Every day, the amount of data (from audio to video, and from electronic health records to browsing interests and shopping preferences) continues to increase, and there is a corresponding explosion of demand from industry for engineers who are trained to extract relevant information from such data so that it can be used to improve modern technology and society. This increased demand for qualified data scientists cannot be met with the current pool of qualified engineers. To meet this need, the Master of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering - Machine Learning and Data Science provides students with focused, rigorous training in the theory, methods, and applications of data science, machine learning and signal, and information processing.
International Students: This program is eligible for the OPT STEM extension.
Please Note: Requirements for graduation, course offerings, course availability, track offerings and any other degree requirements are subject to change. Students should consult with an academic advisor prior to registering for any classes.
- A minimum of 32 units* is required for the M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering - Machine Learning and Data Science degree
*(effective for applicants Spring 2022)
- Students are required to pass a digital signal processing test, or take
- EE 483 - Introduction to Digital Signal Processing as a technical elective (4 units)
- EE 538 - Computing Principles for Electrical Engineers as a technical elective (2 units)
- Required courses: 18-20 units
- At least 22 units must be taken in Electrical Engineering
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for graduation
- A maximum of 4 units of Directed Research, EE 590 or Thesis, EE 594ab may be counted as a technical elective
Detailed Program Curriculum and RequirementsSchedule of Classes
APPLICATION DEADLINES
| SEMESTER | DEADLINE |
| Spring 2024 | September 15, 2023 |
| Fall 2024 | December 15, 2023* |
Visit our
Ready to Apply page for more information.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
- An undergraduate degree in engineering, math or hard science from a regionally-accredited university.
- Satisfactory cumulative undergraduate GPA (grade point average)
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.
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS FOR INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS
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.
APPLY NOW - USC GRADUATE APPLICATION
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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| Academic Year | Per Unit Rate | 3-unit Course | 4-unit Course |
| Fall 2023 - Summer 2024* | $2,424 | $7,272 | $9,696 |
| Fall 2022 - Summer 2023* | $2,309 | $6,927 | $9,236 |
| * Tuition is the same for on-campus and online students |
MANDATORY STUDENT FEES - 2023/24
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| Fee Description | Fee Amount | On-Campus | DEN@Viterbi |
| Student Health Center Fee | $600/semester | | |
| Norman Topping Student Aid Fee | $11/semester | | |
| ENGR Student Programming Fee (On-Campus students) | $40/semester | | |
| ENGR Student Programming Fee (DEN@Viterbi students) | $20/semester | | |
| Exam Proctoring | $40 - $100 per course | | |
| Transportation Fee | $93/semester | | |
| Health Insurance (U.S.-based health insurance is required, but it does not have to be through USC) | Fall 2023: $948
Spring 2024: $1,765 | | |
ESTIMATED COST OF ATTENDANCE - 32 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.
NISHA JACOB
What were the main reasons you chose to pursue this graduate program at USC?
Prior to coming to USC, I worked with Qualcomm in the wireless communications team. It was while I was here that I was introduced to machine learning and its many advantages in almost every field, including wireless. I found that USC offered a perfect blend of courses related to Machine Learning and the wireless domain. The flexibility to choose courses according to your interest is a big advantage. Also, you cannot deny another major factor -the awesome LA weather!
What are some personal achievements or experiences you’d like to share?
Getting accepted as a Directed Research student with the Wireless Devices and Systems (WiDeS) lab under Prof. Andreas Molisch. This definitely was an achievement for me since I would get to work in the wireless domain with experienced colleagues from whom I could learn a lot. Some smaller personal achievements for me have been -learning to become independent in a new country and hiking (I thought I was someone who would never try trekking through mountains :), but LA has been able to bring out the best in me!
Which organizations/activities have you been involved with outside of the classroom?
Organizations that I've been involved with are IEEE and Women in Engineering. I am a part of the Graduate IEEE committee that organized Career Talks, movie nights, and other outdoor events. Most of my remaining free time is spent working at the WiDeS lab. Other than these, I enjoy playing badminton and table tennis and listening to (or reading) crime thriller podcasts (or books.)
AMRITH COUMARAN
What were the main reasons you chose to pursue this graduate program at USC?
The coursework for my specialization (Machine Learning) under the ECE department had a very healthy mixture of both theoretical and practical elements to it. Also, having a vast and strong alumni network helps a lot. Plus how can you resist living in the beautiful city of Los Angeles?!
What are some personal achievements or experiences you’d like to share?
I got the opportunity to work on some real-world projects using Machine Learning and am part of a research team focusing on Machine Learning for Scientific research. Also won Best Project and Best Inter-disciplinary Data Scientist award.
Tell us about an exciting and unforgettable experience from your time so far at USC.
I explored new places, tried Kayaking, went on a lot of treks, and tried snowboarding, ice skating, and skiing for the first time.
This program is not available through DEN. For a full list of the 40+ engineering graduate programs available online, please visit Online DEN@Viterbi Offerings.
