Visit our Ready to Apply page for more information.

Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in any engineering or engineering-related disciplines including but not limited to: Computer Science, Information Security, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, and IT.

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 2024
• Letters of Recommendation (Optional): 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

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MANDATORY STUDENT FEES - 2023/24

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ESTIMATED COST OF ATTENDANCE - 28 UNIT PROGRAM

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This downloadable Cost of Attendance document breaks down the tuition and fees by semester. Although the actual number of courses taken each semester may vary by student as can the amount of time taken to complete the program, it can be submitted to banks and scholarship institutions.

PAYMENT

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USC students may pay their tuition and fees online, via wire transfer or using a payment plan. Details can be found on the USC Student Financial Services Payment Options page. You can check your account balance through the On-line Academic Student Information System (OASIS). Log into OASIS through MyUSC.

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USC also provides a Tuition Refund Insurance option that enables students to receive a 100% refund of term tuition and fees if they are are forced to withdraw for medical reasons.s

   DIMPLE GAJRA

Tell us a little bit about yourself — where are you from, where did you do your undergraduate studies, how did you find your academic interests, etc.?
I am Dimple Gajra, and I am from Jamnagar, India. I pursued my undergraduate studies at G H Patel College of Engineering, studying Information Technology where I was able to study various computer programming languages. However, I first started getting interested in learning about cybersecurity while watching one my favorite television series, Mr. Robot. I started taking classes related to security, and I decided to further explore the study by pursuing my masters in cybersecurity at USC.

What attracted you to choose USC for your graduate studies?
USC is a prestigious school and was always in my top list.The Cybersecurity curriculum is very well known in the industry and has one of the strongest Alumni Network. Additionally, having the opportunity to study under USC Professor Newman was exciting because I studied his work during my undergrad. Another reason that attracted me to choose USC was the location- living in proximity to Hollywood has always been a dream of mine. 

Tell us about your interests outside the classroom.
I love to hike and explore new places. During my time at USC, I visited  the Grand Canyon, Horseshoe Canyon, and many beautiful waterfalls. I have also picked on an interesting skill of lock picking - some of these locks include Master Lock Luggage 3-Dial Combination Padlock, Pin 1 to Pin 6 locks, and the kwikset old lock. 

Tell us about some exciting and unforgettable incidents from your years at USC.
A few of my favorite memories are working at the USC Bookstore and getting to be part of ‘CYBORG,’ a USC student run cybersecurity club. Through CYBORG, I learned about what is going on in the industry and what companies were looking specifically for in the cybersecurity division. 

Overall, how is the two-year journey at USC?
My journey at USC was a roller coaster ride. From celebrating my victories to hunting internships and jobs and facing all those rejections, there were a lot of ups and downs through the two years. However USC prepared me in learning more about working for cybersecurity. Additionally, the two years at USC have not only made me academically educated but also have made me an avid traveler- I got to experience a vast cultural exposure. And I’m definitely going to miss being on campus and finding nice hideout study places on campus such as VPD and USC Marshall building.

What are your future plans after completing your degree?
I am currently working at IBM as s cybersecurity analyst, but I am open to working in any Security Operations Center where I can catch the bad actors in computer programs. I also hope to travel to a different place each year.

Is there something that may surprise people about you?
I have developed an ability to pick Numeric TSA locks by just listening to the rotational sound of the numbers.  Additionally, while I was interning at Activism, I was featured in a ‘Call of Duty: Modern Warfare,” highlighted under the Central Technology credits. 

What innovations/discoveries do you hope to see (or be a part of!) in the next ten years?
I’m excited to see the development of Elon Musk’s Neuralink company and how it comes to play in the future. It will be phenomenal to see if there can be a technology that deals with implanting a brain machine that can store our memories. I’m also interested in AI technology, especially with driver less cars, and how in the future people can multitask while driving. 

Want to find out where our graduating class of 2020/2021 Data Science and Cyber Security Engineering Master’s students did their internships and where they went after commencement? Visit our Computer Science, Data Science & Cyber Security Employment Outcomes page.

This program is also available online to professional engineers through DEN@Viterbi. Because the DEN@Viterbi program provides a fully equivalent academic experience, the degree a USC engineering student earns is the same whether they are on-campus or online.

If you are interested in beginning classes as a DEN@Viterbi student next semester, explore the requirements and steps to enrolling as a Limited Status Student.

Learn More About DEN@Viterbi

Detailed Program Curriculum and RequirementsSchedule of Classes

DEN@VITERBI ONLINE COURSE OFFERINGS

The following courses and program requirements serve as program planning for DEN@Viterbi students. Course offerings and availability are subject to change. Please consult with advisor if you have any questions.