Complete a Master’s Degree
in as Little as One Additional Year

The Keck School of Medicine of USC’s Progressive Degree programs allow qualified USC undergraduates to apply coursework toward a master’s degree before they finish their bachelor’s. Instead of spending six years across two separate degrees, motivated students can graduate with both in five, saving time and tuition.

Our Progressive Degrees connect over a dozen master’s programs directly to your undergraduate coursework, so you can deepen your expertise and strengthen your career path without adding years to your academic journey.

AVAILABLE PROGRAMS

The Keck School offers over a dozen Progressive Degree programs. Each program has its own eligibility requirements, application process, and course sequencing. Please visit each program’s individual page for a list of specific requirements before you apply.

  • The Master of Addiction Science (MAS) is designed for students interested in transdisciplinary and inter-professional approaches to the study of addiction. Courses are offered across multiple disciplines that allow students to gain a perspective in addiction from an array of science and policy aspects.

  • The Master of Science in Applied Biostatistics and Epidemiology is designed for students interested in epidemiological and clinical trial study design and data analysis.

  • The Master of Science in Biostatistics is designed for students interested in applying statistical methods to the design and analysis of biomedical research and clinical investigations data.

  • This intensive two-year Master of Science in Cancer Genomics and Bioinformatics is focused on training individuals who have strong backgrounds in laboratory-based biomedical sciences and seek the skills for analyzing, processing, and managing large-scale data. Graduates are suited to work as applied bioinformaticians within academic research laboratories, clinical research laboratories, pharmaceutical companies, and biotechnology companies.

  • The Master of Science in Global Medicine degree answers the urgent need for professional training in concepts of global health. Combining a strong medical science foundation with interdisciplinary approaches to healthcare, this program equips future healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to solve worldwide health issues.

  • The Master of Science in Integrative Anatomical Sciences degree is awarded for demonstrated competence in the anatomical sciences. This is a two semester program that begins with intensive training in human gross anatomy, neuroanatomy, and microanatomy in the Fall term.

  • The primary objective of the Master of Science in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology is to prepare students for a career in the broad field of biomedical sciences with focus on, but not limited to, microbiology, virology, immunology and cancer research. This program provides extensive theoretical preparation in combination with hands-on research.

  • The mission of the Master of Science in Narrative Medicine program is to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to bear witness to and act upon the stories of others, empowering future scholars and practitioners in healthcare and its allied fields to advocate for health and social justice through community engagement and service.

  • In our one-year Master of Science in Neuroimaging and Informatics degree program, students attend lectures and perform hands-on activities that teach them to acquire brain MRI data on our Siemens 3T and 7T scanners, analyze multimodal brain imaging data, design neuroimaging studies, perform computational modeling, use animal model techniques, and more.

  • The Master of Public Health (on-campus) program offers a rigorous curriculum that attracts dedicated and ambitious professionals with a passion to serve in the public health arena. The program’s core coursework aims to develop key public health competencies and skills using cases and examples from industry, ranging from local to global.

  • The Master of Science in Public Health Data Science integrates biostatistics, epidemiology, and computer science. Students will be prepared for careers where there is a growing need for individuals who can learn from data to address important questions in public health and biomedical sciences.

  • The Master of Science Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine degree program invites you to chart the course for the medicine of the future—regenerative medicine. This is one of the first master’s programs in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine in the United States.

  • The Master of Science in Translational Biotechnology program combines a unique curriculum and distinctive practical training that exposes students to biotechnology and its applications in translating genomic and molecular insights into developing novel therapies and precision medicine. Drawing strength from the Keck School of Medicine faculty’s education, research, and practice expertise, this program educates students on approaches used in the academic research, biotechnology and medical sciences industries.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Eligibility varies by program, but generally requires current enrollment as a USC undergraduate, completion of a minimum number of units, and good academic standing. Review your program page of interest for exact requirements before you apply.

  • Each progressive degree program sets its own minimum GPA. Check the individual program page or contact that program’s advisor for the current threshold.

  • Most students apply during their junior year, though exact deadlines differ by program. Applying early gives you the most flexibility in sequencing your remaining undergraduate and graduate coursework.

  • GRE requirements vary by program. Some Keck progressive degree programs waive the GRE for eligible USC undergraduates; others require it. Confirm the requirement with your program of interest.

  • Tuition is billed at the applicable graduate rate once you begin master’s-level coursework. USC financial aid, including federal aid and university scholarships, may apply depending on your enrollment status. Contact the Financial Aid Office and your program advisor to understand how a progressive degree affects your specific aid package.

  • This page focuses specifically on progressive degree programs affiliated with Keck School of Medicine. USC’s central academic programs office maintains a university-wide list covering progressive degrees across all USC schools.

  • Requirements are set at the program level, so check with each program you’re interested in. In general, students pursue one progressive degree pathway that aligns with their academic and career goals.