Contact Information:
Jacqueline Williams, Marketing Manager
Telephone: (213) 821-2475
Fax: (213) 821-0851
info@den.usc.edu
http://den.usc.edu

Online degree programs:
M.S. in Aerospace Engineering (Astronautics)
M.S. in Computer Engineering
M.S. in Computer Science (General)
M.S. in Computer Science with specialization in Computer Networks
  M.S. in Computer Science with specialization in Computer Security (Cyber Security) (coming Fall 2003)
M.S. in Computer Science with specialization in Multimedia & Creative Technologies
M.S. in Computer Science with specialization in Software Engineering
M.S. in Electrical Engineering (General)
M.S. in Electrical Engineering with specialization in Computer Networks
M.S. in Electrical Engineering with specialization in Multimedia & Creative Technologies
M.S. in Electrical Engineering with specialization in VLSI Design
Engineer degree in Electrical Engineering
M.S. in Engineering Management
M.S. in Integrated Media Systems
M.S. in Mechanical Engineering (General-coming Fall 2003)
M.S. in Mechanical Engineering with specialization in Computational Fluid & Solid Mechanics (coming Fall 2003)
M.S. in Mechanical Engineering with specialization in Dynamics & Control
M.S. in Product Development Engineering (coming Fall 2003)
M.S. in Systems Architecture & Engineering
Graduate Certificate in Aerospace Engineering (Astronautics)
Graduate Certificate in Systems Architecture & Engineering

Admission Requirements:
PLEASE NOTE: If students meet USC's minimum requirements (bachelor's degree in an engineering, math or science discipline from a regionally-accredited institution with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale), he/she can begin classes as a "Limited" student BEFORE he/she is formally admitted to the program! Students can take up to 4 courses as a "Limited" student until they have to apply for formal admission. To learn more about this, please visit http://den.usc.edu and click on "Prospective Students" and "Admission & Enrollment".

In order to qualify for formal admission, applicants are expected to present strong academic records and show superior accomplishment in their engineering courses. Admission decisions will be based on the following:

Transcripts of previous school work. A bachelor's degree (B.S.) in engineering, math or science is required. A minimum GPA of 3.0 (A=4.0) is required for all undergraduate work towards the B.S. The institution granting the B.S. must be accredited by its regional accreditation board.

Satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). The GRE scores must be less than 5 years old. Score requirements vary by department, visit the department website for additional information.

A completed USC Application for Graduate Admission form must be submitted along with a $65 application fee. The form is available at http://www.usc.edu/dept/admissions/grad/

Some departments may require letters of recommendation. Please visit the department website for additional information. Applicants may also submit professional papers they have published in their field.

If you have taken courses as a Limited student, the grades for those courses will be considered.

Up to four (4) units of graduate credit earned at another regionally-accredited institution may be transferred into a USC graduate degree program. Transfer of units requires approval from the department.

Please visit http://www.usc.edu/dept/publications/cat2002/. for detailed information on admission requirements

Tuition Costs:
Tuition for a 500-level course is currently $915/unit. In addition, there is a $500 DEN fee per course for e-learning automation services. There is a computer access fee of $35 and a $6 Topping Student Aid Fund. The total tuition for a 3-unit course will run approximately $3,286. Please note that tuition may be increased slightly for Fall 2003.

Learning Environment for students:
USC School of Engineering Distance Education Network (DEN) is tailored for the full-time working professional engineer. Students can view their courses live via the Internet. If they are watching live, they can call into the classroom with a toll-free number to ask questions or interact with the class. They can also participate in threaded chat discussions. Classes are also archived for the entire semester, allowing DEN students a chance to review a complex lesson or prepare for exams.

In-class notes (written by the professor during the lecture) are captured and digitized for viewing and printing - so DEN students can better focus on listening to the content of each lecture rather than focus on taking notes. All lecture notes are downloadable from the student portal. Homework assignments are transmitted to and from DEN via e-mail and/or fax. Examinations for students in the Los Angeles area are taken on campus. For students outside of Los Angeles, exam proctors are arranged at local area testing centers to maintain USC's high standard of academic integrity.

Relevant Information on Faculty:
More than a third of USC School of Engineering's faculty are fellows in their respective professional societies. With 19 faculty members elected to the National Academy of Engineering, and 37 others who have earned Presidential Early Career, Presidential Young Investigator or NSF Young Investigator awards, the school ranks among the nation's very best in these important metrics for a school's present and future strength.

Accomplishments/Recognition:
U.S News and World Report ranks USC # 8 in the nation for best overall graduate programs in its 2003 rankings of the top schools of engineering.

The USC School of Engineering's Distance Education Network (DEN) has been named one of the top e-learning graduate programs of engineering by U.S. News & World Report.

Business Week performed a study of the world's leading commercial and academic information technology research institutions, and found that:

• USC was tied for fifth among universities in general, and ranked 14th overall.
• In the area of computer networks, USC ranked third among universities, and eighth overall.
• In artificial intelligence, USC ranked eighth among universities.

With over $100 million in external funding support, USC School of Engineering is ranked #1 in research activity per faculty member by US News and World Report.

USC School of Engineering is home to the distinguished Information Sciences Institute (ISI), which Business Week called "a star" in its study of international research institutions. ISI is involved in a broad spectrum of information processing research and in the development of advanced computer and communication technologies. It is particularly well known for its work in the areas of intelligent agents, knowledge representation, and natural language processing.

USC School of Engineering also housed the Integrated Media Systems Center (IMSC), the only National Science Foundation-founded Engineering research center for multimedia and internet technology.

The school was a principal partner in the selection of USC for two new major research institutes, both of which are in areas critical to the new global economy:

• The Mann Institute for Biomedical Engineering is a $100-million center dedicated to the development of medical devices to improve human health and well-being. AMI/USC will allow the school to capitalize on the strong neuroscience and neuroengineering programs that exist in its Biomedical Engineering department.
• The Institute for Creative Technologies (ICT) is a partnership of the U.S. Army, education, and the entertainment and computer industries to develop new media to improve the nation's learning abilities and training programs.

Joining the USC Family: The USC alumni network is reputed to be one of the largest most influential and loyal families one will ever be a part of. According to his most recent book titled "Dig your Well Before You're Thirsty: The only networking book you'll ever need", Harvey MacKay states:

"I don't know if they take a blood oath to help, hire, mentor, and generally take care of each other, but they act as if they did. From the day you graduate, the USC network is there for you. In my opinion, the USC alumni network is the tightest, most effective, and most closed to non-initiates of any alumni network in the country."