Marshall School of Business

Master’s Degree and Graduate Certificate Programs

Admission Requirements

A bachelor’s degree equivalent to a four-year U.S. undergraduate degree from an accredited institution (regardless of field or major) is required for admission to any master’s degree program at the Marshall School of Business.

Successful performance in Marshall master’s programs requires computer proficiency in word processing, database management, electronic spreadsheets and business graphics. Following admission, Marshall Instructional Technology Services is available for additional preparation. Knowledge of calculus is a prerequisite to some of the courses offered by the Marshall School of Business.

All applicants are required to submit the following documents: (1) completed application form; (2) a nonrefundable application fee; (3) responses to required essay questions; (4) history of full- and part-time work experience or resume; (5) one official transcript from the registrar of each college or university attended (undergraduate and postgraduate, if applicable) whether the degree was completed or not. If all college or postgraduate work has not been completed, transcripts must be sent again when work in progress is completed and the degree posted. Transcripts written in languages other than English must be accompanied by a certified English translation; if transcripts do not include a degree conferral date, degrees must be verified through WES or IERF; and (6) letters of recommendation. (7) Most programs require Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. Applicants must have taken the examination prior to submitting an application. It is recommended that unofficial copies of test scores be submitted as uploaded documents with the application in addition to having official scores sent to USC. (8) All international students who did not earn a bachelor’s degree from a college or university in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand must submit recent scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE). Official test scores are sent by the testing services directly to USC, and unofficial copies can be uploaded as attachments to the application. Additionally, proof of financial support is required of admitted international applicants.

To ensure a place in a program and adequate time to receive an admission decision, it is important to send completed application materials well in advance of the semester for which the applicant wishes to register. For the non-traditional student, if work is still in progress to complete a bachelor’s degree, the applicant must state specifically what courses are in progress, what must be done to finish and the estimated date of completion. Admission is contingent upon official verification of a bachelor’s degree.

In their review of applications, admissions committees consider all of the applicant’s completed academic work, test score, evidence of leadership and motivation, letters of recommendation, level of job responsibility and work history, and unique talents and contributions. Applicants are reviewed on their potential for successful performance in graduate business studies and their competitiveness within the current applicant pool.

Additional program-specific admission criteria are detailed below and available on each program’s Website. Links are available at marshall.usc.edu/masters.