program become teachers, curriculum specialists or administrators in ESL/EFL programs, mainly at the secondary, adult and college levels, both in the U.S. and abroad. The program also welcomes experienced primary school teachers who wish to broaden their understanding of language teaching and learning. The program offers two tracks, one for typical non-native speakers who have not completely mastered the English Language (track 1: EFL) and one for native speakers and true bilinguals (track 2: ESL). A minimum of 28 units of approved graduate-level course work is required.

Courses Required for both tracksunits
EDHP 510Introduction to Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages3
EDHP 511Applied Linguistics for Language Teachers3
EDHP 521Course Design for Language Learning3
EDHP 588Practicum in Second Language Teaching3
CTSE 593aMaster's Seminar, and
EDHP 593bMaster's Seminar, or
EDHP 594abMaster's Thesis2-2

Courses required for Track 1: EFLUnits
EDHP 518Teaching American English Pronunciation3
EDHP 519Teaching English Grammar3
EDHP 585abEnglish for Academic Purposes3-3

Courses required for track 2: ESLunits
CTSE 537Methods in Bilingual Education and in Teaching English as a Second Language3

Select 3 courses from the following:
EDUC 409Foundations of Language Education3
EDHP 518Teaching American English Pronunciation3
EDHP 519Teaching English Grammar3
EDHP 586Teaching Reading and Writing in a Second Language for the Literate Student3
EDPA 622The Role of Education in Cultural Transmission3

Master of Education, Postsecondary Administration and Student Affairs

The Master of Education, Postsecondary Administration and Student Affairs provides current and prospective professionals working in various capacities within two-year, four-year and professional postsecondary institutions with the theoretical foundation and practical applications to excel in a variety of higher education administrative and students services positions (academic advising and support services, admissions, school relations, residential life, student activities, multicultural student affairs and disabled student services and programming). A minimum of 41 units of graduate-level course work is required.

Required coursesunits
EDCO 500The Counseling Process3
EDHP 500Foundations of Higher, Adult, and Professional Education3
EDHP 551Applied Educational Ethnography3
EDHP 552The Politics of Difference3
EDHP 563Student Affairs Work in College3
EDHP 565Intervention Strategies in College Student Development3
EDHP 587Field Work in Higher, Adult, and Professional Education1-3
(41 total units is based on a student taking 1 unit of field work)
EDHP 593abMaster's Seminar, or
EDHP 594abMaster's Thesis4
EDHP 657Management of Student Services in Higher Education3
EDHP 687Student Development in Higher Education3
EDPT 550Statistical Inference3

In addition, students choose 6 units from the following courses:
EDCO 548Career Development: Theory and Practice3
EDHP 502Administration of Higher, Adult, and Professional Education3
EDHP 503Curriculum, Teaching, and Learning in Higher, Adult, and Professional Education3
EDHP 580The Community College3
EDHP 621International Higher Education: Administration and Planning3
EDHP 658Community College Administration3
EDHP 679Legal Issues in the Administration of Higher Education3
EDHP 689Fiscal Support and Expenditure in Higher and Postsecondary Education3
EDPA 518Organizational Theory3

Master of Science, Education (Counseling Psychology)

The program for the Master of Science, Education (Counseling Psychology) is designed to develop a broad knowledge of the theoretical, philosophical and scientific foundations of the field of counseling psychology as well as practical skills in the application of counseling techniques. A minimum of 40 units of graduate-level course work is required. A minimum of four semesters is required for completion of the degree program. Students must demonstrate an acceptable level of counseling proficiency (a grade of B (3.0) or better) in EDCO 560 Practicum in Counseling before being permitted to complete the master's degree. Two registrations for credit and one audit are permitted in EDCO 560. Students with little or no prior counseling experience are advised to audit the practicum course the first time it is taken.

The last 14 units, and at least 32 units of the 40 unit minimum, must be completed at USC.

Core sequenceUnits
EDCO 500The Counseling Process3
EDCO 503Ethical and Legal Issues in Counseling2
EDCO 541Theories in Counseling Psychology I3
EDCO 542Group Counseling: Theory and Process3
EDCO 544Measurement Procedures in the Helping Process3
EDCO 548Career Development: Theory and Process3
EDCO 560Practicum in Counseling3
EDCO 561Field Work in Counseling3
EDCO 593abMaster's Seminar, or
EDCO 594abMaster's Thesis4
EDPT 550Statistical Inference3

Speciality (12 units)
All students are required to take courses appropriate to their specialty in addition to the core sequence in counseling. Two specializations are available for students in the Master of Science, Education (Counseling Psychology) program: college counseling and general specialization.

Master of Business Administration/Doctor of Education

The Marshall School of Business and the Rossier School of Education jointly offer a program leading to the degree of Master of Business Administration/Doctor of Education. This program emphasizes educational leadership and management competencies across the wide variety of education-related organizations in the public, non-profit and for-profit sectors and is designed to prepare students to assume executive leadership positions in these organizations, including schools, universities, educating businesses, regional, state and federal education agencies, education research institutions, and private foundations with education missions. Graduates of the M.B.A./Ed.D. program will be prepared to significantly improve the scope and quality of educational services to targeted populations through the application of management skills to the field of education and of education principles to business enterprises.

A total of 90 units is required for the dual degree: 48 units in the Marshall School of Business and 42 units in the Rossier School of Education.

Students must apply to both the Marshall School of Business and the Rossier School of Education.