U N I V E RS I T Y O F S O U T H E RN CA L IFORN IA | LOS A N G EL ES , CA L IFORN IA G RA D UAT E & IN T ERN AT ION A L PROG RA MS
CONTENTS 3 WELCOME 4
TOP 10 HIGHLIGHTS
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TROJAN FAMILY
8 ALUMNI 10 STUDENTS 12
GRADUATE PROGRAMS
17 CURRICULUM 19 CERTIFICATES 21 FACULTY 22 STUDENT EXPERIENCE 26 LOS ANGELES 28 ADMISSIONS 30 TUITION AND FINANCIAL AID
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AN D R EW T. G U Z M AN
At USC Gould School of Law, you will receive an exceptional legal education. We are committed to excellence in every area of our school – from our esteemed faculty and diverse and outstanding student body to our challenging curriculum. In addition to our excellent academic programs, you’ll receive great support from our Graduate & International Programs office. The office will guide you throughout your time at USC and after you graduate. You will also become a lifetime member of the Trojan Family: USC’s strong and vibrant alumni community. Best of all, you can enjoy your legal studies in sunny, metropolitan Los Angeles! Located in the heart of the city, USC has strong ties to the large legal and business communities in Los Angeles. We look forward to welcoming you to the Trojan Family.
Andrew T. Guzman Dean and Carl Mason Franklin Chair in Law, and Professor of Law and Political Science
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TOP 10 1 2 3 4 5
LAW SCHOOL REPUTATION USC Gould School of Law is a small, highly selective national law school that is consistently ranked in the top 20 U.S. law schools in U.S. News & World Report. STUDENT SERVICES The Graduate & International Programs Office boasts a full team of 20 staff members dedicated exclusively to assisting graduate law students with their transition to L.A., course registration, academic support, bar exam preparation, career development, and more. FACULTY USC Gould School of Law boasts 58 full-time faculty and 129 adjunct professors with legal expertise in a wide variety of areas. USC Gould School of Law professors are accomplished, approachable, supportive, and dedicated to helping students succeed. EXTENSIVE CURRICULUM Our students can choose from roughly 75 different courses offered each semester. Students may choose to generalize or specialize their law degrees and pursue certificates. STUDENT BODY USC Gould School of Law students come from top universities around the world with extraordinary credentials and rich backgrounds and experiences. With roughly 1,000 students from approximately 70 countries enrolled at USC Gould, we offer an intimate and diverse community experience. The university in general has a large student body of around 47,000 students each year, with over 11,000 international students from more than 100 different countries.
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HIGHLIGHTS 6 7 8 9 10 TROJAN FAMILY USC is known worldwide for its “Trojan Family” alumni network, which describes the strong loyalty felt by USC graduates toward their school and toward each other. There are over 11,000 Trojans in the law school alumni network worldwide and growing! UNIVERSITY RESOURCES FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS USC is among a few select schools that enroll the highest number of international students in the country, and our Office of International Services is devoted to serving our international student population to make sure our students feel at home.
LOS ANGELES USC is an integral part of the culturally diverse and dynamic Los Angeles community. L.A. boasts a thriving legal community, as well as businesses in industries including entertainment, manufacturing, communications, biotechnology, and multimedia.
WEATHER Our students enjoy warm and sunny weather year-round, with 329 days of sunshine each year! Close to the beach and the mountains, L.A. is one of the few places in the world where you can ski and surf in the same day.
SPECIAL EVENTS As a student at USC, you can attend a number of special events that our office hosts throughout the year! We organize events including mixers for our LLM/JD Partnership Program, a Night at the Hollywood Bowl, a USC Trojan Football Game, and an NBA Basketball Game. Students also attend networking events including our USC Gould School of Law Institutes on Tax, Entertainment, Corporate Law, Real Estate, and Intellectual Property.
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NOTHING CAN BEAT THE USC GRADUATE & INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS AND THE SUNNY CALIFORNIA WEATHER! THROUGH ALL OF THE CONNECTIONS THAT I MADE AT USC, I REALLY FEEL LIKE I WILL ALWAYS BE A PART OF THE TROJAN FAMILY! >> JAE HO LEE, KOREA
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TROJAN FAMILY
From the moment you are accepted at USC Gould, you become a part of the Trojan Family network. This community extends from USC Gould across the entire university and includes over 375,000 alumni and 100 active alumni groups around the world. As a member of this famous network, you will have access to fellow Trojans for advice, mentorship, and support.
STUDENTS We attract bright and talented students to USC Gould from across the globe. Our graduate students are not only geographically and ethnically diverse, coming from 70 different countries, but they also bring significant diversity in legal experiences. They are attorneys, judges, government officials, prosecutors, corporate legal counsel, bankers, and recent law graduates. Our students bring a rich array of experience, legal knowledge, and cultures to the law school. Each year, approximately 450 graduate students across our various programs enroll with roughly 550 Juris Doctor students. Our small, tight-knit student community at USC Gould provides a collegial yet academically rigorous atmosphere which fosters personal and professional growth. Students go out of their way to collaborate with peers and support one another’s pursuit of social and academic excellence. From the time you begin your studies at USC Gould, you will have access to programs, workshops, organizations, and networking events that provide personal, academic, and professional enrichment. Our graduate students interact with each other across programs and also with USC Gould JD students. USC Gould students have the opportunity to join any of our 35+ legal, political, religious, social, cultural, and ethnic student organizations. For example, many of our graduate students enjoy participating in the Business Law Society, Entertainment Law Society, Public Interest Law Foundation, and International Law & Relations Organization (which runs a JD/LLM mentorship program), to name a few. A full list of USC Gould student organizations can be found at: gould.usc.edu/ students/organizations/.
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THE LLM PROGRAM AT USC OFFERS AN UNRIVALED INSTRUCTION IN U.S. LAW TAUGHT BY PASSIONATE ACADEMICS AND LEADING PRACTITIONERS. BY BRINGING TOGETHER STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE WORLD AND ALL WALKS OF LIFE, THE PROGRAM CREATES AN INTELLECTUALLY STIMULATING AND ENRICHING LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. >> MICHAEL ZYMLER, UNITED KINGDOM
ALUMNI In addition to the massive group of USC-wide alumni located worldwide, USC Gould boasts more than 11,000 alumni, including over 2,000 from our graduate programs. Our alumni remain engaged with us long after they graduate. They participate in mentorship programs with students, become adjunct professors, and remain life-long friends with their fellow classmates. Our Graduate & International Programs staff host several alumni events around the world each year, when our graduate and JD alumni spanning many years meet and connect. These events are great opportunities to catch up with old friends as well as build your professional network. Alumni of our graduate programs go onto become leaders in their respective professional fields. Just a few of our prestigious alumni are featured throughout these pages.
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47,000 11,000 USC STUDENTS
1,000
USC INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
USC GOULD LAW STUDENTS
ICELAND CANADA
UNITED STATES
MEXICO DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
CUBA
JAMAICA EL SALVADOR PANAMA
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO VENEZUELA COLUMBIA BRAZIL
PERU
PARAGUAY CHILE
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ARGENTINA
450
USC GOULD GRADUATE STUDENTS
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CONTINENTS
COUNTRIES REPRESENTED AT USC GOULD
SWEDEN UNITED KINGDOM
NORWAY
FINLAND
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
LATVIA DENMARK NETHERLANDS GERMANY BELGIUM POLAND UKRAINE SWITZERLAND CZECH REPUBLIC AUSTRIA ROMANIA FRANCE MONACO BOSNIA/HERZEGOVINA BULGARIA ARMENIA ITALY SPAIN TURKEY CYPRUS GREECE LEBANON ISRAEL JORDAN EGYPT
KAZAKHSTAN UZBEKISTAN
SOUTH KOREA JAPAN
CHINA IRAN KUWAIT
SAUDI ARABIA OMAN
NIGERIA
KYRGYZSTAN
PAKISTAN BANGLADESH INDIA
HONG KONG THAILAND
TAIWAN
VIETNAM PHILIPPINES
COTE D’IVOIRE GHANA
MALAYSIA KENYA
SINGAPORE INDONESIA
ZIMBABWE
AUSTRALIA SOUTH AFRICA
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GRADUATE PROGRAMS DEGREES
ON CAMPUS
ONLINE
Master’s Degrees for Students with a Prior Law Degree
On Campus LLM or MCL
Master of Laws (LLM)
X
Two-Year Extended Master of Laws (LLM)
X
Master of Comparative Law (MCL)
X
Master of Laws in Alternative Dispute Resolution (LLM in ADR)
X
X
Master of Laws in International Business & Economic Law (LLM in IBEL) X Master of Laws in Privacy Law & Cybersecurity (LLM in PLCS)
ON CAMPUS CERTIFICATES
X
Master’s Degrees for Students with Bachelor’s Degree Master of Studies in Law (MSL)
X X
Master of Dispute Resolution (MDR)
X
ADR Business Law Entertainment Law Technology & Entrepreneurship Law Transnational Law & Business
On Campus MSL Business Law Compliance
ONLINE CERTIFICATES Online LLM or Online MSL
Non-Degree Programs
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Summer Law and English Program (SLE)
X
Visiting International Program for Lawyers (VIP)
X
Business Law Compliance Entertainment Law & Industry Financial Compliance Health Care Compliance Human Resources Law & Compliance Privacy Law & Cybersecurity
For Students with a Prior Law Degree MASTER OF LAWS (LLM) Our LLM program is a 21-unit degree which
MASTER OF LAWS IN ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (LLM IN ADR)
focuses on the U.S. legal system, providing
Our LLM in ADR program is a 24-unit degree
students with foundational skills and knowledge
offered by USC Gould School of Law Center for
that are immediately applicable to real-world
Dispute Resolution that focuses on ADR policy
legal practice.
while building valuable negotiation, mediation
On Campus: 1 year full-time
and arbitration skills.
Online: Part-time, minimum 4 semesters
On Campus: 1 year full-time
Requirements: A prior degree in law (LLB or
Requirements: A prior degree in law (LLB or
equivalent) from outside the United States
equivalent)
TWO-YEAR EXTENDED MASTER OF LAWS (LLM) The Two-Year Extended LLM allows students
MASTER OF LAWS IN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC LAW (LLM IN IBEL)
to spend one year strengthening legal English
The LLM in IBEL offers students a global
speaking and writing proficiency followed by the
perspective and interdisciplinary skills that
one-year LLM program.
enable them to understand and integrate relevant
On Campus: Full-time for 2 years
laws, policies and business best practices that
Requirements: A prior degree in law (LLB or
shape international commerce and trade.
equivalent) from outside the United States
On Campus: 1 year full-time Requirements: A prior degree in law (LLB or
MASTER OF COMPARATIVE LAW (MCL) The MCL degree is offered to international students who are graduates of LLM programs in the United States and who wish to continue their studies of U.S. and comparative laws. On Campus: 1 year full-time Requirements: A prior degree in law (LLB or equivalent) from outside the United States and a Master of Laws (LLM or equivalent) in the United States
equivalent)
MASTER OF LAWS IN PRIVACY LAW & CYBERSECURITY (LLM IN PLCS) Our LLM in PLCS is a 24-unit degree that explores the legal framework concerning information privacy in the U.S. and common legal issues and emerging law in the areas of privacy and cybersecurity. On Campus: 1 year full-time Requirements: A prior degree in law (LLB or equivalent)
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For Non-Lawyer Students
Non-Degree Programs
MASTER OF STUDIES IN LAW (MSL)
VISITING INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM (VIP)
Our MSL degree is a 21-unit program which offers
VIP helps legal and business professionals from
professionals legal skills and knowledge that
around the world build a broad foundation of
can be applied directly to advance their career
knowledge of the United States legal system.
and serve their organizations. Please note that
Students participate in informative courses
this degree is not intended to train students for
taught by world-class law professors and interact
careers as attorneys, nor to prepare them for any
with law students from around the globe.
state bar exam.
On Campus: 1 or 2 semesters
On Campus: 1 year full-time; available part-time
Requirements: A prior degree in law (LLB or
Online: Part-time, minimum 16 months
equivalent) from outside the United States
Requirements: A bachelor’s degree in any field
SUMMER LAW & ENGLISH (SLE) MASTER OF DISPUTE RESOLUTION (MDR)
SLE is a four-week intensive that strengthens
Our MDR degree is designed for non-law
students’ English speaking and legal writing
graduates who desire advanced knowledge in
proficiency while helping them build a foundation
alternative dispute resolution. Students build
of understanding of the U.S. legal system. All
negotiation, mediation and arbitration skills
levels of English fluency are welcome.
to position themselves for leadership roles in
On Campus: 4-weeks, July – August
business and ADR organizations.
Requirements: A bachelor’s degree in any field
On Campus: 1 year full-time; available part-time Requirements: A bachelor’s degree in any field
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BEING AN LLM STUDENT AT USC WAS AMAZING! I SHARED SO MANY MEMORIES AND EXPERIENCES WITH MY CLASSMATES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. MY RELATIONSHIPS WENT BEYOND BEING CLASSMATES – WE BECAME FAMILY! NOW I TRULY UNDERSTAND WHAT ‘TROJAN FAMILY’ REALLY MEANS. >> HIROYUKI TAKAHASHI, JAPAN
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THROUGH USC, I WAS ABLE TO STUDY IN AN INTELLECTUALLY STIMULATING ENVIRONMENT AND HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERACT AND WORK WITH A PHENOMENAL GROUP OF FACULTY COMING FROM DIVERSE LEGAL BACKGROUNDS. >> MICHAEL OKAYO, KENYA
CURRICULUM Courses offered at USC Gould challenge students by stimulating critical thinking and practical problem-solving skills. We offer a comprehensive array of courses that allow students to choose the courses that best fit their goals. Degree requirements and courses offered differ per program, and can be found online at: gould.usc.edu/academics/degrees. Our Graduate & International Programs office provides an academic support program to assist graduate students in excelling academically, as well as individualized academic advising to help students select courses that satisfy their educational and career goals. International students enrolled in our on-campus LLM programs may complete courses necessary to satisfy U.S. law school requirements for certain state bar exams. Individual eligibility is assessed by each bar administration; students may seek advice from our career advisors for more information.
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#17 TOP25
RANKED BEST LAW SCHOOL*
NATIONAL UNIVERSITIES IN THE UNITED STATES*
* U.S. News and World Report
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CERTIFICATES In addition to earning a master’s degree from USC Gould, graduate students may wish to specialize their studies in an optional certificate program. Students enroll in certificate curriculum within their elective units and at no additional cost. Certificate coursework focuses on specific areas of law and allows students to gain a deeper understanding of particular fields. Business Law Certificate students may petition to enroll in selected courses at the USC Marshall School of Business. Entertainment Law Certificate students may petition to enroll in select courses at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, and may also have the opportunity to extern at an entertainment law firm or studio. ADR Certificate students may be able to participate in an International Arbitration Moot competition. For more information on certificates, please visit: gould.usc.edu/academics/certificates. Information on graduation rates, the median debt of students who have completed certificate programs can be found at financialaid.usc.edu/general/special-programs/certificates.html. CERTIFICATE
OPEN TO STUDENTS IN THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS
Alternative Dispute Resolution (On-Campus)
On-Campus LLM, Two-Year LLM; also offered on a stand-alone basis
Business Law (On-Campus or Online)
On-Campus LLM, Online LLM, Two-Year LLM, On-Campus MSL, Online MSL, LLM in ADR, MDR, LLM in IBEL, LLM in PLCS, MCL; also offered on a stand-alone basis online only
Compliance (On-Campus or Online)
Online LLM, On-Campus MSL, Online MSL; also offered on a stand-alone basis online only
Entertainment Law (On-Campus)
On-Campus LLM, Two-Year LLM, MCL
Entertainment Law & Industry (Online)
Online LLM, Online MSL; also offered on a stand-alone basis
Financial Compliance (Online)
Online LLM, Online MSL; also offered on a stand-alone basis
Health Care Compliance (Online)
Online LLM, Online MSL; also offered on a stand-alone basis
Human Resources Law & Compliance Certificate (Online)
Online LLM, Online MSL; also offered on a stand-alone basis
Privacy Law & Cybersecurity (Online)
Online LLM, Online MSL; also offered on a stand-alone basis
Technology & Entrepreneurship Law (On-Campus)
On-Campus LLM, Two-Year LLM, MCL
Transnational Law & Business (On-Campus)
On-Campus LLM, Two-Year LLM, MCL, LLM in IBEL, LLM in PLCS
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AT USC GOULD, WE BRING PASSION FOR THE LAW AND PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE WITH IT TO EVERYTHING WE DO. WE ARE INVESTED IN OUR STUDENTS’ SUCCESSES IN THE CLASSROOM AND BEYOND, EAGER TO SEE OUR GOULD COMMUNITY SHAPE THE FUTURE OF INTERNATIONAL LAW. >> PROFESSOR ANITHA CADAMBI
PRO F ES S O R D O N AL D M . S COT TEN VICE D EAN FO R AD M IN IS TR ATIO N & PRO F ES S O R O F TH E PR ACTICE O F L AW
FAC ULT Y Full-Time Professors
Adjunct Lecturers
Our 58 full-time faculty members are internationally
With its proximity to LA’s entertainment, media, and
recognized for their expertise and scholarship in fields
technology companies, major law firms, and public
as diverse as administrative law, intellectual property,
interest agencies, USC Gould has more than 100 adjunct
business, entertainment, ethics, and tort reform. Many
lecturers who bring their real-world practice into the
full-time faculty members have degrees and expertise in
classroom. Learning the law from professors who are
both law and a secondary discipline, such as economics,
current practitioners allows USC Gould students to grasp
communications, public policy, medicine, history,
nuanced application of theory to problem-solving.
psychology, and philosophy. Their diverse academic and professional backgrounds contribute to classrooms full of wide-ranging ideas.
Our adjunct lecturers include attorneys who have served as local city and county judges, CEOs of motion picture studios, art restitution litigators who have won Supreme
Our full-time professors are also accomplished outside
Court cases, sports attorneys who represent athletes on
of the classroom. Seven of them have clerked for U.S.
major sports teams, and local mayors and city council
Supreme Court Justices, one has served as the national
members.
campaign manager for a presidential candidate, another was honored as a MacArthur Foundation Fellow and gave a Ted Talk that’s been viewed nearly 3 million times, and
Profiles of our adjunct lecturers can be found at: gould.usc.edu/faculty/lecturer.
one acted as the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Congress Joint Committee on Taxation. Profiles of our full-time professors can be found at: gould.usc.edu/faculty.
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STUDENT EXPERIENCE Academic, social, and professional support are
Career development opportunities also include several
available to USC Gould graduate students from the day
networking events with students from our JD program
you join the Trojan Family. As members of our small,
as well as those from the Marshall School of Business
tight-knit community in the midst of a large and vibrant
and Price School of Public Policy. Job fairs in New York
campus, our students receive personalized support
and Los Angeles are offered for LLM students, and ADR
that recognizes and addresses the unique needs of our
specific conferences are available for our ADR program
graduate law students.
students. Finally, our graduate students receive weekly
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE Our Graduate & International Programs office offers
exclusive job posting system.
specialized Academic Excellence workshops throughout
EARLY BAR PREPARATION
the year to assist students with their studies and
Students in our LLM programs who qualify to take a U.S.
introduce law school concepts such as case-briefing,
bar exam receive guidance from our career advisors on
outlining, and exam taking strategies.
registering for the California, New York, Washington, or
CAREER DEVELOPMENT The Graduate & International Programs team includes career advisors dedicated to the unique needs of non-JD graduate students. We provide individualized counseling for students across our various programs, unique to different students’ goals. Regular workshops are held to help students prepare for their job search, write a resume and cover letter, and practice interviewing and networking skills.
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job posting emails and have access to USC Gould’s
District of Columbia bar exam. Our office also provides a free-of-cost series of Early Bar Preparation workshops which introduce core subjects tested on the bar exam, including contracts, real property, multi-state and performance exam topics.
THE LLM PROGRAM AT USC WAS A VERY REWARDING OPPORTUNITY. WHILE EXPANDING MY LEGAL KNOWLEDGE, I WAS ABLE TO INTERACT AND ENHANCE MY NETWORK WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO HAD DIVERSE LEGAL BACKGROUNDS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. >> ISABELA ADAMI, BRAZIL
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LOS ANGELES
within walking distance to campus. Still others choose
One of the few cities in the country where you can
to live in surrounding communities and commute to
go from snow to surf within hours, Los Angeles offers
campus. Our Graduate & International Programs staff
eclectic culinary choices, unparalleled cultural
provides support in assessing housing options and the
opportunities, and exciting sporting events. Whether
application requirements.
you want to study, work, volunteer, or play, there’s no better place than LA.
USC Gould offers more than 35 student organizations
Los Angeles averages 292 sunny days each year, with
exclusive to our law students, including legal,
the average temperature in LA at 74 degrees Fahrenheit.
political, religious, social, cultural, and ethnic student
The USC campus is situated just miles from famous
organizations. The university at large has more than
beaches in Santa Monica, Malibu, and Manhattan
1,000 unique student organizations, in which law
Beach. Mountain ranges are not much farther off, where
students can also participate. Whatever your social,
you can hike or ski.
academic, or professional interest, there is a group for
Los Angelenos originate from 140 different countries,
you at USC!
and our culinary and cultural opportunities reflect that
SOCIAL & CULTURAL EVENTS
multi-cultural population. The city boasts 105 different
Our Graduate & International Programs office hosts
museums to explore, as well as some of the best
several social and cultural events throughout the year,
shopping you can find.
so that our graduate students can become immersed
The LA public transit system is accessible and easy to use. You can jump on the Metro just steps away from the law school building and in minutes be transported to Santa Monica, Pasadena, or Long Beach. The university also offers buses exclusive to USC students, on which
in all that our vibrant Los Angeles community has to offer. We offer our students free tickets to a concert at the historic Hollywood Bowl, an experience at a USC football game at our famous Memorial Coliseum, and more.
you can quickly get downtown, to the USC hospital, or
OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL SERVICES
Union Station to catch a train outside of LA.
USC is home to over 11,000 international students,
HOUSING Los Angeles offers a wide variety of housing options for students who are single as well as those with families. Many of our graduate students choose to live in our exclusive law graduate program housing on campus. Others choose to rent private apartments
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STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
and our dedicated Office of International Services department assists students with all aspects of visa requirements, including dependent visas, and working on Curricular Practical Training (CPT) or Optional Practical Training (OPT).
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LOS ANGELES 26
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DISCOVER THE “CITY OF ANGELS” AS A STUDENT AT USC! OUR CAMPUS IS CENTRALLY LOCATED TO A NUMBER OF ATTRACTIONS, INCLUDING DOWNTOWN, THE STAPLES CENTER, HOLLYWOOD, AND THE MOUNTAINS, AND JUST MINUTES AWAY FROM SANTA MONICA, MALIBU, AND THE BEACH! IN LOS ANGELES, YOU’LL DISCOVER A WEALTH OF CULTURE, FROM FINE DINING TO HOLLYWOOD SHOWS TO CELEBRATED MUSEUMS. BETWEEN THE SUN, SAND, AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY, YOU’LL SEE WHY SO MANY PEOPLE CALL L.A. HOME!
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ADMISSIONS Admission to all of our graduate programs is highly selective, and those admitted will have excellent undergraduate records. Our Admissions Committee carefully evaluates all parts of each candidate’s application. To be eligible for any of our LLM programs, applicants must have completed a prior law degree. For our On-Campus LLM, Online LLM, and Two-Year LLM programs, applicants must have a first degree in law (LLB or equivalent) from outside the United States. Applicants to our MCL program must have earned a prior LLM degree. Applicants to our MSL programs, our MDR program, and our stand-alone certificate programs must have earned an undergraduate degree in any field.
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A P P L ICAT I O N R E Q U I R E M E NTS Online Application: Applicants to each of our graduate programs must complete an online application. International applicants are required to apply through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) and pursue their Document Assembly and International Transcript Authentication & Evaluation services.
TRANSCRIPTS Official transcripts are required from all colleges, universities, or graduate schools from which you have received a degree. Transcripts must be submitted in the original language of instruction, and those not in English must also be accompanied by a notarized English translation.
STANDARDIZED TESTS Neither the LSAT nor the GRE is required for any of our graduate programs. However, international students must provide a TOEFL or IELTS score report – unless your native language is English or you hold a bachelor’s degree completed in its entirety in the U.S. or at a foreign university in which English is the language of instruction.
PERSONAL STATEMENT Applicants should provide a brief (1 to 3 page) personal statement that describes your academic and professional background and goals, as well as your reasons for seeking a graduate law degree and your interest in USC Gould.
RESUME/CURRICULUM VITAE Submit an updated outline of your educational and employment history. While work experience is not required for any of our graduate programs, it is looked upon favorably by the Admissions Committee. For specific details on the admission process for each of our programs, please visit: gould.usc.edu/admissions.
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TU IT I O N & F I N A N C I A L AID The Graduate & International Programs office provides graduate students with assistance in understanding tuition payment procedures and in determining their eligibility for financial aid. Specific information on tuition amounts and financial aid eligibility for each of our graduate programs can be found at: gould.usc.edu/admissions/financial-aid. The USC Office of Student Financial Services offers numerous tuition payment options, including an interest-free USC Payment Plan for tuition, fees, university housing, meals and other charges, paid in monthly installments. Students may wish to pursue on-campus, part-time employment to supplement living expenses. Student jobs are posted on the ConnectSC website at: careers.usc.edu/connectsc.
SCHOLARSHIPS We offer a number of highly selective merit scholarships to outstanding students who represent the exceptional quality and diversity of our student body. These awards range in amounts, which may cover up to 100% of tuition. Scholarship offers are released via email at the time of admission. We also encourage you to explore financial aid from additional sources in the U.S. or your home country. Students who apply by our priority application deadline will be automatically considered for our USC housing stipend, which is available in varying amounts and may be used toward your on-campus or off-campus housing. As with our merit scholarships, you do not need to submit a separate application to be eligible. Students may receive both a merit scholarship and a housing stipend.
FEDERAL LOANS U.S. citizens and permanent residents who wish to pay for school through loans from the U.S. government must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. After you have successfully completed the FAFSA, you will receive an electronic notification from USC Gould Financial Aid with additional information and instructions on the federal loan application process.
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USC GOULD SCHOOL OF LAW | GRADUATE & INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS | LOS ANGELES, CA 90089-007 1 USA WWW.GOULD.USC.EDU
GIPADMISSIONS@LAW.USC.EDU
USCGOULDGIP
USCGOULDGIP
213-821-5916
