The Master of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering/Master of Business Administration dual degree program is for students who want an extended graduate program with depth in both business and engineering.
Normally, earning two such degrees would require completing at least 84 units of courses and as many as 93 units, depending on the amount of coursework relevant to both programs. This special dual degree option requires 68 units to complete (ISE: 20 and MBA: 48).
Students must apply separately to the Epstein ISE Department and the Marshall School of Business. Students must be admitted to both programs in order to pursue the dual degree option.
International Students: This program is eligible for the OPT STEM extension.
- This program requires completion of 68 units of coursework
- Thesis option and Directed Research (research without thesis) may be requested after completing first semester. Thesis option is not guaranteed
- USC Catalogue
- USC Schedule of Classes
APPLICATION DEADLINES
| SEMESTER | DEADLINE |
| Spring | September 1 |
| Fall | December 15 |
Visit our Ready to Apply page for more information.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS(only for MSISE admission. For MBA admission criteria, visit the Marshall School of Business)
- Satisfactory cumulative undergraduate GPA (grade point average)
- Satisfactory performance in previous coursework related to the intended major.
- Students must apply separately to the Epstein ISE Department and the Marshall School of Business. Students must be admitted to both programs in order to pursue the dual degree option. These requirements are related to the ISE department admissions process only.
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 2026
- Letters of Recommendation (3 Highly Recommended): 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.
The following link will take you to an overview of the tuition & fees for graduate engineering students, including payment information. Both on-campus and DEN@Viterbi students pay the same tuition.
TUITION AND FEES OVERVIEW
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You can use the Tuition & Fees link above to figure out the cost of the 20 units of ISE coursework. Please visit the USC Marshall School of Business for tuition information on the MBA portion of the program.
Alumni Employment - 2022*
(Companies & Job Titles)
- Northrop Grumman Corporation - Aerospace Systems Engineer
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* Information is based on a voluntary survey and should not be interpreted as a comprehensive view of the 2022 graduating class.
This degree program is not available on DEN.
Please complete the following form for more information.
