University of Southern California (USC) is one of the world's leading private research universities. Established in 1880, it is also one of the oldest. With a strong tradition of integrating liberal and professional education, USC fosters a vibrant culture of public service and encourages students to cross academic as well as geographic boundaries in their pursuit of knowledge.

With 17 graduate and professional schools, the number of graduate and professional students exceeded the number of undergraduates in 2012-13 (18,000 undergrads, 22,000 graduate and professional) in more than 340 master’s, certificate, doctoral and professional degree programs.

Graduate students at USC are key members of the university’s community of scholars, contributing diverse viewpoints and fresh insights that are poised to make their mark on the theories, systems, inventions, public policy and creative work of the 21st century.

If you’re looking to position yourself for a leadership role that revolves around your skill set as a communicator, USC Annenberg’s online Master of Communication Management (MCM) degree program offers a curriculum that is centered on your professional needs. You’ll explore the role of communication as it relates to business strategy, management, consumer attitudes, and media—all within a flexible learning platform.

The Master of Science in GIST online program examines and interprets the geospatial data that fuels research as well as drive business, scientific discovery and innovation. This program is delivered with a teaching methodology that not only provides instruction on how to use geospatial technologies, but to also expand your spatial intelligence, so that your skills and knowledge remain relevant as technologies evolve. With the advantage of a one-week long field excursion to Catalina Island, students gain perspective and a deeper understanding of GIS application in a real-world environment.

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) online program is designed to educate the next generation of leaders who can solve tomorrow's most pressing issues—from the environment to healthcare reform, immigration, infrastructure, urban development, and more. Individuals enter the program as students and prepare to graduate as change agents.

Offered by the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy, this online master's program takes a different approach—to teach students how to view management and policy issues through the lens of social entrepreneurship.

Students enjoy a contemporary curriculum that blends cutting-edge research and practical experience with problem-solving strategies. Beyond the core courses, students are encouraged to dig deeper into their area of interest by selecting one of the following concentrations: government management, nonprofit management, or public management.

The Master of Public Health online program is designed to prepare the next generation of public health leaders. Offered through the highly regarded Department of Preventative Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, students in the program are directly connected to state-of-the-art facilities and the latest breakthrough research at this acclaimed institution. Because of the department’s truly interdisciplinary approach, students are exposed to the enormous base of cutting-edge, population-oriented research that has earned the Department of Preventative Medicine the number one ranking in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding among comparable medical school departments.

The University of Southern California’s online Master of Management in Library and Information Science prepares librarians and information professionals with the advanced knowledge, communication skills and practical leadership abilities needed to become an effective manager and a decision-maker.

Whether you want to help people access information, run a research team, utilize advanced technology skills for organizing and accessing information, or manage a library or information center, USC’s online Master of Management in Library and Information Science program can help you achieve your goals.

“Thanks for putting together such a high quality GIST program! I’m glad I discovered it when I did, as I was ready to take my career into a new direction. GEOG 587 was a very challenging course, but I learned a lot.”
– M. Stuemky, GIST Graduate

“I found GIS technology to be interdisciplinary in nature, enhancing the decision-making process and allowing individuals to communicate complex issues across language and cultural barriers, in a clear, concise and easily understandable way.”
– Jeremy Olson-Shelton, GIST Student

“I just wanted to thank you again for offering the GIST distance learning program. . . . Without the convenience of working from home, it is quite probable I would not have pursued my Master’s degree.
– Ron Lehman, GIST Student