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University of Southern California
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USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development

USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development image
The USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development, ranked seventh by U.S. News & World Report's America's Best Graduate Schools (2005), offers students the opportunity to engage in research and work closely with faculty members such as Professor Niraj Verma, director of doctoral programs and an expert in planning and management theory.

The mission of the School of Policy, Planning, and Development is to educate leaders and create knowledge for innovative governance and place-based solutions for the betterment of communities worldwide. The school cultivates its students to become these leaders -- the ethical men and women who build our communities, reshape our governmental structures and processes, and rethink the relationships among government, citizens and business. The school accomplishes this in three important ways: teaching that prepares students to lead, shape and manage in the 21st century world order; research that draws on and contributes to Southern California, the state, nation and world; and action that yields insights and offers solutions to pressing societal problems.

The school combines the strengths of several fields in one professional school to address the dynamic interests of the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Our faculty, students and alumni address policy issues of regional, state, national and international importance in public management, public policy, health care, immigration, transportation, real estate and economic development, urban and regional planning, and the quality of both social and physical environments.

The policy, planning and development programs are among the most diverse and wide-ranging in higher education. This is made possible by the broad interests of the school's faculty, its linkages to other faculty on campus, the diversity of students, the variety of course formats and venues, and the many degree options and specializations available to graduate and undergraduate students. Students at the School of Policy, Planning, and Development will experience a wide array of traditional and emerging fields of knowledge, develop appropriate professional skills, engage their personal values and ethical choices, and recognize the core principles from several scholarly disciplines and how they are best applied in professional and scholarly pursuits.

Ralph and Goldy Lewis Hall 312
(213) 740-0350
FAX: (213) 740-5379
Email: aporter@usc.edu
www.usc.edu/schools/sppd/

Administration

Dan Mazmanian, Ph.D., Dean

Detlof von Winterfeldt, Ph.D., Deputy Dean, Research and Faculty

Regina T. Nordahl, J.D., M.B.A., SPHR, Associate Dean, Administration

Carol A. Rush, M.P.A., Associate Dean, Student Affairs

Kristi Wallace, Associate Dean, Development and External Relations

Richard F. Callahan, D.P.A., Associate Dean for State Capital and Leadership Programs, USC State Capital Center

Faculty

C. Erwin and Ione L. Piper Dean's Chair: Dan Mazmanian, Ph.D.

Wallis Annenberg Chair in Communication and Technology: Manuel Castells, Ph.D. (Communication)

Judith and John Bedrosian Chair in Governance: Dan Mazmanian, Ph.D.

Blue Cross of California Chair in Health Care Finance: Glenn A. Melnick, Ph.D.

James Irvine Chair in Urban and Regional Planning: Tridib Banerjee, Ph.D., AICP*

James Irvine Chair in Urban and Regional Planning: Harry W. Richardson, M.A. (Economics)

Lusk Chair in Real Estate: Stuart Gabriel, Ph.D. (Business)

Emery Evans Olson Chair in Nonprofit Entrepreneurship and Public Policy: James M. Ferris, Ph.D.

Maria B. Crutcher Professorship in Citizenship and Democratic Values: Terry L. Cooper, Ph.D.

Frances R. and John J. Duggan Distinguished Professorship in Public Administration: Chester A. Newland, Ph.D.*

Professors: Gerald Caiden, Ph.D.*; Ann Crigler, Ph.D. (Political Science); Michael Dear, Ph.D. (Geography); William Dutton, Ph.D. (Communication); Peter Gordon, Ph.D. (Economics); Howard Greenwald, Ph.D.; Genevieve Giuliano, Ph.D.; Elizabeth Graddy, Ph.D.*; Robert Harris (Architecture); Eric Heikkila, Ph.D.; Sheldon Kaminecki, Ph.D. (Political Science); Alan Kreditor, M.C.P., AICP; Martin Krieger, Ph.D.; David Lopez-Lee, Ph.D.; Jacquelyn McCroskey, Ph.D. (Social Work); James Moore II, Ph.D. (Engineering); Dowell Myers, Ph.D.; Robert C. Myrtle, D.P.A.*; Harry Pachon, Ph.D.; Jane Pisano, Ph.D.; Jon Pynoos, Ph.D. (Gerontology); David Sloane, Ph.D.; Richard A. Sundeen, Ph.D.*; Shui Yan Tang, Ph.D.*; Detlof von Winterfeldt, Ph.D.; Joseph S. Wholey, Ph.D.; Priscilla Wohlstetter, Ph.D. (Education); Jennifer Wolch, Ph.D. (Geography)

Associate Professors: Raphael Bostic, Ph.D.; Catherine G. Burke, Ph.D.; Yongheng Deng, Ph.D. (Business); Greg Hise, Ph.D.; Phoebe Liebig, Ph.D. (Gerontology); Jeffrey S. McCombs, Ph.D. (Pharmacy); Juliet Musso, Ph.D.*; Michael Nichol, Ph.D. (Pharmacy); Gary Painter, Ph.D.; Peter Robertson Ph.D.*; Niraj Verma, Ph.D.; Kathleen Wilber, Ph.D. (Gerontology)

University Professor: Kevin Starr, Ph.D. (History)

Assistant Professors: Clara Irazabal, Ph.D.; Michael Moody, Ph.D.; Christian Redfearn, Ph.D.; Jeffrey Sellers, Ph.D. (Political Science); Vivian Wu, Ph.D.; Susan Webb Yackee, Ph.D.

Distinguished Practitioners: Marvin Braude, Honorary Doctorate; Keith Comrie, M.S.P.A.

Senior Fellows: David Chernof, M.D. (Physician in Residence); Peter Ratican, B.S. (Executive in Residence); Stan Ross, Honorary J.D. (Executive in Residence)

Senior Scholars: William B. Fulton, Ph.D.; Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, Ph.D.; Walter Zelman, Ph.D.

Research Professor: Christopher Weare

Adjunct Professors: Jonathan Brown, D.P.A.; Garrett Capune, Ph.D.; Charles Cicchetti, Ph.D.; Michael R. Cousineau, Dr.PH.; David Dale-Johnson, Ph.D.; Hugh Evans, Ph.D.; Stanley Iezman, J.D.; Michael Keston, M.B.A.; Dora Kingsley, D.P.A.; Kenneth Kizer, M.D.; Allan Kotin, M.A.; Koichi Mera, Ph.D.; Ira Norris; Willard Price, Ph.D.; James J. Smith, M.R.E.D.; Richard Smith, J.D.; Frank Wein, D.P.D.S., AICP; David Wilcox, M.C.P.

Adjunct Associate Professors: Austin Anderson, M.B.A.; Robert Champion, M.R.E.D.; Ali Farahani, Ph.D.; Richard Heller, Ph.D., J.D.; Thomas Higgins, Ph.D.; Bryan Jackson, J.D.; Patrick Kapsner, M.P.A., FACMPE; Catherine Kay, J.D.; Steven Kellenberg; Ehud Mouchly, M.A.; Mark Pisano, J.D.; Shahab Rabbani, D.P.D.S.; Maurice Rahimi, Ph.D.; John Redfern, M.P.P.; Robert Smythe, B.S.; Deborah Torres, M.Arch.; Ashgar Zomorrodian, Ph.D.

Adjunct Assistant Professors: Pauline Arneberg, Ph.D.; Kenneth Beck, MRED; Lori Howard, Ph.D.; Tomson Ong, Ph.D., J.D.; Francis Pereira, Ph.D.; Johannes Van Tilburg, FAIA; Frank Wein, D.P.D.S.AICP

Clinical Professors: Lois Green, M.H.S.A.; Patrick G. Hays, M.H.A.; Leonard Mitchell, M.A., M.B.A., J.D.; Bruce Noda, M.A.; John Steinhaus, L.L.D.

Clinical Associate Professors: Jeffrey Green, M.H.A.; LaVonna B. Lewis, Ph.D.; Arthur S. Shorr, M.B.A.

Clinical Assistant Professors: Michael Carter, M.P.H.; Jeffrey Schaffer, M.P.A.; Chris Van Gorder, M.P.A.

Visiting Faculty: Desmond Saunders-Newton, Ph.D.

Lecturers: Bruce Baltin; David Brown; John Condas; Terri Dickerhoff; Melissa Gaeke; Richard Garcia; Dikla Gavrieli; Mark L. Harris; Daniel Haverty; Christopher Hecker; Karen Hennigan; Helmi Hisserich; Katherine Hourichi; Robert Ingenito; Daniel R. Jordan; Aydan Kutay; Bernie C. LaForteza; Charlie Lane; Ferdinand Lewis; Jane Arnold Lincove; Vincent Maher; Pete Manzo; Marie McQueen; Carl F. Meyer; James M. Moore; Donald Murray; John Nicoll; Regina Nordahl; Mark Oliver; John G. Raffoul; Ron Remsburg; John Richard; David Robbins; Ben Rosenbloom; Hae Rae Shin; Arthur Shorr; Jeffrey Smith; Helene Smookler; Neil Sorrentino; Erroll Southers; Victoria Valentine; Jonathan Van Speier; Ashwani Vasishth; Mark Velez; Christopher Weare; Joseph Edward White; Chris Wilson; Jack L. Wong; Asadollah Yavari; Diane Yoder; Zhou Yu; Henry Zaretsky

Emeritus Professors: William C. Baer, Ph.D., AICP; Robert Biller, Ph.D.; Edward Blakely, Ph.D.; Melville C. Branch, Ph.D.; Robert M. Carter, D.Crim.; T. Ross Clayton, Ph.D.; Houston Flournoy, Ph.D.; Lois Friss, Dr.P.H.; John Gerletti, Ed.D.; David Mars, Ph.D.; Alexander McEachern, M.A.; E.K. Nelson, D.P.A.; Francine Rabvinovtiz, Ph.D., AICP; Warren Schmidt, Ph.D.; Gilbert Siegel, Ph.D.; Robert Stallings, Ph.D.; William B. Storm, Ph.D.; Robert E. Tranquada, M.D.; William J. Williams, D.P.A.; Lowdon Wingo, Jr., M.A., M.P.A.

Emeritus Associate Professor: Wesley E. Bjur, Ph.D.

*Recipient of university-wide or school teaching award.

Degrees Offered

The School of Policy, Planning, and Development offers the following degrees:

  • Bachelor of Science in Public Policy, Management and Planning
  • Master of Health Administration
  • Executive Master of Health Administration
  • Master of Public Policy and Management
  • Master of Planning
  • Master of Planning and Development Studies
  • Master of Public Administration
  • Master of Public Policy
  • Master of Real Estate Development
  • Master of Construction Management (with Architecture, Business and Engineering)
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Policy, Planning, and Development
  • Doctor of Planning and Development Studies

The Bachelor of Science and the Master of Planning are also offered jointly as an accelerated five-year program and the school participates in the following interdisciplinary minors:

  • Children and Families in Urban America
  • Construction Planning and Management
  • Environmental Planning and Development
  • Health Policy and Management
  • International Policy and Management
  • International Urban Development
  • Law and Public Policy
  • Public Management
  • Public Policy
  • Planning and Development
  • Urban Neighborhood Studies
  • Urban Policy and Planning

The Master of Planning is offered as a dual master's degree with programs in architecture, landscape architecture, business administration, economics, gerontology, international relations, public administration, public art studies, real estate development and social work.

The Master of Public Administration is offered as a dual master's degree with programs in planning, gerontology, international relations, Jewish communal service, law and social work.

The Master of Real Estate Development is offered as a dual degree with the Master of Business Administration, Juris Doctor and Master of Planning.

The Master of Health Administration is offered as a dual degree with the Master of Science in Gerontology.

The Master of Public Policy is offered as a dual degree with the USC Gould School of Law.

National Honor Societies

Pi Alpha Alpha
Pi Alpha Alpha is the national honor society for public affairs and administration. Graduate students in the School of Policy, Planning, and Development who have completed at least 18 semester units and have earned a 3.7 grade point average are eligible for membership.

Pi Sigma Alpha
Pi Sigma Alpha is the national honor society for students in public administration, political science, and international relations. Students who have completed at least three courses from among these fields and have earned at least a 3.5 grade point average are eligible to apply.