Common Questions for OCL Students:
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.
Where can I find the Academic Calendar for the semester?
Each semester, the EdD Program Office will email you an overview of important dates throughout the semester. In addition, students receive an academic calendar in their registration memos each semester. For a general overview of University-wide dates, students may review the online USC Academic Calendar.
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.
How can I provide feedback on my learning experience as an OCL student?
Each semester the EdD Program Office will send a mid-semester survey to you via email. The survey serves as an opportunity to provide feedback on your coursework at the midway point in the semester. In addition, all USC students are asked to complete the USC Learning Experience evaluations by the end of the semester. The USC Learning Experience evaluation may be accesse
When do I get assigned a chair for my dissertation?
Students are assigned a chair for their dissertation in Term 4. The EdD Program Office will host a webinar to provide an overview of the dissertation assignment process in Term 4.
When is Immersion II?
Immersion II takes place in year 2 (semester 5) of the program. During Immersion II, students will have the opportunity to work directly with their dissertation chairs. It is a mandatory event for all students enrolled in the program and is primarily focused on the dissertation process.
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 or terminal degree in their field.
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. You may contact your academic advisor to request your dissertation paperwork.
What Rossier resources are available to support me with my dissertation?
Your faculty chair and the Dissertation Associates are your best resources to support you with the dissertation writing process. The Dissertation Associates work directly with Chairs to provide feedback to students on their written proposals and dissertations. Students are also advised to consult the wealth dissertation support resources offered by the Doctoral Support Center (DSC), including recorded presentations, written guides, and formatting tips.
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
Why are my dissertation courses (EDUC 76A-D) showing as 'IP' on my STARS report?
All dissertation courses (i.e. EDUC 764A-D) will remain as ‘IP’ on your STARS report until after you finalize all coursework and complete your dissertation.
When is commencement?
Commencement typically takes place in early 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. Please note this website is updated each year around February.
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. Eligibility for students to be approved to participate may include, but is not limited to, advancement to candidacy (i.e. passing the qualifying exam) and making satisfactory dissertation progress.
When is it appropriate to use the Ed.D. or Dr. title?
We encourage students to review the guidelines for use of the Ed.D. title in Unit 5 of the OCL Student Guidebook. USC will confer your Ed.D. degree once all degree requirements are met. This includes, but is not limited to, completing all coursework, earning an overall GPA of at least 3.0, and finalizing the dissertation. Once all degree requirements are met and your degree is conferred by the University (via the Degree Progress Department), you may use the Ed.D. and Dr. title.
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?
Please contact your Academic Advisor or the EdD Program Office to request clearance forms.