The application deadline for Fall 2023 has been extended to February 15, 2023.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in any engineering or engineering-related disciplines including but not limited to: Civil Engineering.

The following materials are required to be included with your online application:

• Transcripts: Upload Electronic Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. A mailed hard copy or official e-transcript is not required for admission to our programs.
  • Submit an electronic copy of official transcripts (.pdf recommended) and other degree related documents through the online graduate application (International applicants, visit USC Graduate Admission’s Country Requirements page for details on required documents)
  • Unofficial transcripts from university student portals are not acceptable
  • If the transcript includes a separate grading scale, make sure it is also uploaded
  • For upload purposes, all transcript related documents for a single school must be submitted as one document
  • If you are admitted, you will be given specific instructions on submitting your hard copy transcripts
• Resume/CV
• Personal Statement : The personal statement should describe succinctly your reasons for applying to the proposed program at the Viterbi School of Engineering, your preparation for this field of study, study interests, future career plans, and other aspects of your background and interests which may aid the admissions committee in evaluating your aptitude and motivation for graduate study.
• GRE: General GRE test scores are not required for 2023
• Letters of Recommendation (2 Required): Letters of recommendation should be from faculty or others (supervisors, professional colleagues, etc.) qualified to evaluate your potential for graduate study.

English Language Proficiency: In addition to application requirements above, international students whose first language is not English are required to take the TOEFL or IELTS. There is no minimum TOEFL or IELTS score required for admission to the Viterbi School. For possible exemption from additional language requirements, you must achieve an Internet Based TOEFL (iBT) score of 90, with no less than 20 on each section or an IELTS score of 6.5, with no less than 6 on each band score. Please review USC Graduate Admission – Proficiency in English.

IMPORTANT: USC does not accept Duolingo and TOEFL Essentials test scores.

The following is an overview of the tuition & fees for graduate engineering students. Both on-campus and DEN@Viterbi students pay the same tuition.

TUITION

ESTIMATED COST OF ATTENDANCE – 28 UNIT PROGRAM

MANDATORY STUDENT FEES - 2022/23

Visit Tuition & Fees for more information.

   SEAN DEMPSEY

After spending five years as a mechanical engineer at an aerospace component manufacturing firm, Sean Dempsey realised it was not his true calling. He moved to Mexico and joined The Anglo Mexican Foundation as an English teacher. “I knew I didn’t really enjoy what I did as a mechanical engineer and wasn’t passionate about it. So, I went to Mexico. I liked living abroad and teaching,” says Dempsey. But that wasn’t his true calling either. After a year in Mexico, Dempsey moved to the U.S. and pursued a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering (Water and Waste Management) at the University of Southern California.

During his search for his true interest, Dempsey also spent time as a volunteer with Engineers Without Borders USA. “That’s when I developed an interest in water and wastewater management,” he recalls. Dempsey completed his Bachelor’s degree in Engineering at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. After receiving acceptance letters from University of Colorado and USC, Dempsey chose USC for his graduate studies. “USC admissions team was aggressive in the recruitment process and their advisors were very responsive and helpful. They even flew me down to Los Angeles to check out the college and its resources,” says Dempsey. And that’s not the only reason. Having done his undergrad in a “small college town”, as Dempsey puts it, he wanted to do his Masters in Los Angeles which is known for its job prospects, great weather and interesting places to discover.

For Dempsey, graduate studies was a completely different experience and it revealed a different side of his personality. “I was a shy student in undergrad. But I had much better interactions while at USC and got along very well. I enjoyed smaller class sizes and great professors who knew me by my name and gave me constant support,” he remembers. During his first semester at USC, he joined the Salsa club where he learnt the fundamentals of the Latin dance style. In his free time, he also practiced Jiu-jitsu -- Brazilian martial art -- at one of the renowned gyms in Los Angeles.

During his first year at USC, Dempsey worked at the USC Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research. “They field-tested backflow preventers. I would put together pipe assemblies of various diameters and test different companies’ backflow preventer prototypes to check that they are in accordance with the standards set by USC.”Later, he also worked with the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering’s Environmental Engineering division. He also completed a fellowship with DIGDEEP, a human rights non-profit which works to deliver clean running water to Americans.

After successfully finishing his graduate studies, Dempsey signed up to take on logistical and water and sanitation projects for Doctors Without Borders USA. Looking back at his decision to switch his line of interest, from mechanical engineering to civil engineering, Dempsey believes he took the right decision at the right time which helped him land internship opportunities and connect with people from different walks of life.

Want to find out where our graduating class of 2020/2021 Civil and Environmental Engineering Master's students did their internships and where they went after commencement? Visit our Civil and Environmental Engineering Employment Outcomes page.

• For courses within this program that may be online, please visit the USC Schedule of Classes (courses will have a DEN@Viterbi section)
• For a full list of the 40+ engineering graduate programs available online, please visit Online DEN@Viterbi Offerings