Common Questions for 1st Year Students
What is Preliminary Review?
The EdD Preliminary Review is a screening process designed to measure mastery and comprehension of the core concepts learned in the first year of the program and to evaluate the student’s ability to write at the doctoral level. The doctoral screening must be passed prior to completing 21 units in the program. For first-year students, this will take place at the end of your first year in the program. More details and instructions will be communicated prior to this.
Official notification of the preliminary review results, pass or not passed, will be sent to your USC email address. Successfully passing the preliminary review is required for continuation in the program
What is D-Clearance?
Departmental clearance, or permission, for a student to register for a class. Class numbers with a “D” designation are restricted by the department offering the course, requiring students to obtain the department’s permission (“D” clearance) before attempting to register. Telephone numbers and departmental locations are listed in the Schedule of Classes.
D-Clearance is the process by which the academic advisors reserve specific doctoral courses for students in the program. If you have any questions or concerns you will need to contact your assigned academic advisor.
How does registration work for Rossier students?
Before the start of each semester, the EdD Program Office sends all students a registration memo to their USC e-mail address. This document provides a thorough overview of the required courses for each semester. Once registration opens, students can begin enrolling in their courses via my.usc.edu
Who is my academic advisor?
The EdD Program Office assigns students based on their last names. You can see the current advisor breakdown on our Advising & Registration page.
How do I waive the USC Health Insurance fee?
Students enrolled into at least 6 units are automatically enrolled into USC’s Student Health insurance plan. Each academic year in the fall, if you are covered by a health insurance plan meeting the University’s requirements, you may submit a request to waive or opt-out of the USC Student Health Insurance Plan on the USC Student Health Website.
How do I complete the USC Prevention Education requirements?
On the MyUSC website, you will find various online learning modules designed to provide knowledge and skills on critical topics. To complete the education modules, you will need to login to MyUSC and click the banner at the top of the page. Access to the online self-paced modules are also available in MyUSC through TrojanLearn.
Will my classes always be on the same night of the week throughout the program?
For your first two semesters (fall and spring), you will take your core classes with a cohort. Your cohort will have classes on the same night for the first two semesters. However, beginning with your first summer semester, you will move on from the cohort to take classes with a new group of students based on your chosen concentration. These classes may or may not meet the same night as your original core group. In your concentration courses, you will begin taking classes with all students from your original cohort who are in the same concentration. Courses will always begin at 5pm PST on the assigned night of the week
Students in the online K-12 concentration will likely stay in the same core night throughout the duration of the program.
Common Questions for 2nd Year Students
When do I get assigned a chair for my dissertation?
Students are assigned a chair for their dissertation in the fall of their second year. You will begin taking dissertation-related courses with your assigned chair in the spring of your second year.
Besides my dissertation chair, who is allowed to serve on my committee?
In addition to your chair, you are required to have two other committee members on your dissertation committee. One of your other committee members must be a full-time faculty member at USC Rossier. A list of full-time faculty can be found here. You may have one external committee member and they must possess an earned doctorate.
What paperwork is needed for the proposal defense (i.e. qualifying exam)?
Once you pass the proposal defense (i.e. qualifying exam) with your dissertation committee, you will be required to submit a “Qualifying Exam Report” to establish your date of candidacy. All required paperwork for the proposal defense can be found on the Forms page on our website. You may also contact your academic advisor to request your dissertation paperwork.
What Rossier resources are there to support me with my dissertation
Your faculty chair and the Doctoral Support Center are your best resources to support you with the dissertation writing process. The Doctoral Support Center offers individual appointments, writing resources, and frequent presentations to support students in writing their dissertation.
Common Questions for 3rd Year Students
What are the deadlines for dissertation upload?
The deadlines for the dissertation upload can be found on the Rossier Dissertation Center. To access the website, you will need to login using your USC NetID. If you have issues accessing it or have questions, you may contact your academic advisor.
How do I upload my dissertation?
Instructions for uploading your dissertation can be found on the Rossier Dissertation Center website. To access the website, you will need to login using your USC NetID. If you have issues accessing it or have questions, you may contact your academic advisor
When is commencement?
Commencement typically takes place the second week of May. Each year, the Rossier Special Events office will notify all students of commencement dates and details. For questions related to commencement, students should review the Rossier Commencement website.
How do I apply for commencement?
Students typically receive an RSVP link to participate in Commencement in February or March. Participation in commencement is subject to approval from your dissertation chair.
When and how will I be able to order transcripts?
Instructions for ordering USC transcripts can be found here.
How long do I have access to my USC email address after commencement?
Your @usc.edu account will typically be disabled six (6) months following your conferred degree date. You are able to sign up for an “@alumni.usc.edu” email address, should you be interested. Please visit the link for more information and instructions on how to sign up: https://alumni .usc.edu/faq/
Where can I find dissertation clearance forms?
The dissertation course clearance forms can be found on the Forms page of our website. You may also contact your academic advisor to obtain the forms.