Progressive Degree Programs (PDP)

The Progressive Degree Program (PDP) enables superior USC undergraduate students to accelerate  the completion of a USC master’s degree.  Pursuing a progressive degree can deepen your education and further prepare you for future career in as little as one additional year.

Earning a master’s through Progressive Degrees is offered exclusively to USC undergraduate students. A progressive master’s degree should build on the learning from your undergraduate field of study. Not all Master’s programs are eligible for Progressive Degrees; some professional degrees such as the MBA and medical practitioner programs are not available for the Progressive Degree option.

Progressive Degree Program Requirements

Before applying for a Progressive Master’s Degree, students must review the following requirements, which are standard across all progressive master’s programs. Attestation to understanding these requirements is part of completing the Progressive Degree Application. Questions as to how these requirements may impact a student should be directed to a student’s undergraduate and graduate advisors.

1. Progressive degree program students must fulfill all specified degree requirements for both the bachelor’s degree and the master’s degree with a minimum two-thirds of the units required for the master’s degree at or above the 500 level.
2. Progressive degree students are classified as undergraduate students until they attain one of the following conditions, whichever comes first:
   1. The bachelor’s degree is conferred; or
   2. The student is awarded a graduate research or teaching assistantship as contracted through the academic department and the Graduate School; or
   3. The student earns a total of 144 units.¹
3. Progressive degree program students are subject to undergraduate academic progress standards while in undergraduate status and to master’s academic progress standards while in graduate status.
4. The time limit for completing a progressive degree program is 12 semesters (6 years) beginning from the first term of college enrollment. The admitting program will determine a completion term as part of the application process and list this term on the proposed course plan. Transfer students whose transfer coursework extends beyond this timeline may have their coursework evaluated for semester-equivalency by the admitting master’s program.²
5. Students may complete only one master’s degree as part of the progressive degree program.
6. The bachelor’s degree may be awarded separately, but the master’s degree will not be awarded before the undergraduate degree.
7. F-1 and J-1 international students must contact the Office of International Services before accepting admission to a program. Progressive degree programs require additional time to degree so F-1 and J-1 international students must apply for a Program Extension before their current Form I-20 or DS-2019 expires to maintain their visa status.

PDP Requirement Notes

Eligibility For Progressive Degrees

Students should begin investigating potential progressive degree programs in the summer after their sophomore year. Review information about Program Offerings to identify prospective programs. Once you have found a master’s program to pursue, you should work with both your undergraduate and prospective graduate teams to complete the application. Bear in mind the following guidelines:

• Applicants may apply only once they have completed at least 64 total units of undergraduate college course work, excluding any AP, IB or transfer units earned prior to graduation from high school.
• Applicants should apply to their selected program in their junior or senior year, but no later than the semester prior to beginning graduate course work.
• Applicants must have at least a 3.0 cumulative USC GPA at the time of application and do not need to submit GRE, GMAT or other graduate entrance exam scores.

Students should also review commonly asked questions about the Progressive Degree Program on the Office of Academic Records and Registrar FAQ website.

Notes about Financial Aid Eligibility

All Progressive Degree program applicants should review information on the Financial Aid website for details about how Progressive Degree programs can impact aid including need-based, merit-based, tuition assistance and tuition exchange.

While classified as undergraduates, students are assessed the undergraduate tuition rate, and their enrollment status and financial aid eligibility are determined by undergraduate standards. Undergraduate-level progressive degree students maintain their eligibility for Federal Pell Grants, Federal SEOG Grants, Cal Grants, Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans, Direct Parent PLUS Loans, and any applicable eligibility for USC Merit Scholarships or USC University Grants, as long as they are enrolled in courses that are required for, or that can be applied as an eligible elective credit toward, their undergraduate degree. The Registrar’s Office determines when a student has completed their undergraduate degree and manages the process of posting degrees to a student’s record. The Financial Aid Office relies on the Registrar’s determination of the applicability of a course to a degree program and the completion of the bachelor’s degree.

While classified as graduate students, progressive degree students are assessed the graduate tuition rate, and their enrollment status and financial aid eligibility are determined by graduate standards. Graduate students are not eligible for federal, state, or university need-based grants. Graduate-level progressive degree students are eligible to borrow Direct Unsubsidized Loans and Direct Graduate PLUS Loans, up to the maximum yearly amounts established for graduate students. Students may complete only one master’s degree as part of the progressive degree program.

Upon admission to a Progressive Degree program, students are responsible for ensuring their undergraduate expected graduation date aligns with the date on their proposed Progressive Degree Course Plan which USC Financial Aid will use for aid repackaging (when applicable).

Application Process

Students who are ready to apply to a Progressive Master’s Degree program should do the following:

1. Review the Progressive Degree Program Requirements before applying.
2. Complete and submit the Application for Admission to a Progressive Master’s Degree Program, including:
   1. Application form
   2. Updated STARS report
   3. Progressive Degree Course plan, which must:
      1. Include all remaining undergraduate course requirements, and
      2. Include at least two-thirds of the graduate program requirements, and
      3. Be based on the approved Course Plan templates listed on the Progressive Degree Program Offerings, and
      4. Be signed by representatives of your undergraduate and graduate programs.

The approved application and course plan will be submitted to Degree Progress by the master’s program department and added to your academic records. Once admitted to the master’s program, all you need to do is follow your approved course plan.