PDF version of this chapterGraduate 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 503 | Teaching and Learning in U.S. Schools | 4 |
| EDPT 502 | Learning and Individual Differences | 3 |
Assessment and Measurement; select one of the following: | ||
| CTSE 534 | Diagnosis of Reading Disability | 3 |
| EDPT 540 | Introduction to Educational Measurement and Evaluation | 3 |
Instruction and Curriculum; select one of the following: | ||
| CTSE 509 | Advanced Science Teaching Methods 3 | |
| CTSE 511 | Reading and Writing Methods 3 | |
| CTSE 528 | Foundations of Reading Instruction | 3 |
| CTSE 529 | The Teaching of Writing: Research and Practice | 3 |
| CTSE 548a | Curriculum and Methods for Teaching Multiple Subjects, or | |
| CTSE 548b | Curriculum and Methods for Teaching Multiple Subjects | 3 |
| CTSE 556 | Methods of Instruction for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Child | 3 |
| EDPT 510 | Human Learning | 3 |
| EDPT 571 | Instructional Design | 3 |
Inquiry Design -- required courses: | ||
| CTSE 593ab | Master's Seminar, or | |
| CTSE 594ab | Master's Thesis | 2-2 |
| EDPT 550 | Statistical Inference, or another methodology course recommended by advisor | 3 |
| 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 courses | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| CTSE 556 | Methods of Instruction for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Child | 3 |
| CTSE 557 | Directed Teaching of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Student | 4 |
| CTSE 577 | Language Development for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Child during Early Childhood | 3 |
| CTSE 578 | Methods of Teaching Speech and Auditory Skills to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Student | 3 |
| CTSE 579 | Directed Teaching of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Child During Early Childhood | 2 |
| CTSE 580 | Audiology for Teachers of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Child | 2 |
| CTSE 581 | Topics in Deaf Education | 3 |
| CTSE 582 | Language Development for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Child | 3 |
| CTSE 583 | Advanced Methods, Practicum, and Research in Spoken Language for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Child | 3 |
| CTSE 585ab | Sign Language for Teachers of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children | 1-1 |
| CTSE 586 | Typical and Atypical Infant and Toddler Development | 4 |
| CTSE 587 | Service Delivery System for Infants and Toddlers with Special Needs | 4 |
| CTSE 593ab | Master's Seminar | 2-2 |
| EDCO 580 | Working with Families of Children with Special Needs | 2 |
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 sequence | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| EDCO 500 | The Counseling Process | 3 |
| EDCO 503 | Ethical and Legal Issues in Counseling | 3 |
| EDCO 515 | Theories of Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling | 3 |
| EDCO 516 | Perspectives on Human Sexuality | 3 |
| EDCO 541 | Theories in Counseling Psychology I | 3 |
| EDCO 542 | Group Counseling: Theory and Process | 3 |
| EDCO 544 | Measurement Procedures in the Helping Process | 3 |
| EDCO 546 | Psychopathology for Counselors | 3 |
| EDCO 548 | Career Development: Theory and Practice | 3 |
| EDCO 551 | Cross-Cultural Counseling: Research and Practice | 3 |
| EDCO 557 | Chemical Dependence and Substance Use | 3 |
| EDCO 560 | Practicum in Counseling | 3 |
| EDCO 561 | Field Work in Counseling | 3 |
| EDCO 593ab | Master's Seminar, or | |
| EDCO 594ab | Master's Thesis | 2-2 |
| EDPT 520 | Human Lifespan Development | 3 |
| EDPT 550 | Statistical Inference | 3 |
| 2 additional units selected with the approval of the advisor | 2 | |
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 tracks | units | |
|---|---|---|
| EDHP 510 | Introduction to Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages | 3 |
| EDHP 511 | Applied Linguistics for Language Teachers | 3 |
| EDHP 521 | Course Design for Language Learning | 3 |
| EDHP 588 | Practicum in Second Language Teaching | 3 |
| CTSE 593a | Master's Seminar, and | |
| EDHP 593b | Master's Seminar, or | |
| EDHP 594ab | Master's Thesis | 2-2 |
| Courses required for Track 1: EFL | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| EDHP 518 | Teaching American English Pronunciation | 3 |
| EDHP 519 | Teaching English Grammar | 3 |
| EDHP 585ab | English for Academic Purposes | 3-3 |
| Courses required for track 2: ESL | units | |
|---|---|---|
| CTSE 537 | Methods in Bilingual Education and in Teaching English as a Second Language | 3 |
Select 3 courses from the following: | ||
| EDUC 409 | Foundations of Language Education | 3 |
| EDHP 518 | Teaching American English Pronunciation | 3 |
| EDHP 519 | Teaching English Grammar | 3 |
| EDHP 586 | Teaching Reading and Writing in a Second Language for the Literate Student | 3 |
| EDPA 622 | The Role of Education in Cultural Transmission | 3 |
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 courses | units | |
|---|---|---|
| EDCO 500 | The Counseling Process | 3 |
| EDHP 500 | Foundations of Higher, Adult, and Professional Education | 3 |
| EDHP 551 | Applied Educational Ethnography | 3 |
| EDHP 552 | The Politics of Difference | 3 |
| EDHP 563 | Student Affairs Work in College | 3 |
| EDHP 565 | Intervention Strategies in College Student Development | 3 |
| EDHP 587 | Field Work in Higher, Adult, and Professional Education | 1-3 |
| (41 total units is based on a student taking 1 unit of field work) | ||
| EDHP 593ab | Master's Seminar, or | |
| EDHP 594ab | Master's Thesis | 4 |
| EDHP 657 | Management of Student Services in Higher Education | 3 |
| EDHP 687 | Student Development in Higher Education | 3 |
| EDPT 550 | Statistical Inference | 3 |
In addition, students choose 6 units from the following courses: | ||
| EDCO 548 | Career Development: Theory and Practice | 3 |
| EDHP 502 | Administration of Higher, Adult, and Professional Education | 3 |
| EDHP 503 | Curriculum, Teaching, and Learning in Higher, Adult, and Professional Education | 3 |
| EDHP 580 | The Community College | 3 |
| EDHP 621 | International Higher Education: Administration and Planning | 3 |
| EDHP 658 | Community College Administration | 3 |
| EDHP 679 | Legal Issues in the Administration of Higher Education | 3 |
| EDHP 689 | Fiscal Support and Expenditure in Higher and Postsecondary Education | 3 |
| EDPA 518 | Organizational Theory | 3 |
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 sequence | Units | |
|---|---|---|
| EDCO 500 | The Counseling Process | 3 |
| EDCO 503 | Ethical and Legal Issues in Counseling | 2 |
| EDCO 541 | Theories in Counseling Psychology I | 3 |
| EDCO 542 | Group Counseling: Theory and Process | 3 |
| EDCO 544 | Measurement Procedures in the Helping Process | 3 |
| EDCO 548 | Career Development: Theory and Process | 3 |
| EDCO 560 | Practicum in Counseling | 3 |
| EDCO 561 | Field Work in Counseling | 3 |
| EDCO 593ab | Master's Seminar, or | |
| EDCO 594ab | Master's Thesis | 4 |
| EDPT 550 | Statistical Inference | 3 |
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.