Second Master's Degree

A “second master’s degree” is any master’s degree pursued after a first master’s degree is earned at USC or another university.    
The maximum number of units that may be applied toward the second master’s degree for course work taken from a first master’s degree at USC is no more than 25 percent of the minimum units required for the program.
Second master’s degrees are not allowed in the same program of study for students who earned their first master’s degree at USC.  
For students who earned their first master’s degree at another institution, no course work may be repeated from the first program of study and no unit credit from the first program of study may be counted toward the second master’s degree. Subject credit could be awarded if approved through a petition process to the dean of the degree program. Program exceptions require approval of the University Committee on Curriculum and are listed in the departmental sections of this catalogue. No individual exceptions are allowed.
For additional information, please visit the Graduate Students page in the USC Catalogue.

All information contained here is summarized from the USC Catalogue and is considered non-official. For all rules, regulations, procedures, and outlines, please see the current academic year USC Catalogue. The USC Catalogue supersedes all other publications.

Current students follow degree requirements in effect for the academic year they began their studies at USC.  If you are a current student, please refer to your STARS report or the appropriate USC Catalogue for your year.  Students seeking to advance their catalogue year to follow updated curricula may contact their department advisor.

Published on March 9th, 2023

Last updated on March 9th, 2023