What is it?
USC’s accelerated Master of Mass Communication (M.M.C) program enables students to earn both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in as little as five years.
With this program, students can:
- Save money on graduate tuition.
- Earn credit that can apply towards both undergraduate and graduate degrees.
- Enter the workforce ahead of the competition through advanced study of cutting-edge communication and management principles.
- Gain valuable professional experience and industry contacts through completion of the practicum.
Who should consider this program?
USC freshmen, sophomores, and juniors of any major who are thinking about pursuing a master’s degree in the field of mass communication should consider the accelerated M.M.C. The earlier that one begins to consider the program, the easier it will be to plan graduate-level classes into their course of study.
What career opportunities are available with a Master of Mass Communication?
M.M.C. graduates are prepared for a variety of positions in areas such as advertising, marketing, public relations, print and broadcast journalism, sports and entertainment media, and political consulting.
How does the accelerated M.M.C work?
Undergraduate students who have completed at least 90 credit hours are permitted to take up to 12 hours of graduate coursework (500-level or higher) and receive both undergraduate and graduate credit. By completing 12 hours of graduate credit during the senior year, students will only need to complete an additional 24 credit hours during the following year to complete the 36 hours required for the graduate degree.
Will students have to write a thesis?
A thesis is not required in the M.M.C. program. Instead, students complete a 450-hour practicum, combining field experience and academic activities, with an organization such as a mass media outlet (e.g. newspaper or television station); advertising or public relations agency; or with a corporate, government, or nonprofit entity. The practicum typically occurs after all other coursework has been completed.
Eligibility and Enrollment
Students must have completed at least 90 credit hours of undergraduate coursework, and must have a minimum 3.4 GPA (overall and for undergraduate major courses) to participate in the accelerated M.M.C. program.
Participants are also required to submit the following form to the Graduate School prior to each semester in which they will register for graduate courses:
Students must receive the approval of their undergraduate advisor, the SJMC graduate director, the dean of the Graduate School, and the instructor of each course to be taken. The undergraduate advisor can help with securing these signatures.
Please note that participants in the accelerated M.M.C. program will need to follow the regular application process to the Graduate School in order to continue graduate study after completion of their bachelor’s degree. Enrollment in the accelerated M.M.C. program does not guarantee admission to the Graduate School.